The Silent Sorrow (GXG)

9. She hasn't looked at someone like that for a long while

Dandy and I are sitting in quiet on our way to her place. In a way Dandy seems nervous, I don't know why, but maybe she is not used to having visitors.

"Dandy?" I say lightly and she watches me for a short moment before her gaze goes back to the road.

"Why do you not talk?" I ask right out because I am very curious and it seems like she is the one that has to answer that, but she doesn't say anything as always. She is not even looking at me. Her eyes are stuck on the road as she clenches her teeth.

We just sit in silence for ten minutes, until she stops the car in a driveway. She looks at me, but no smile, just back to the old look on her face. A little moment later, she steps out of the car and I follow her lead up to the house. Then in the door, where the sound of a radio plays an old song and I walk after Dandy into the kitchen.

Dandy's parents are discussing something very loud. Then they stop talking as they see Dandy and me, but they watch me almost shocked as if I was a ghost. Not long after the women with the same hair as Dandy, smiles.

"Oh, hey." The old women say, grinning very bright as she looks at us as if nothing happened.

"Hi." I smile a little unsure, but then she comes towards me taking my hand in her shaking it hard, still grinning.

"I'm Jodie. Dandy's mother." She sounds friendly and full of life.

"That is my husband, William." Jodie says and watches him with annoyance.

"Umm, I'm Jamie." I say a little scared by her happiness.

"It's nice to meet you." She tells me as she let go of my hand and move over to the stove to check the food. I turn to look at Dandy that is looking down at her colorful clothes, meaning that she is going to change. I nod as I smile.

I changed to clean clothes when we were in the woods so I am perfectly fine. She watches her parents as if she is telling them to behave, and I can't hide the smile on my face. Then she steps away, leaving me alone with her parents as I hear Andrew and Johanna come busting through the door full of laughter. They both say hi to Jodie and William before they get into the living room.

"You can sit down." Jodie smiles as she points as the table next to the window and I do so, as William steps out of the kitchen.

"So, how do you know Dandy?" She asks and sits down in front of me.

"School." I tell her honestly and she grins. She really has a big smile on her face, compared to Dandy. She barely even do so, but this woman seems to be the answer to happiness.

"It's good to know Dandy has someone. She seems very lonely at times, but I don't really know." She shrugs with sadness this time. I know what she means, Dandy's only way to express herself is with her body language, but she is easy to read at times.

"We have all tried to make her speak again, but not even the best psychologist can get a word out of her." She says as she looks down at her hand that is resting on the table as she sighs.

"It's just that I am worried. We know why she is silent, but we wish she could start talking again." She tells me and I clench my teeth and then swallow hard. It must be awful to be a mother to someone who does not talk.

"I'm sorry." Is the only thing I can manage to say, but Jodie smiles as she looks at me with warmth.

"At least, it is nice to know she has someone." She grin, which makes me smile lightly.

Dandy seems like to have a nice and supporting family, but it looks like they try to hide the fact that she do not speak or even smile that much. We finished eating dinner for a little while ago. The only one that Dandy was looking at was of course me.

Her eyes had many questions as if I was okay or annoyed, but I was really enjoying myself. Dandy's parents seem kind and fun, but I think they are trying too hard to be happy around Dandy and I am pretty sure she notices it.

She seems annoyed by them, but now she seems very tired, but that can also be that it is very late. I don't know if she is going to drive me home or if I am staying here until tomorrow. Which I don't mind, I would love to.

I am sitting in the living room now alone with Jodie and William. Dandy was in the bathroom and Andrew and Johanna left an hour ago. I feel a little uncomfortable right now because Jodie is watching me with her grin. She has been looking at me like that since her daughter left the room.

"You know," She starts and I smile the best as I can to hide my uncomfortableness.

"Dandy seems intrigued by you," My eyes widen with the surprise of the older women's words.

"She watches you very gently and with care," Jodie smiles warmly.

"She hasn't looked at someone like that for a long while."

"Not even her own mother." William says while his eyes are glued to the paper he is reading. Jodie rolls her eyes, irritated by her husband.

"She loves us, William, and we know it." She smiles, but then her smile fades into sorrow. Dandy comes back into the room, with her eyes only on me. I feel kind of bad that I am taking all of her attention from her parents. That she only watches me like that and not at her father or mother. I don't know what she means with that look of hers, but I hope she can show me someday.

Then Dandy takes up her car key from her pocket and she uses her other hand to point up. I think that is a question. The keys are obvious, and maybe she is pointing up to meaning her room. I smile at her as I point on her hand without the key. Dandy smiles very lightly as she takes down her hand and put the key down in her pocket.

Twenty minutes later, I am lying on a mattress on the floor in Dandy's bedroom. She is in her bed looking down at me. The lights from outside make it easy to see her. We are just staring at each other. It's Dandy's only way to talk, but it feels very nice with silence.

Dandy reach out her hand to me, I smile as I take it and use it to get up. She makes room for me in the bed as I lay next to her. I close my eyes, as I can't keep them open. It's been a lot of running today, with a little too heavy paintball gun. Dandy carried it as if it was weightless, and she was running very fast. She is very easy on her feet.

The only sounds in this room are her breathing and the sound of cars driving past the house. I yawn lightly and the last thing I feel is Dandy brushing my hair softly behind my ear.

The feeling of Dandy's arms around my stomach makes me wake up. I find myself lying on the very edge of the bed, but she pushes me back to her. I smile as she is still holding onto me. She probably needs to so I don't fall on the floor.

I lean back into her. Feeling her breath on my neck as she buries her forehead on me. I wish this could be ever night. That Dandy keeps me warm and safe. She is just amazing and everything I need.