First position
''Well, don't count on me to babysit!'' Danny screams, slamming his bedroom door shut.
He hears his mother's muffled voice shouting back from the living room of the house but he doesn't get what she is saying. Does it matter anyway?
He can't believe she did it again! Accepting to take a needy little child in their house! His father and her adopted two already! Wasn't it enough? Apparently not… It is starting again.
''We just want to help him, honey'' explained his dad. ''He is special and…''
''They are all special'' had countered Danny.
''True, all people have something special but Dougie needs a chance...''
''Don't they all?'' grumbled Danny.
''We are just here to provide him a safe environment. It's not like with Xio and Leslie.''
Xio and Leslie are Danny's sisters. His parents took them in as foster kids and they never left. Not like all those others that took the bedroom next to his and then left the house to go back to their families or to other houses. Time passes but everything stays the same: his parents are going to take another kid in and, instead of having a room next to his on the first story of their big house, the little thing will share the basement with him. Talk about privacy breach!
''He doesn't need to get adopted'' said his mother again.
''They all want to be, especially when they see our house and touch our big screen TV and inground pool.''
''Danny, don't be a rich kid…
''Well, mom, I am.''
''I thought we taught you that sharing was more important than owning'' said his dad.
''And Dougie Poynter needs you to share your luck with him.''
''Save the speech'' had sighed Danny. ''It's not like I'm going to change your mind… let's bring in needy baby number thirty-two…''
''Danny!''
He had ignored his parents' pleas and went down to his room, followed by Robin, the family dog, a big honey colored Labrador. No matter what he says, there are always others… And now… the other is coming in his space. Up close and personal.
With a grunt, Danny starts to clean the basement a little. He has a big bed in it, a massive TV, a couch and a table, working space, computer, bookshelves, games… He will have to hide all that from the kid. He knows how they can be! When Xio arrived, she was three and she made a mess everywhere she went. Leslie was five so it was a bit better but she was nosy! Now, Leslie is ten and Xio is thirteen but it doesn't prevent them to be brats and to invade his space all the time. At seventeen, Danny just wants to be a normal high school guy. Hanging out with his friends, the girls, having fun and spend money on stupid things, be free… Not live in a house that collects homeless kids like other people take in animals…
Later that night, Danny is sitting at his work desk, playing a computer game, helmet over his head when he sees his parents entering the room. His dad comes close, tried to push the earplug out but Danny brushes his hand away.
''Whatever'' he says, eyes on the screen.
With a sigh, the two adults take the table and chair out of the room, along with the two places sofa. Instead, they carry a big rectangular box and a mattress in. Leaving it on the wall, they exit the room and Danny finally looks back at the big space left for the new kid. He's not even there and it doesn't look like Danny's room anymore! So much trouble for what? Months and then… he's going to be off to a center, his family or whatelse.
Beeping in his ears reminds him of what he was doing and he resumes his game.
''So your mom is on another charity case?'' asks Andrea, his ex-girlfriend, as they sit with all their friends at lunch the next day.
Their school is big. Really big. But everybody knows Danny and his group anyway because… Well, because they are just cool. And rich. And throw amazing partys. Mostly for that.
''Don't call it that'' objects Elliot. ''I think it's nice…''
''Thanks mother Theresa'' says Danny, rolling his eyes. ''If my dad dies, you can be his replacement, you will get along so well with my mother.''
Around the table, everybody laughs and Elliot punches Danny's shoulder.
''Would be way too weird to have your best friend as a stepdad'' he says.
Danny wrinkles his nose. Yeah, really too creepy.
He says nothing. He doesn't want to think about that Dougie guy, he is still mad that his parents don't think he is worth being consulted each time they take someone in. The last time, it was an 18 months old girl that kept waking him up at five AM! He didn't ask for that! He wants to study graphic arts, not nursing! Apparently, he is irrelevant in this house. And more… in his own bedroom! The house is really big, they have five bedrooms upstairs but his dad took one for his office and there is the girls' old playroom… why not convert it in a bedroom? Oh, right… because they probably intend of getting other little kids to play in it.
At least, judging by the one place bed with no rails that his parents brought in last night, the child must be at least four or five… Let's just hope he knows what property means, Danny doesn't want anyone to mess with his stuff.
For the remaining of the day, Danny doesn't think about the new kid. He really wants to concentrate and get good grades. He doesn't need a scholarship or anything but he wants to go to New York Graphic Arts College and for that, he needs good grades because they are accept only the best. He is the best. Right?
If you ask the question in school, people will agree. Guys will says yes with a hint of jealousy and girls with a longing look. Danny had a lot of girlfriends. Or short term intimates like Elliot likes to call them. What? Danny is not made for long term relationships, it`s not his fault. Plus, he managed to stay friends with a lot of those girls, he never promised anything so they couldn't blame him. But… now… with someone else in his room?
Danny grunts, driving back home from school in his jeep with Elliot. No more sex in his bedroom. Great.
''OK, spill it out'' says Elliot as they turn into his street.
''Don't know what you are talking about.''
''When you say that, it means that you exactly know what I mean. Plus, after twelve years of friendship, I know when you are not feeling too well.''
''I feel just fine'' grumbles Danny.
''You're sulking.''
''I am…''
Danny sighs, pulling into Elliot's driveway. He was about to say that he wasn't sulking but Elliot (Loli for friends…) knows him and would never shut up.
''I just wished my parents would stop loving their jobs so much.''
''I think it's really nice that they have such a big heart Dan'' counters Elliot. ''We are lucky, you know.''
''Thank you for making me feel like an ungrateful moron'' sighs Danny.
''That`s not what I meant, grumpy'' laughs the other, getting out of the car.
Danny watches him walk to his door and lowers his window. A rush of warm desert air hits him in the face. El Paso in February is always so warm… and it's going to get warmer…
''You are the better one of us two!'' says Danny loudly.
Elliot starts to laugh: ''You can't have the looks and a sense of compassion apparently.''
Danny chuckles, closing his window. Elliot is good looking too. Yeah, pretty good looking actually, thinks Danny, driving home.
''I helped dad built the bed!'' says Leslie as soon as Danny passes the door.
''And I put the sheets and dressed the table with a plate extra!'' adds Xio.
Danny rolls his eyes, taking his sneakers off.
''Do you realise you said almost the same thing to me when we got the dog?''
''Daniel!'' sends his dad, arriving from the living room. ''Seriously…''
''Whatever'' grumbles Danny, walking pass him to get to his bedroom.
He immediately advises the built bed and the blue quilt on it. Danny sits on it, strokes the fabric. Is he happy that his parents have a big heart or sad that they never seem to have enough? He just hopes that this one doesn't stay long. Danny isn't like his parents, he doesn't want to be nice to people, they do that enough for the whole family.
He lifts his head when the stairs to the basement start to make noises. Xio's head pops in the room.
''Why are you on Dougie's bed?''
''He's not there yet, it`s still my room.''
''It's the parents' room actually, you didn't pay nothing. Apart from all those clothes.''
She laughs a little and Danny rolls his eyes again. She can be so… « miss know it all » sometimes, it's annoying… Plus she is always right, which makes it ten times worse.
''Mom is arriving with him in ten minutes, that was my message'' says Xio, brushing his jet black hair from her forehead. ''Dad added: « tell him to download some kindness »''
''Yeah, yeah…''
Xio giggles, walking up the stairs. She doesn't understand how it feels to… to what? Danny couldn`t say but it's not a nice feeling that he has inside of him right now.
He finally rejoins the others upstairs when he heard the front door. He can't deny that he is curious. How old? What nationality? He would already see if the kid was nice or if they needed strong rules in the bedroom.
Danny sees his dad and sisters and then his mother next to someone that is presenting his back to them, taking his shoes off. He seems as tall as their his mom, as tall as Leslie then. His mom isn't very tall anyway. But then, he straightens up and he is two heads taller than her. What the fuck? The guy turns around.
''Hi, Dougie'' says Danny's dad, holding out a hand, which the new kid shakes. ''This is Leslie and Xiomeida.''
''Xio is enough'' she said.
''And this is our son, Danny'' continues the man, pointing him. ''Danny, say something, please?''
But Danny can't say a thing. He is old! Like… not grown-up old but still old! Like fifteen, sixteen… his age? He has a white shirt and gray pants, his skin is tanned, hair bleached by the sun… Judging by what Loli said about the looks and sympathy, this guy should be the biggest douche in the world because he sure has looks for him, thinks Danny.
Dougie, hands in his pockets, waits for the rich kid to talk. Not that he really wants to chat but everything would be better than this silence and the look he is giving him, like Dougie is the weirdest thing on the planet. Well, he is in a way…
''Danny… make an effort'' sighs his mother.
''He is like… an adult'' he can only say.
''Well, if you hadn't been so moody and teenage like, we would have told you that you two would probably get along just fine because he is your age.''
Danny blushes a little. Thanks dad… for telling the new dude that he didn't want him to be there in the first place…
Dougie can't help but smile a little at the sight of the guy, embarrassed. It's not like he did need a place to stay so he can understand that the change isn't welcome. He was fine at the Youth Centre. Anything is better than juvenile detention anyway. Plus this house… seems too good to be true. And Dougie learned early that when things are so shiny and precious… they break way too easily and… yeah, they are too good to be true.