Just you and I

XXIIII

(POV Dani)

I get in the car and head over to my sister's house, she called me an hour ago and sounded like an anxious mess. She's behind schedule, nothing's packed, she's not completely dressed, and oh, she has to be there in an hour to get everything ready.

So like the good sister I am, I'm heading over to help her do whatever she needs me to. And honestly, I don't mind helping. The only negative thing about this, is Ben. Why isn't he helping her anyways?

I turn on the radio while driving and sing along to get me in a good mood.

Fever dream high in the quiet of the night
You know that I caught it
Bad, bad boy
Shiny toy with a price
You know that I bought it
Killing me slow, out the window
I'm always waiting for you to be waiting below
Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
What doesn't kill me makes me want you more
And it's new, the shape of your body
It's blue, the feeling I've got
And it's ooh, whoa, oh
It's a cruel summer
It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
No rules in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa oh
It's a cruel summer
With you
Hang your head low
In the glow of the vending machine
I'm not dying
You say that we'll just screw it up in these trying times
We're not trying
So cut the headlights, summer's a knife
I'm always waiting for you just to cut to the bone
Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
And if I bleed, you'll be the last to know
Oh, it's new, the shape of your body
It's blue, the feeling I've got
And it's ooh, whoa, oh
It's a cruel summer
It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
No rules in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa, oh
It's a cruel summer
With you
I'm drunk in the back of the car
And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)
Said, "I'm fine, " but it wasn't true
I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
And I snuck in through the garden gate
Every night that summer just to seal my fate (oh)
And I screamed for whatever it's worth
"I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?
He looks up grinning like a devil
It's new, the shape of your body
It's blue, the feeling I've got
And it's ooh, whoa, oh
It's a cruel summer
It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
No rules, in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa, oh
It's a cruel summer
With you
I'm drunk in the back of the car
And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)
Said, "I'm fine, " but it wasn't true
I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
And I snuck in through the garden gate
Every night that summer just to seal my fate (oh)
And I screamed for whatever it's worth
"I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard

I don't think there's a better way to get in a good mood than singing along to Taylor Swift. She has songs for every and any mood.

Singing along made me think about Saylor, she openly told me she wasn't okay, and she's not someone who opens up to people easily. So for her to actually tell me, even after I kept my distance for so long, it shows how much she's hurting. And I don't know what to do.

I care about her, and I made it pretty clear that I do. And I'm sending her the worst mixed signals by either pushing her away, or either doing everything I can to help her. And I know it isn't fair to her. But I'm a human being before I am a teacher, and I tend to forget that and get caught up in my spiralling thoughts of worst-case scenarios.

I put my car in park and turn it off. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. Lainey immediately swings the door open.

"Thank goodness you're here."
She grabs my arm and pulls me inside. At least she managed to get dressed by the time I got here.