Living In Flames. by Emily Zimmerman. (best free novels .TXT) 📕

gone, lost in regret and sadness. “Sky, I’m-“
“No. Don’t blame yourself for this. We were both under a lot of stress. And that much stress can make you snap at anyone – even the people you love most.” I told him, looking away from his eyes and out the window, at the street, bustling with activity. Quiet, but not quite enough that he couldn’t hear me, I whispered, “I learned that lesson a long time ago.”
He reached over and took my hand in his, squeezing it. He was silently asking me what I meant, but I had a feeling he didn’t want to push me, he didn’t ask out loud, because it felt as if he was prying. I glanced at him before looking out the window again. “My mother and I, after dad died, grew farther apart. I tried to talk to her but…she wouldn’t talk back. I didn’t realize before it was too late that she was deep in depression. I just couldn’t see through all the resentment I held toward her, that she was hurting, so much worse than I was. I yelled at her, telling her that if she didn’t care about me anymore then…I would leave.
“I got a call from the hospital an hour later telling me that she’d attempted suicide. Slit her wrists, and was about to slit her neck. Luckily our neighbor, Mrs. Nelly, was coming over with a surprise casserole, and she heard my mothers’ screams…she used the key from under the mat and broke in thinking that my mother was being attacked…but it was so much worse…”I shut my eyes as pain clenched my heart. The only thing that kept me from completely breaking down, was the warm hand in mine, constant, an anchor that kept me here.
“When I got…to the hospital…” I had to pause to swallow the lump in my throat, “She was being stitched up…she had cut her arms, from her wrist to her elbow. All that I could think was what if I had stayed? Why did I have to snap at her like that? She still has the scars. After that I sent her to the rehabilitation center, and got her the best therapist money could buy. Every time she got out though…she would always sink back into depression, and I would find her, either on the floor with slit wrists or…on the couch with an empty bottle of sleeping pills.”
Hot tears streamed down my face, and Dan got up from his chair, pulling me up with him, he wiped them away with gentle fingers and pulled me into his chest, cradling me into him. I accepted his comfort, wrapping my arms around him and pulling myself as close as I could get. I’d missed this. “Shh, it’s alright, Sweetheart.” He told me gently, and I realized that I was crying, letting out whimpers that were muffled by his chest.
He leaned down slightly and put his arm under my knees, sweeping my feet out from under me in one swift movement. He walked over to the couch, and sat down, letting me curl into him like a small child. He stroked my hair and pressed sweet kisses to my forehead and the top of my head, murmuring soft words of comfort to me as I cried.
Sometime after closing my eyes and burrowing my face deeper into his chest, I fell asleep.

I awoke to the smell of bacon mixed with coffee, and in between those smells, was the faint smell of pancakes. I knew this smell well, because of all the weeks I’d lived with Dan, I’d always wake up to either this smell, the smell of fresh baked muffins, or biscuits. I recalled a faint memory of waking up when we pulled up at Dan’s house. I remembered braiding my hair, almost mechanically last night, before curling up to Dan and falling back asleep quickly.
I got up and groggily walked over to the bathroom. I was barely awake, that is, until I opened the bathroom door.
“Oh!” I gasped, my cheeks burning as Dan turned around.
He paused, a towel in his hand, drying his hair. Luckily he had a towel around his waist, and his bronze chest and stomach were not a new sight, but they were nice to look at all the same. “Sorry, I thought you were at work.” I said, averting my eyes and running a hand through my hair.
He chuckled softly. “No problem.”
I felt my cheeks flame and quickly pulled the door closed. I took a deep breath, letting out a girly giggle. The sight of his chest did that to me sometimes.

I was downstairs, sipping coffee and poking at my pancakes. My mind was weighing heavily on the fact that it was five days until the meeting, and the startling fact that…I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to lose Dan, and my mother, and Linda…but to keep them all safe, I had to. I was broken from my thoughts when Dan strolled in. He wasn’t in his work uniform; he was wearing a dark blue blazer, and blue jeans. I almost swooned at the sight.
“You look nice.” Linda commented, coming in the room with the newspaper in her left hand, and a cup of coffee in her right.
“Thanks. I’m meeting a few old friends today…” He trailed off, glancing at me.
“When will you be back?” Linda interrogated, turning into the protective mother figure as she pointed her spatula at him.
He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He promised.
He turned to me, his brown eyes turning to the molten chocolate I loved so much. No words were spoken between us, but as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, I knew he was saying, I’ll miss you more than anything, and I’ll be right here if you need me.
He could always say exactly what I needed to hear. Even if it wasn’t anything at all.
When he pulled back, he tweaked my chin and smiled as my cheeks heated up. He stood, and only then did I realize that Linda had discreetly left the room. “I love you. Call me if you need anything.” He said softly.
“I will. Have fun.” I replied, blinking up at him as the sun peeked in from the window, momentarily blinding me.
After he left, I stared after him, my mind lost in fond thoughts of him. “He is too sweet, isn’t he?” Linda asked me, suddenly back in the kitchen.
I looked at her with an embarrassed smile. “One of the sweetest.”
Linda hugged herself with a big smile of affection. “I raised him well.”
I let out a soft laugh. “But you’ve only lived with him since he moved here.”
“Yes, but he was…let’s just say, since his mother died, he hasn’t been the same. Or, should I say, wasn’t the same. You’ve changed him, sweetheart. I can see that now.”
I smiled and looked down at my food. “He’s changed me, as well.”
Linda clapped her hands together, turning the stove off. “Okay. I’m going to do some laundry. Sam and Briana are going to be awake soon.”
I nodded, watching her leave the room. I stood and put my plate in the sink, rinsing it off. After turning the faucet off, I dried my hands, and headed for the living room. I sat on the sofa, turning on the TV and absently twirling my hair around my finger.
I was in the middle of watching Dr. Phil talk a girl through her addiction to drugs, when someone knocked on the door. Briana came into the living room, rubbing her eyes. “Aunty Linda told me to ask you to get the door, she’s making me waffles.” She said, stuttering slightly.
I smiled at her. “Good morning, Briana. Tell her I said sure.” I said, getting up and mussing her already messy hair.
I walked into the foyer, unsetting the alarm that Dan had set when he left, and unlocking the door. I pulled it open to find a man, maybe fifty, with greying brown eyes that looked baggy underneath, a crooked nose, and greying black hair. He was wearing baggy clothes and his arms were muscular. I didn’t miss that they were covered in tattoos. With him, was a woman. She was short, and a little bit on the chubby side, with curly blonde hair, hazel eyes, and blood red lips. Her eyes looked the same as his, tired and baggy. Her clothes were not even close to baggy. She was wearing a tight V-neck shirt that showed off way too much cleavage, and a skirt that looked like it was made for a baby.
“Hello. Can I help you?” I asked politely.
“Oh, maybe we have the wrong address.” He muttered, though his eyes roamed my body, making me shift uncomfortably. “We’re looking for Daniel Havens” He explained.
“He’s out meeting some friends. Can I ask why you wanted to see him?” I asked.
“Ah, we should start by introducing ourselves. I’m Tony Havens, Dan’s father, and this is my girlfriend, Marylyn.” Marylyn assessed me with narrowed eyes, and Tony gave me a smile, showing stained, crooked teeth, and held out his hand.
I couldn’t help the way my mouth dropped open in shock. This was his father? Well he did mention that his father had a run in with drugs, but this was the man that conceived Dan? I quickly snapped my mouth shut, realizing how rude I was being, and took his waiting hand. I held back a gag at how sweaty and rough it was.
“I’m Skylar Grey, Dan’s girlfriend. I’m sorry, how rude I’m being, would you two like to come in and wait for him?” I asked, holding the door open.
His smile turned to what I supposed he thought was flirty, and they stepped inside. “Dan sure knows how to pick ‘em.” He said, as if to himself, as he looked me over again.
Marylyn scoffed rudely, and held out her hand to me. “It’s a pleasure, I’m sure.” She said.
I took it and shook it once, letting it go immediately after. I did not like this woman one bit.
“Skylar, who was at the-“ Linda let out a huff of breath as she stopped in her tracks.
“Linda! Long time no see!” Tony said, as if they were old friends.
“T-Tony. I didn’t know y-you were coming.” Linda said, looking like she’d seen the devil himself.
I’m sure he was just as bad. Part Six:

“Dan, either you answer this phone, or I shove my foot up your ass when you get home!” I threatened after calling him for the fourth time.

I was starting to get desperate. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t answering his phone! Linda was down, “entertaining” the guests while I contacted Dan for help. I was starting to get worried. I decided to give up on Dan for the moment, and dialed Blake.

He, thankfully, answered on the first ring. “Hello.”

“Oh thank God, Blake,