“I'm so mad at myself
For giving in to what I want, never again.
That feeling we felt
We called it love, you called it off.
And I never been so mad at myself.”

Dakota hums along to the music, adding a couple of choral flourishes as she breaks an egg against the side of the bowl, dumping it into the mixture.

Mixing the ingredients together, she moves her hips too, her messy mop of hair bouncing along.

“I got this old girl I know she's trying to play me.
She's like a Honda, these days I drive Mercedes.
She's a killer, try to get inside my head.
Try to give her wine and bread,
But she prefers the blood I bled.”

She dances over to the stove, pouring the mix into a pan and setting the eye on medium.

“Playing chess ain't no way I'm gonna fight fair.
She's playing tricks like the vixen in my nightmares.
So damn greedy, that girl is so needy.
I'm the king of this game, but I think she just beat me.”

“Talking about ourselves again, are we?” Dakota gasps, clutching a hand to her heart.

“Jesus, Shay! You scared me! And fuck you.” She replies, going back to the stove but still watching him from the corner of her eye.

Ever since the time Alan had punched him, she had tried her best to avoid Shayley. That’s pretty hard to do when they live in the same house.

“Such a dirty mouth. It sounds like somebody has been a bad girl. I bet I could teach you some lessons.”

She backs away, disgust written all over her face.

“In your dreams, Bourget.” He winks away and her skin practically crawls.

“You know it.”

Alan picks that moment to walk back in.

“Morning, babe.” He pecks her lips, moving to wrap his around her waist from the back.

He sways them back and forth slightly to the still playing music, trying to ease whatever tension he had just walked into.

“So what do you want to do today?” She relaxes into his embrace, finally taking her eyes off the man in front of her.

“I don’t know. Maybe we could go to the mall or something?” Shayley blows air out of his nose, shaking his head no.

“You really want to go shopping? Grow a pair, Ashby.” Dakota frowns at him before expressing another suggestion.

“We could go play mini golf?” Shay scoffs, rolling his eyes. “What are you, twelve?”

She runs her tongue over her teeth, repeating the words ‘He’s in your boyfriend’s band. You can’t hit him.’ like a mantra.

“How about we go to the beach? I’ve never been to the beach.” Shay shakes his head in a condescending way. “What? Mommy and Daddy never had the money to take your country bumpkin self?”

Alan opens his mouth to say something but she cuts him off.

“What the fuck is your problem with me?” She slams her hands down on the counter, pissed off.

“I don’t have a problem with you.” She steps back, clenching her fists.

“Really? So you’re always this much of a prick?” “Dakota!” Alan scolds, tugging her away from Shay.

“Don’t talk to him like that!”

She breaks away from his grip, a shocked look on her face.

“Excuse me? Did you not hear what he was saying to me?” Alan shakes his head yes, but still continues to berate her.

“You can’t take everything he says seriously. He’s just kidding.”

“Yeah,” Shay chimes, smirking uncontrollably.

“I was just joking. Stop being so sensitive.” Stop being so sensitive. The words echo in her head and her posture straightens to liken a board as memories flood back.

“Don’t tell me that.” She whispers, stepping out of the kitchen and into the hall.

“What?” Alan asks, concerned as he forgets his anger from a moment ago.

“I said ‘Don’t tell me that.’” Alan furrows his eyebrows, confused.

“Why not? Dakota, what’s wrong?” Her breathing increases and she continues to take steps away from him as he tries to get closer.

He reaches out for her and she shrinks back.

“Don’t touch me!” He pauses. “Dakota, what’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

“Just, just don’t touch me!” She stutters.

“I’m not going to hurt you!” Alan’s voice rises with anxiety and she shrieks away from the volume, stumbling and falling back onto her back.

She scrambles into a corner, trying to make herself as small as possible.

“What the fuck?” She curls up tighter into a ball at his voice, pressing her hands over her ears.

“Please don’t. Please don’t. Please don’t. Please don’t! Please!” She yells it over and over, rocking back and forth.

He reaches towards her slowly, expecting her to pull back, but she acts like she can’t see him.

“Colten, stop! Stop!” She screams and the rest of the band runs out from their various rooms, stunned at the scene.

“I don’t know what to do!” Alan yells, wiping away her tears.

“Alan, does she have panic attacks?” Tino asks calmly, trying to better the situation.

“I don’t - I don’t know!”

“Okay, well first: you need to calm down. Let me near her.”

Alan nods, moving to let Tino wrap his arms around the flailing girl.

“Dakota, it’s okay, honey. It’s okay - you’re not crazy. Breathe. Breathe. You’re safe. You’re not with Colten, you’re with Alan and Tino and all of your friends. You’re safe.” She slowly opens her panic ridden eyes.

“Please don’t hit me.” She whimpers and Alan feels his heart break in two at the sound.

“I will never hit you.” He assures quietly. “Don’t say that!” She demands loudly.

She speaks again after a moment, quieter this time. “Everyone who tells me that is always lying.”

Notes

So. Why do you think Dakota freaked out like that? And why is Shay being such a dick?