WOW. Thank you all for your interest in my new story! I've missed writing on FF so much! I'll be posting one new chapter every Monday for those of you who don't follow me on Twitter and didn't know =]
There were exactly twelve packets of sugar in the small black box placed neatly on the edge of the four-cornered table. And twenty-eight other basically empty tables lined the walls and covered the floor space of the rustic Mom-and-Pop Pizza Parlor. Each table had four chairs placed neatly around them waiting with a sad sort of enthusiasm to be filled.
Except for the five far tables near the back right windows where he was sitting with her. Those tables only had two chairs each, probably to make the atmosphere seem somewhat more romantic... though intimacy was pretty much impossible to accomplish in a pizza joint, wasn't it?
...The ceiling had forty cardboard tiles and nine florescent light fixtures. There were five people working: two men and three women. They all had on black pants, white shirts, and visors labeled "Vinny's Place" in bright red letters. None of them were smiling.
It had been six… seven… eight seconds since she had last spoken about the millionth random thing that he didn't remotely care about. And it was those awkward eleven… twelve… thirteen seconds that he found most unbearable. But he always managed to suffer through them for what he would receive in the end as a reward.
There were… six wobbly tables being supported by tissue paper wedged under their uneven legs.
"Here you go. Have a good night you two," their waitress dropped his credit card on the table and smiled artificially as she walked back to the kitchen.
"So… you want to head back to my place?" The girl across from him asked, pushing her half eaten salad out of the way as she stood up and dawned her light jacket, braking their bored silence.
Typical. But who was he to argue?
"Absolutely," he grinned.
Generic. But passable.
She smiled back, their grins like a well-known and well-used language. It was all a game they played, not just with each other, but with whoever struck their interest. It was a worldwide language – one every player and every slut knew and used on a regular basis. There was nothing special or unique or mysterious about their relationship.
It just was.
"Watch your step – my roommate is a mess," she giggled as he stumbled through her door and looked around the flat. It looked like the home of someone who never actually lived there except maybe at night (and not even then, really.)
The rest of the evening would go by as it always did for him. For a few hours, their two lonely hearts would become one for nothing more than selfish gain. For him it was the rush, the release. For her it was the reputation, the claim to fame. It wasn't everyday you got to sleep with a rock star.
He was Danny Jones, guitarist and singer for British pop band, McFly. She was just another nameless Barbie with a pretty face and no brains. Neither of them seemed to mind though.
This is who Danny was. He was the playboy, the shagger. Everyone knew it but no one really cared. If anything, people fed off of it. A week couldn't go by without a mention of "Who is Danny with now" headlining in all the tabloids. Paparazzi would sneak around, hoping to snag a glimpse of his new squeeze. The world was waiting to see who could finally hold Danny Jones's attention for more than a night. It was a little game they all liked to play, but he knew deep down they would never be satisfied - because neither could he.
Relationships… commitment… marriage… none of it was really his thing. Why would he waste life away with one person when the whole world was just full of people waiting for him to explore? How could he really ever know if he was with the one if there was no way he could meet everyone out there? Why commit to something if he could never really be sure?
Danny liked his life. He liked the glamour and the glitz. He liked going to bed with one girl, and waking up to go see another. He liked the ability to live like a bachelor and have the world approve – even be entertained by his lifestyle choice. He'd have to be insane not to thrive off of the attention.
"Oh yeah baby… that's great…" Danny moaned as she kissed him. This was what life was about.
"Yeah? You like that?" She grinned, pleased to be pleasing.
"You bet I do… Oh… Oh-Oh Danny-" he froze.
This was new.
She froze. Shocked, too.
"Did… did you just call out your own name?" She asked, moving away from him with a disbelieving look on her face. It was an expression so uncommon for her that it almost seem like she had to force it out. Apparently she could usually handle anything.
"I… I meant to say… uh… Annie?"
"Annie? My name is Sarah you asshole!" Her face was slowly changing from disbelief to anger as they continued talking.
"Right! Right I meant Sarah! Sorry – please, babe, let's just-"
"Get the fuck out of here you egotistical, narcissistic, self-loving, bastard! I can't believe you called out your own name in bed! Get out!" She screamed, reaching behind him and grabbing a pillow to beat him over the head with. Danny scurried away, trying to protect himself as he tried to find his clothes.
He had totally misjudged her. He didn't even know what "narcissistic" meant.
So much for Blonde Barbie…
"Chill out – I'm leaving! Stop hitting me you… CRAZY LADY!" He screamed as she pushed him out of her room. His shirt was in his hands, his boxers on his legs and his pants nowhere in sight. "I need my PANTS!" He screamed through the door, not leaving without his wallet or phone.
The door swung open and she threw them at him, slamming the door loudly in his face while screaming at him to leave. He rolled his eyes, not even bothering with a retort. There was no salvaging the situation.
Not like he cared anyway.
"PSYCHO!" Danny screamed at the house as he walked down the dark, damp street. She had been the one with the car – how on earth was he supposed to get home? Teleport?
He pulled his phone out of his pocket, deciding which friend was best to call during his time of desperate need.
There was Dougie Poynter, bassist for their band, McFly. Normally Danny never relied on Dougie for rides, seeing as he was the youngest of the group and it still hadn't really sunk in that he had the ability to drive. Not to mention the fact that the young bassist was a bit of an oddball. He probably already had some crazy plans for the night and Danny didn't want to be a burden.
Then there was Tom Fletcher, his dual guitarist and singer in the band. Danny had no doubt in his mind that Tom would drop whatever he was doing to go and rescue him from the dark streets, seeing as he was one of the nicest guys Danny had ever met, but Danny could already hear the lecture Tom would lay into him the entire ride home. "What have I told you about showing a little more respect to girls? I mean… her name, Dan? Seriously!" Danny wasn't sure if he was in the mood for it.
Last, but not least, there was Harry Judd, McFly's drummer. The more Danny considered calling Harry, the better the idea sounded. Harry would probably be the most understanding out of all his band mates, seeing as he had been quite the ladies man at one point in his life as well. Harry wasn't the lecturing type, but the sit-back-and-I'll-tell-you-about-my-experience type.
"Hey Haz? You busy?"Danny asked as his friend picked up on the third ring. "I'm stuck at that bird's place from tonight. Anyway you could give me a lift?"
Danny sighed gratefully when Harry agreed and gave him basic directions. It wasn't too far of a drive so he just had to pass the time until his rescuer showed up.
And then he saw the flash.
It was so unexpected Danny nearly screamed and didn't immediately recognize what it was. Had he been slightly prepared he would've known right away that it was the unmerciful flash of a paparazzi digital camera, and he wouldn't have squeaked like a scared little girl.
"Oi! Anyone out there?" Danny called as he looked in the direction in which the flash had come from. A few silent moments passed, making Danny second-guess the flash and question his own sanity, before a stout, middle-aged man popped out from behind a bush, his fedora hat nearly falling off his head from his abrupt posture change.
"Well if it isn't Danny Jones! Care to comment on why you just screamed, and I quote verbatim, 'PSYCHO' at that little cottage?" The portly man had now come out of his hiding place behind the bush and was waddling his way over to Danny, tape recorder protruding out like it was an extension of his right hand while his camera hung loosely from his neck.
Danny's stomach churned as he realized his grave error. He knew that deep down any press was good press… but bad press always ate away at his soul a little bit. There was no redeeming quality for it except for the free advertising and exposure.
"Um… I don't know what you're talking about mate, sorry," Danny tried to play it cool. Maybe he'd get lucky and the tubby guy would turn out to be a nice reporter.
And maybe pigs would start flying…
"Danny Jones, I've got you recorded on my tape recorder shouting that obscenity at that little house! Who lives there? Is it your girlfriend? Did she chuck you out for some reason?" The man seemed much too eager to get a story.
"What? Mate, seriously, who actually uses a tape recorder anymore anyway? Get with the times. It's all digital now. Here, check out my phone. I've got an app that will record high quality stuff for like thirty minutes straight." Danny was sincerely hoping he could distract the reporter. He didn't really feel like answering personal, trivial questions.
"Oh really? Well don't mind if I do!" The man nearly giggled, putting down his camera and tape recorder. Danny felt victorious as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, proud that he had successfully avoided another blow to his reputation.
As soon as he withdrew his phone and began flipping through his apps, Harry's night blue SUV pulled around the road's bend and sped towards Danny and the man who were standing in the middle of the street. He had perfect timing.
"Um… hello?" Harry stopped next to them, sending a curious look from Danny to the reporter.
"Hey dude, this is… um…"
"Jason. Jason Mason," he smiled happily, his cheekbones swelling to the size and color of cherries on the sides of his face.
"Awesome name!" Danny couldn't help but comment as he patted the man farewell on the back.
"Need a lift anywhere, Jason Mason?" Harry smiled politely, still not really sure what was going on.
"Oh no, I've got my car parked in the woods over that way. Thank you, though!" He nodded his head towards them, smiling cheerily again as Harry pulled away.
"Danny, you make friends in the oddest situations," he commented, an amused smile on his face.
"Yeah well, let's just get back to my place. Want to stay for a drink?" Danny asked, wanting to thank Harry for the speedy pick up. Harry agreed and they headed in the direction of Danny's flat.
Despite the evening's odd turns, including Danny's run in with the reporter, none of the events truly fazed him. He had learned over time to move on from rejection or negativity because he could always find happiness somewhere else. So what if… what was her name? Sarah? Yeah, so what if she turned him down? There was no doubt in his mind that within twenty-four hours he would be tossing on a new bed with a new bird – one who didn't care if he didn't know her name. And he would take what he needed from her – the quick release and the fill of artificial happiness – and then move on again.
It was a constant cycle - an inevitability. There would always be another girl out there for him to conquer and he wouldn't stop until he got them all.
Peacelovebookx107 – Well I'm very glad you like it and that you're excited. For the first chapter I had no idea what to write. I actually didn't write it until the story was halfway finished. I quite like how I decided to do it though. A cute little blast to the past =] Anyway, thank you lovely! Glad you're excited for a new story!
Younggryffindor – Haha thank you! I'm super happy you're interested. There was a small part of me that was nervous the first chapter would turn people away because it doesn't really have that strong of a hook. No serious action actually starts until like… the 6th chapter… but you'll see if you decide to bare with me! Haha anyway, thank you my dear!
Gnarley – Well I'm glad my story is bringing you back into the McFly fanfic world! I've been out of it for so long! I've just been super lazy and unmotivated… but this story just like… HAD to be written. Anyway, glad you're enjoying it! Peace lovely =]
McFlYiNgHiGh – Hello my love! Long time no talk is right! I'm glad you're interested in this story – I'm SUPER proud of the way it came out. And I seriously hope you will be too. And I think I'm not ruining any story secrets by saying that D.K. is a completely fictional character and made up in my own head. So if she IS connected to the boys some how, it's a freaky coincidence! Hahaha anyway, thanks for the review – TTYOT! (Long time since I've used that!)
CrushedCoppelia – I'm so excited to get back in the swing of things! I've been gone for much too long. And I was pretty darn pleased with the way the prologue came out too. I think it gives JUST enough away to keep everyone interested, but not enough so that they already know the whole story lol. Thank you for being my trampoline. I bounced ideas off you just trying to sort through my own head! You're a life saver XD LOVE!
Ashh – Haha, I didn't see anything wrong with your review! Oh well – and thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I've taken such a long break from FanFiction but I'm glad to be back and writing again. And I figured what better way to start off then with a Danny fic? Those are always fun! Haha anyway, thank you so much for the review! =]
Kylee – I'm glad you liked the prologue! I wasn't quite sure what the right route was to take with it, and I figured a cute little kid Danny was the best option. And you picked up on his dad! There's like two or three lines throughout the story of his dad being a turd. Good spot! Lol anyway, thanks for the review! Peace lovely!