Date: April 9, 2009
Title: Only Time Will Tell
Author: Soccer-Bitch
Chapter: 1 of?
Rating: T
Pairings: Tyler/OC, Pogue/Kate, Caleb/OC
Warnings: Some Strong Language
Feedback: All opinions are welcome!
Disclaimer: I own Danielle and the characters you don't recognize, but everything from the Covenant I do not own.
Summary: After leaving Ipswich with her father eight years ago, Danielle Kennedy is back for her senior year at Spencer. Will old friends still be there or will she be seeing the side of them she had never seen before?
A/N: Thanks to those who have encouraged me to do this story!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Danielle Kennedy sat on the tire swing that her father had made for her when she was younger. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wasn't really swinging, just mainly sitting and thinking. For her whole life, all she knew as home was Ipswich, but now that her parents had decided to stop with the fighting and just get a divorce, it meant that her mother was staying and she was leaving with her father. It's not that it was a bad thing, but it wasn't something she wanted to do. She was nine years old and she didn't want to leave her best friend here while she went off to somewhere else. It wasn't fair, but no one seemed to care about what she wanted, at least that's the way she saw it.
"Hey," a voice said from in front of her.
Her head shot up in surprise. She hadn't heard anyone approach, but standing directly in front of her was the very person she'd just been thinking about, Caleb Danvers.
"What are you doing here?" her voice was surprised.
"You weren't at school today, but the teacher said you didn't need the homework," he said, his brown eyes were confused.
Danielle couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "Dad and I are moving,"
"You are moving?" he asked, his tone was full of surprise.
"Mom and Dad don't want to be married anymore. Dad says I have to live with him. He's moving to California. I don't want to go Caleb, I really don't."
"When do you leave?" he asked, knowing that his young heart would break when she left.
Danielle and Caleb had been friends since they were young. Their mother's had been friends for so long, that it was just natural that they would be friends since Danielle's mother was quiet often over at the Danvers manor. Danielle could remember more then one occasion where she'd gotten lost in the vast house.
"Tomorrow." She said, a single tear leaving her eye.
"What about the party next week?"
"I'm sorry Caleb, but he wants to leave and get away from this place." Danielle said getting off the tire swing and throwing her arms around Caleb's neck. "I don't want to go, I wanna stay here,"
Caleb wrapped his arms around her waist. "We'll keep in contact, right?"
"Always. You are my best friend, Caleb and you always will be,"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seventeen year old Danielle Kennedy ran down the soccer field in her light blue uniform. She was gaining ground towards the goalie and the other girls were still behind her by a lot. She was weaving between the defenders. When she was in range, she toe poked the ball and it shot into the corner of the net. The goalie had gone in the wrong direction. After backtracking to her side of the field, the center ref, blew the whistle on his wrist three times. End of the game.
Looking around, she jumped into her best friends' arms. "You did it!"
"We did it," Danielle corrected her. "As a team,"
The celebrating on the field went going on for a bit. Danielle broke off from her team mates when she saw her Dad walking down the stands and towards the field. She ran towards him and hugged him. "You made it," surprise laced her voice. Since coming to California, her father had put her into sports right away and the only one that truly stuck was soccer. But he had gotten so busy with his work that he didn't come to too many of her games. So when he did come, Danielle thought it was a big deal.
"I wasn't about to miss my little girl's game. If I could make it, then I would. And I did." Peter Kennedy said hugging his daughter. "We should get going. Gabby wants you to pick where we go for dinner tonight, plus I think your brother misses you,"
"Or his parents just want a break from their responsibilities," she laughed as she walked towards her bag and placed her stuff inside before zipping it up before waving to her teammates and walking towards the parking lot with her father.
"Evan was asking for you," he told her.
"I'll meet you at home?" she asked, as she unlocked the door to her light blue Lexus RX350, that her dad had gotten her for her birthday last year. It was the perfect car for her. She loved how it fit all her soccer stuff, the carseat for her younger brother, and it was four doors so she and her friends could go to the beach and have a comfortable ride. When her dad had given her the keys, it was a total shock to her. But it was one that she gladly accepted.
After taking the back roads to the house, Danielle pulled up behind her father's BMW. After cutting the engine, she looked up to see her step-mother Gabriella open the front door and letting Evan run out the door to see his sister. Opening the door, she got out and closed the door and locked it before kneeling down and picking up her brother and walking towards the door.
"Hey Gabby," Danielle said walking into the house.
"How did the game go?"
"We won," Danielle grinned. "A shutout, four to nothing,"
"That's great news, Elle," Gabriella said, her smile reaching all the way to her eyes.
When the two women first met, they had butted heads, but over time, Danielle realized that this new woman wasn't trying to replace her mother and she was really in love with her father. So after a rocky start, the two of them realized that they had a lot more in common than she thought they would, but the bad days were in the past.
"Have you packed for next week?" Gabby asked, her smile faltering for a second.
"Mostly. It's hard, but I know it was agreed on that I would go to Spencer Academy my senior year, I just don't know how to leave California for all that time." Danielle said. "I mean this place has a uniform. And I don't know if I can handle being the new girl again. It's different when you are nine, but at seventeen, it's a whole new ballgame,"
"You'll be fine," Gabby told her as they walked up the stairs.
"Ellie, no go," Evan spoke up from his place on Danielle's hip.
"She'll be back, Ev," Gabby told her son. "All major holidays right?"
"You couldn't keep me away," Danielle told her as Gabriella took Evan. "I'm gonna shower and then we can go. I'll be quick about it."
"Take your time, sweetheart,"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was two weeks before Spencer Academy would start up again. So here Danielle was, pulling up to the house she had lived in for the first nine years of her life. She didn't miss certain things, but other things she did. She was hoping that her mother wasn't going to make a big deal out of her coming home. But then again, it wouldn't be her mother if she didn't. When her mother was guilt tripping her about coming for a visit, she was talking about Caleb Danvers. The boy she was best friends with when she was just a little girl. When life was simple. Cutting the engine of her car, she looked down at her outfit. A black skirt that hit mid thigh and flowed with ease, a white spaghetti strapped shirt that showed off her belly button ring. Her light blue blouse was unbuttoned. Her knee high boots were on the passenger's seat. They become uncomfortable about a hundred miles into the journey. So she switched them with the flip flops that were under her seat for after soccer games. It was a habit to have a pair under her seat.
Opening the door, she put on her boots before stepping out of her car. She walked over to the back door and opened it. She looked at where Evan's carseat used to be and with a sigh, she grabbed her messenger bag and slung it over her shoulder before closing both doors. She would get the luggage later. Looking into mirror she ran a hand through her blonde hair. It wasn't at its best; it was messy from having her hair down while the sun roof was open as well as her own window. Her make up was basic, with only foundation on; she wasn't out to impress anyone. At least not this night. Her skin was tanned from the week at the beach. She knew that it was only likely she'd keep it when she went back to California to see her Dad.
As she walked up to the driveway, Danielle hit the alarm for her car right before coming up to the door. She knocked twice before looking around at the surroundings. It looked like it has as a kid. The tire swing was still connected to the tree; it looked like it had seen better days and it reminded her of her last day in Ipswich, when she had told her truest friend that she was leaving a week before her birthday. It broke her heart to remember doing that to him, but it wasn't like she really had a choice. She wasn't about to disappear without a word, because even at the age of nine, it would have been wrong. It wouldn't have just hurt her, but her friend as well.
Danielle's blue eyes looked back to the door as she heard it open. She took a deep breath as she looked at the woman. "Hi, Mom," she said softly, but loud enough for the woman to hear her.
"Danielle, look at you. You've grown up so much," Claire Harris, formally Claire Kennedy said. "But I suppose in eight years that was bound to happen,"
Danielle was unsure how to respond. She had a smartass comment on the tip of her tongue, but she figured that wouldn't go over to well since her mother didn't really know her as well as she did as a kid. "Thanks. I'll get the rest of the stuff out of my car later, if that's okay,"
"That's fine, I know that you miss your friends, but I am sure you'll get along with new friends out here," Claire said as Danielle walked into the house. It was just how she remembered it. Taking in her daughter's outfit, Claire knew she wasn't one that appreciated school uniforms. "I'm so glad that you are here, baby,"
"Mom, I'm not a baby, I have a name," Danielle told her with a sigh as she brushed some of her hair out of her face. She had a feeling it would be like this when she got here, but at the same time she had hoped that her mother realized that she had grown up.
"Right, I'm sorry sweetheart," Claire said wrapping her arms around her daughter. "You've grown up so much.
"It happens." Danielle told her, "I think I am gonna head upstairs and freshen up a bit. It's been a long drive."
"I'll be in the study, I have a phone call I need to make," Claire told her as she watched Danielle take the stairs.
"Okay," Danielle said as she walked to the stairs and went up as she heard the doorbell go off.
This night was not what she had planned for her first night back in Ipswich. She didn't really think about how being back would be like. She knew she was missing a major soccer party at Jordan's house, since her parents had left for Hawaii two days ago. She was lucky that both her Dad and Gabby kept her grounded with soccer, that way she didn't turn out like some of the people in her school. It wasn't like it was out here, where most people knew who others were, but now she had to deal with seeing people that she either had no idea who they were or hadn't seen or spoken to in eight years. It was going to be a lot harder than she thought. And to top it all off she was missing Evan and Gabby and her Dad. This really was harder than she wanted to admit.
Walking into the bedroom, Danielle was pleasantly surprised. Her room was blue and there was a walk in closet. The bed was a queen sized. Maybe that was her mother's way of saying that she wanted her to not stay in the dorms. That was fine by her; she didn't like sharing a room anyways. The hardwood floors were a nice touch, but she'd have to add her pictures and stuff. That was when a picture frame caught her eye. It wasn't the size, but it was the picture itself. It was right before she had left Ipswich and the boy next to her with the goofy grin was Caleb.
Walking into her bathroom that was connected to her room, she wetted her hair and brushed it before pulling it up into a high ponytail. Looking into the mirror, Danielle let out a long and tired sigh. Pulling the black elastic band out of her hair, she started to part it, so that she could put it into two French braids. After finishing, she tied it off before looking back into the mirror. She looked just as tired as she felt. Walking back to her room, she grabbed her travel make-up bag and walked back into the bathroom. After applying some extra makeup Danielle left her stuff in the bathroom and walked back into her room. Picking up her bag, she pulled out her phone and saw that she had missed a few calls. Two were from her dad and one from a boy that she had almost had a date with if she had stayed in California. She left earlier than planned and only got to say good-bye to her best friend Jordan. She had been playing soccer with Jordan since she and her Dad moved to California. The two of them had bonded and after that they became the best of friends.
By the time Danielle came back down the stairs, she saw that there was no one to be seen. She knew she took her time in freshening up, but she didn't think she took that long. Walking past the living area, she stopped by the door when she heard her mother on the phone. She was making plans with someone for a brunch party here. Danielle wondered if it was Caleb's mother on the receiving end of that call. After all, it would only make sense since Caleb had been her best friend and it had been so long since she'd seen him.
She was suddenly hit with a thought and smiled to herself, all her tiredness long forgotten as she was suddenly presented with a crystal clear memory of her and Caleb's "spot". She briefly considered waiting until the next day to go and check up on it but decided that she wouldn't be satisfied until she knew that one of her favorite childhood hangouts was still intact.
Turning on her heel, she made her way back towards the stairs. After grabbing her keys and bag, she hurried back downstairs, keeping an ear out to make sure her mother was still on the phone, and out the front door before Claire could catch her and pull her into conversation about the last eight years and why she never wanted to visit.
As soon as she got into her car and she was out on the road, she took a very familiar route that she knew she'd never forget. Danielle slowed down as she came across the huge house that people in California would call a mansion and just looked at it. It seemed different, but at the same time, it was the same place it had always been. Danvers' manor. The temptation of dropping in to see what Caleb was up to, or if he was even there, crossed her mind but she decided against it. With one last look, she pushed down on the gas, passed the gates and headed towards her destination. The drive wasn't as long as she remembered it being, but back then she was so anxious to get there that it seemed to always take forever.
Pulling up into the parking lot, she parked her car and cut the engine. After hiding her bad under her seat, just in case, she stepped out of the car and set the alarm, toying with her keys as she walked into the park. It was where she spent a lot of time with her dad and when she was old enough to go by herself, she'd go with Caleb Danvers.
Danielle wondered if he even remembered who she was. She opened the gate and walked towards the swing set. She loved the swings as a little girl and to this day she still loved it. She hoped that maybe her dad and Gabby would surprise her with a visit so that she could bring Evan here. He loved the park, but there so many close by to the house in California that he would probably be going everyday even if it wasn't her that was taking him anymore.
Looking at the jungle gym, she smiled. Remembering the time that Caleb had pushed her off because she said that he was being mean, but the end result was the same, she broke her arm. None of the parents saw anything, but when they were asked about it, Caleb lowered his head in shame before Danielle spoke up and said that she fell. The parents seemed to accept the answer and Caleb was shocked that she covered for him, since it was his fault. Her answer was simple, he was her best friend and would have done the same thing for her, and it was true.
The park hadn't changed much, but then again it was so dark out that she couldn't really tell. She wondered what everyone back home was up to. If she hadn't been coming here, where would she have been? At a party, at home with her brother while her dad and Gabby went on one of their dates? She would miss the times where it was just her and Evan. Even at his young age, Danielle knew her brother wouldn't be like the friends Caleb had. At least not the one that would pick on her every chance he had.
Seven year old Danielle crossed her arms, glaring at the blonde boy in front of her. She didn't like him at all, she despised him and not just for what he was saying. He was always acting like he was better than her, and he wasn't.
Caleb stood beside her and ran a hand through his hair before looking at the younger boy. "Reid, leave her alone,"
"How cute is that?" the boy laughed, "You have him trained to stick up for you too? How long did that take?"
"Shut up," Danielle said angrily.
"Real imaginative," he told her.
Danielle's glare of the blonde broke when she heard another boy start to laugh. It was the one with longish hair and a funny name. She didn't understand what she ever did to these other boys. It wasn't her fault that Caleb's parents were friends with hers and they were always pushing them to play together. So what was this blonde haired boy's problem? The other brown haired boy hadn't said a thing or made any noise like the other one had.
"So how long have you been in love with Caleb?" Reid asked teasingly.
Danielle turned her attention back to the boy. "I'm not in love with him!"
"My mother says denial is always the first stage,"
"And if you keep it up, I'll make sure that you don't remember anything your mother ever said," Danielle threatened.
"Temper, temper,"
"Dani, just ignore him, please," Caleb told her.
"You always tell your girls what to do Caleb?" he asked turning his attention his older friend.
"She's my friend," Caleb told him, for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. He didn't understand why the other boy had to make a big deal about everything.
"A friend who loves you," he laughed looking at the girl with a look of disgust in his eyes. "You could do better,"
Danielle's blue eyes pooled with unshed tears as she pushed her way through two of the boys and walked away from them and towards the baseball field that was on the other side of the park and out of view from everyone else. She didn't want anyone to see her cry, especially not the one that made her cry in the first place. She lost track of how long she was there until someone came looking for her. The only one that seemed to care about how she felt. Caleb.
"Don't let them get to you," he told her sitting next to her.
"Go away," she muttered, not looking at him.
"Dani, don't be like this. What he says isn't important,"
"What about how your other friend was laughing like he was a clown in a circus? I don't like them Caleb,"
"Then you won't have to see them anymore," he told her.
And true to his word, Danielle didn't see those three boys after that day.
After realizing how long she had been at the park, Danielle walked back to her car and drove back to her mother's home. That's all it was to her, her mother's place. She might have grown up in the house, but home was where the heart is and for her it was back in California where her life was at. When she pulled up to the gates, she hit the key code that was given to her before leaving California. When the gates opened enough, she pulled her car through and parked it. Grabbing her messenger bag, she got out of her car and opened the back door and grabbed two duffle bags that had her clothes and closed the door with her hip. After walking up to the house she stopped before setting the alarm and she opened the house door. Surprisingly she found it unlocked. As quietly as she could she walked in and closed the door. When she turned around she saw her mother looking at her.
"Where have you been?"
"Out for a drive," Danielle responded off-handedly.
"Do you know how late it is?" Claire questioned her, not amused by her daughter's attitude. "You've had me worried."
"I'm sorry that you were worried over nothing,"
"Don't sass me, young lady," Her mother said irritably.
"Then stop acting like I'm the little girl that left eight years ago! I'm seventeen now! Every time you called me, you acted like I haven't grown up whatsoever,"
"Maybe you should act like your age then. What were you thinking, huh? Sneaking out like you did? Did you think I would say no?" Claire asked, her arms crossing over her chest.
"I didn't think it was a big deal," Danielle said, as she walked to the staircase. "Dad never cared,"
"I'm not your father,"
"That much is obvious," Danielle muttered under her breath.
"And while you are living under my roof, you will follow my house rules," Claire said, making Danielle stop a few steps up. She looked down at her mother to see her with a look that said she wasn't to be argued with.
"Only for the next two months, then I'm eighteen," Danielle informed her. "I'm tired; it's been a long day,"
"There's a brunch party in the morning, 10 am, sharp," Claire said
"And I would care because?"
"Because the party is a welcome home for you. Mrs. Danvers, her son Caleb will be here as well as his friends Tyler Simms, Pogue Parry and Reid Garwin. They are a good group of boys. So it will just be a small gathering. Make sure you are presentable," Claire informed her.
Danielle let out a long sigh before muttering, "Whatever," under her breath and walking up the stairs with her stuff that she had brought in from her car.
Waking up the next morning took all of Danielle's will power, not to turn over and go back to sleep when the alarm clock next to her bed went off. She wanted a few more hours of sleep at least, but that wasn't happening any time soon. Her mother had invited the boy she grew up with and his friends and his mother. It was going to be a long brunch.