Last Nail to the Coffin
"Fucking pneumonia," I coughed as I cut off the engine to my SRX. I wasn't supposed to be at school yet, but I didn't care. The doctor and his rules could suck it. Today was presentation day and I wasn't going to miss it.
I walked into seventh hour and the class went absolutely still, except for Erin, of course. She was bouncing up and down in her seat.
"Danica! You're sick! What are you doing here?"
"I'm not gonna make you present by yourself just because I have a temporary ailment. I'll be fine."
"Shit, if I could get out of my presentation, I would," some guy with dreads said. He looked at me as if judging my mental health. I guess I couldn't blame him, I was a walking corpse.
My hair had lost its luster, my skin had paled significantly; my lips, that used to be a proud pink, were more of a dusty rose color. I looked an inch from death, but I didn't feel it. To be honest, I felt better today than I had for the past two weeks; I didn't know if it was because I was finally getting the chance to see Ryan again, or if it was the exhilaration of presenting one of the best projects I'd ever had the privilege to work on.
Ryan finally came into the room and I about spontaneously combusted. I hadn't seen him in two weeks and he looked amazing, even accounting for the haunted look in his eyes. He wore a cardigan with a striped button up shirt under it with blue jeans that made his legs and butt look sinful. I don't know what it was about his shoes, but the way they shined made me want him even more. My insides ached upon remembering that he didn't want me.
Ryan still hadn't seen me by the time he arrived to his desk. He started to rummage through his bag and I was grateful; at least I could gawk for a little longer. "Alright, Erin," he said, clapping his hands together. "It's all you today."
"Actually," Erin began, "Dani's here to present with me."
Ryan's head shot up out of his bag and his eyes darted to where I sat. Several emotions flitted across his face until the final one took hold: disapproval.
"Danica Matthews. You have pneumonia. What on earth are you doing here?"
"It's not even full-blown pneumonia," I coughed before carrying on. "You and I both know I wasn't going to miss today. And I didn't see it as fair for Erin to present by herself."
He shook his head. "Erin, would you mind getting set up for the presentation while I have a quick word with Miss Matthews?"
I rose out of my seat and left the room. My head spun a little, but I tried to play it off. Ryan was right behind me and closed the door after him. He looked around the hall before rounding on me.
"For pity's sake, Danica!" he whispered harshly. "You look like death on feet. Why would you do this? Do your parents know you're here? How are you feeling?" he asked, putting the back of his hand against my head. The contact sent a jolt through me.
"One question at a time, Ryan, geez. I feel better than I look, and like I said, you knew I wasn't going to miss this. I've been looking forward to this project for weeks. Erin has been working hard too."
"But you still didn't have to come."
"Yes, I did."
Ryan shook his head. "Danica Lynn. I could kill you."
"You might as well had," I mumbled.
He gasped. "Don't say that."
I shrugged.
"Do your parents know you're here?"
"No. They went to Majorca for their anniversary."
"So you've been home...alone...with pneumonia?" he looked angry.
I didn't know why he cared. He was the one that left me. "I had to basically push them out the door. They blame themselves for me being sick—something about my body not being used to Illinois weather then they drug me off to the Keys. But whatever, I'm not really alone, per se. Cori spends most nights with me and Dustin has been a really big help."
Ryan recoiled his hand from my face. "Dustin."
"Yeah."
"He's been staying the night with you."
"And weekends," I threw in just to get a rise out of him. It worked.
"You've been fucking him when you've been sick?"
"No! God, is that what you think of me?"
"No, Dani," he sighed before continuing, "if you were, I deserve it. Look, we can't do this right now," he said running his hands through his hair. "You're going straight home after this presentation, you got it?"
"You know, you can't tell me what to do. I'm not your...." I couldn't bring myself to say the words. The pain was still too real. "You can't tell me what to do."
Ryan's jaw went rigid as he looked me up and down. "You're going home after the presentation."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll call your doctor and parents to let them know you were in my class."
My eyes narrowed. "You're still a fucking jerk," I coughed as I reentered the room.
Everyone was busy chattering, much to my pleasure; it meant they weren't trying to listen in on our conversation.
"Well, Erin, you have a very headstrong and persistent partner. She'll present with you, but she's going straight back home and into bed after this presentation," Ryan said, sending a stern glance in my direction.
I rolled my eyes and snatched the slide show remote from his desk. As the PowerPoint came onto the screen I flipped into "history mode", and I reveled in it. The words flowed effortlessly from my mouth, and I commanded the attention of the room, even in my weakened state. About half an hour later it was my turn to give the conclusion, and I did so with gusto. I loved to give the conclusion on presentations, especially when the ending was dramatic like the one I planned.
I pressed a button on the remote and the sound of an erupting volcano played over the speakers. The class gasped and jumped and I smiled before continuing. "Just like that, everything and everyone you ever loved was gone. There was no more thriving metropolis, no more rich culture; the city of Pompeii was destroyed by forces outside of anyone's control."
In that moment, I saw Ryan and my relationship for what it was: the city of Pompeii. There was work, time, and effort put into making the city what it was, it wasn't perfect, but it was loved; and, just when things were starting to look up, an unexpected tragedy struck—the volcano and me being summoned back to my hometown were one in the same. But would Ryan and I end up like Pompeii for good? Would the ashes ever rise off of our relationship, giving us the chance to be something great?
The class applauded as I placed the clicker back on Ryan's desk, carefully avoiding his eye contact. If I looked at him now, I knew I would lose it.
"Well, ladies. I said that your presentation would be perfect, and I was right. I usually am." Even though I wasn't looking at him, I could tell he was smirking. "Miss Matthews, you presented as if you hadn't been ill for the last two weeks. Outstanding. Now, get out of my classroom," he said, a smile evident in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah," I said, gathering my backpack.
"Thank you, Dani," Erin said, smiling as she moved to give me a hug.
I moved out of the way. "I'm not sure how contagious I am," I said, smiling back at the girl.
She nodded. "Right, yeah. I forgot."
"And you should probably disinfect that clicker," I said before leaving the room.
I cried as I drove home. I cried during the bath I took later that day, and I cried myself to sleep in the early evening. I didn't realize how much I actually missed Ryan until I was in his company. I was dumb to go to school that day, not only because of my physical health, but because of my emotional health. I was still in love with Ryan, and I feared that there was no changing that...ever.
My eyes opened around seven that night to find Ryan sitting on the end of my bed. I shut my eyes right away.
"No. No more dreams. I can't take it." I had to be dreaming; there was no way Ryan Lewis was in my bedroom.
"Danica," Ryan sounded worried, "you're not dreaming."
I took a moment to process his words. They didn't fit right in my head. "I'm not...dreaming?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Then why are you here?"
"I brought you dinner. I texted you but you didn't answer, so I let myself in."
"Dinner?"
"A combo thing from Panera. I remember you liked the tuna sandwich and the Caesar salad."
I shook my head. "No. I'm not hungry."
"You're going to eat. Cori told me you barely eat anything she makes you."
"Quit bossing me around!"
"I will, after you eat."
I snatched the Panera bag from Ryan and held it in my lap. "When did you talk to Cori?"
