♫Erica♫
"That was amazing, Eric!" a guy said, patting me on the back.
"Well done!"
"Thanks," I said vaguely. I was too busy staring at Daniel, who was standing in the corner, detached from the rest of the group. I didn't have a chance to talk to him after the play had finished, but he seemed to be avoiding everyone now. I told my admirers to go away, and I walked up to Daniel.
"Hey, Daniel," I said. He remained unresponsive. "I have to talk to you. About that moment in the play. About what I said -"
"I know," he interrupted. "You don't have to say it. I slipped out of character. You did what you had to do, to make me kiss you. If I were you, I would've done the same, Eric." He looked up at me, his sky-blue eyes shining. He tried to smile. "You were a really good, Juliet."
"Not bad yourself, Romeo," I choked out. Then I turned away, quickly wiping my eyes. I never used to cry, before I can here. I never used to cry, before I took this job. I never used to truly cry, before I met Daniel.
I locked myself into the changing room, and leant against the wall, my vision blurred with tears, half-laughing, half-crying.
Oh, Romeo, my sweet, sweet, stupid Romeo.
***
╣Daniel╠
"Come on, cheer up man, this is your leaving party!"
I stared at Tyler dubiously. "I thought this was the cast party."
"Whatever, man! Look at all these girls! Do you like any of them?"
I stared around the beach, looking at all the girls. "No," I replied, bluntly.
"Stop being such a pussy and just pick a girl, and hook up. This is your last night with us. Don't you want to spend it with a bunch of girls, heavily intoxicated, and high?"
"No to girls, no to drugs, but I'll take the vodka," I said, grabbing the bottle from his hand.
"Whatever, dude," Tyler said, apparently giving up. "Your loss."
He turned around, about to return to the party, when I called his name.
"Tyler, now I'm leaving...can you do one last thing for me?"
"Sure. Name it."
I nodded towards the guy, laughing and warming his hands around the large bonfire we'd lit.
"Look after Eric."
Tyler stared at me for a moment and then nodded, slowly. "Sure...Sure."
***
♫Erica♫
We spent the whole night, laughing and dancing to the guitar Tyler had bought and was expertly strumming. At the other end of the beach, Daniel sat alone, facing the ocean. I didn't know if I should join him. He clearly didn't want any human company. But this was his last night...why weren't his friends spending it with him? He'd been my roommate for a while and so I had to say goodbye. Right?
I traipsed over the sand, barefoot. This suddenly reminded me of that night, when I'd almost drowned, and Daniel and I were ship-wrecked...A small smile formed at my lips. That's been fun...sort of. Apart from the drowning.
"Hey," I said, from behind Daniel. He should have the choice whether to face me or not.
After a while, his back replied. "Hey."
