Chapter 7:Azalea
1307 Words
I looked down at my hands on the drive back to Dante’s. I didn’t feel like staying the night alone in my big empty house. I just wanted company and bad movies to get my mind off things. I was afraid that if I were at my place, the quiet would be too loud and all I’d do is think about my parents.
I looked up at Dante and opened my mouth, then closed it. It would be weird to ask to stay the night, as I used to when I was younger. I know he’s busy, and so is Ira. I could feel his eyes on me.
“Hey, what’s on your mind?”
“I don’t wanna ask you— it might sound weird. Ya, known because I’m twenty-four and I ain’t a scared little kid anymore.”
“No, you’re not a kid anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask me anything you want. Just shoot.”
“Can I stay the night with Ira and you? It’s just my house will be too quiet to be able to not think about how loud it used to be.”
“Yeah, of course, I can set up one of the guest rooms near Ira’s room and my room. We’re here, you, Azalea. Always, and that’s a promise.”
I nodded. “I’d appreciate it. Like a f**k ton. I just am afraid those happy memories will make me sad if I’m alone because I miss them so f*****g much, Dante.”
“I know you do. I miss them too, and a lot of people do. It’s not easy, but remember you have Ira and me. You can talk to either of us about what’s running through your head.”
“You promise?”
He nodded and pulled up into his driveway. He pressed the button on his visor, and the garage door opened up. “I promise. Why don’t you go get changed into some pj’s I have spare clothes that should fit you, maybe a little baggy. But at least you’ll be comfy. While I get the guest room set up.”
“Thank you, and I will. Are they in the closet next to the bathroom?”
He nodded as he parked the car in the garage. He turned the car off and closed the garage door, and we both headed inside. I followed him upstairs as I headed into the guest room he was talking about. I find the small closet in the bathroom and change into some of his basketball shorts and a tank top.
When I came back out, he was just finishing up smoothing out the sheets and the blanket. He looked over at me and smiled before fluffing up the pillows. I put my clothes on the small armchair in the corner.
“Oh! Dad—” Ira saw me and then looked over at Dante. Her brows knitted together, and her lips pursed out. “What’s going on? Why is Azalea in your clothes?”
Dante straightened up. “She didn’t wanna be home alone tonight, so I let her borrow some of my old clothes so she would be comfortable sleeping in the guest room.”
“O-oh okay, well I got home an hour ago and didn’t see you guys anywhere, and I got concerned.”
“Oh, Ira, I’m so sorry. I should’ve texted and told you we went to see her parents’ grave.”
“Oh well, that was sweet of you to go with her.” She turned to me and smiled. “Need a hug, bestie?”
I nodded, and she pulled me into a tight hug. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay, we’re here for you, and don’t forget that!”
She playfully poked my cheeks with both index fingers. I swatted her hands away. “Gods, you’re annoying sometimes, but thank you.”
“Hey, that’s what best friends are for, right?”
“Right.”
Dante cleared his throat. “Do either of you want dinner? There’s plenty of leftovers from brunch, or we can order out Chinese?”
Ira and I both said in union. “Chinese, please?”
Dante nodded. “I’ll order a variety of different things. Why don’t you just hang out, watch a movie, or something?”
“Wanna have a sleepover like we used to? Stay up late, watch movies, you can do my nails, and we can stuff ourselves until we burst?”
Ira plopped down onto the guest’s bed. “f**k ya!”
I followed suit on the spot next to her. “Good, I was hoping you’d say yes.”
“Wanna watch a comfort movie? We can watch something scary if you want!” Ira smiled and playfully shoulder checked me.
“Yeah, could we? Maybe like a funny scary movie?”
“Sounds like the perfect compromise.”
I flipped through a streaming service and picked one that was supposed to be scary, but it ended up being goofy because of the graphics for the year it was made. I leaned back onto the bed, laughing.
“f**k! Look how crappy the dinosaurs look compared to movies from the past few years!”
Ira giggled. “Yeah, okay, this isn’t too bad i guess.”
There’s a knock on the door frame. “Hey, food is here, wanna eat it down in the dining room or up here and finish that movie?” Dante asked from the doorway.
“Dad, can we eat it in here? I promise to help clean up the mess. This movie is funny.”
“Yeah, whatever you two want, you’re adults, but please clean up?”
We both nod, and he brings us some Lo Mein, fried rice, egg rolls, and fried dumplings.
“If you want more, just come downstairs, there’s plenty.”
“Thanks, Mr. Valenti.”
“Yeah, thanks, Dad.”
He leaves to head back downstairs. We dig into the food as we finish up the movie. I laughed harder when someone screamed when the dinosaur started walking towards them.
“You can tell that was a plastic toy. Isn’t that cool?”
“Wait, it is! Oh, my gods, that’s funny. I wouldn’t have noticed it if you didn’t point it out.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen this one quite a bit. It always makes me laugh because of what they used for the monsters.”
“I can see why, Azalea. It’s pretty cool, and you’re smart, ya know that?”
“You really think so?”
“Yeah, you’re my bestie, would I lie to you?”
“I mean, you never had before, so I guess not.”
We finish our food and goes down stairs to throw everything away. Dante is shirtless, cleaning up the kitchen. I stop dead in my tracts making Ira bump into the back of me. He hasn’t heard us yet. He sips on a glass of red wine, swirling it between sips.
“Azalea, what was— Dad put a shirt on, no one wants to see you shirtless.” She groaned, took the trash from my hands, and threw it away.
He turns around and chuckles. “Sorry, I was just cleaning, pumpkin. I’ll go put a shirt on.” He puts the now empty glass down and heads back upstairs.
“f**k, I’m sorry you had to see that. It’s annoying he does this every once in a while…”
“Really, I wonder why he’s never done that before when I’ve been here.”
“Yeah. He hasn’t, and it worries me.”
“Why?”
“Oh, well its just speculation, but it doesn’t matter.”
“If you’re sure it doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, thanks though, Azalea.”
- Writer
