Have you ever just lost all faith, lost all hope, and thought about ending it? I have. After Dakota told me her plan in progress I really started to think I would get home sooner or later, that I had to be patient. Once she got out of the country I'd be free of that nightmare. I really thought that's how it would end, she'd get away, I'd get to go home, alls well that ends well. But as we all know, life doesn't work that way, just when things are starting to look up, there is always someone or something there to smack you back down. Keep you from being free. That day... I think that was the day I truly lost my mind. I just threw all reason out the window and said fuck it, if I'm stuck here for the rest of my life so be it. I might as well enjoy myself.
The Pandemic
The day started off normal enough, I turned on the tv to hear any news about my case but it wasn't me everyone was talking about. I had heard small snippets about the pandemic here and there but I never thought it would be something that affects me. It always just seemed so far away.
But there it was, headlining, taking my screen time. NBA cancels season, then the next big hit. Borders being closed, no one in, but most importantly no one out. There was the governor of my state, telling everyone to stay home, closing down the businesses, and canceling large gatherings. We are in a state of emergency.
The hits just kept on coming.
Schools closing.
Limits to the amount of food you can buy.
Hospitals and emergency services are overworked and overrun.
Job layoffs.
Not a single mention about the kidnapped girl Melony Black.
Suddenly I didn't exist anymore. No one was looking for me. The police had lots of other things to worry about than me. Melony Black who everyone by this point already assumed was dead no longer had the spotlight and the attention of anyone.
At this point, I have been missing for nearly 3 months. I missed my finals for my school and I didn't get to register for classes for the spring semester. My life was leaving me behind, but not just my life, the world was leaving me behind. Running for cover to protect itself. Who was I compared to a worldwide pandemic?
"Hey," Dakota walked into my room.
"Aren't you supposed to be at school?" I ask.
"They shut it down, sent everyone home. We are switching to online learning now. So you're going to be seeing a lot more me around. Hope you don't mind."
"Do I have a choice?"
"So what are you doing?" she sat next to me.
"The same thing I've been doing every day since I got here." I sigh.
"Wanna do something fun?" she asked.
I eyed her.
"Come on," she grabbed my hand.
I sighed but followed her.
She led me into her garage and inside wasn't a car or anything like that. Although I did finally get to see her washer and drying and they are really nice. No wonder the girl likes washing clothes so much.
"Ta-da!" she led me over to a big box with a pool picture on it.
"Yay?" I looked at her.
"We have to set it up, obviously."
"Where?"
"In here."
"Uh, in your garage!?"
"Yep."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
"Don't pools usually go outside?"
"Then how would you get to swim too?"
She had a point.
"Come on!" she kneeled down and started opening the box.
I sighed but then I thought, what the hell. She's trying to do something nice for me, might as well indulge her. What do I got to lose at this point? We opened it up and set it out, making sure it fit and wasn't all wrinkled up. It's pretty big.
Not a pool made for the garage.
But she was adamant.
So she hooked up a hose to her kitchen sink and turned the water on.
"I don't have a swimsuit." I pointed out.
"Come here," she grabbed my hand and led me to her bedroom while the pool filled up.
This is the first time I've seen her bedroom. It's kind of exactly what I pictured. She has this huge king-sized bed that's elevated off the floor, so much so she has a step stool by her bed to get on it. All her furniture is made up of this cherry wood, nice and elegant with hand-carved accents. There is this veil over her bed, giving it a slight mystic feel. She has this huge entertainment center, with a big tv, way bigger than the one in my room. Lots of game consoles hooked up to it. She also has a glass desk with a computer set up. Her bathroom is a walk-in bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and a shower. Two sinks.
"Whoa," I say.
"Oh, you like it? It's just whatever." She pushes her hair behind her ear.
"Can we switch rooms?" I ask.
She laughs.
But I'm serious.
This room is way better!
"I want to watch movies in here from now on," I complain.
She giggles.
She walks over to her dresser and opens the top drawer, everything is all neatly folded and placed precisely.
"Come and pick one, we are basically the same size." She says.
I walk over to the drawer and eye her swimsuit selection.
"Hey! I have this same one," I pull it out.
"Super cute right? I couldn't resist."
I hold it up to my chest.
I guess we are the same size.
"Go change," she pushes me towards the bathroom.
So I do.
When I walk out she is changed too.
"Now we are ready, come on!" she pulls me back to the garage. Only a small puddle has formed.
"Uh... we might need more power than this," I say.
"Good point, good thing I bought two!" she grabs the second hose. I watch her feed it under the garage then she leaves me alone. Only to appear outside and grab the hose and go set it up at the side of the house.
It sputters to life and I quickly set it in the pool.
She comes back inside and eyes the pool.
"Now what?" I ask.
She throws in some pool noodles and hands me floaties to blow up. So I get to work. I blow up a mattress and a couple of drink holders. She blows up a big pink flamingo float. We are both out of breath by the time we finish.
"Bad idea," I wheeze.
"Yep, my bad." She huffs.
We toss them in the pool.
At the top of her garage door are these window slits, she opens them all to let some sun in. Then she hooks up a speaker to her phone and turns on some music.
"Now, we just need drinks." She says.
"I know how to mix a few drinks," I say.
"Come on," we walk back to the kitchen.
I make us some margaritas and we head back inside. She shuts the door to the garage connecting to the kitchen so that it stays hot inside and the ac doesn't overwork itself. Then we climb inside.
It's only up to our ankles.
She sits on the pink bird, I just sit in the water.
"Now this is the life," she sighs as she relaxes.
"Yep," I splash water at her.
She giggles.
We keep the drinks rolling and we order some food too. After a couple of hours, it's up to our knees. Two more hours after that it's finally halfway. But by then, I'm more than tipsy.
"You know," I slur, "You're actually pretty cute. I'm surprised you're single."
"Romance is hard for me," she admits.
"How come?"
"A lot of people can't handle me. I can be pretty intense. I like things a certain way. Most people just think I'm a bitch." She sighs.
"But you're so nice," I pull her into my arms.
"You're drunk," she points out.
"Am I?"
She giggles.
"I bet you only come off bitchy to hide how sensitive you are," I poke her in the stomach.
She giggles.
I bury my head into the crook of her neck.
"You smell good," I take in a big whiff.
She giggles nervously and tries to pull away.
I guess I should have warned her I'm a clingy drunk. I love physical contact. It's why I always need a sober body with me when I go out. To make sure I don't do something stupid like go home with a serial killer...
"I need another drink," she breaks free from me.
"Oh, top me off," I slur as I hand her my glass.
She takes the cup and climbs out of the pool to get more drinks.
When she comes back she hands me mine.
"Okay, okay, let's play never have I ever," I say.
"Fine," she gets back in.
"Never have I ever killed anyone."
"That's cheating."
"Drink!"
She takes a big gulp.
"Okay, never have I ever slept with a girl."
"Touché," I drink.
"Never have I ever wrecked my car," I say as my next one.
"Really?" she eyes me in disbelief.
"Nope, you?"
"Not really, just hit a light pole once, but that was it."
"Still counts."
She drinks.
"Never have I ever pretended to orgasm." She challenges.
"Never ever!?" I say.
She shakes her head no.
"Damn, lucky you." I drink.
She laughs.
"Never have I ever fantasized about a professor."
She drinks.
"Shut up!" I push her.
We both laugh.
"Now I need the story."
"No way, it's embarrassing."
"Tell me!" I shake her by the shoulders.
She laughs.
"Okay how about this, if I can get you on the next one I'll tell you." She says.
"Deal."
"Never have I ever gotten off in public before."
I sip.
"Shut the hell up."
"It was one time! And it was my girlfriend's idea, we did it in a car, at the park."
She laughs.
"Nobody saw," I say around my sip. "I think," I mumble into the glass.
"I knew it! I knew you were the wild type." She says triumphantly.
"Oh, so you've been wondering how crazy I am in bed?" I tease.
She blushes.
"You have to tell me how crazy you are," I poke her in the chest.
"Do I have to tell, it's embarrassing."
"Tell me, how hot was this professor?"
"Super-hot, all the guys had hard-ons for her. God, she was so suggestive too. She had this nice big round ass, I swear I could stare at that thing all day. It was torture. Sometimes I would picture her naked in front of the class and imagine her coming over to me and I'd bury my face into her. Slap her ass a few times, be her plaything."
"Damn," I fan myself.
She laughs.
"That's kind of hot," I admit.
"Really?"
"I could be your teacher," I tease.
"Shut the hell up!" she pushes me away and laughs.
I down the rest of my drink.
"Emm!" I say as I swallow. "I love this song." I dance around in the water."
"Me too," she downs her drink too.
It's a slow song.
I grab her in my arms and we sway around in the water.
She wraps her arms around me and I bury my head into her chest.
"You're warm," I comment.
"You're drunk." She points out.
"Dakota..."
"Yes?"
"Can you hold me?"
"I am."
"Tonight, can you hold me tonight? I always feel lonely when you aren't around." I admit.
Her arms tighten around me.
"Don't let go." I rest my head against her and close my eyes.
"We should get out and go lay down. We can try again tomorrow when it's filled up."
"Okay."
She helps me out of the pool and I stumble around.
I try to go upstairs to my room but I slip and fall twice.
"Just come to my room, I'll get your clothes." She says.
So I stumble over to her room, bumping into the end table and knocking things over. She comes in and helps me into the shower before leaving me alone. I quickly wash off and shower before getting dressed.
She meets me outside the bathroom with a couple of pills and a big glass of water. I take both. Then she goes to shower. I climb up on her bed, with great effort, and make myself comfortable.
Before she even comes out I'm asleep.
I wake up when she gets into bed and helps me under the covers. Then she pulls me into her arms and turns to lights off. I snuggle deeper into her and let her embrace lull me back to sleep.
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