Simon shuffled the deck of cards while he eyed Ryan and Dani in the dim candlelight.
Something weird is going on.
Through the whole game, which to be frank, Simon had very little idea how to play, his roommates had been making weird little movements and glances. He couldn’t pin what it was, just that they weren’t their usual selves.
Rachel had explained the game to them a couple of times, some team card game she grew up with. And miraculously Ryan knew how to play too, though he was too drunk for that to be of any use.
Simon and Rachel were teamed up. That meant she moved to the couch next to Dani while Ryan was sitting on the floor next to Simon. Once each player was across from their respective partner they could begin.
Maybe it’s a good thing those two aren’t on the couch together. I’m sure whatever weirdness is going on would just be amplified.
“Um, Simon?” Rachel said. “I think they’re shuffled enough.”
He realized the whole table was waiting on him to start dealing. It was round four or whatever, Simon wasn’t sure the term.
“Right. Sorry about that.” He began to hand out the cards as Rachel had shown him. As he did, he caught Dani staring at Ryan from the corner of his eye. Ryan, meanwhile, played random songs on his phone and sang along to them, not returning her gaze.
Why does she keep staring at him? Is she just zoning out because she drank a lot? I guess they’re sitting across from each other. It’s not really that weird, I suppose.
Once everyone had the right amount of cards, Simon set the leftovers on the table.
“Remember you have to flip over the top card of the kitty,” Rachel instructed Simon.
Right, right. So many rules to remember.
Ryan burst out laughing. “The top card of the what?”
Simon gave him a shove. “Dude this is the third time you’ve laughed at that tonight. Get some water or something.”
While Simon was used to Ryan’s immaturity, something about him that night was just getting on his nerves.
“Ah I would,” Ryan said. “But if I stand up now I might fall over. Think you could get some for me, babe?” He fluttered his eyelashes at Simon as he asked.
Rachel and Dani giggled at the fake pet name.
“Yeah, no,” Simon responded.
Dani sprung up from her slouched position on the sofa. “I’ll get it!”
Well that’s nice of her. Usually she gets a little bratty when asked for favors.
Dani headed to the kitchen and poured a glass of water from one of the emergency jugs.
“Here you go!” She said as she handed it to Ryan.
“Ah, thanks sweet cheeks.” Ryan wrapped his hands around the glass and started to drink.
Again, Rachel and Dani giggled.
I know he just did the same joke to me, but don’t make it with Dani! It’s… Different. Right? Yeah, of course! They’re just laughing out of courtesy anyway. Dani is probably grossed out by how he talks.
“You guys can be so crazy sometimes,” Rachel said.
Dani reclaimed her seat on the couch, now with improved posture, and the game continued.
Simon couldn’t help but see the grin on Dani’s face, barely visible in the dim light but impossible to miss all the same.
Yeah. Something weird is going on.
***
At the forty third minute of their game, when the candles had burned a good half of their wax, Simon heard it. First the refrigerator started humming, then the clock on the stove flickered, and finally the lights flashed back on.
“Oh! Thank god!” Dani shouted. “Our food should still be fine. I thought we were going to have to do a huge grocery trip to restock.”
The four all stood up and stretched in acknowledgement of their returned power.
It’s already one in the morning.
While Simon had ignored how late it was due to the unique circumstances, he still had to work the next day.
“Hey,” he asked Rachel, who had been blowing out some of the tea lights. “Are you good to get home on your own? I’ve got to work pretty early.”
He saw her excited expression fade. “Yeah. If the late night bus hasn’t stopped for the blackout then I should be fine.”
Why is she disappointed? She knew I had to work tomorrow, what did she want me to do?
Simon led her to the door and helped her put her coat back on. “Text me when you’re back! So I know you made it safe.”
“Right. Got it.” She waved goodbye to everyone and left.
“That was a little cold, don’t you think?” Dani asked.
“Huh?” Simon wasn’t used to her speaking on his relationship.
“You couldn’t even wait with her at the bus stop?”
“Well I have to work early. It’s already way later than I want to stay up.”
Why is she acting so offended? It’s not like her.
“Gotta agree with Dani on this one,” Ryan chimed in from the floor, which he was back to lying on. “It’s late and who knows if the bus schedule is messed up after the power goin’ out.”
“Yeah and there might be weirdos still out and about from when the city was dark.” Dani’s voice sounded worried more than annoyed.
“Well Rachel is tall and she has pepper spray,” Simon said. “She’ll be fine, I promise.”
“Still,” Dani continued. “It felt a little rude. Like you just kicked her out. You could have let her stay over.”
“True and…” Ryan stopped mid sentence. “Hold on.” He scrambled to his feet and ran to the bathroom, after which unpleasant sounds could be heard.
What an idiot, Simon thought.
“What an idiot,” Dani said.
Simon laughed and began to blow out the rest of the candles scattered through the kitchen and living room.
“I’ll make it up to Rachel later,” he said, hoping the conversation would be done.
“Alright. Sorry for butting into your personal life, anyway.” Dani took a step toward the kitchen and wobbled. Before hitting the ground she managed to catch herself, but not without looking ridiculous.
“Woah, are you okay?” Simon rushed over to help her keep balance.
“Yeah, I’m fine just…” She had a dumb grin on her face. “Just drank a bit earlier and still feeling it. I should eat something.”
“Were you drinking with Ryan before I got back? Is that why you two were acting weird?”
“Acting weird?” Dani looked Simon directly in the eyes. “Were we acting different than usual?”
Simon hesitated.
It might make things weirder if I act too pushy. Maybe I just let it go…
Another series of retches could be heard from the bathroom.
“I guess not that weird,” Simon said. “Just didn’t know you were drunk too. My bad.”
Dani grinned. “Well, maybe something happened. But it was just like a drunken incident, not a big deal.”
Now Simon couldn’t ignore it. “What happen? Is everything okay?”
Dani looked around as if someone might attempt to eavesdrop before leaning close to Simon. “Ryan and I kissed.”
Simon went pale.
No, no no no, she’s joking. Some weird drunk joke that she’ll feel embarrassed about tomorrow. Ryan? Are you kidding me? There’s no way.
“What’s that face for?” She asked.
“You’re… Really? Are you serious?” Simon stuttered out.
She just laughed. “Yeah! I mean like I said, we were drunk so it’s not really a big deal but-”
“With Ryan?” Simon almost yelled. He could still hear Ryan struggling in the bathroom so he wasn’t worried about him overhearing.
“What’s wrong with that? It was just some drunken fun!”
“Dani, you know how Ryan can be, right?” He was doing everything in his power to hide his anger. “He’s like, not always a good person! You remember him from high school right?”
Now Dani looked upset. “He’s gotten a lot nicer! We’ve been hanging out more and stuff, and besides! Like I said, it was just a spur of the moment thing! It’s not like we’ll make a habit out of it!” Her tone shifted to annoyance as she spoke.
“It’s… It’s reckless! What if things get awkward now and-”
“You’re the one making it awkward!” Dani said, her eyes narrowed. She shifted her posture and leaned away from him. “If things get weird then I’ll take responsibility but everything seems fine right now! So what’s the issue?”
Simon paused.
Why doesn’t she get it! Ryan is… He’s Ryan! He can be a huge asshole sometimes, he used to be so bigoted, he’s constantly acting like an idiot around women. She’ll just get hurt by him!
“What happened to you being asexual?” He asked.
Dani opened her mouth for a moment before closing it. After a few seconds she murmured, “I guess I’m discovering a bit about myself. And maybe… I might be into guys.”
Simon took a deep breath before replying. “Well that’s big news, I suppose. Did you just figure this out?”
“No. Honestly I’ve known for a while I just-”
“Why does it feel like you don’t tell me anything anymore?” Simon was losing his cool again.
“What do you mean? I tell you tons of stuff! You were the first friend I came out to.”
“I know but lately! You seem to just gravitate to Ryan and tell him everything and spend time with him. What’s that all about?”
Dani shrugged. “Just. You’re dating Rachel and I figured you would want to spend time and focus on her. And Ryan and I are home a lot so we just end up talking. I’m not trying to keep you out of the loop or anything.”
Great. I brought all of this on myself. I couldn’t just be a man and break up with Rachel. I couldn’t work up the courage to say what I needed to soon enough…
“Dani, I don’t…” Simon trailed off. “I think I’m going to break up with Rachel.”
She looked confused. “What? Why? You two seem so happy together. Other than you icing her tonight but still.”
“Dani… I like you.”
Simon shuffled the deck of cards while he eyed Ryan and Dani in the dim candlelight.
Something weird is going on.
Through the whole game, which to be frank, Simon had very little idea how to play, his roommates had been making weird little movements and glances. He couldn’t pin what it was, just that they weren’t their usual selves.
Rachel had explained the game to them a couple of times, some team card game she grew up with. And miraculously Ryan knew how to play too, though he was too drunk for that to be of any use.
Simon and Rachel were teamed up. That meant she moved to the couch next to Dani while Ryan was sitting on the floor next to Simon. Once each player was across from their respective partner they could begin.
Maybe it’s a good thing those two aren’t on the couch together. I’m sure whatever weirdness is going on would just be amplified.
“Um, Simon?” Rachel said. “I think they’re shuffled enough.”
He realized the whole table was waiting on him to start dealing. It was round four or whatever, Simon wasn’t sure the term.
“Right. Sorry about that.” He began to hand out the cards as Rachel had shown him. As he did, he caught Dani staring at Ryan from the corner of his eye. Ryan, meanwhile, played random songs on his phone and sang along to them, not returning her gaze.
Why does she keep staring at him? Is she just zoning out because she drank a lot? I guess they’re sitting across from each other. It’s not really that weird, I suppose.
Once everyone had the right amount of cards, Simon set the leftovers on the table.
“Remember you have to flip over the top card of the kitty,” Rachel instructed Simon.
Right, right. So many rules to remember.
Ryan burst out laughing. “The top card of the what?”
Simon gave him a shove. “Dude this is the third time you’ve laughed at that tonight. Get some water or something.”
While Simon was used to Ryan’s immaturity, something about him that night was just getting on his nerves.
“Ah I would,” Ryan said. “But if I stand up now I might fall over. Think you could get some for me, babe?” He fluttered his eyelashes at Simon as he asked.
Rachel and Dani giggled at the fake pet name.
“Yeah, no,” Simon responded.
Dani sprung up from her slouched position on the sofa. “I’ll get it!”
Well that’s nice of her. Usually she gets a little bratty when asked for favors.
Dani headed to the kitchen and poured a glass of water from one of the emergency jugs.
“Here you go!” She said as she handed it to Ryan.
“Ah, thanks sweet cheeks.” Ryan wrapped his hands around the glass and started to drink.
Again, Rachel and Dani giggled.
I know he just did the same joke to me, but don’t make it with Dani! It’s… Different. Right? Yeah, of course! They’re just laughing out of courtesy anyway. Dani is probably grossed out by how he talks.
“You guys can be so crazy sometimes,” Rachel said.
Dani reclaimed her seat on the couch, now with improved posture, and the game continued.
Simon couldn’t help but see the grin on Dani’s face, barely visible in the dim light but impossible to miss all the same.
Yeah. Something weird is going on.
***
At the forty third minute of their game, when the candles had burned a good half of their wax, Simon heard it. First the refrigerator started humming, then the clock on the stove flickered, and finally the lights flashed back on.
“Oh! Thank god!” Dani shouted. “Our food should still be fine. I thought we were going to have to do a huge grocery trip to restock.”
The four all stood up and stretched in acknowledgement of their returned power.
It’s already one in the morning.
While Simon had ignored how late it was due to the unique circumstances, he still had to work the next day.
“Hey,” he asked Rachel, who had been blowing out some of the tea lights. “Are you good to get home on your own? I’ve got to work pretty early.”
He saw her excited expression fade. “Yeah. If the late night bus hasn’t stopped for the blackout then I should be fine.”
Why is she disappointed? She knew I had to work tomorrow, what did she want me to do?
Simon led her to the door and helped her put her coat back on. “Text me when you’re back! So I know you made it safe.”
“Right. Got it.” She waved goodbye to everyone and left.
“That was a little cold, don’t you think?” Dani asked.
“Huh?” Simon wasn’t used to her speaking on his relationship.
“You couldn’t even wait with her at the bus stop?”
“Well I have to work early. It’s already way later than I want to stay up.”
Why is she acting so offended? It’s not like her.
“Gotta agree with Dani on this one,” Ryan chimed in from the floor, which he was back to lying on. “It’s late and who knows if the bus schedule is messed up after the power goin’ out.”
“Yeah and there might be weirdos still out and about from when the city was dark.” Dani’s voice sounded worried more than annoyed.
“Well Rachel is tall and she has pepper spray,” Simon said. “She’ll be fine, I promise.”
“Still,” Dani continued. “It felt a little rude. Like you just kicked her out. You could have let her stay over.”
“True and…” Ryan stopped mid sentence. “Hold on.” He scrambled to his feet and ran to the bathroom, after which unpleasant sounds could be heard.
What an idiot, Simon thought.
“What an idiot,” Dani said.
Simon laughed and began to blow out the rest of the candles scattered through the kitchen and living room.
“I’ll make it up to Rachel later,” he said, hoping the conversation would be done.
“Alright. Sorry for butting into your personal life, anyway.” Dani took a step toward the kitchen and wobbled. Before hitting the ground she managed to catch herself, but not without looking ridiculous.
“Woah, are you okay?” Simon rushed over to help her keep balance.
“Yeah, I’m fine just…” She had a dumb grin on her face. “Just drank a bit earlier and still feeling it. I should eat something.”
“Were you drinking with Ryan before I got back? Is that why you two were acting weird?”
“Acting weird?” Dani looked Simon directly in the eyes. “Were we acting different than usual?”
Simon hesitated.
It might make things weirder if I act too pushy. Maybe I just let it go…
Another series of retches could be heard from the bathroom.
“I guess not that weird,” Simon said. “Just didn’t know you were drunk too. My bad.”
Dani grinned. “Well, maybe something happened. But it was just like a drunken incident, not a big deal.”
Now Simon couldn’t ignore it. “What happen? Is everything okay?”
Dani looked around as if someone might attempt to eavesdrop before leaning close to Simon. “Ryan and I kissed.”
Simon went pale.
No, no no no, she’s joking. Some weird drunk joke that she’ll feel embarrassed about tomorrow. Ryan? Are you kidding me? There’s no way.
“What’s that face for?” She asked.
“You’re… Really? Are you serious?” Simon stuttered out.
She just laughed. “Yeah! I mean like I said, we were drunk so it’s not really a big deal but-”
“With Ryan?” Simon almost yelled. He could still hear Ryan struggling in the bathroom so he wasn’t worried about him overhearing.
“What’s wrong with that? It was just some drunken fun!”
“Dani, you know how Ryan can be, right?” He was doing everything in his power to hide his anger. “He’s like, not always a good person! You remember him from high school right?”
Now Dani looked upset. “He’s gotten a lot nicer! We’ve been hanging out more and stuff, and besides! Like I said, it was just a spur of the moment thing! It’s not like we’ll make a habit out of it!” Her tone shifted to annoyance as she spoke.
“It’s… It’s reckless! What if things get awkward now and-”
“You’re the one making it awkward!” Dani said, her eyes narrowed. She shifted her posture and leaned away from him. “If things get weird then I’ll take responsibility but everything seems fine right now! So what’s the issue?”
Simon paused.
Why doesn’t she get it! Ryan is… He’s Ryan! He can be a huge asshole sometimes, he used to be so bigoted, he’s constantly acting like an idiot around women. She’ll just get hurt by him!
“What happened to you being asexual?” He asked.
Dani opened her mouth for a moment before closing it. After a few seconds she murmured, “I guess I’m discovering a bit about myself. And maybe… I might be into guys.”
Simon took a deep breath before replying. “Well that’s big news, I suppose. Did you just figure this out?”
“No. Honestly I’ve known for a while I just-”
“Why does it feel like you don’t tell me anything anymore?” Simon was losing his cool again.
“What do you mean? I tell you tons of stuff! You were the first friend I came out to.”
“I know but lately! You seem to just gravitate to Ryan and tell him everything and spend time with him. What’s that all about?”
Dani shrugged. “Just. You’re dating Rachel and I figured you would want to spend time and focus on her. And Ryan and I are home a lot so we just end up talking. I’m not trying to keep you out of the loop or anything.”
Great. I brought all of this on myself. I couldn’t just be a man and break up with Rachel. I couldn’t work up the courage to say what I needed to soon enough…
“Dani, I don’t…” Simon trailed off. “I think I’m going to break up with Rachel.”
She looked confused. “What? Why? You two seem so happy together. Other than you icing her tonight but still.”
“Dani… I like you.”
