The House of Angels

Missteps

"How's she?"

Daniel was sprawled on Josh's bed, smoking weed, when he entered his room.

"Not good. What're you doing here anyway? I thought you were going to the Siren." Josh sighed and took a seat beside him.

"I didn't feel like it..." he just answered, lost in thought.

"She thinks that guy's gonna come for her and kill us. It's madness." Josh leaned his back on the mattress.

"Not if we go for him first." Daniel just said, dryly.

"We talked about this. And it's still a no." Josh said sternly.

"You know you don't have a say in it, do you?" Daniel said, turning around to face him, searching his eyes.

"I like to think otherwise..." Josh shrugged, taking the joint from his best friend's fingers.

"Yeah, right. So I assume she's not coming tonight..." Daniel stirred a little.

"She said no but I'm going to ask her one more time before giving up." Josh sighed.

"It's pointless. She's too stubborn." Daniel shrugged.

"You should go ask her. Maybe she'll listen to you."

"If she didn't listen to you, why would she listen to me?" Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Well, looks like you two have some secrets..." Josh teased.

"Yeah...? What are you talking about?" Daniel scoot closer, intrigued.

"I'm talking about last saturday, when you told us to get off the car so you could have her alone." Josh smirked.

"Ahhh, that..." Daniel's mouth twitched to hold back the grin that was threatening to spread across his face.

"So, care to tell me what was that about?"

"Are you jealous?" Daniel teased.

"Just curious..."

"Why don't you ask her? She's a very honest girl..." he winked.

"Yeah?" Josh asked confused.

"Yeah, I mean she told me you two kissed without any problem, I'm sure she'll tell you what happened between us if you ask her." Daniel's smirk widened and grew evil.

"She... told you..." Josh smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah, she told me." He shrugged.

"So I guess you kissed her too."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because I know you, bro." Josh scoffed.

"Well, you're wrong again. Because she was the one who kissed me."

"Wait, really?" Josh was beyond surprised.

"What? Think I'm not good enough?" Daniel scowled.

"No, it's not that. I thought you two could barely stand each other. That's all!"

"Ok, you want me to be honest, don't you?" Daniel sighed.

"Oh, f**k. I'm not sure I want to hear that..." Josh shivered.

"Then I won't tell you."

"Ok, tell me."

"Too late."

"f**k you, man. Tell me!" Josh scowled.

Before Daniel could say anything, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Josh called out.

"So, what's up?" Anatoli stalked into Josh's room, taking a seat on the armchair beside the window.

"Hey man..." Josh said.

"What's with the long faces?" The guy asked.

"Oh, nothing important..." Daniel started, before being interrupted by Josh.

"Maybe it's not important TO YOU!" He said with a glare.

"Oh my god, if you're so interested go ask her by yourself!" Daniel snapped at his friend.

"Woah, guys what're you arguing about?" Anatoli teased, with an amused grin.

"He was about to tell me something about Moon but looks like he's scared, so I'm guessing he's done something disgraceful." Josh rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Moon? You mean the new girl you two can't stop talking about? Men, I'm so curious to know what's all this fuss about." Anatoli snickered, rolling a joint.

"You stay away from her, with your sexy russian accent and bewitching attitude. I know you, Ant!" Daniel scoffed, throwing his lighter toward him, but Anatoli dodged it, chuckling.

"Mmm, I must say it's a first, Dan. Are you really jealous? What is it? Is it that you haven't been able to f**k her yet?" He teased, with a smug grin.

"And he's not going to!!" Josh interrupted, glaring at Daniel.

"Why are you glaring at me!? He's the one who's talking s**t. If I wanted to f**k her I wouldn't have stayed away from her all week long." Daniel said exasperated.

"She wouldn't let you f**k her anyway!" Josh hissed.

"You should've seen how eager she was to tocuh my c**k last saturday, then!" Daniel spat angrily, regretting his words immediately after.

He hadn't been planning to tell him about that like this. Not exactly.

As soon as he found out about her past, he regretted the moment they shared in the car.

He felt a little guilty for being so thoughtless and let lust get the better of him.

And her behaviour left him speechless, it was like she didn't care but it was all a lie, because he'd seen it in her eyes.

Sorrow.

Despair.

Weariness.

He couldn't stop thinking about that, so he'd spent the last week trying to figure everything out and he knew that it was a bad idea to go too close to Moon, since he seemed to lose all his control around her and it was more important to find a way to help her, right now.

But now he'd screwed up, like always.

This was definitely not helping her.

Josh was frozen and speechless, his eyes wide and his mouth ajar in disbilief. Even Anatoli looked astonished.

"I - I'm... sorry. I didn't mean to say that." He stuttered with a hoarse voice, then pursed his lips, ashamed.

Josh knew Daniel very well and he knew he didn't say anything that was not true, and seeing him so insecure and fluttered after his mistake tightened his chest. He cleared his throat.

"So you... but you were alone for just ten minutes...?" He said, confused.

"No we didn't f**k. She just... you know... touched me..." Daniel answered, shyly. "But I didn't even come, it was just a few minutes, then you came back and nothing else happened after that!" He added quickly.

Josh didn't know what to say. He'd been thinking he and Moon had shared a special moment that afternoon but she kissed and touched Daniel the same night. Not that he was angry or pissed about that, since they weren't a couple and even if they'd been close through the whole week they didn't kiss again or even talked about it, because she was going through a bad moment and all he wanted was to be there for her.

"Ok." He just shrugged.

"Wait, what?"

"What?"

"Is that all you have to say?"

"Yeah, what else should I say?"

"Maybe that I was a d**k for saying it out loud. In front of Ant, furthermore." Daniel snorted.

"Why would I? You know it already." Josh shrugged.

"Oh yeah? Have it your way, then!" Daniel scowled, folding his arms.

"God, that was embarassing." Anatoli muttered.

"This will remain between the three of us. We don't want everyone to know about Moon's business." Josh stated, Daniel and Anatoli nodded slightly.

"So, remember Farah?" Anatoli began, changing the topic.

"The rich manager you were screwing this spring?" Daniel asked absent-mindendly.

"Yeah. She's going to Miami for a pair of weeks. Guess who's the lucky one who gets to look after her huge villa while she's gone?" Anatoli smirked, waving a set of keys in front of them.

"Wait, you mean the huge, luxurious villa with swimming pool and private spa?" Josh asked, incredulous.

"Yeah. I can't host a party or something but she told me I could bring my friends as long as we behaved. So, put your swimming suits on, after dinner we're heading there."