I'll Live

The sight of all the kids in front of me scared me. It didn't help that I knew none of them really cared much about me or the project, I still had a hard time starting. I cleared my throat and winced a bit. Standing up in front of the classroom with Danny brought back the memory of the Friday we were kidnaped. The start of the partner project.

A couple weeks had gone by. Danny fretted the entire time. During the few times we met to work on the project and whenever else he saw me, he'd ask over my leg. It felt fine now. Nothing ibuprofen and knee high volleyball socks couldn't solve. Or the ankle support passed off for the same reasons most the other girls used. Even if none of them realized I used the extra support underneath my everyday jean pants. Last thing I needed was people acting all worried if I stumbled. The tournament held the morning after that night was jaw tight hidden pain. Danny was bad enough, knowing what I was hiding. My voice only needed a couple of days. I didn't talk much through most days, so that helped.

I had talked a lot that day. I felt exposed. He knew things other did not. I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable, even though he hadn't brought them up. But I knew he'd likely said something to his friends about his weekend not gazing at the night sky. The two gave me side eyed looks often.

Or maybe it was more like they'd noticed how often Danny chased me down outside of the partner project.

I let him answer all the questions now that we were done with the presentation.

Once class finished up, he tagged along with a bright smile. Something he had taken up to doing. I could only be thankful for that moment when he split off at his two friends spotting him outside the cafeteria. Until then, Danny stuck to my side. "Guess this means we won't be working on this project anymore." I nodded in agreement. "How do you feel about a movie instead?"

I shifted my gaze over to him. "I don't think it's likely that Mrs. Carnell will have the class watch any type of movie."

Danny laughed and nodded. "She's like a strict librarian. No, I meant what do you want to do next time we meet up since the project's over. Food? Bowling? Video games?"

"Yes, that's right. The project is over Danny."

"That doesn't mean we can't still hang out Ashley," he pointed out stubbornly.

I sighed. "We just worked on a project together, that's it. You have your own friends to hang out with. Go hang out with your friends."

"But what about you?"

"I'll live Danny."

He scowled. "I don't like the way you say that."

"There's nothing wrong about saying that. It's just another way to say I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

He huffed, keeping pace with me through the crowded hallway. "But—"

"If it's about that ghost, not uncle of yours, kidnapping and attacking us…I'm fine. If you're worried about my safety from ghosts, look at where we live. If they really do target your family, you ought to keep your distance rather than try to be so close in making sure it doesn't happen again. I've told you my leg is fine, haven't I? Not the slightest tingle for the past few days."

"Well, yeah, but—"

"You're sweet Danny. But you don't have to feel guilty about me being hurt because of you anymore."

His blue eyes went wide, cheeks red. "Sweet?"

"But stressed. Sweet, but stressed. Go hang out with your friends and relax. I'll live," I assured him. "I'll be fine without you checking up on me."

"But it's not about that Ashley," he persisted. "I don't—"

"I meant it Danny. I don't talk to anyone, not really. So you carry around your parents' work and do things with it. Charge up and go. Was that it?" I forced myself to smile. "I pretty much passed out from the pain after that shock anyway. Don't know why that's what it is you're worried about. I think I'll join my cousin for lunch today."

I waved at Bonnie, glad to have spotted her and Star chatting with Valerie. Danny stopped, staring at the group. I knew he'd be offset at the idea of continuing to follow me if she was brought up. Then I pointed over to the suspicious eyes of Sam and Tucker. "There's your friends over there. Goodbye Danny."

Quickly, I left before he could try talking to me again. If he left me alone, maybe I could stop worrying about the last words I think I remembered saying to him before passing out. He hadn't said anything to me about it, hadn't brought it up at all. If I said nothing about him, then he'd say nothing about me, right? Hopefully? Besides, maybe I just imagined saying it out loud.

"I'll live…unfortunately."

I wasn't anyone important. No one needed to worry about me.

I'm a glowing a little to see a couple of follows. Does anyone ever know what Vlad's up to sometimes? Ashley will have less of an idea than even at-times-clueless Danny. Well, the idea of what is a Mary Sue is like a hundred different things. If you follow some rules of them, Superman is definitely an overpowered Mary Sue. I'll be sure to keep Ashley Ashley. Thank you to so much poploly1234, Luna Latanya, and Childhood Reality for reviewing!