[2] The Aftermath

Once again: Daenerys is pronounced deh-nare-us.

   

“Dany! I tried texting you last night.” Emily's cheerful voice said from behind her opened locker door. Daenerys jumped, lost in thought of what happened last night.
   The pale, shimmery face of her best friend, Emily, looked at her through her gray-blue eyes. Those eyes didn't see what happened last night, nor did she have the courage to tell her.
   Across the bridge of her nose and under her eyes there were freckles placed perfectly. Some of the freckles masked up the bags under her eyes from lack of sleep.
   Today, her hair was a different color than last week. Near the top of her bangs was a blueish blonde color, then it faded out into aqua, then to a purple blue, then to a blue. The variety of color distracted Daenerys from replying.
   “Sorry, I fell asleep. My phone was on the floor and I didn't hear it vibrate.”
   “You sleep at 7PM?” She raised a curious eyebrow that was masked behind her light bangs.
   “I also had to do something for Drogan.” His name sent goosebumps on her arms, making her cross them.
   “Hm. Well, anyways. I'll tell you what I said in the text messages.”
   Daenerys waited, her eyes wandering to Emily's ringlet hair that was perfectly positioned evenly on her shoulders. There was a couple streaks of blue that twirled around one of her curls, then it faded out into her natural brown hair color.
   “You remember that guy I was telling you about? You know, that gorgeous freshman that wears big headphones and has the cutest braces?”
   “You mean...Ty?”
   “Yeah, him. Anyways. We had to partner up for this lame English project, and instead of doing it, we talked forever about the band The Glitch Mob. I can't believe he likes techno! We have way more in common than I thought.”
   “So thats what you wanted to tell me? That...you talked about Glitch Mob with a boy you've liked for awhile?”
   “No, no, silly. I'm telling you that I got his number! He wrote it down for me when the bell rang. He has the cutest butt in those black skinny jeans.” Emily sighed loudly, then started smiling uncontrollably.
   Daenerys rolled her eyes in amusement. “I'm so happy for you.”
   “You don't sound or look like it,” Emily frowned.
   If there was anything Daenerys knew well about Emily, is that she had a roller coaster of emotions. Thats what she loved about her, though; she was always entertained. “I just had a rough night last night.”
   “Nightmares again?”
   “Something like that.”
   Emily knew not to say anything else. She didn't want to pry too much into her situation, mostly because Daenerys wouldn't tell her anything more than that.
   “So anyways, continue telling me more about Ty.” Daenerys said as she grabbed her Social textbook and binder, then closed her locker, not worrying about locking it. She never did lock her locker until the end of the day.
   Emily had a impeccable smile on her pink lips that wouldn't wash away when the topic of Ty came up. “He has the cutest voice, and when he gets nervous...he talks uncontrollably and stutters. Its so adorable I almost melted. Anyways, when I gave him my number, his hand brushed mine! Can you believe it? Me. He wanted my number”
   “I can believe it.” She said truthfully. Emily was always a shy girl, but she was very sociable. There was something about her that related to everyone she encountered. Something bright flowed through her veins that made people like her. Something...unique.
   As the two of them started walking to class, Emily slipped her arm in hers. “I'm so glad we have first period together.” Emily's melodic voice rang through her ears as Daenerys’s thoughts trailed back to last night; making her feel invisible to everyone else.


   “You're so beautiful, don't you know that?” Drogan said lightly as he hugged his naked body against hers forcefully. Like he was trying to make her feel something other than disgust.
   Daenerys closed her eyes and gulped quietly, trying to forget what just took place a moment ago.
   Daenerys was terrified of sex. Every fear she had, Drogan knew about. He used it to his advantage, too. He knew stuff about her without her even confessing it.
   “Thanks,” Daenerys said calmly, trying to cure the urge to vomit.
   “One day, we're going to go off somewhere. It'll just be the two of us. Somewhere where nobody knows we are related. Somewhere where we can be accepted as a couple.” Drogan’s hopeful but vindictive voice trailed throughout the nights air.
   The thought of being with him in public made her stomach churn.


   “Dany?” Emily looked at her, and she realized that they were outside her social classroom.
   “Hm? Oh, sorry, yeah. What?” Daenerys laughed nervously, “sorry, I zoned out.”
   “I just said that I can't believe this is our last year in this high school. It felt like yesterday we were anxiety wrecked teenagers who made a big deal over everything. Two more months, then we're done. It seems so...sad.” They both walked into the classroom and took a seat near the middle of the class, then faced each other again.

“But then we'll be moving onto bigger and better things. Change is good.” Daenerys said as she put her binder on the salt and pepper wooden desk.
   “I guess so,” Emily rested her cheek in her palm and looked over at Daenerys. “But I'm going to miss you. Change means new people, new everything. I'm not ready to let go of my Dany yet.”
   “And I'm not ready to let go of my Emily yet.”
   They smiled in unison.
   “Well good morning seniors.” The booming voice that belonged to Mr. Bronson filled the room, the chattering stopped and all eyes faced him. “I'm glad to see you all are actually here this morning. I'm about to fall over from a heart attack, this is amazing! All the desks are filled!”
   A couple students laughed quietly, others clapped and hooted.
   Mr. Bronson ran his hand through his hair with gray strands hidden in the bushes of his jet black hair. His emerald eyes scanned the classroom, looking at all the familiar faces. His plump face exemplified clean energy and a stress free morning.
   “Anyways, moving on. Since your exams are about a month away, today we'll be doing review. All period!” He gave a fake smile as well as enthusiasm while the rest of the class groaned in protest.

Kill the lights, these children learn from cigarette burns, fast cars, fast women, and cheap drinks, it feels right, all these asphyxiated, self-medicated; take the white pill, you'll feel alright.
   Daenerys was bobbing her head up and down to the beat of the music while she unwrapped her turkey and lettuce sandwich. She had one headphone in so she could listen for Emily.
   I'm not your boyfriend, baby. I can't grant your every wish, I'm not your knight in shining armor. So, I just leave you with this kiss.
   “Hey loner,” Emily said, following by a giggle. Beside her was Ty, the guy that she never stops talking about it. Daenerys thought it was cute. “Look who I found.”
   “Hey Ty,” Daenerys took out her headphone and waved, then took a bite of her sandwich.
   “Hey,” he responded shyly.
   Emily and Ty sat down beside each other, their backs leaning against the white wall.

“So, how was French, Dany?” Emily asked as she pulled out her orange and white tie dye lunch kit. It was originally a panda, but her mom sewed it for her.
   “It was alright.” She took another bite of her sandwich. “How was English with Ty?” Daenerys gave a sly smile to Emily, and her cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
   Ty was completely oblivious as to what was happening around him, so he started eating a fruit cup, which looked like that was all of his lunch.