After a few more rounds, the boys declared victory and us girls had to down the rest of our drinks. My head felt fuzzy and Rachel was laughing about nothing in particular. After that, we decided to play Scategories. Daniel and Rachel decided to team up for this one. Ray and Clare were on another team, leaving Clay and I together.
Suddenly, Daniel's phone began to ring. He looked down at the screen and got up quickly to answer it. “Hello?” He said quietly, leaving the room. “Who was that?” I asked. “I bet it was Kylie. She's been calling him all day.” Ray said nonchalantly, waking up a bit so he could get his hands up Clare's shirt.
“Kylie? I thought they were broken up.” Rachel said quietly. “Yeah, they are, but that didn't stop them from hooking up last week. I think she just wants another go.” Ray could be such a pig. Clare smacked her boyfriend. “Shut up, Ray!” She hissed at him.
Rachel looked at me and I knew she was hurt. “See, Mags. This is why I won't ever say or do anything. Because she will always be in the picture.” Rachel threw down the cards in her hand and got to her feet a little unsteadily.
Daniel came back into the room just then and looked at Rachel in confusion. “Where are you going? We've got a game to win.” He had tucked his phone back into his pocket. Rachel was wobbling on her feet, the alcohol making itself known. “You know what, Daniel. I'm fucking done.” I got to my feet, ready to intervene.
“Come on, Rachel. Maybe it's just time to go to bed.” I said quietly, moving to stand beside her. I took her arm and tried to lead her away but Daniel stopped us. “No, Maggie. Let her say what she wants to say. Obviously I've pissed her off, again.” He spit out nastily. We were all wasted, this was not going to end up well.
Rachel's face turned red. “Damn straight you pissed me off! I'm so sick of watching you go back and forth with that skank!” She shrieked. Clay had come up on Rachel's other side and the two of us were trying to lead her down the hallway.
She yanked her arms away from our grasp and turned back to Daniel. Danny looked livid. “What the hell is it to you?” He growled, moving toward Rachel. I put my hand on Daniel's chest. “Back off, Danny. You know how she gets when she drinks. Just let her sleep it off.” I implored.
I looked over to Ray and Clare, hoping for some more help, but they had passed out.
“No, Maggie! I'm sick of him walking all over me!” Rachel yelled. Daniel frowned, the veins in his neck bulging. “Walk all over you? What are you talking about? We're friends, Rachel! We've been friends for a long time and lately all we do is fight. The fucked up thing is I can't think of one damn thing I've done to you!” He yelled, his face an inch from Rachel's.
“Man, just let it go.” Clay said, trying to pull Daniel back. Rachel had started to cry. “Yes, we're friends! But damn you Daniel! I love you! I'm tired of you hurting me!” She sobbed. I pulled her into the crook of my arm and let her cry into my shirt.
Daniel looked dumbstruck. He looked at me in confusion. “She loves me? What the hell is she talking about?” I just shook my head. Rachel pulled out of my arms and ran down the hallway, slamming the door to her room.
“What the fuck?!” Daniel yelled and turned to punch the wall. “Stop that shit, Daniel!” Clay roared, pulling the other boy back. Daniel pushed passed Clay and me and slammed out the kitchen door. “Well, crap.” I said tiredly. I looked out the window, trying to find Daniel in the darkened night. “I should probably go find him.” I said, pulling on my coat and putting on my shoes.
“Just let him be. He'll calm down.” Clay said, pulling me back from the door. I turned on him and gave him a dark look. “Look, Clay. Daniel is my friend. He's pissed off and drunk. He needs me right now.” I found my gloves in my coat pocket and tugged them on.
Clay grabbed my arms. “Well, I need you too. Doesn't that count for something?” He asked me angrily. Was he serious? How can he make this all about him? I wrenched away from him. “Stop being a selfish prick. My friends need me right now. I would hope you'd understand that. But if you don't, well fuck you.” I grit out, before leaving him to find Daniel.
Chapter Sixteen
I found Daniel down by the lake, sitting on a bench as the snow fell around him. He hadn't put on a coat, so he was shivering from the cold. “You'll freeze out here, you idiot.” I said, coming to sit beside him.
Daniel was still a little wobbly, but he moved over to make room for me on the bench. “What the hell was that? Was she serious? Because I had no clue she felt that way.” He bit out angrily. I touched my shoulder to his in support and took his hand. “Danny, Rachel loves you. I mean loves you loves you. I'm not sure I should even be telling you this, but I can't stand aside and watch the two of you hurt each other over and over again. So now you know how she feel. What are you going to do about it?” I asked him.
Daniel hung his head. “I don't know. This is insane. I've known Rachel since we were babies. I just never thought she felt that way about me.” He shook his head. “Well, I guess the question is, do you feel that way about her? I know she's your friend. The three of us have been attached at the hip for a long time. But there sometimes comes a point when things change. And that can be a really good thing, Daniel.” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and hugged him close.
“I'm really messed up right now. I can't think.” He gripped his head with his hands like he had a headache. “Our friendship is really important to me. I don't know if I can ruin that.” He sounded vulnerable and I leaned over to kiss his cheek.