Chapter Text
“Are you alright?” Dani asks Amira for the 15th time since they entered the club fifteen minutes ago.
“Yes, Dani, I’m fine” Amira rolls her eyes but at the same time she smiles, Dani is very nervous and in some way it’s adorable. “Really, relax, everything will be alright”
“I’m just so excited for you to meet my friends, Ami. But at the same time I’m kind of scared you won’t like them.” Dani looks around trying to find his friends and, at the same time, trying to avoid Amira’s look. “I don’t even know if a club is the best place for you guys to meet but good luck telling my friends not to go out on a Friday”
“Well, look at that, they have something in common with my friends, then” Amira says laughing. She stands in front of Dani forcing him to look at her. “Seriously, Dani, don’t worry. Everything will be alright.”
Dani smiles at her thanking her for her words, he knows she really is trying to calm him down. Before he can say anything he sees a girl running to them. He immediately realizes that the girl is his friend, Patri, who hugs Dani as if they hadn’t seen each other for a year instead of just two weeks.
“Daniiiiiiiii! How are you? How are you doing? How’s your sister? I haven’t seen her in a while” Dani doesn’t even try to answer, he knows that once his friend starts talking it’ll take a while for him to be able to add something to the conversation. Patri looks at Amira and for a moment Dani panics, thinking that Patri might say something bad, but she only smiles at her. “Is this your girlfriend? Oh my god, I was so looking forward to meeting you. It was about time that our Dani got himself a girlfriend. Hi, how are you? I’m Patri. Nice to meet you. You’re Amira, right? Cris’ friend.”
Patri greets Amira with the traditional two kisses that Amira gives back with a smile. She’s only known Patri for like 30 seconds but she already likes her. There’s something in her that kind of reminds her of Viri.
“Nice to meet you” is all that Amira can say before Patri starts her monologue again.
“Dani is always talking about you, even before you started dating. He was like ‘I’m going out with Cris and Amira, I’m going to Zaorejas with Cris and her girlfriend, thank god Amira is coming too, I’m going to be the coach for Amira’s kid from the association, oh look Amira would like tha…’”
“Okay, okay, okay, enough, I think she got it. Thank you very much Patri” Dani interrupts her feeling how the heat reaches his cheeks and it’s not because they’re at a closed space.
“Awww, how cute” Amira teases him to which Dani rolls his eyes though he’s laughing too.
The moment is interrupted by the person that was missing, Rubén, that approaches the group apologizing for being late. If Dani was anxious about Patri, now that Rubén is here he’s holding his breath even though he doesn’t even realize. Rubén is not a bad guy, he’s a good friend mostly, but Dani has a bad feeling about him meeting his girlfriend.
Rubén, unaware of his friend’s worries greets Patri with two kisses, then he quickly hugs Dani patting his back and finally he approaches Amira to greet her with two kisses too. Amira, though, takes a step back avoiding Ruben’s touching. Dani curses himself for not having warned Rubén about this before.
“Fuck, girl, it’s not like I’m going to rape you, relax, I was only going to greet you like every other person.”
“Dude, stop, don’t be an asshole. If she doesn’t want to kiss you then she won’t and that’s it, alright?” Dani says defensively.
Amira, trying to avoid an even more uncomfortable situation places her hand on Dani’s arm, trying to get him to understand that it’s okay. Dani looks at her and searches her face for a hint that she’s uncomfortable and she wants to go, because the truth is that, if Amira tells him right now that she wants to leave, he won’t hesitate. However Amira shows him a sincere smile and Dani relaxes.
This doesn’t make the situation any more comfortable though, since the four of them stand there in silence for a few seconds. Dani thinks that now it’d be the right time for one of Patri’s monologues. His friends, as if she has read his mind, turns to Amira.
“Girl, I’m loving your pants. Well, I’m loving your whole outfit, you have such an amazing style. Let’s hope Dani learns something from you because it’s like he’s only allowed to wear hoodies.”
“Hey!” Dani says half offended, half grateful for the change of subject “What’s wrong with my hoodies?”
Patri raises her eyebrows at him as if it isn’t necessary to explain to which Amira can’t help but laughing, far less uncomfortable than a few seconds ago.
“Hey, everybody, I’m going to go out to smoke, alright? Dani, are you coming?” Ruben says taking the package of cigarettes from his pocket and offering one to Dani.
“Nah, dude, I’m not in the mood, you go ahead and catch us later”.
Rubén only shrugs and leaves without saying anything else. When Dani looks back at the girls they’re still talking about clothes.
“Hey, I’m going to buy drinks, what do you want? First round is on me.” Dani offers them
“I want juice, please” Amira asks with a smile that Dani reciprocates and it’s not until Patri speaks that he looks away.
“Daniel, please, I’m offended you’re even asking, rum and coke for me.”
Dani nods and goes away to order. Once he’s paid for the three drinks he picks up the glasses and turns around, looking for Amira and Patri. He spots them and they’re still talking. From the way they’re smiling it looks like they’re really getting along. Dani feels a mix of pride and happiness in his chest. He’s kind of unsure if he should interrupt them but the glasses are too cold and his hands are starting to hurt.
“Here you have”
Once everyone has their drinks Patri takes a long sip from her and immediately makes a disgusted face.
“Oh my god, dude, this is super strong.” Patri looks at Dani searching for support but she sees him taking a sip from his drink without even blinking. “Dude, what the fuck? How can you drink it like that? Is yours not as strong as mine?”
“Not really, since I’m only drinking coke” Dani says laughing at his friend’s disgusted face still showing.
From the corner of his eyes he notices Amira staring. When he turns to her he frowns when he sees Amira’s confused face. She squints at him like she’s trying to decipher him.
“Hey guys, I’m going to go around the club to see if I find someone who buys me another drink, alright?” Patri, who has noticed that Amira wants to speak in private with her boyfriend, says.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re scaring me” Dani says once his friend is gone.
“Why aren’t you drinking?” Amira decides to be as clear as possible, no hesitation.
“Because I don’t feel like drinking, I don’t know” Dany says shrugging and taking another sip of his drink.
“Are you doing this for me?” Amira stands in front of Dani so she can see his face.
“No” Dani says and the thing is, Amira thinks he seems sincere. Still, she insists.
“Dani, you know I’m not going to force you to quit drinking, or smoking” Amira says pointing at the door where Rubén left a few minutes ago. “Right?”
“Of course I know. I’m not drinking and I’m not smoking because I don’t want to. I don’t feel like doing that.”
Amira tilts her head to one side and sighs, she’s not sure if she should believe him or not.
“Ami, you’re not forcing me to do anything, you’re not overwhelming me or any stuff you’re thinking right now, because I know you are.” Amira’s silence confirms that Dani is right. “I’m not drinking because I don’t want to, because that’s what I’ve decided. Alright?”
Amira sighs and nods, she knows he’s telling the truth.
“Besides” Dani adds showings Amira her favorite smile of his, the one that makes him look like a kid that’s about to get into trouble “I want to be on my five senses when being with my girl.”
“Your girl?” Amira repeats raising her eyebrows and smiling.
“My girl” Dani confirms.
For a moment, Dani and Amira forget that they’re in the middle of a club surrounded by people dancing and getting drunk. To them only the other exists and they can’t stop looking at each other.
The moment though, is interrupted by Rubén, who without even saying anything takes Dani’s drink from his hand and takes a big sip from it.
“Fuck, man, they’ve fooled you, this doesn’t have alcohol.” Rubén says surprised as if the thought of a non-alcoholic drink scared him.
“Give that back” Dani says taking the glass from him. “They didn’t fool me, I’ve ordered it this way”
“Fuck, dude, what a pussy” Rubén says laughing unbelievably “What’s the matter? Your Muslim girlfriend doesn’t allow you to drink?”
“What the fuck are you saying, you dick?” Dani takes a step forward and stands a few centimeters from his friend, trying to contain himself so he doesn’t cause a scene.
“Dani…” he hears Amira saying but his still staring at Rubén who, laughing, puts his arm around Dani’s shoulder.
“Shit, calm down, man, it was a joke. Oh, I see. She doesn’t let you see what’s underneath all those clothes and you’re on edge, right?” Turning to Amira, he adds. “Fuck, girl, indulge him a little bit or he’s going to combust.”
All the containment Dani was trying to keep goes straight to hell right the second that Rubén talks to Amira. He pushes him off of him and in a fragment of a second he grabs Rubén’s shirt and raises his fist ready to hit him. He doesn’t do it though, because in the last second he realizes what he’s doing and stops. He turns to look at Amira who’s looking at him with a scared face. Right in that moment Patri, who’s seen the fight from the other side of the club, arrives running.
“What’s going on here? Dani, what’s wrong?” She asks seeing how his friend still has his fist raised.
Dani sighs and lowers it, releasing Rubén’s shirt with a shove.
“You’re not worth the hassle” Dani says taking a step back from Rubén. He looks at Patri who simply nods, letting him know that she understands.
Dani turns around and approaches Amira. The look on her face sends a jab of pain straight to his heart.
“Let’s go, please.” Dani begs her and Amira nods without hesitation.
Dani leads the way outside the club, Amira following him trying to keep up with his pace. Once they’re outside they walk in silence for a few minutes. All Amira can hear is Dani’s agitated breath. She tries to give him space for him to calm down before she says something but when she hears him sniffle as if he’s about to cry she reacts.
“Dani…”
“How can you deal with this?” Dani asks stopping dead on his tracks. For the first time since they left the club Amira is able to look at his eyes and she notices that they’re read, as if he’s trying to hold back the tears.
“I don’t understand” Amira mumbles in confusion.
“How can you deal with that kind of comments every fucking day? I’ve had to endured them for five minutes and I almost rip Rubén’s head off” Amira notices how Dani gets agitated just by saying his friend’s name. Dani closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm down before opening them and continue. “You have to listen to those comments every day, and still, you’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, yes you are. You’re always there for anyone that needs you, you’re honest and sincere, and kind, there’s not one shred of hate in you. If I had to endure everyday what you have to I’d be full of hate or getting into fist fights all the time.” Trying to avoid her eyes Dani looks at the floor embarrassed.
“But you didn’t do that today.” That catches Dani’s attention who looks up at Amira. “You could’ve beaten up Rubén, but you didn’t. Why?”
“Because I don’t want to be that type of person, I want…I want to be better than that.”
“There you have your answer.” Amira says smiling at him endearingly. Dani stands there in silence and Amira takes the opportunity to put her thoughts in order before speaking. “Look I’m used to that kind of stuff. It shouldn’t be like that, and it sucks, but it is what it is. And it comes a time when you just have to know how to choose the battles that are worth fighting for because if you don’t then you’ll spend your whole life fighting and arguing. And well, there are moments when I do answer and reply to those comments and I don’t let them win, or I try to make the other person see that what they’re saying is wrong. But sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle. I’m proud of who I am, and I’m proud of my faith and not one ignorant is going to change that. And…I don’t know, at the end of the day, nobody is perfect, and most of the times those comments don’t mean to hurt me. Even the person that loves you the most can make an unfortunate comment from time to time.”
“Like me, for example, right?” Dani mumbles, not knowing if he wants to hear the answer to his question. When Amira doesn’t say anything and looks at him with a sad face Dani doesn’t need her to answer. Something inside him breaks and the tears that he was trying to hold back roll down his face.
“Dani…” Amira takes a step forward, her heart breaking.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry Ami, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry about any shitty comment or joke I might’ve made. I’m sorry.”
“Dani, it’s alright, really, it’s normal.”
“Of course it’s not alright, fuck. You’re my girlfriend Ami and I just…I can’t deal with the thought of me hurting you that way. I’m sorry Ami, please forgive me.
“Hey, hey, hey. I forgive you, alright? I forgive you.”
“Ami, I…I don’t want to make you feel like that ever again.” Dani’s mind is going a mile per second trying to find the words to express what he’s thinking. “I need, please, I need that…if I ever say something or do something that hurts you or offends you, I need you to tell me, so I can learn and I can correct myself. I want to be better Ami, I want…I want to unlearn some habits and…I need your help. I don’t want to be burden to you, I don’t want you to feel like you’re my mom or my teacher, I just need you to…trust me enough to know that you can tell me what hurts you so I won’t repeat it again. Please.”
Amira looks at him and sighs, taking a step forward to shorten the distance between them. She’s feeling a mix of sadness from seeing him like this and calm for the fact that he’s showing real interest in her and in respecting her. That’s how she knows that their relationship has a shot of being alright.
“Alright, but with one condition.”
“Whatever you want.” Dani says immediately.
Slowly, Amira raises her right arm and with a gentle touch she wipes away Dani’s tears.
“Stop crying, please.” Amira notices how Dani gets almost paralyzed by her touch and she’d be lying if she said that she doesn’t love having that effect on her. They stare at each other so intensely that for a moment Amira feels like she can’t breathe. She takes a step back. “And now take me to buy some juice because I couldn’t finish my drink”
Dani’s laugh, which Amira is now realizing she was already missing, makes her breathe relieved.
“Deal.”