Author's note: WARNING: Reading this story may result in tears! I know I got depressed writing it. Please, though, enjoy it and review please!
It wasn't that late. In fact, in was only 9:30, but Daphne felt so tired she could collapse. She stood in the kitchen with a glass of water in her hand, and she was staring into it, focusing on the little ripples along the top. Her mind, though, was a million miles away. Without meaning to, her thoughts were drifting to Niles. She was thinking about his sparkling eyes and his charming smile, along with his caring words. A smile slowly forced itself on her face.
I an instant, she snapped herself back into reality. In rage with herself for thinking such things, she slammed the cup down on the counter, causing water to splash up and on to her hand. She cursed, probably louder than she should have, and as she searched for a towel, she looked over and saw Martin in the doorway. "Mr. Crane!" Daphne exclaimed. The look on his face was somewhere between surprise and concern. "Daphne," he began, "I don't like to get in people's business, but is there something I should know about?" She smiled and took a deep breath. Daphne told him, "Mr. Crane, I really do appreciate you worrying for me, but there isn't anything to be concerned about. I suppose I've just been under a bit of stress lately with the wedding and all, but I should be back to normal soon." Martin sighed. It had been all he had been hearing for the past few weeks, and he wasn't quite sure he believed it. "Alright, Daph, as long as you're sure." Daphne picked up the towel and began to dry her hands. "I'm sure," she said.
He turned around and walked into the living room, plopping down in his chair. Daphne began to make herself some hot tea. From the other room, she heard, "Oh, and by the way, Niles is going to be coming over soon." Her hands paused. She dropped everything. "Dr. Crane is coming over?" Daphne asked. "But his brother won't even be here! He's working tonight!" She tried her best to calm herself down. "Well, yeah, but he's just going to come over here and wait for him for a little while. He's out with Mel and figured he'd just come by afterwards." The name Mel put a little anger in her, but she brushed it off before she could acknowledge it. Daphne didn't know how to act or how to feel now that he was coming. How did you act before you knew about his feelings for you? She asked herself. Indifferent. He came over so often I barely even noticed it anymore. With this thought, her head told her, You don't care that he's coming over. Don't even give it a thought.
She had been like this for weeks now, her mind a mess, her feelings a mess, both at constant war with each other. And now, it was all she could do to make her brain control what she felt and ignore her subconscious.
But it didn't always work this way. In fact, it rarely ever worked. For as of now she was nervous, excited, and not at all indifferent.
Daphne finished making her tea and went to sit with Martin in the living room as she drank it, slowly. Her heart beat a bit faster as she thought of Niles' soon arrival. To distract herself, she made simple conversation with the man sitting next to her in the ugly striped chair.
"And so I ran back into the kitchen, and there was Eddie with his head stuck in the ice cream carton! You remember the last time he did that, Daph?"
"Sure. Five years ago when the power went out. You told me."
"Gees, was that really five years ago?"
"Yes."
"It seems like it was yesterday."
"I know, Mr. Crane."
"And now you're…leaving."
The words hit Daphne hard. She had loved the life she had lived for the past seven years, and now she was going to leave it behind and hardly ever see any of her friends…or Niles. Tears began to flood her eyes and she tried to hide them but at the same time knew it was no use. "Aw, Daphne…" He got up and sat on the couch next to her. Again, the rushed feelings of anger overcame her for crying, and she tried to make herself stop with all of her strength. Instead, the tears came harder, like rain on a windshield. Martin wrapped his arms around her, not saying anything.
As she continued to weep hard and steady, they heard a knock on the door.