4 CHAPTER III: “HOMEWORK IS TEACHER’S METHOD OF WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE”

Danielle's P.O.V.

Well fuck it!!

"Danielle, holy shit, it's you. I knew it, I remember those eyes anywhere. It's been how long now, almost four years? I thought I'd never see you again" He grasped me in a tightening hug.

All I could do was look surprised. For the first time in a very long time, I was at a loss for words, and trust me, I'm never speechless.

Daniel watched me with an expectant look, his eyes begging me to say something. I cleared  my throat, "Uh hey Danny, I- yeah, It's been a while and um.....I missed you too".

I saw his eyes fall, but he covered it up with a smile, "So this is where you ended up, huh? Mind showing me around?".

I took in a deep breath. I had never been this nervous before in my life, and why? It's all because of the son of a bitch standing right in front of me, "Um, that's not a problem, let's go".

I led him towards the different places in the school and as we moved along, I couldn't help but recall the memory of the last time I saw him, almost four years ago. The memory was very fresh like it was just yesterday. Hell, it was like I could literally see my last conversation with him, and let's just say, It wasn't my best.

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Daniel and I were the best of friends in Middle school, we knew each other like the back of our hands. We knew how to lighten each other's moods, how to piss each other off, and how to make each other smile.

We were very competitive though, especially when it came to our grades, and since he was in all my classes, I had to work top notch to keep up with his oh-so-intelligent-brain.

Whenever one of us got a higher score than the other, we would gloat around each other, pissing the other person off, with the person making a mental note to get back at the other. It was all just for fun, plus it kept our grades up, so there was never any problem with that, and I actually loved the push of it.

All this came to a weird end somewhere around our final year. It was a math test, and we had just gotten our test scores back. Let's just say he got a higher mark than I did.

The thing that pissed me off was that he shoved it right in my face, "Here you go, final test, and guess who has higher mark, oh wait, it's this guy" He chirped happily.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Whatever, just get outta my way okay, not really in the mood for your shenanigans" I said, trying to move past him.

His face fell and he held my wrist to stop my movement, "What's wrong Danny? Did I do anything wrong?"

No answer.

"Danielle?" He called.

Silence.

He let go of my wrist, "Danny, what's wrong?"

I scoffed, "Oh I don't know Daniel, you tell me".

His took a step back, his eyes widening in shock, "Whoa, whoa, what's with the attitude? Chill out Danny, it's not like I did anything wrong, Did I?".

I stared at him for a full minute in disbelief before answering him," Are you freaking kidding me? Why in the world would you shove your test score right in my face? Do you think because of one little test that you're smarter than me now? Is that what you think?".

He stared at me, confused,"Why would you even think that? I would never do that to you Danielle." He paused, "Okay look, I'm really sorry I shoved the paper in your face, it was totally uncalled for, it was a dumb mistake".

I crossed my arms and turned away from him, "Well too late, I don't care anymore, and I don't wanna talk to you anymore."

His eyes shot up, "I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying".

"Maybe it is" I said, still not looking at him.

He ran a hand down his face, sighing frustratedly, "Seriously Danny, you're being very irrational right now, you're always overreacting. This is way too childish, especially for you".

I flared up, "I'm being childish, Me?, seriously Daniel? Says the guy who thinks that homework is teacher's method of watching your every move, thinking that books have invisible wires between them? Yet I'm the childish one?".

"Hey" He countered, "That was one time, and I don't think you wanna go around spilling my insecurities, I know some of yours too".

I glared at him, my tone lowering, "Is that supposed to be a threat Turner?".

He sighed in defeat, "No it's not, that's not what I-" He took my hand in his, "I'm sorry Danny, Okay, I'm an idiot, and idiots say stupid shit. I don't want our friendship to end on a misunderstanding, you know I might not see you very often anymore, so please let's just settle this, you know how much our friendship means to me, how much you mean to me, so please let's settle this, I don't like fighting with you."

I sighed, eyes to the ground, "Yeah, I'm sorry too Danny, I overreacted and I shouldn't have. I wouldn't want our friendship to end either, fighting with you is so sad, I really don't like it either, let's not do that again".

He grasped me in a hug and I buried my face in his shoulder. I inhaled deeply and noticed that his scent was very comforting and calming, too calming that it freaked me out, so I pulled away hastily.

I backed away from him, visibly shaken, "I'm sorry Danny, I-I gotta go".

I grabbed my backpack and scurried out of school, ignoring him calling me back. I went straight home, were I cried for an hour straight.

Later that night, after reading numerous texts from Daniel asking me why I ran away like that, I sat myself down and evaluated my feelings. That period, I had been thinking about Daniel a lot, and not exactly in the way a friend does, but I had tried to deny that I had any feelings for him. Sadly, it hit me square in the face, I really liked him and didn't know what to do.

After that day, I didn't show up at school anymore, partly because my family was moving away and we had to pack, and that school was practically over, but mostly because I was too chicken to face him again.

I moved away to start my life over, and I met Sam and Emily, and just hoped that I'd never see him again, so I could move past the feeling.

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"Danielle, earth to Danny, hello, are you there?" Daniel snapped his fingers in my face.

I was pulled out of my thoughts, "Yeah? What's up?" We were seated on the bleachers now and I had completely zoned out.

He chuckled, "You looked lost there for a minute, are you okay? I hope those nightmares aren't coming back, though if they are, I'd be more than glad to help you fall asleep tonight, all you have to do is ask". He said, winking at me.

I shot him a tight smile, "Wow, very original Danny, when was the last time you got laid?" I asked sarcastically.

He looked up at the sky, as though thinking it over, "Um, it's been a while but I wouldn't want anyone else now that I have you". He remarked, smiling at me.

I choked.

His face fell, "I was just joking Danny, I didn't mean to freak you out, are you okay?"

"Oh no! I'm fine" I replied, "I- I just remembered something that's all".

" I hope it's not the last time we saw each other, that was a pretty bad time for me, especially when I found out you had left" He explained, sounding solemn.

I shrugged, "Of course not, I can't even think about that period, It's too heartbreaking, It was a pretty bad time for me too, but if it's possible, I would like that we'd start over" I asked with an expectant look.

Something flashed across his eyes and was gone as soon as it came. He smiled up at me, "Of course we can, that is an amazing idea."

I returned the smile and we sat together in a comfortable silence. I hadn't anyone that I could feel this comfortable with, except Daniel, not even Emily or Sam, and I was okay with that.

The bell went off and I broke the silence getting up," Well, we have classes now, and I don't think you wanna be late on your first day, so let's get going."

We walked together and I showed him to his next class. Before he went in, I stopped him," Um, we can meet back at the bleachers after classes and I'll show you to our lunch table".

"Our?" He asked with a glint in his eye.

I chuckled, "Don't flatter yourself Turner, I meant my table with My friends, Sam and Emily".

"Harper?" I nodded, "Met him, Nice guy, I'll see you soon then". Then he walked into the class.

I went over to my class, trying to understand the wierd encounter I had with Daniel. Wasn't really making sense so I pushed it to the back of my mind for later.

Two periods later and it was lunch time. I met Daniel at the bleachers and showed him to the cafeteria, were Sam and Emily were already seated. We got our food and Daniel sat beside Sam, while I sat beside Emily. Sam and Daniel hit it off instantly, chatting away, while Emily kept bugging me with questions about how I knew the 'New Guy'.

This is gonna be an interesting year.

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