Title: Lost and Found
Chapter 2: Windows To Our Souls
Author: Shelby
Summary: If you don't get lost there's a chance you may never be found. Chuck lost Blair 16 years ago. 16 year old Danny Waldorf has something to find. Both get lost in the middle of nowhere. There she'll find something she lost and so will he. (Blair/Chuck).
A/N: Thank you so much to the people who took the time to review. It really means a lot and what keeps me writing, as well as fast updates coming out is you guys and your amazing reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter and remember to check out my photobucket, link on my profile, to see the characters, outfits, cars, and anything else in the story I post. Enjoy.
–
"All things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams."
~ Elias Canetti
"Danny... Danielle..." a voice echoes off into the distance. Danny lies in slumber on the bed. Her brown hair flows above her pillow and her white night gown lifts itself. She sits up, her eyes open, but closed. "Danny..." the voice calls again. It's familiar, it's beautiful, she must follow it. "Follow the butterflies," the voice whispers. Danny sees the tiny white angels of the insect world swarm gracefully in front of her face. She pushes herself from the bed and follows them. "Out the door," the voice calls. The butterflies go through the door and Danny opens it to allow herself to leave as well.
"Come with us Danny," they giggle and flutter around her. She smiles and reaches out to touch them, but she can't grasp them. They fly further ahead in front of her in a downward motion.
"Don't fall," the softer, woman's voice cautions her. Danny hears it and feels her feet down the staircase. "Be careful Danielle," it reminds her.
"Danny come with us," the butterflies call to her as they go out the front door. Danny's hand is brought by a force to the doorknob. She turns it, but is denied.
"The lock Danielle," the wiser voice tells her. Danny's hand feels for it and then the door is open. She steps outside, it is cold and she shivers.
"It will be warm where we take you Danny," a small butterfly whispers in her ear as he burrows himself in her curls. "Yes Danny we will take care of you," another says as it flutters in front of her face. She follows them, a bright light glowing around her to help guide her through the nights darkness.
"Almost there Danielle, you can do it," the warm voice assures her. Danny continues to follow the butterflies. She falls tired and her closed eyes want to close completely.
"Rest for now Danny,'" the butterflies giggle. "Yes rest here with us," they lie her down on a platform with flowers around it. Danny awaits for the warms voice approval.
"Rest for now my dear, but come home Danielle," it whispers, her eyes close. "Mama misses her sweet little girl... Fly home my little butterfly..." it fades off into the distance. The glowing white light goes dark and her eyes close tightly.
–
"Boys?" there's a loud knock on Nate and Chuck's door. Chuck turns over in his sleep and falls off the bed. "Boys there is a good breakfast downstairs, now you don't sleep the day away," the inn keeper smiles and moves onto the next door. Chuck groans and looks at the clock, great early morning.
"Nathaniel get up!" Chuck stands up and throws a shoe at Nate.
"Man bangs!" Nate jumps up from his sleep. Chuck throws him a weird look. Nate rubs his eyes, "Chuck what the fuck? It's early, why are you up?"
"Heidi homemaker didn't want us to sleep the day away," Chuck replies with sarcasm.
"Who?" Nate asks with confusion.
"Just get up," Chuck sighs and throws a shirt on before stumbling out the door. If he had to get up, it would be in his pajama's. After all who the hell would recognize him here? When he walks out he smacks straight into someone. "What the hell?" Chuck raises his voice a bit, still half asleep.
"Sorry Chuck," Adrian groans. Tyler comes up right behind him and smacks into Adrian. Chuck finds himself letting out a small chuckle.
"You guys too?" he asks with an amused tone.
"She reminds me of my grandmother, but ten times worse," Tyler mutters before stumbling his way down the stair case. Chuck and Adrian follow him. When they get down there they see Sadie already sitting at the table. She's already done up, in make-up, and clothes.
"Early riser?" Chuck asks.
"Only when boys around around," she smirks and takes a sip of coffee. Nate, Chuck, Tyler, and Adrian all fall in seats next to her.
"Why am I so tired," Adrian groans as he picks at the food on his plate.
"Did you stay up late talking?" Nate asks.
"Yes," Tyler laughs, Adrian nudges him in the stomach. Tyler throws a napkin at him.
"What are you guys like five?" Sadie asks with pursed lips. Both boys stop and fall silent. Chuck sighs and looks around, he frowns as he realizes something.
"Where's Danny?" he looks to Sadie. She parts her lips, but is cut off.
"Would you believe it someone went out the door last night and left it unlocked," the old woman says as she passes and goes up the stairs.
"Did she leave?" Nate asks with a frown to Sadie. Sadie starts to laugh a bit as her eyes go past them to the front door. They all frown in confusion.
"Hey Danny Baby where'd you sleep walk to this time?" she calls. Suddenly Danny falls beside Chuck in a chair, still in her white night gown. She looks at Sadie as she rests her head in her hands.
"Bus stop, I think my sub-consciousness is trying to tell me something," she smirks at Sadie. Sadie rolls her eyes and bites into a muffin.
"Or you're just crazy," she winks at Danny.
"God I wish, at least then things would make sense," Danny mutters and runs a hand through her hair. Sadie nods and stands up.
"Yeah well I'm going to go upstairs and see if there's any books on things to do around here, come up after you eat?" she raises her eyebrows in question.
"I don't need you to be my mother Sadie," Danny snaps. Sadie sighs and goes up the staircase.
"We're going to go get ready," Adrian says as him and Riley grab some fruit and muffins. They then race each other up the stairs, their laughter coming back to the Danny, Nate, and Chuck.
"And then there were three," Danny says with slight amusement.
"You sleep walk?" Nate blurts. Chuck rolls his eyes at him. Danny looks up and shrugs.
"Since I was little, don't really think anything of it," she takes a sip of coffee
"Your therapist diagnose you for that too?" Chuck smirks.
"He says I'm searching for whatever I feel is missing the most at the time I do it," she answers. Both Nate and Chuck are surprised at her new conversation skills.
"What were you missing when you were little?" Nate asks.
"What is this twenty questions?" Danny snaps with anger suddenly rising in her. Chuck and Nate both sit back. She gets up and rolls her eyes, "Why don't you guys just stick to talking to people your own age," she scoffs and goes up stairs. Chuck frowns and stares on after her. She doesn't look back.
–
When the girls are done getting ready they stand back to back and gaze in the mirror. Sadie has on a shirt-dress that goes about mid thigh. It has white and blue stripes that go up and down, sleeves that go halfway to the center of her arm, and a long V-neck. She wears a pair of cowboy boots with them, a hem bracelet, and lets her blond wavy hair fall down past her shoulders, the pieces held from her hair with Danny's aviator glasses from the night before. Danny wears a high waisted black skirt that goes just above her knees, its tight under her breast and flows out the rest of the way, tucked into it is a white tank top, and her loose curls fall down a little past her breast. In her hair she has pushed up Sadie's Chanel glasses from the other day and on her feet are black ballet style flats.
"We're pretty fucking gorgeous," Sadie smirks at their reflection.
"You got that right biatch," Danny smiles. She then holds up her camera and snaps a photo of them, as they curl into each other and smile. "Our own Kodak moment," Danny sighs before putting it back in her purse. She then puts her hands on her hips, "So Blondie what are we going to be doing today?"
"Well Babe I was thinking we could hit the small town shops, you know stir trouble, rob a bank," she gives a small shrug and arches her hips forward.
"The usual then," Danny sighs.
"You got it," Sadie slaps her hand. The girls both then laugh and go out the door. On their way out they see Tyler and Adrian. Sadie stops and grabs onto Adrian, who blushes since he's wet and in a towel, "Hey we're going into town, maybe we'll see you there hot stuff?"
"Come on Sadie," Danny rolls her eyes and pulls her from the wet boy.
"Um yeah!" Adrian calls as the girls disappear down the staircase in a fit of giggles. Once out on the street they start to walk. After a little while they can see the beginning of the towns shops.
"Race you cross the street?" Sadie offers.
"Get ready, set, go!" Danny calls without warning and takes off across the long street.
"Hey that's cheating!" Sadie calls as she runs after her in a fit of laughter. Suddenly she stops and screams, "DANNY LOOK OUT!"
"What?" Danny spins around to ask, but then sees a black sports car jerk to a stop in front of her. The hood hits her leg at the last minute and she stumbles a bit. Danny looks into the car to see the boy from yesterday. The windows are somewhat tinted so she can't define his features very well.
"Hey asshole be careful!" Sadie yells and slams her hand on his hood. She then grabs Danny, "Hey you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, let's just get out of the street," Danny sighs and walks to the sidewalk. Sadie nods and then gives a small kick to the front of the car before taking off as well.
"You sure you're okay?" Sadie runs up and grabs Danny's hand from behind.
"I said I'm fine Sadie stop treating me like I'm going to break!" Danny spins around on her heel and loses her cool for a moment.
"Sorry, but if he speedy Gonzales over there had stopped a second later you might be broken," Sadie spat back as she walks beside her friend.
"I ran out into the street," Danny shakes her head.
"Pedestrians have the right away sweetheart," Sadie slaps her butt. Danny lets out a small scream of a giggle.
"Sadie stop!" she slaps her butt back.
"Oh come on jump for me Danny Baby! Slap that ass! Let's go, let's go!" Sadie starts to chant as she slaps Danny's butt again. Both girls start to laugh hysterically until they see two old people across the street outside a shop giving them the evil eye.
"Sorry we're newlyweds!" Danny calls and grabs onto Sadie.
"Yes I can't keep my hands off of her, could you?!" Sadie laughs as she holds onto Danny. The old people continue to stare. Both girls are practically crying from tears by now as the continue on for a shop that looks somewhat interesting.
"Ooh look at that!" Danny pulls away from Sadie and points ahead at a shop with vintage looking dresses in the window. "Can we go? Please? Please mommy?" she mocks and jumps up and down as if she is a little kid. Sadie takes her hand and tries to keep a straight face.
"Alright young lady, but you have to behave," she shakes her finger at her.
"I promise," Danny yells before running into the store. Sadie chases in after her, both of them falling inside the door. They fall quiet as two older woman look up at them from their browsing. "Sorry," Danny puts a finger to her lips and whispers. Sadie giggles under her breath and pushes Danny to a rack of dresses away from the woman. They flip through the material with their fingers. Danny laughs and holds up an atrocious looking dress covered in sequins of a lime green couple, "Check out this hot number little lady," she drops her voice low.
"Oh my god that's hideous," Sadie laughs as she examines it a bit more.
"Not as bad as your face," Danny smirks and hangs it back up. Sadie rolls her eyes, but then they go wide and she grabs two hangers and holds them out.
"Ooh look at this," she nudges Danny with her foot.
"What more Dolly Parton meets Tina Turner outfit?" Danny asks looking up slowly. She then drops her mouth a bit, "Never mind."
"I know aren't they adorable?" Sadie asks with raised eyebrows. Danny examines the two, full piece, vintage swim suits that Sadie holds. One is red with white polka dots and the other a black, white, and gray plaid. "Let's get them," Sadie whispers. "You take this one," she hands Danny the polka-dot one.
"I'm too pale to pull this off," Danny tries to hand it back to her. Sadie shakes her head and shoves it back at Danny. "Sadie?"
"Just get it, wear it and if you hate it then I'll buy if off you," Sadie smiles and disappears around the rack with hers. Danny stares at it again and then sighs.
"Alright," she calls and follows Sadie to the check out counter. When they get up there they lay the suits on the counter and look at the lady. She's elderly with bleach blond hair, way too much make-up, and enough costume jewelry to supply Mardi Grass. "These please," Danny smiles as she pops a bubble from her gum.
"Hey Danny Babe what do you think of these?" Sadie asks as she replaces her aviator sunglasses with a pair huge black sunglasses with diamonds running across the top of them.
"In the words of Paris Hilton, that's hot," Danny mocks the voice of the old heiress. She then picks up a pair red hot heart rimmed sunglasses, "What about these, do I look marvelous?" she drawls out the word. The lady eyes them both with a frown as she rings up their things.
"No you really should get those," Sadie pulls them off her and sets them down on the counter, "On moi of course," she touches a hand to her chest and makes a huge open mouthed smile.
"My sugar mama," Danny whispers to the woman as she grabs on to Sadie. Sadie laughs, the woman tries to smile, but it falters. She rings up their items and gives them to them. They each take a bag of their own and run out the door in laughter, just the way they had entered. They lean against each other as they start to walk down the street. After a little while Sadie perks up.
"Shit man I'm in dire need of some nicotine," she turns to Danny.
"Well then have smoke, but I'm going to run in that bookstore," she points to one right across the one lane street. Sadie slumps her shoulders a bit.
"Books..." her voice is lazy, "Why?" she pouts her lips.
"Shut up," Danny gives her a small push and then goes to walk backwards in the street, "I'm thinking of doing everything backwards today by the way!" she calls to Sadie. A few locals walking around stare at her, but neither girl notices.
"I guess I'll be entering in the back tonight then?" Sadie calls back as she puts a cigarette in her mouth. Danny flashes her the rock and roll sign and then goes inside the bookstore. A bell rings when she enters, how quaint. She turns back around to face it all and sees its small, but stuffed with shelfs. It's not very bright, but aside from lamps there are a few candles lit. Danny walks to the desk, with the cash register and taps a bell.
"Sorry to keep you waiting I..." the boy from the diner with glasses appears in front of her. Danny turns her body to completely face him and points.
"Diner boy," she smirks. He lets out a nervous laugh and pushes his glasses up.
"Actually I go by Josh," he nods and walks around behind the counter. Danny gives a small shrug and hops up to sit on the counter in front of him.
"I need some help," she leans down and whispers a bit.
"With a book?" he pulls at his shirt and prepares his computer for search. Danny nods and then swings her legs around to hang them off his side, next to him.
"Well yes, but you see it's a mystery."
"Like Sherlock Holmes or something?"
"No mystery as in I don't know what book I want yet," she sighs and pops her gum. He backs up a bit and leans against the wall.
"Well what is it you are looking for? I mean what type of book... I mean like what is it about? You know the subject of it or something?" he stutters through the whole thing and Danny has to hold in her giggle.
"Well I didn't know bookstores were so fun these days?" someone chuckles as they enter the door. Danny turns her head to see a boy a bit older than her standing there. He's wearing a shirt that shows off some of his nicely sized muscles and tanned skin, his eyes are a sea looking blue, and his hair brown with natural high lights of dirty blond. He looks at Danny with a smirk.
"Hi Trey," Jason sighs and walks out from the counter.
"Have my moms books?" Trey asks his eyes still on Danny. Danny hops off the counter and leans up against it with her body instead as she looks through a selection of fancy pens.
"I'll be with you in a moment," Josh mutters and then looks back at Danny.
"So what type of book were you looking for Miss?" he asks, his voice even more nervous now. Danny looks up as a bubble pops from her gum.
"What's with the sudden formality Joshua?" she smirks. When Josh only looks down she shrugs, "I need something to learn about dreams, and if it had a chapter on sleepwalking that'd be great too." Josh nods quickly and disappears into a cave of book shelves. Danny turns back around and looks at the boy Trey. He's still staring at her when he steps towards her.
"You know they say dreams are the windows to our souls," he stares down at her. Danny looks up at him, locked with his eyes for a moment. She then shakes her head.
"Get that from a fortune cookie?" she asks and crosses her arms. Trey chuckles and looks away.
"Fair enough," he smiles. "I'm sorry about earlier by the way," he motions towards her.
"For what? Stalking me in the shadows, because I have no idea what your talking about," she shrugs. He motions out the window to his car. Black little sports car that almost ran her over. "You would," she rolls her eyes and watches as Josh brings out a book.
"This should do," he smiles and goes to ring it up. Trey walks up and stands right next to Danny.
"Are you staying here?" he asks.
"Not if I can help it," she answers, keeping her eyes on Josh.
"Got somewhere better to be?" Trey asks with an amused tone. Danny turns towards him and finds her brown eyes locking with his blue again.
"Anywhere, but here sounds nice," Danny replies. Josh eyes them as he searches for the scanner thing on the book. Danny keeps her eyes locked with Trey.
"Where are you staying while you stuck?" he asks and leans down a bit closer to her. She doesn't falter in her movement, but remains still.
"Why should I tell you?" she purses her lips and raises her eyebrows in question.
"Because I asked," his tone is smug.
"That was clever," she rolls her eyes and turns away from him. When she looks back at Josh she notices he is still watching them.
"You'll find I can be clever in a lot of different ways," Trey whispers as he leans down close to her ear. Danny's breath hitches in her throat at his closeness. Her eyes fall down to her hands and her throat goes dry. What's wrong with her?
"Here you go," Josh holds the book to her. Danny looks up at him, broken from her trance and nods.
"Thanks Josh," she hands him some money and he takes it. He gives her the change and a receipt. Trey moves away from her a bit and she sighs in relief.
"Come again and don't forget what you heard in the diner," Josh gives a small wave.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lies with shrug. She then lowers her sunglasses down over her eyes and pushes on the door. She's almost out when she hears Trey.
"Wait, what's your name?" he calls after her. She turns around slowly and looks at him. She smirks in the doorway.
"If you want to know so bad figure it out," she responds and then goes out the door. Sadie catches her on the way out and Danny immediately pulls her behind a wall. She hears Trey come outside by the bell. Danny peaks around the corner, but ducks when he looks her way. Finally he leaves and Sadie laughs.
"What was that? Who was that?" she asks with amusement. Danny lets out a large breath and looks up at Sadie as she leans against the wall. She shakes her head.
"Smart ass small town boy," Danny rolls her eyes as they come out of hiding.
"Sounds perfect for you," Sadie teases and playfully slaps the side of her cheek. Danny pushes her away and scrunches her face in disgust.
"Oh gag me with a spoon," Danny sticks a finger down her throat. Sadie slaps it away and then hugs her close.
"I'm sure he'll gag with you something else if he's a smooth talker," Sadie whispers and sends her a wink. Danny rolls her eyes and gives her friend a push out into the street. Sadie stumbles and then jumps back up.
"DID EVERYONE SEE THAT THIS GIRL TRIED TO OFF ME!" She shouts and grabs on to Danny again as she laughs. Danny only shakes her head with her own laughter erupting.
–
"Are you sure the girls will see us here?" Adrian asks for the hundredth time as he looks out the window of the diner for the girls. Chuck rolls his eyes and slumps back in his seat. Tyler lets out a sigh and shakes his head slowly at his friend.
"Yes Adrian now sit down," Nate repeats the same answer he has given since they got there and it had begun.
"Wait I think that's them... no," Adrian gets excited for a moment, but then falls back in his seat at the disappointment.
"You do realize eventually you will have to say goodbye to them," Tyler raises his eyebrows in question.
"Not right away, I mean we're on a road trip and so are they. We could all like travel together," Adrian responds as if he is a child who is being threatened to lose one of his toys. Chuck lets out a chuckle and shakes his head.
"Sure," Nate replies, not even wanting to fight it.
"Edna did you see those crazy girls down at Maureen's shop today?" an old lady says as she walks past the boys table. All boys look up and listen in on the conversation.
"Think it was them?" Tyler asks.
"Yes I heard they were slapping each others bottoms and saying they were married and then the little brown haired one told Maureen that the blond one was her sugar mama, whatever that means," the other one scoffs as she holds a hand to her heart. "I don't know what is happening to todays youth," she says with a lot of concern in her tone. Chuck shakes his head and lets out a low laugh.
"It was them," Chuck nods and glances out the window. Tyler and Adrian let out a slight chuckle as the old ladies continue to ramble on about it. Chuck then sees them running through the streets like crazy with bags in their hands. "Oh lover boy," Chuck taps Adrian and then points towards the girls.
"Oh cool I'm going to go ask Sadie for a smoke," Adrian jumps up. Nate grabs him and pulls him back. He purses his lips at his son.
"Since when do you smoke?" Nate asks with a frown. Adrian slumps his shoulders and sighs. He then rolls his eyes and removes Nate's hand from his shirt.
"Dad," he says in a low voice, "Stop, you're embarrassing me," with that he goes outside. Chuck watches as he walks up to Sadie and Danny. Sadie and him then go off to stand against the wall. Danny comes inside and walks over to the table.
"Seat taken?" she asks in a tone that says she could care less in all reality.
"Feel free," Tyler motions. Danny sits down and pulls a book out of a bag. She opens it up and begins to read it. Chuck looks at the title and catches the word "Dream". He shakes his head and smirks.
"So Tyler what do you two boys plan to do tonight?" Nate asks as he lies his hands on the table. Tyler gives a shrug and then leans forward.
"Probably going to the movies, they have a small theater here. You guys should come," he nudges Danny a bit.
"Don't touch me," she replies, not looking up.
"Okay," Tyler says quickly, slightly frightened of her. The same waitress comes over to them and taps her pad with her pencil. She stares down at Danny, but there is no response from the petite brunette.
"Anything for you dear?" she asks with a smile as she chomps on her gum. Chuck cringes a bit, for a woman of her age it is rather unattractive. He decides to focus on Danny instead.
"Not hungry," Danny replies with a bored tone. Her eyes remain glued to the book the entire time. Tyler also watching looks from Danny to the waitress.
"We have the best pie around," the waitress offers. Danny sighs, closes the book, and slowly looks up. She forms a good old fake smile.
"Well in that case..." she smiles and then changes her tone to annoyed, "still not hungry," she then motions for the lady to leave. The woman shakes her head and turns around and walks away. Danny rolls her eyes and puts the book away, sick of trying to read with so many interruptions. Chuck leans forward and pushes a fresh cup of coffee towards her.
"Figure out what your dream means yet?" Chuck asks. Danny looks down at the coffee.
"Nope," she pops the "p" on the word as she slides the cup back in his direction. Chuck leaves it be and looks back to Danny.
"Nope you haven't figured it out or nope your not answering the question?" he gives as small shrug as he asks this and his classic smirk is also sent her way.
"Does it matter either way?" she sends his smart ass wit, right back to him.
"You tell me," he throws it back to her. Tyler shakes his head in confusion.
"I can't follow," Tyler says as he holds his head. Nate shakes his head and laughs. Danny looks at him for a moment, she forgot he was there. Nate smiles brightly at her.
"You know who she reminds me of," he looks up at Chuck and trails off. Danny notices the exchange between them and looks to Nate.
"Who?" she asks, eying Chuck as she does so.
"No one," Chuck replies his tone the harshest she's heard. Well at least directed towards her since she met him.
"Obviously it's someone," she smirks.
"Does it matter either way?" Chuck repeats her words. She stares at him for a moment and then shrugs and stands up.
"What do I care anyways," she sighs and walks outside.
"Good job Nathaniel," Chuck says with a clipped tone before he gets up and goes outside in the opposite direction for a smoke.
"What did I do?" Nate asks as he looks at Tyler. Tyler shakes his head and shrugs, honestly he has no idea either.
–
Danny stares at the movie screen, but isn't paying attention. She's wondering how exactly Sadie convinced her to come along when she knew she held no interest for it. She turns to see her best friend making out with Adrian. That didn't take long. She thinks and rolls her eyes. She turns to look to her other side to see Tyler actually watching the movie. She sighs and stands up.
"Where are you going?" Sadie asks as she pulls her lips from Adrian's. Danny looks around to see barely anyone else in the theater.
"I have to pee," she shrugs. Sadie rolls her eyes and goes back to Adrian. Danny jumps over the front seat and takes the easier exit. She can't flee from the theater fast enough. When she gets outside the screening room she does go in the bathroom, but just long enough to check her appearance in the mirror. She brushes a hand through her hair and then is back out the door. Leaving as soon as she came. Instead of going back to the screening room though she walked further into the lobby. It was such a small place, only two screening rooms and the lobby showed it size.
"Problem miss?" a boy about thirteen with braces, in a red vest, asks.
"None at all, just have a head ache," she replies and leans against the counter. She smirks, deciding she could entertain herself. She spins back around and leans on the counter, right in front of the boy. "Actually I was wondering if you could help me with something," she points at him and winks.
"Yes?" he asks, his tone nervous. Danny pretends to look around and then turns back to him. She leans forward and puts a hand to her mouth.
"Do you know where I could... you know... buy some drugs," she whispers. The boys eyes widen a bit and he leans back.
"No," he replies, "But um only the older kids do that sort of thing around here... I um..." his voice is dry.
"What about sex, think you could help me out with that one?" she asks with a smirk. The boys eyes practically pop out of his head.
"I um... I don't know... I..." he rambles on, it begins to bore her.
"Relax," she sighs and holds up a hand, "I was kidding." The boy sighs in relief and then disappears into the employee room without another word. Danny looks out the glass doors and front windows, its dark outside. The next thing she knows she's walking out the door and on the small towns sidewalks. "Like a ghost town," she says under her breath and looks at the empty streets.
"Daddy when we go home will you play monster with me?" a little girls smiles as she dances out of a restaurant. Danny looks up and watches as she twirls towards the street and then a man grabs her.
"Gracie be careful, your mother would kill me if she saw you doing that," the man, her father, scolds. The little girl, Gracie, pouts and crosses her small arms. The man leans down and sighs, "Don't give me that face young lady," he shows his smile, "Or we can't get ice cream on the way home."
"Yeah!" the little girl claps her hands and begins to jump up and down. Her father laughs and then picks her up and puts her on his shoulders.
"Up you go," he smiles. The little girl giggles as he carries her across the street to the car. She hears them talking away until their voices fade out. Danny stares at the car that drives away and can't help, but imagine sun rays coming from it to show off how happy the people in it are. She looks away and keeps her face without emotion. Then she looks back up and walks a few more steps. She comes to a bar that is humming with soft music. She looks inside the window. It's mostly empty, but then she recognizes someone at the bar. She pushes the door open and goes in.
–
Chuck sits at the bar, caressing his scotch. Finally he had found it in at least one bar out of the whole town. He takes a sip of the amber liquid and it burns a bit down his throat. It's nights like these when he thinks of her. He sees someone sit down next to him out of the corner of his eye, but does not turn to greet them.
"What can I get you miss?" the bartender asks, it must be a woman.
"I'll have what he's having," a familiar voice replies. Chuck smirks and turns to see Danny sitting there. The bartender nods and turns around to fix it.
"Kind of young for such and old drink, aren't you?" he asks with an amused tone. Danny turns towards him, her face holds no smile.
"Kind of old to still be trying to drink away your problems, aren't you?" her tone holds no sympathy. Chuck shrugs and turns back to his drink. He listens as the bartender approaches her.
"I'm going to need to see some ID miss," he holds out his hand.
"She's of age," Chuck replies. The bartender stares at them for a moment and then reluctantly hands her the drink. Danny takes a sip of the scotch and doesn't flinch at all. Chuck finds himself impressed at this for some reason. "You're welcome," he nods at her.
"Did you hear me say thank you?" she asks and takes another sip. He only chuckles and shakes his head at this. She sets down her drink and turns towards him, "Where's you friend?" she asks.
"Where's yours?" he counters with a smirk. Danny smiles for a moment, but then puts on a careless expression. She gives a small shrug and sighs.
"In a dumpster, they got on my nerves and I killed them. Sorry I realize this puts you in a tight position with Nathaniel," she takes another sip of the scotch.
"Did you just call him Nathaniel?" Chuck asks with a smile.
"Well I thought Archibald would get confusing considering his son holds that last name as well," Danny replies her eyes showing amusement. "Why?" she turns towards him.
"Just curiosity," Chuck sighs.
"Be careful curiosity killed the Chuck," Danny holds a pretend stern tone and shakes her finger at him.
"I believe the correct word was cat," Chuck winks.
"Whatever," Danny sighs and finishes off her drink. She slides it back and forth between her hands. Chuck eyes the glass in motion before looking up to Danny.
"What did you dream about when you slept walk last night?" his tone is low, quiet. Danny's hands fall still and her eyes down.
"What do you care?" she asks.
"Humor me," Chuck replies.
"It makes me sound crazy," she looks up at him.
"Who said I didn't already think you are crazy?" he sits back a bit. Danny lets out a small smile, but it leaves as quick as it comes.
"Butterflies," she states simply and then gets up. Chuck feels himself go uneasy at her answer as she leaves. There's something in his gut that went off by her answer. His mind instantly goes back to another petite brunette, one he hasn't seen in sixteen years. He covers her memory by taking another swig of his scotch.
–
"So where did you go off to tonight?" Sadie asks, her head hung off the bed. Danny on the bed, who is working away on her sketch book, doesn't look up. "Earth to Danny?" Sadie says with slight agitation.
"I hooked on a corner for fun," Danny replies with an amused smirk. Her eyes however don't lead the picture her hand continues to work on in quick motions. The details are so immense they reflect into her eyes that are glued to them.
"Without me?" Sadie laughs and sits up, "And here I thought we were friends."
"What gave you that idea? I hate you," Danny sighs.
"Bitch," Sadie scoffs.
"Dirty hoe."
"Tramp."
"Slut."
"Sometimes I really hate you Danny baby," Sadie laughs and falls on the pillow next to her.
"Tell me about it," Danny sighs as she finishes off the sketch she had been working on since she got home. She finds herself not very pleased with it when she looks over it. It was done from memory and not a photograph. Sadie sits up and looks at it.
"Is that Chuck?" Sadie asks, slightly surprised Danny hasn't torn it away from her. Danny purses her lips and examines it a bit more.
"Yeah," she nods. Sadie looks at the picture. It's of Chuck sitting at the bar.
"He looks sad," Sadie says, her eyes still glued to it.
"I guess," Danny sighs and gets up. She walks out the door and folds the paper down the middle
"Where are you going?" Sadie asks with a frown. Danny doesn't respond, but closes the door and walks down the hallway. She comes to another room door and knocks on it. It opens and Chuck stands there in his pajamas.
"Do you have the wrong room?" he asks with raised eyebrows. Danny only holds the folded piece of paper up to him. He takes it, but doesn't open it, "What's this?"
"You tell me," she says and turns around and leaves. Chuck stares at her until she disappears into his own room. He then looks down and slowly unfolds it. When he does he is surprised to find himself, staring at himself. He walks back into the room slowly.
"What's that?" Nate asks, looking up.
"One of Danny's drawings," he replies, still staring at it.
"I thought she won't show anyone else?" Nate frowns when Chuck doesn't respond. Nate walks over and stares down at it, "That's you and she's good."
"No duh Nathaniel," Chuck replies and folds it again. She was good because she got every detail. Below the picture he sees she has written something. He frowns and narrows his eyes to read it.
Thanks for the scotch.
–
A/N: So is it still any good or should I forget about it? Please leave a review and tell me what you think and if I should keep going.