Chapter 5: Not such a good help

Ben

"The world is going upside down, Paige," I said to Paige, who was preparing what looked like an apple pie.

Paige —who we used to call 'Pouch' 'cause Dannie said he looked like a pig that only used its mouth. I did not like it, but Paige found it really funny and appreciated the nickname— was the best friend to talk about problems. He was all anxious all the time, so he was the best helper at chaotic things.

"Dannie has got a job and I'm getting married," I added. "Don't you think it's ridiculous?"

"I-I don't know," he stuttered, "I thought you liked it with Laney. Sh-She's a good person."

"I know she is… but, again, what if everything changed when we got married."

"Like what?" he asked while putting the pie in the oven.

"Like… I don't know… things. Her father could hate me all of the sudden and then I'll be in the middle of Laney and her father's opinion on me." I explained.

"Isn't that Dannie's s-situation?"

I nodded.

Oh, Christ, I'm living other people's lives now.

Pouch smiled slightly and brought from the fridge some cookies in a tupperware. Those were his famous chocolate cookies with chocolate chips. He knew I was into chocolate so bad… if it wasn't for my gens…

"I mean…" I took one cookie. "What if I suddenly realize Laney is not the girl I wanna live all my life with?"

"I-Isn't she?" he smiled and took a cookie as well.

"She is. I love all of her… her innocence and her dresses… and the way she walks all ladylike. I like her."

"Well, B-Ben, I guess you wanna marry her. Why would you ever think of you not l-liking her in the future?"

I have no idea.

Our relationship was like many others. She used to talk a lot, I used to listen to all of her sayings. It worked for us. But I could not stop thinking that, lately, whenever I imagined our future, I couldn't see it. Not us. Not at all.

I would see myself living with Dannie for God knows how long.

"I don't know." I sighed. "All this sudden thing has turned me into another person, I guess. I wasn't like this, was I?"

Pouch took another cookie.

"Stress can make us change a little bit," he nodded while chewing. "But you have to see the bright side in this."

He kept nodding while chewing and I waited for him to continue his speech, but he didn't when he stop eating.

"What's the bright side?" I asked, completely eager to know.

"You'll have to figure it out."

"Thanks… Pouch," I sighed again.

The day went by over me. It was getting all dark when I opened up the door of my house –hoping that Dannie wouldn't have done something crazy this time.

Please, please, please.

It was not a surprise –maybe it was– finding Laney and Dannie sharing a mask in the couch while watching some gossip channel. Dannie turned his head to the door when he heard me.

"What hours are these!? What kind of husband are you trying to be, strolling in at such ungodly hours" he asked, sounding all affected. "What? You want your future wife thinking you are the kind of guy that never shows up at home before dawn?"

He was getting really dramatical, with his arms crossed and his pink bathrobes. Pink really suited him in a way.

"It's eight o'clock," I smiled while approaching to them.

"And you are answering me! What a nerve," he cried.

"Hi honey," said Laney after I gave her a little forehead kiss, that was not such a good idea, 'cause my lips ended up full of –avocado–? "Dannie and I are hydrating our skin" she added. "What do you think?"

"You look… greener," I smiled.

"Putting on masks with Dannie is so fancy," she commented. "It always relaxes me. I think we have a lot in common."

"That's right, sis," Dannie added.

"Don't you say," I rolled my eyes and showed them the tupperware I was carrying. Pouch had made sure I brought home some apple pie. All of our desserts were actually from Pouch's. "I brought this, if you want."

Dannie took a deep inhale.

"That has Pouch written all over it. You were at Pouch's?" he asked. "Without me? Who needs friends nowadays… Friends are overrated! Traitors, all of them!"

"Pouch said he's found a new recipe he wants to show you. You can go to his house on your next break," I told him.

"Better be soon."

After I went to the kitchen, eager to see if everything was upside down, I was shocked by the cleanness in the place. Even the cups were nowhere to be seen at the island.

Dannie did this?

Is he gonna ask me for money?

I walked to the sink, slowly.

"It's clean," I had to say at loud.

My daily routine used to be get home from work and clean all Dannie's disasters. A clean kitchen when he had made a mask? That, I was not expecting.

"You like it?" Laney asked while passing the doorway.

She had taken out his green mask and was drying her face with a pink towel. It probably belonged to Dannie.

"You did this?" I had to be sure.

She nodded in a smile.

"I thought you'll be all tired when you got home… so."

That was a surprise. Laney cleaning was not something to see every day, 'cause she was used to having butlers.

"I'm really tired," I nodded. "Well… thanks."

I got close to the cabinets to take a mug to drink some milk before showering and getting into bed.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you!" Laney quickly said, but it was late.

When I opened up the cabinet door, a pile of glasses fell down, followed by dishes and spoons. It made a loud sound that probably travelled all the house at the same time.

One single mug survived… until it didn't.

"I did not know where to put those," Laney said. "So Dannie told me to 'stack' everything in the cabinets"

"Of course he did," I rolled my eyes.

--------------------------------------

Don't you love Dannie?

See you in the next chapter.

Manhattan

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***