Once Upon a Stream ● dreamwastaken

chapter 16

I snorted with a mouthful of fries, nearly choking as he shoved the last of his burger in his mouth.

He glared at me, cheeks puffed, hopping on one foot to pull his socks on. "I'll remember that next time you're late," he said while chewing.

"I'm never late," I proudly declared once I'd swallowed. "It's Ronnie's lifelong dream for me to be, but it won't happen."

Major rolled his eyes, grabbing his suitcase and straightening out his suit jacket. "Presentable enough?"

"Totally! You can barely see the ketchup stains."

In a panic, he dropped his briefcase, inspecting his entire front for stains before realizing his mistake. "I hate you. You're the devil."

I blew him a kiss as he moved toward the door. "You're welcome!"

"Bye, Nini," he laughed, closing my door on his way out.

I sighed as silence fell in my room. With Major gone, I had no excuse not to start applications. My eyes were traveling around my room, contemplating repainting the walls, when the perfect distraction popped up on my phone.

Today 12:48 PM

Boo-hoo
SOS
NEED LUNCH

Lani
Omw!

Anything was better than staring at my computer for another hour, even walking into the line of fire.

As I drove to her favorite Chinese restaurant, I prayed that Rye was able to smooth things over with her. Of all their fights, this one seemed to be the worst. And they had some awful ones in high school. It always hurt to be caught in the middle, pulled in separate directions by the people I loved most.

Especially when I owed them both in different ways.

After I picked up Brook's usual, I drove ten minutes through town to her new job. The inn was secluded compared to Pervy Peter's place, situated in a quieter part of the city. It didn't scream wealth or luxury, but its peaceful charm was enough to fill the lobby with guests.

I weaved through the scattered line surrounding the receptionist desk, only to find it empty. I checked my messages, fumbling with the Chinese takeout in my arms.

Today 1:13 PM

Boo-hoo
Where r u
I have to pee

Ok I'm gonna go
Wait by desk

Rolling my eyes, I set the bags on the desk and stood against the wall. Plenty of the guests shot me confused, and slightly bitter, looks. They didn't know Brook's "quick bathroom break" translated to "an hour watching random videos."

After almost five minutes, one of the guests broke from the line to sit in the circle of sofas. He stepped around a mother with two small children, picking the sofa directly in my eyeline.

Resting his arms on the back of the sofa, legs crossed in front of him, he met my eyes. The piercing blue of them made me stumble backwards into the wall. Tufts of brown hair peeked out from under his hat, brushing against his forehead.

He smirked, and I started to tremble.

"Lani, what's wrong?"

Brook's arms wrapped around me, shielding me from his stare and from the memories. I relaxed instantly, allowing her warmth to comfort me.

"I'll take care of it," she whispered, slowly easing back to take my hands. "Someone will be out shortly to attend to you all. Thank you for your patience!"

Ignoring the groans and sighs of the guests, she led me down a hall, through an access card door.

I floated like a ghost, dragging my feet under me. I couldn't speak, even in the safety of the employee break room.

Brook sat beside me at the table, rifling through her purse. She didn't speak either. She only handed me a small rubber ball with a knowing look.

After a little while, my hands stopped shaking and my breathing slowed. The painful tightness in my chest dissipated, leaving only embarrassment and shame.

"That guy looked like him," I said, rolling the ball back and forth in my palm.

"I noticed." Brook set her phone on the table, staring straight at me. "Better?"

I nodded, handing her the ball. "Thanks."

She hummed, tossing it back in her purse. "Fred's outside the door, by the way. No one's getting in here."

I blinked at her. "How did you do that?"

"I texted him and asked. Said someone looked sketchy in the lobby." She smiled, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "He's a sucker for the pretty girls here."

"Doesn't that weird you out?"

Her eyebrows furrowed. "No? He's a nice enough guy, so if I can get him to do stuff for me, it's a plus."

"Until he wants something . . ."

Brook sighed. "Not every guy is like him, Lani. Besides, Fred's way too scrawny to pull anything creepy. I watched him struggle to lift his toolbox the other day."

"I know that, okay?" I played with my sleeves in my lap. "I'm not afraid of every guy I see. I'm not afraid of Major, am I? Or my boss?"

"Major doesn't count!" she scoffed. "That's like saying you're not afraid of Nemo."

"I guess you're right. It's hard to be afraid of the guy who cried during Free Willy." I glanced up at her, startled by the wide grin on her face.

"Look at you!" she cheered, shaking my arms.

"What?"

"You're finally growing a pair."

"What do you mean?" I asked, shaking my hair from its messy braid.

"You've never said anything like that about him before," she said, her excitement increasing.

"Yeah, I have."

"When I force it out of you, maybe. Never on your own, in the moment."

"Oh."

Brook rolled her eyes, lightly shoving my shoulder. "Stop that. I missed Striker Lani."

I fought my own smile. "You said you hated her."

Brook held up a finger. "No, no, I hated the mess you brought wherever you went."

"Soccer can be messy." I shrugged.

She wrinkled her nose, showing off her perfect manicure. "Soccer wastes thirty-three dollars."

"No, soccer saves thirty-three. Athletes don't need their nails painted every week," I argued, leaning back in my chair.

"I'm not sure I like this new you after all," she pouted.

"Because I'm right?"

"'Because I'm right' blah blah blah," Brook taunted, moving her hand with every word. "No, because Striker Lani was a pain in my ass to keep presentable. Look at you!"

I raked a hand through my hair, fingers catching on some knots. "I wasn't planning on leaving the house today, okay? You're the one who asked me to come here."

"Well, I couldn't call Rye!" Brook's smile melted away, the mood of the room shifting.

I hesitated for a second, noting the hardness in her voice. "Did he ever come by?"

"He tried," she said, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't want to see him."

"So, you are mad at him?"

"Of course I am." Brook laughed, but it was void of any humor. "He still refuses to admit it."

"Admit what?"

"The truth," she ground out, crossing her arms over her chest. "But he's close to cracking, I know it."

i've been trying to write this chapter for four days soooooo