Workin' Day and Night
Seven Months Later...
Destiny worked as a mail clerk at The Banner. Over the summer, Destiny became a petite brick-house. Now every time she walks past in the office, all the men's eyes follow her. Is it possible to be flattered and creeped out at the same time? She was always confident but now they could see what she always saw in herself.
She got to the last person on this floor. The name on the mail read, Jeffery King.
"You must me Jeffery King. You must be new." Destiny said.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Jeffery asked.
"I've been working here for almost a year and I've never heard of a Jeffery King. Welcome to The Banner. I'm Destiny."
"Thanks." Jeffery said.
Destiny took the moment to check out Jeffery, his caramel skin and beautiful curly hair. He looked like he might have a nice body under that shirt. Then she thought...
"Am I looking at him, James and whoever else I find attractive the same way these guys look at me because that's just a little creepy, flattering but creepy."
"Well, I'm sure we'll meet again considering, I deliver your mail so later." Destiny turned around and headed back down the aisle. Meanwhile, Jeffery was checking her out as she walked.
-v-
Since James wanted to make a living protecting people, Destiny hooked him up with Shaun who trained him and got him a job working with him as a bodyguard, not a top bodyguard. He handled little stuff. This was much better than fixing cars all day as a mechanic. Though he was good at it, he had been doing it most of his life and it unfortunately reminded him of his father.
-v-
Matthew was leaving school and was on his way to B.E. to start his first day back interning for Clint. Since Clint was still on house arrest, Matthew could get some things done that Clint just couldn't. On his way out, he was stopped by a pretty blonde, blue eyed girl, her hair stopping just above her shoulders. She was so fashionably aware, if this was "Clueless," she'd be Cher.
"Sorry to bother you but could you point me in the direction of the library?"
"I could take you to it if you would like." Matthew volunteered.
"I'd love that. Thanks... By the way, I'm Hanna. Hanna Marin."
"Matthew Buchanan."
They headed to the library and talked along the way.
"Are you new?" Matthew asked.
"Yeah, I just started for the Winter semester."
"How do you like LU so far?"
"It's nice."
"Are you from Llanview?"
"No. I'm from Rosewood. It's like an hour away. I needed a change so I decided to come to school here. Where are you from?"
"I was born and raised here. Do you know anyone here?"
"Only my best friend who came here with me from Rosewood. Otherwise, this is all brand new territory but new places are good."
"If you and your friend need someone to show you around or want to meet some new people then call me. I've lived here my entire life, I know it like the back of my hand."
"Great." Hanna gave Matthew her phone so that he could lock his number in. "Where do you go to party around here?"
"There's a club opening tonight. It's called Shelter. It's a big deal. If you come, call me and I'll get you in. I know the owner."
"Awesome. I guess I'll see you tonight then."
After leading Hanna to the library, Matthew went home, got ready for work then went to B.E. Clint had so many errands for him to run, he was exhausted by the end of the day. When he finally got home he took a nap so that he could be ready for the club tonight.
-v-
Dani was riding around with Becca. They had been shopping for the club opening tonight. They were coming across a bridge and Dani pulled over.
"What are you doing?" Becca asked.
Dani got out and leaned over the bridge. Becca went over to her.
"My dad, one of them, brought me here. Told me to jump off. My other dad shot him. He said it was like surfing. Who was he kidding? It's nothing like surfing. What if I actually jumped off?"
"You'd be a dumb ass. Come on, let's go. I have things to do before the club tonight." Becca said before she got back in the car. Dani soon followed suit and drove them back home but got more Ku Co from her while they were together so that she could get pumped up to party.
When Dani got home she was sneaking around to get ready because every since she was in the hospital, Téa had been keeping tabs on her and making a big deal every time she tried to go out. She didn't know if she would do that tonight so she was avoiding her.
Dani curled her hair, put on her very short silver dress with dark eyeliner and red lipstick then checked the living room. The coast was clear so she ran for the door.
Téa and Del were in the nursery. Téa checked on her sleeping beauties before she headed out to the opening of Blair's club. The twins were finally sleeping through the night, Thank God. Del was such a big help with them since he'd been in town and he'd been doing his best to keep his little sister stress free. They lost a lot of years of quality time together and it was nice to have it now. Tomas said he would help Téa with the babies but he's been M.I.A since she was pregnant. When Delmonico Delgado makes you a promise, that's what the hell he means.
-v-
Dani was outside the club with Becca, Britney and Joy.
"Dani Delgado." Dani told the bouncer. He checked his list.
"You're not on the list." The bouncer said.
"Yes I am. I made sure I was on the list as Dani Delgado. What about Dani Manning? Rayburn? Lord?"
"No, no, and nope."
Destiny and Vina had been standing there long enough to know Dani couldn't get in.
"Damn, you can't get in?" Destiny asked. "Destiny Evans." Destiny said to the bouncer. He looked on the list then opened the rope to her.
"Sorry." Destiny said to Dani and her 'friends.' Then Destiny and Vina walked into the club.
"Oh, she must think she's the s*** now." Becca said.
"Watch it." Dani said in a serious tone and cut her eyes at Becca. She turned back to the bouncer. "Are you seriously not going to let me in? The owner is my step-mother, kind of, sort of, in a way, whatever, she's family. Why wouldn't I be on the list?"
"I don't know but you're not, princess."
"That's your argument? Daughter of a lawyer." Britney said.
"It was a good argument." Dani said.
Matthew and Jeffery walked up.
"Here comes the loser." Becca said.
"I'm the loser? I don't know how you can laugh from outside the club. You can't even get in." Matthew said then told the bouncer his name.
"Dani?" Jeffery said.
"Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?" Dani hugged Jeffery.
"I moved here. Matthew put me in touch with Victoria Lord and I got a gig here." Jeffery explained.
"That's so cool. You know she's my aunt."
"I didn't know. I can't believe Matt didn't tell me that... So why are you standing out here?" Jeffery asked.
"Didn't you hear, she can't get in." The bouncer let Matthew in.
"Aren't you going to get Dani in?" Jeffery asked Matthew.
"... Dani can come but her groupies can't." Matthew said.
"Matthew. They're my friends. I can't just leave them here."
"I guess you'll be standing out here in the cold in that little dress with your loser friends then."
"Matt, that's mean." Jeffery said.
"Mean? I don't give a-"
"Matt." Jeffery said.
"Didn't you hear? I can be a really big jerk sometimes and sometimes I really don't care. So are you coming or do you want to be Mr. Nice Guy and stay out here with them." Matthew said.
"Sorry Dani."
"Oh my gosh." Becca said, irritated.
"Karma's a bitch when you're a bi-" Matthew started.
"Matt!" Jeffery exclaimed. "Wouldn't the nice thing be to forgive and forget and not have the pretty ladies stand out here in the cold?"
"Probably. I could've probably forgiven the past but considering they just called me a loser, I think I'm going to let them lose their body temperature. It's the Buchanan way."
"No it isn't. What do you think your dad would say about that?" Dani asked.
"I don't know but I know what my uncle, grandfather and a majority of other Buchanan's would say. Bye bye." Matthew and Jeffery started to head in when Matthew heard his name called. He turned around. It was Hanna from school with her petite, dark haired, dark eyed friend. They caught up to Matthew. "Hanna, you made it."
"Nice to see you again. This is my friend, Aria." Hanna said.
"Nice to meet you. This is my friend, Jeffery." Matthew said. "Let's go in." Matthew turned to the bouncer. "They're with me." Matthew, Jeffery, Hanna and Aria went into the club.
"Ugh! All I want to do is have some fun. This is ridiculous. Why is this happening to me? I can always get in." Dani was frustrated and angry. She was starting to wish she took that pill so she'd be on cloud nine right now.
Téa walked up.
"Hey Cisco." Téa said to the bouncer.
"Hey Téa." Cisco said.
"Dani. What are you doing here?" Téa asked.
"I-I um." Dani stuttered.
"I take it, you're not having an easy time getting in." Téa said.
"You did this?" Dani questioned.
"And I'm not sorry. Let them in." Téa said. "Just so you know, I'm watching you. I have eyes everywhere. I suggest you don't take that lightly."
Dani wasn't sure if she even wanted to get in now with her mom watching her every move. How was she supposed to have fun now?
They went into Shelter and it was definitely a new club. Ultra Violet definitely had competition now.
"Great. Now we're under the watchful eye of your mother." Becca said.
"I didn't know she would be here but she wouldn't know we were here if Matthew had let us in and Matt would have let us in if you didn't call him a loser. I told you not to mess with Destiny and Matthew. And he's not a loser. Maybe, he's a jerk sometimes but he's not a loser." Dani said. She tried to dance but it really wasn't that much fun sober. She couldn't drink or anything else with her mom watching her every move so she just sat down. "This sucks." Dani sat down with her arms folded.
Jeffery went to get drinks and ran into Destiny as he was on his way back.
"Destiny! This really is a small town. You look beautiful." Jeffery said.
"Thank you."
"Will you save me a dance?" Jeffery asked.
"Sure." Destiny smiled.
Jeffery went back to Matthew, Hanna and Aria and gave them their non-alcoholic beverages. Then Matthew and Hanna danced together.
"You know, Matt, you're pretty hot." Hanna said.
"And you are... Wow... Gorgeous." Hanna smiled.
Téa and Blair were chatting at the bar.
"I'm glad you came, although we're a little old for this scene." Blair said.
"I'm not old but I get your point. You wanted the hottest club in town. Now you have it."
Antonio came over to the bar.
"I didn't expect to see you here." Téa said.
"I could say the same." Antonio said.
"Do either of you see Dani?" Téa asked.
"She's been sitting down having a miserable time, the entire time she's been here. You can't watch her forever, Téa." Blair said.
"I don't plan to watch her forever, just until she gets her act together and I know that right now she isn't any better than she was a few months ago. She might be worst."
"Then you should follow your instincts." Antonio said.
"I couldn't bare to see anything happen to her." Téa said.
"Dani will be fine. She's a fighter like her mother. Come on, dance with me. Take your minds off your worries." Antonio said then they took to the floor.
Jeffery looked all over for Destiny so that he could have that dance. Finally, he found her.
"Can I still have that dance?" Jeffery asked.
"If you can keep up." Destiny said before they began to dance. "Or if I can keep up with you."
"I think you're keeping up just fine."
"Des, we should get going." Vina came over and said.
"Sorry, this Cinderella's fairy godmother says she has to go."
"Does that mean I'm Prince Charming?"
"I don't know. I guess we'll have to find out. Or maybe I'm Princess Charming and I have a bunch of potential princes who need to try on a certain glass shoe. I mean, it is the twenty-first century." Destiny and Vina ran off.
Meanwhile, Téa and Antonio's dancing started out fun like two old friends and was beginning to heat up. Temperatures rising, unfamiliar territory. Abort. Abort!
"That was fun." Téa stopped suddenly and went back to the bar. "I should probably get back to my babies. It's been fun. I'll see you guys soon." Téa said then went to Dani who managed to be bored in her favorite place to have fun. "Let's go."
"I'm an adult, you know. I can do what I want." Dani said.
"Do not cause a scene. If you stay you will have a miserable time. I have eyes everywhere, remember."
"You're becoming controlling like the dads."
"But you're still alive, aren't you? Let's go."
Dani got moving. Enough years with Victor and now she's starting to apply some of his parenting methods.
"You're acting like dad." Dani said as they walked out of the club.
"Well you said you missed him." Téa replied.
They went home and Dani went straight to her room.
The next day, Téa and Del were talking in the living room while the babies swung in their baby swings.
"Have you heard anything else on Ralf Channing?" Téa asked.
"No, there's been no trace of him." Del replied.
"Since he seems to be gone then maybe I should let it go but I just worry because we don't know what he wanted. What if he comes back?"
"What are you going to do about Dani?" Del asked.
"I don't know. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing now. Have I done the right thing ever?"
"I wish I knew her better but overall, I think she's just a good kid who is hurt and confused."
"She is but the question is, how do I change that? How do I help her? Have you seen her this morning?"
"No."
Téa went to Dani's room and knocked on her door. No answer. She tried to open it. It was locked.
"Dani." Téa called. There was no answer. She picked the lock open. She wasn't there but the Ku Co was. It was lying on her dresser in a little baggy. Téa picked it up. "I'm going to kill her." Téa went back to the living room where Del was. "I'm going to find her then I'm going to kill her." Téa didn't find her but Dani came back home after her high fizzled out.
"Sorry mom. I just had to get out of here." Dani said.
"High. You were high."
"No. I told you I don't do the drug any more.
"I went in your room. I saw the damn drug."
"My door was locked."
"Now it's not. You're irresponsible and you're destructive. You don't get how serious this thing is. You need some structure and responsibility. You will work for me as my assistant, Lord knows I need one and go to school and you'll go to rehab. No clubs. Don't even try, none of them will let you in."
"I don't have to listen to you anymore."
"You don't have to use my credit cards either... Don't get me started. If you don't do it... I'll cut off all your finances. It's your choice."
"This isn't fair."
"Neither is life."
Dani went to her room. She was so pissed. Téa was trying any and everything she could think of. She just wanted Dani to be fixed already. She loved her and all she wanted was the best for her.
