Sorry for the late update; school just started, I have volleyball after school, and not as much time to write! Plus, I'm a wee bit shocked at the moment…I just found out my teacher's cousin is somewhat famous, and I've kind of had an actor-crush on him for a while now…yeah. Awkward.

ANYWAY, I hope you like this chapter; read and review!

CHAPTER 11: Problems and Laughs

I give my mother a lot of credit. That night at dinner, it was as if Danny and Josie were part of our family; she treated them graciously, made conversation, and listened attentively to everything that they said, even when Josie began rambling due to sleepiness.

That night, after checking once more on our guests to make sure they found our establishment to their liking, Mother came into my room to say goodnight. I was wearing my favorite nightgown (periwinkle blue with sea green lace on the collar and sleeves), and I was brushing my long, golden blonde hair as I looked out my window into the night, across the shimmering harbor.

Mother came over silently and placed one hand on my shoulder, making me jump. "Elle, I'm sorry," she said. I turned, surprised.

"What for?"

"For being unreasonable when you first brought Daniel and Josie here. I see now that they really do need help, and I will see that they get it."

"Oh, Mother! Thank you," I cried, flinging myself into her arms. "So can they stay a while longer?"

"We'll see, darling, we'll see. Let's get you to bed." She kissed me goodnight after I was snug under the sheets, and left the room with what I could have sworn was a heavy sigh. As soon as the light in the hall was extinguished and my mother was downstairs, a figure appeared at my door, looking over its shoulder before entering.

"Danny?"

"Hi," he said rather awkwardly.

"Hello. If I may ask, why are you in my room?"

"I want to talk to you." My heart leapt and I instinctively pulled the sheets tighter around my body as he sat down on my bed. The mattress sagged under this added weight, and I hurriedly started smoothing out my hair, stopping myself when I began to braid it for something to do.

"Um, what do you need to talk about?" I asked uncertainly.

"Why are you doing this for us?" I let out a breath, relieved.

"You and Josie deserve a better life than you have; you two are good people living in bad conditions."

"You mean, my father," he said. It wasn't a question; it was a statement. I nodded, hugging my knees to my chest and averting my eyes. Danny ran a hand through his hair and I couldn't help but watch; it was very attractive when he did that.

"Elle, I understand your concern, but Josie and I…we've learned to put up with him."

"By letting him beat you around like a sack of potatoes while Josie has to watch?" I retorted, unable to stop myself. Danny opened his mouth to retaliate, but I cut him off. "I know he beats you; there's no point in hiding it from me any longer. I've seen the cuts, the bruises. Allowing him to hit you is not putting up with him, Danny; that's letting him take control."

There was silence between us for a couple moments before I tentatively asked, "Do you even try to fight back?"

"Yes. More for Jo's sake than mine."

"Danny, why did you really come in here?" I asked skeptically. Yes, we had been talking, but it wasn't anything we hadn't discussed previously.

"I—what? I wanted to ask you why you're being so generous."

"There's something more, isn't there? Something else that you want to say."

Danny leaned his head against the wall my bed was pushed up against. "It's just—damn it!" I was taken aback by this sudden exclamation.

"Excuse me?"

"You were right. It's better here at Biddy Milligan's. It's better for me, and it's better for Jo." I smiled inwardly, proud that I had finally gotten through to him.

"You're welcome to stay," I began. "I'm sure with a little more persuasion on my part, Mother will allow you to room here long-term."

"We both know that's not possible. Your mother's mind is made up like a seagull intent on snatching a sandwich." I fell silent for a moment, biting back a smile at his simile. That is, until Danny began laughing. His laughter was contagious, and the two of us were left chuckling uncontrollably like children who had just put a thumbtack on the teacher's chair without getting caught. Neither of us knew what exactly was so funny; it was just one of those moments in which you can't help but laugh.

After our laughter had subsided, Danny turned to face me, the light of the moon casting squares of light across us. He held up a hand a foot away from my arm, holding it in the air between us. My breath caught in my throat, and my wrist began to tingle despite the fact that he wasn't touching it. What was happening? Why was it so sudden and strong?

I blinked slowly, reopening my eyes to find that he had dropped his hand. I must admit, I felt somewhat disappointed, as if I had been cheated out of something. Just then, we heard a sleepy yawn from the room where Josie was lying in bed. "Danny?" she called.

"I should go," Danny whispered hastily. "I don't want her fully awake; she really needs her sleep. I'll see you in the morning?" He said that last sentence as a question, as if he thought I might not be there when he woke up. It gave me a new, warm feeling in my chest.

"Of course! See you at breakfast, Danny." He smiled and left the room, leaving me to try and decipher my confusing feelings.

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