DANI
There’s a weird tension in the apartment. Dani and Charlotte usually spent their evenings cuddled up watching TV, but all weekend Charlotte was either holed up in her room or making herself busy. Lately, they had started re-watching Degrassi, and when Dani turned it on Saturday night Charlotte declined, stating she had a project due Monday.
She knew better than to believe that. Charlotte was a straight A student without even trying. Never once had Dani seen her study, or spend more than 3 hours on a project or essay. Something was going on.
Dani pondered the situation through all of her classes Monday. Charlotte has been acting strange since the party Friday. Dani scanned through every action she had made that night.
Did I say something? No, I didn’t hint towards anything, I sure as hell didn’t admit my feelings. The only thing weird was Charlotte’s behavior when we left the party.
All weekend Dani had been catching Charlotte glancing at her. She had been quiet and reserved and Dani almost felt like she was avoiding her. Her stomach knotted from the stress of wondering what was going on.
It’s probably something personal! Don’t be so self absorbed it probably doesn’t have anything to do with you, just ask her about it tonight.
After classes, Dani walked into the store to start her shift. Fortunately, she had obtained good scholarships and only had to work 16-20 hours a week as a cashier. She only needed enough to pay for groceries, her phone, and car insurance.
“Hey, there she is!” Xavier, her shift lead, was there to greet her… as usual.
“Hey, Xavier, what’s up?” She replied trying not to sound bored.
“Nothing much, just wondering when you’re going to let me take you on that date.” He said winking.
Dani tried to keep her skin from crawling off. It’s not that he was unattractive. Quite the opposite, actually. Golden blonde messy hair, defined jaw, blue eyes, toned without being a complete beefcake. He was a cute guy, but still his repeated references to her being an ‘exotic beauty’ gave her the willies. Something about a man only being attracted to her because she was Hispanic made her want to vomit.
“Not now or ever, as I have repeatedly stated.” She said giving him her sweetest smile.
He didn’t even falter. “Oh, Danielle, someday you’ll come around. When you’re ready for a man to love you right, you come to me.” He licked his front teeth as he looked her up and down and came back to meet her gaze. The way he always affected a vocal fry when he tried to flirt made her want to punch him.
She watched him swagger away and wondered how difficult it would be to find another job. She’d reported him before, but of course she was dismissed. Jobs in college towns were hard to find, every college student needed a job, they were always fully staffed and nowhere else would allow her this flexibility. It wasn’t worth it to continue reporting him, she would just end up in more trouble herself, while he continued being a sleaze-ball. She did her best to avoid him during her shifts, a struggle since she was tied to her register and he always found his way over to her throughout her four hour shift.
I can’t wait to go home and update Charlotte on The Creep Chronicles. She thought to herself with a laugh. Her chest caved when she suddenly remembered the confrontation she had planned for tonight. Remembering that something was up with Charlotte and their friendship might be on the rocks slapped her back to reality. She suddenly felt alone, Charlotte was all she had in the world. She could laugh at all of the hardships and adversities of day to day life as long as she had Charlotte by her side.
She let out a breath and smiled as a customer approached her line. She nodded along and barely listened to what the middle aged woman was blabbing about. Years of working in customer service still hadn’t helped her adjust to how much customers will share with a clerk. They will tell you anything, their whole life’s story, and some very intimate details about their personal lives. As if any minimum wage employee wants to know about your marital issues or cares about your most recent trip to Urgent Care for an ingrown toenail.
The rest of her shift went by quickly. Xavier made a few stops at her register to creepily watch her wipe down her conveyor belt and bag groceries. Only one customer yelled at her today. An uppity woman who scolded her for double bagging the milk stating, “You’re just giving more trash to throw away, I only need one bag!” Dani, being tender hearted, felt her face redden when the woman reprimanded her. She always double bagged anything heavy or with sharp corners, just to make sure no one lost their items in the parking lot on the way to their car. Even though Charlotte always reminded her not to take everything to heart, it’s just the way she was. Although she was only a cashier, she was still in the way of helping people and wanted to provide good service.
She shrugged off her work vest and imagined that all of her work burdens where coming off with it. Only for the weight of what was at home to settle on her shoulders. It was a silent drive, the 5 miles back to the apartment, she didn’t even bother to turn on her radio. She wanted to plan the conversation in her head, to mentally prepare for what was to come, but her mind was silent.
When Dani unlocked the door she heard two voices. She stepped into the living room to see Charlotte and… Dex.
“Hey, girlie! How was work?” Charlotte’s voice had regained it’s cheeriness. She was sitting on the couch and Dex was lounging in their recliner.
“It was good. How were your classes today?” Dani asked trying and failing not to sound weirded out.
“So boring! I had a lecture in World History today and you know how Professor Bowman drones on.” Dex laughed and Charlotte looked to him smiling, “Seriously! He has no inflection in his voice, he is so monotoned!” She turned back to Dani, “I ran into Dex outside the library and invited him to come hang out.” She subtly wiggled her eyebrows at Dani.
Dani wanted to be irritated, but the relief of knowing that Charlotte had him over to play match-maker instead of for herself washed away any negative feelings.
Dani tried to show Charlotte her disapproval, but Charlotte either didn’t pick up on it or ignored it. “Well, that’s cool. So, Dex, how is your presentation for Art History coming along?” She asked casually.
“I hate that class.” He said with a tone of disinterest. “I haven’t even started that project, I’ll probably throw something together the night before it’s due.” He chuckled.
Great. Love that ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude. As if not caring was cool. As if being smart or having an interest in studies was lame. When she started college, she really hoped that all those ‘too cool for school’ people would’ve matured. Nope. Here they are, still thinking good grades and hard work was nerdy.
“What about you? When are you staring the project?” He asked.
“Actually, I already finished it.” She replied.
Dex raised his eyebrows in surprise and nodded. “Studious girl, cute.”
Dani tried not to make a face, she felt Charlotte looking at her. Charlotte knew she wasn’t into guys like this.
Dani had dated plenty of guys in the time that she’d been friends with Charlotte. She used the term ‘dating’ loosely. They were mostly short flings that she didn’t keep around long. She’d never admitted to Charlotte that she was also interested in women, just out of fear that Charlotte would treat her differently or figure out that Dani had a fat crush on her.
Dex hung out until about 10pm. An evening full of small talk and awkwardness. Dani was itching for him to leave so she could talk to Charlotte alone.
“I had a great time hanging out. Maybe we could go get coffee together sometime or study together.” Dex said sheepishly, his arrogant façade fading. Dani was surprised, she thought Dex must’ve felt just as awkward and uninterested. She couldn’t help but feel a little flattered that he might like her, and just maybe, she felt like there might be decent person in there. Underneath the insufferable fuck-boy persona, of course.
“Yeah, maybe.” She laughed. “I can help you get that project started.” She teased.
“Cool!” Dex said a little too excitedly. “I look forward to that. See you, Dani.”
Dani shut the door and whirled to face Charlotte. “Seriously? Why did you invite him? That was weird.”
“Oh, please, he asked you out!” Charlotte said with a little hop.
Dani sighed and rolled her eyes. “So, what’s going on with you.” She blurted. She had intended to address it more gently, but having a guest over had thrown a wrench in her plans.
“What do you mean?” Charlotte asked innocently.
“You’ve been acting weird with me all weekend. I’m worried about you.”
Charlotte bit her lip nervously. “I was just busy.” She said, an obvious lie.
“That’s balogna. You know you aren’t a good liar.”
“Excuse me? I told you I had a project due! Forgive me for wanting to make sure my schoolwork was done before wasting time with you, watching some dumb show!” Charlotte snapped.
Dani was taken aback. Never once in their three years of friendship had Charlotte ever spoken to her like that. “What the hell, Charlotte? Why are you getting so pissy at me for trying to make sure you’re okay? I know how you are, you NEVER study and you sure as hell don’t wait until the weekend before to do a project. What’s going on?”
“No, you’re accusing me! You aren’t just ‘trying to make sure I’m okay’.” She threw up air quotes for the last sentence. “You’re being nosey and over-bearing like always. I’m fine. I just forgot about that project, so I had to do it last minute. I’m so sorry that you couldn’t have all of my attention this weekend.” She drawled out sarcastically.
“What is your deal? You never talk to me like this.” Dani said, her throat tightening.
“Maybe it’s time someone did. You need to learn to mind your own business. I always let it slide, because you’re my best friend but even I have boundaries, Dani.” She turned on her heel and went into her room, slamming the door.
Dani stood in the middle of the living room in shock. She choked down a sob as a tear slid down her cheek. She quietly went to her own room and shut the door as softly as she could.
This is it. I knew it. I knew she was upset with me for something. I don’t even know what I did. Dani went into her bathroom and turned on the shower, hoping the noise would drown out her crying.
She stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. When she got out she had a headache and her eyes ached from rubbing them. She collapsed on her bed and checked her phone.
A message from an unknown number.
“How about coffee after Art History tomorrow? :)”
That must be Dex. “How did you get this number?”
“Charlotte gave it to me. Sorry if that’s weird.”
“Sooo weird ;)” “Sure I’m down, how about Beaningful Cafe?”
“Sounds great! See you tmrw. :)”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” He replied, and Dani saved his number.
Despite everything, and despite the fact that she didn’t really have interest in Dex, Dani smiled. It could be that she was just feeling vulnerable after her encounter with Charlotte, or the fact that she always tries to see the best in people. Regardless of the reason, Dani was willing to get to know Dex. After all, it’s not fair that I’ve made judgements on him without knowing him. There’s no harm in coffee and studying, at the very least, she might make a friend, and have someone to talk to.
Putting her phone on the charger, Dani crawled under the covers and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.