Brian threw his bag down as he entered the dark house, tossing the basketball he'd been holding down on top of it.  He had spent the day being mad at Joey, and after work he had spent almost four hours playing hoops to release some of the tension.  Now he was tired and sweaty and was dying for a hot shower.   The house was dark and quiet, except for the sound of an australian woman talking about hair removal products in an infomercial.  Brian watched for a moment.

    "Man there is no way in hell that wouldn't hurt." he cringed as she ripped the hair off some man's back.  He reached down for the remote to turn off the television when he noticed Dani sleeping silently on the couch.  He watched her for a moment in the glow of the television, she was curled up on one end of the couch, her hands tucked under her head and her hair falling around her bare shoulders.  How can Joey say I haven't been a good friend to you? You're all I've thought about since you came home.  He thought as he watched her sleep, wanting to reach over and move the hair from her face but holding back.   Why am I so bothered by Joey and Dani?   They are my closest friends in the world, and Joey hasn't really seen anyone since he broke up with Michelle almost a year ago.  And Dani, he thought staring down at her, the slow sound of her breath flowing from her lips, she's the best, and Joey is trustworthy and he wouldn't hurt her.

    Like I did, another part of his brain said simultaneously, making him shift his own eyes away from her in guilt.  Brian stood up to leave, grabbing the remote to shut off the television.  He pulled a blanket off the chair that sat in the corner of the room, laying it gently over Dani and pulling it up over her shoulders, careful not to disturb her sleep.  He tenderly pushed the hair from her face and held his hand on her cheek for a moment until she stirred gently.   Brian sighed and left the now darkened room, going to take the hot shower he needed to rid himself of the days frustrations.

         Dani felt Brian staring at her, felt his eyes watching her sleep, she heard his breathing but didn't dare open her eyes.  She had awaken when he came in the door, but she was still mad about what happened this morning and she didn't want to talk.  She never expected him to sit down and watch her the way he had, and when she felt the blanket fall on her shoulders and the touch of his hand on her face she didn't know what to think about it.  Dani found it hard to contain the feelings his touch was evoking in her, she wished she knew what he was thinking, and why his hand remained on her face for so long.  She wondered what thoughts had caused the deep sigh he gave before leaving the room.  Dani sat upright on the couch, the sound of the shower running was the only thing she could hear, although it wasn't really late the house was totally dark, the thin line of light coming from beneath the bathroom door was all she could see.  She got up and stood outside the bathroom door until she heard the water shut off, wanting to talk to him, but losing her nerve.  Dani made her way down the hall into her own room and shut the door, curling up in bed and staring up at the ceiling as she heard the bathroom door open.

        Brian came out of the bathroom, steam following him as he rubbed his hair with a towel, another was wrapped loosely around his waist.  He walked slowly back into the living room, his bare feet getting cold on the wooden floor and leaving slightly wet footprints trailing behind him.  He wished she'd wake up so he could ask her what was going on with her and Joey, but for the same reason he was glad she was sleeping.  He sat down in the same seat he occupied before, but she was gone.  Brian stood and turned on the lights, the blanket he had placed on her was in a heap at the end of the couch and he wondered if she was still awake.  He followed the wet footsteps back down the hall  and stood in front of her door, listening for a sign that she was awake, but he heard nothing.  Brian was tempted to knock, tempted to just go in and sit with her, but he didn't even know what he wanted to say, if anything at all.  He just knew that Joey had made him question their friendship, question the way he was treating her and wonder if he was right about everything, if maybe he was too wrapped up in Sofie.  Brian pressed his forehead gently against the wooden door, it can wait until tomorrow, he thought to himself before leaving her doorway and returning to the living room to shut off the light.

        Dani watched the shadow of his feet beneath her door, hoping he'd knock, but at the same time frightened he might.  He stood there so long, but finally she watched the shadows walk away, and the light beneath her door extinguish, her heart sinking as she closed her eyes.

Lyrics Taken From:
"Never Ever" All Saints
Written by: Jazzayer/Mather/Lewis
© 1997 London records