"Mm-hm."
Eyes trained off onto the sign listing off the snack cart options-it wasn't a cart but a small counter area alongside the wall behind the milk coolers on the middle school's side of the lunch line-Danny nodded his head.
"I said."
At hearing actual annoyance from reserved Matt, Danny blinked rapidly, pulling his attention off the sign.
"Do you know what's up with Elizabeth? She's been weird lately. Weirder than normal."
Both Dustin and Zach were also staring at Danny too, waiting for an answer.
Tilting his head and pulling back in surprise, Danny paused before answering with an automatic 'nothing'.
Danny tried to stay out of things whenever possible. More so now. And Elizabeth was an older sister, who sometimes set him off down a path he didn't want to dwell on, often solely by the knowledge of her being the eldest. Hard to avoid her with them sharing a house, grade, and a couple classes. So he ignored and shifted closer to a few of the cross country guys in his class.
They weren't much better, but at least easier to ignore or not think or feel certain things since they were a team and not...friends.
Forcing that out with a shooting pain bursting outwards from his chest, Danny focused on the question, thinking back.
Elizabeth had been in a mood some nights ago. Not a smile and only speaking when needed. Kind of...annoyed grumpy?
She'd been quiet again late Sunday, but was staring at a notebook, scribbling and scratching, eyebrows pinching above her nose. Stood out as slightly odd. Elizabeth didn't struggle much in schoolwork and took the more difficult stuff as a challenge, a puzzle problem to solve. So there was that recently.
Bubbly at school the last couple days. Danny tilted his head, tapping at the table as he searched his mind back. Bright, but... Jittery?
And both nights, she had been scowling and short in answering Edi during supper.
Today. Today. He'd seen her smiling and hanging out with Franz and Jonah outside the band room before class. Nothing seemed unusual, outside of her being a touch more outgoing. But those three were friends.
Danny drew his eyes across the cafetorium, then remembered Elizabeth was in band right now, likely outside for marching practice on the football field with a home game this Friday.
"I can't think of anything that'd be bothering her. She hasn't said anything to me."
And, because he knew it'd get Matt to leave him alone again, teased.
"Why? Worried about your sister?"
The boy's face flushed, ears and cheeks red. "No!"
Matt's head spun away from Danny and speared a slice of kiwi off his plastic tray.
Danny chuckled, amused at the reaction. Gathering from a few photos around the Kauffman house and the gaze of concerned interest from a couple of his friends, it seemed as though Matt and Elizabeth used to be closer. Like Danny and Jazz had been as kids. Jazz would have-
Nope!
What else was on the list of things at the snack cart?
"Do you think its those shitty guys in her grade again? Like last year before Homecoming?" Zach asked in undertone.
Shitty guys? What shitty guys in their grade? What'd they do last year?
"If it is, I say we get'em!"
"Oh, good thinking Dustin. It's not like we enjoy our excellent health and breathing. I don't plan on dying, thanks."
Don't joke about dying, it-
Nope. Stop listening. Not his business. Focus elsewhere.
Danny pushed their arguing out, ignoring the noise around him or the thoughts that swirled up.
Huh. There were healthy options of fruits and vegetables squeezed in way down at the bottom of that snack list. Although, what the heck was a muskmelon?
"Um, Danny?"
At the tap of his shoulder, Danny turned his head around from attempting to work out what was a muskmelon. Matt stood. Fidgeting. All his buddies having left, their seventh grade lunch time having ended.
"Can you make sure Elizabeth is okay? See what's going on?"
"Listen." Air whooshed out. "She's not my sister and we're not really friends. It's not any of my business. You should ask her if you really want to know."
"But you-"
Matt's shoulders slumped. Scowled. Glanced off to the side. "Whatever. Nevermind." The boy mumbled and left.
Despite himself, Danny took a real moment to pay attention to Elizabeth as everyone trickled in for Geometry class. Eyes on her feet, she went straight to her seat, getting her desk organized, shoulders drawn inward. No greeting to Danny or anyone. Quiet and closed off as class started and went on.
Something was clearly up. Something was clearly wrong. But no one seemed to acknowledge it. Or notice with class going on.
If any guys messed with Jazz, like Johnny, if anyone messed with her or hurt her, then Danny would-
Stiffening, he bit his lip, hard, attempting to not make a sound. Fingers pressed into the wood of the desk. As if it would steady him. Bending his head, Danny felt his hot breath bouncing back onto his face and filling the space.
His stomach lurched at the heat.
Tears welling up.
Him. His fault. Jazz was... And...
"Nurse's office!"
Shouting, Danny grabbed his things haphazardly, pencil clattering off the desk, and bolted. He still had no idea as to where the nurse was, but it didn't matter, it wasn't the point. He needed out. He needed away from all these people.
He needed...
Wanted...
His chest screamed.
...what. the. hell?
Brain, fingertips, what is this that's coming out!?
You're giving me ouchies! Right in my own chest! Stop it! Argh!