The couch hadn't been comfortable when he was smaller, and nothing had changed about that besides the fact that Daaron was a good deal taller and his feet hung over the edge like a giant in a midgets bed.
"Are you comfortable?"
Daaron shrugs, unsure how to respond. At first he had been glad to see Emmit, they'd been best friends when they were younger and he thought nothing could change that, but he's quickly learning that maybe the relationship was one sided and Emmit no longer saw him in an amiable light.
He has his eyes closed, trying to focus on the fact that he actually has a proper place to sleep and not the fact that he has to leave the next day, so he doesn't notice Emmit come and sit down on the floor beside him.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Pardon?" Daaron's eyes flash open and he turns over onto his side so that he can direct his full attention to the male on the ground.
"You promised you'd pick me up after school and walk me home. You promised my father he wouldn't have to worry about driving to get me. You promised - " He chokes up a bit and waves the rest of the statement away like the memory is too painful to even think about.
"I-I was going to pick you up, but then things happened and I didn't get to say goodbye."
"There's always time for goodbye, Daaron" Emmit's words are acidic and Daaron almost flinches from the force behind them.
"I was going to get us ice cream and tell you I had to leave and that I'd miss you but, well, my father had other plans."
"You can't always blame him, Storm. He didn't make you leave. He searched for you endlessly. Heck, he almost hurt me cause he thought I was harbouring you!"
"He what?"
"No, Storm, not now. You can play fiercely protective friend later, don't turn this off of you."
"Emmit. He almost killed me that day. I wasn't supposed to leave the house, but i defied his wishes saying I'd promised you. Then he told me that you were more important to me than him and that after he was done killing me, he was coming for you. I have only been scared of one thing in my life, and it isn't bullies or broken bones" he pauses to hold up his hand for effect "it's him hurting my friends. And so, I left. If he couldn't find me to kill me, then he couldn't act on the second threat and hurt you. Or so my naive brain told me."
"And did you never stop to think how the rest of us who weren't keyed into your little plan would feel when you were gone for five years?"
Daaron shrugs and starts fidgeting with the hem of the blanket that looks comically small around his waist and legs.
"I figured you'd be happier without poor pitiful Storm. Your father had to have been ecstatic. He always walked on eggshells around me because he always thought I'd blow a fuse one day and become like my father."
"That's not true"
"Then why'd he never let us be alone together. Why was I never allowed to stay the night unless it was because you were helping me? He was scared of me Emmit. Scared of what I could do to you."
"You're not a monster."
"I was raised by one."
Emmit has no retort besides silence, and he heaves out a sigh.
"Goodnight, Daaron."
Daaron's red eyes watch Emmit as he stands up and heads out of the living room, pausing to switch off the light.
"Night, Em."
Emmit pauses, his hand still on the wall where the light switch is as if he has something to say. He opens his mouth a few times, but thinks better of it, and just adds
"Remember, only one night."
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