Started With a Lie

Chapter Fifty-Three

            "Ivory," Daniel calls, pulling me out of my thoughts. He kneels down in front of me so we're eye-to-eye. "The next bus is leaving in fifteen minutes and we'll get there around seven in the morning or eight. I've left a text for my parents and I've already bought us tickets. Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of it." He leans in, tucking my head closer and gives me a forehead kiss. "I got you. It'll be fine."

            I don't know if it's because he's so nice to me or if it's reassuring hearing someone else saying it'll be fine, but tears start to flow down my cheeks and my body starts racking in silent sobs. "Daniel," I choke out, my voice breaking even when I say one word.

            He clenches his teeth and his eyes look sad as if he can't stand looking at me like this. He pulls me back to him and tucks my head between the crook of his neck and shoulder. His fingers run up and down my hair soothingly. "Shh," he murmurs, "you're safe. You're okay and everything will be too. I won't let you suffer alone."

           I sit there, my hands holding the hot chocolate between my knees. Daniel surrounds me, engulfing me in a hug and whispering sweet things in my ear until my tears dry. We stay like that for ten more minutes before he kisses me on the forehead again and says we have to go. He helps the workers put our bags into the side of the bus before taking my hand and leading me on the bus. I sit by the window and he follows me, putting my seatbelt on for me once more.

           Daniel looks at me and then pats his shoulder. "You can sleep on me. You'll need the rest to be strong for whatever is awaiting for you in New York. And I'll be right there like I am right now. So, lean on me and get some rest. I'll wake you when we're close."

          I press my lips together because what in the world did I do to deserve a perfect guy like him? I might cry just from the unconditional support he gives me.

           I almost blurt out three words too quickly, so instead, I whisper "Thank you" and snuggle into his arm, intertwining our fingers. He kisses my forehead once more and I know he can feel what I'm trying to say and that right now, this is enough.

When I am shaken awake, the sky is now a light blue, the sun waking up around the same time I do. I lift my head and am immediately embarrassed when I see a bit of drool on Daniel's shoulder. He smiles as if it was yesterday's news and whispers, "We're about five to ten minutes away from stopping. We're in Harlem right now."

           "Sorry about the drool," I apologize. My voice comes easily now and the panic has subsided. Sleeping is a nice getaway and makes you forget the bad things...for a while anyway.

         "No worries," he replies, running a hand through his hair. He reaches into his backpack, his carry on item. Daniel pulls out his glasses, rubbing his eyes before he puts them on. "You okay?"

          I nod. "I'm good right now. Whatever is happening, we'll get through it."

         "We?" Daniel says, his eyebrows a little raised in surprise. "Yes, we will—together."

          Around twenty-two minutes later thanks to morning traffic, the bus drops us off at Times Square. We hop off and walk through the mass retrieving their belongings until ours are secure. Daniel pulls me to an corner without people marching through and tells me our plan.

         "I'll take our stuff and bring them to the dorm. You take a cab or train and go to your mom. As soon as I'm done, I'll race back to you. Okay?" he says, his face determined and serious and not at all like Daniel usually is. But it makes me feel safe knowing he can be just as solemn as he can eccentric.