Rough Night? (Featuring Donovan Basch and Tom Carradine)

Basch Family Vacation Rental
Ocala, FL
Sunday, September 8, 2024

Through the window, the sky began to shift from deepest midnight blue to a deep violet. If not for the light in the kitchen, the house would still be in relative darkness as its inhabitants slept. For the moment, the only audible noise was the sound of a Keurig coffeemaker brewing a fresh cup. Stella Basch sat on a barstool nearby, her elbows on the counter as she cupped her head in her hands, watching until the last drop of beverage fell from the spout.

Stella: FINALLY!

She pulled the cup from the coffeemaker, then turned to the kitchen island, promptly pouring the brew into a blender filled with ice, milk, and caramel drizzle.

I’m gonna need more caramel...

As she blended the concoction together, she stared at the blender cup, its contents swirling around in hypnotic fashion. She was so fixated on the beverage that she didn’t hear the sound of shuffling footsteps behind her… or the large, looming shadow that the light cast upon the floor.

Voice: Du bist früh auf, Schwester. (You’re up early, sister.)

Stella turned around, slightly startled, but relaxed when she realized the voice belonged to her brother Donovan. Sighing lightly, she turned back to watching the blender.

Stella: Ich kann nicht schlafen. (I can’t sleep.)

Donovan took a seat in the stool beside his sister just as Stella shut the blender off. She picked the cup up from the base and gave it a quick shake to check for consistency, then set it on the counter.

Donovan: I don’t pretend to know what’s bothering you, Starr.

Stella hopped down from her stool, walking toward the refrigerator. She pulled out a bottle of caramel syrup and shut the door.

Stella: Kinda hard, when it’s been all over Twitter. I mean, I know I haven’t known Jessica for very long, but I know enough to know she doesn’t deserve what’s happening to her right now.

Donovan: On that, we can certainly agree. For what it’s worth, Danielle is fairly upset about it as well.

Stella nodded her head.

Stella: I know… she had another nightmare.

Donovan lowered his gaze and took a deep breath as Stella tilted her head.

Donovan: Indeed. Something from last night triggered her… it was like opening up an old wound, of the sort we thought had finally been closed for good.

Stella set the syrup bottle on the counter.

Stella: Oh, Big Brother… you should know that some wounds never fully heal. Remember, she could have died in that accident, herself.

The words cut through to Donovan’s core, and he visibly shuddered at the thought. With his eyes clenched shut, he raised a hand in a halting gesture.

Donovan: I would… rather not think about that.

Stella: Just like I wouldn’t want to imagine how I would feel if something were to happen to Tom.

Donovan: And so, we both succumb to insomnia...

Brother and sister shared a quick chuckle as Stella began rummaging through the cabinets for glassware.

Donovan: Are you going to drink all of that?

He gestured toward the blender cup, which was filled with enough beverage for more than one glass. Stella looked over her shoulder, then shrugged.

Stella: I thought you didn’t like caramel.

Donovan scoffed.

Donovan: All things considered, I can deal with it. I can always add hazelnut to mine.

A light smirk slipped onto his face as he arched his eyebrow.

Stella: Now there’s a surefire way to make sure Danni doesn’t try to steal any...

Donovan: Precisely...

Stella pulled two glasses from the cabinet and brought them to the counter, then began pouring the blended coffee between the two of them.

Stella: Assuming she comes out here before you finish that, of course.

Donovan chuckled lightly.

Donovan: No chance of that happening. It took me about an hour, but I got her to settle down. She’s sleeping quite soundly now.

Stella sat back down in her stool to enjoy her coffee, while Donovan went searching for the hazelnut syrup.

Stella: Hmm… I’m just glad Tom sleeps like a rock. I don’t want to disturb him.

Stella took a massive gulp from her glass, almost immediately recoiling from the ensuing brain freeze as Donovan looked on, slightly amused at the sight.

Donovan: I think this family has had more than their fair share of disturbances.

Stella: I’ll drink to that!

Donovan & Stella: Prost! (Cheers!)

Brother and sister clinked their glasses, then went back to enjoying their respective beverages as the sun continued its morning climb.

******

Later that morning…

Stella sat at the desk in her bedroom, the glow of her laptop being the only light in the room. On the screen, her Blood Elf Paladin, Carrados, cast Avenger’s Shield at a group of hostile kobolds, who immediately attacked, but were almost just as quickly disposed of. A golden flash filled the screen around her character, prompting Stella to smile as an achievement plaque flashed across the screen.



Stella: Haha! Yes!

She kept her voice down to an enthusiastic whisper so as to not wake Tom, who slumbered peacefully in their bed. She glanced over to make sure he was still asleep, then turned her attention back to the game.

Stella: That kobold dropped the last item I needed, so I’ll just Hearth back to the inn and log out.

After a couple of clicks, Stella logged out of the game and shut down her laptop. With her phone in her hand, she slipped quietly into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. For a few moments, the room was eerily silent until...

Stella: Son of a BITCH!

Hearing the loud outburst from the bathroom, Tom immediately shot up in bed, turning toward the source of the noise with a look of concern on his face.

Tom: Everything alright, Starr?

He could hear her muttering through the door, but in his groggy state, he couldn’t quite understand what she was saying.

Stella: I’m fine, Tom. You can go back to sleep.

Tom: No, you’re not… and I’m gonna sit up here in this bed until you prove otherwise.

The faint sound of an exasperated sigh came from the bathroom, followed by the sound of running water. The door opened, and Stella stepped out to see Tom staring right at her.

Tom: Yeah, I thought so. Now out with it.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, patting the mattress beside him. Stella slumped her shoulder, then tossed her cellphone onto the bed.

Stella: Just when I thought things were going to calm down and I could pretend everything was just some sort of crazy-ass nightmare, I get THIS!

Tom picked up her phone, which showed the Tell asking Stella about the situation with Jessica Sears. He sighed, then got out of bed, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. Stella buried her face in his bare chest as he stroked her hair.

Tom: Oh, Stella Bella… I know she’s your friend and all, but you can’t let these things get to you. Ultimately, this is something she has to deal with herself. All you can do is be there for her.

Stella: I know… it just sucks that she has to go through this at all. And to think… someone DELIBERATELY did this to her, KNOWING how much it would hurt when she found out.

Tom shook his head.

Tom: No… we’re not going to think about that right now. But you know what we ARE gonna do?

Stella: What?

Tom: Go out to the kitchen and get some breakfast. I saw some strawberries in the fridge and some bananas on the counter. And I KNOW how much you love strawberry French toast!

Stella looked at him incredulously.

Is he seriously thinking about food right now?

Stella: Sure… distract me with food. That’s a healthy coping mechanism.

Tom: Maybe not, but in case you couldn’t tell from the sound of my stomach growling, I’m hungry!

Stella sighed as Tom, clad in nothing but a pair of black cut-off sweats, guided her out of the bedroom and into the hallway.