CHAPTER FOUR:

CHAPTER FOUR: "Battle your inner demons"

"So you decided to battle your inner demons and join us on our trip to Oahu?" Meg softly teased Danny as they both sat in their desks right next to one another.

Danny shrugged, giving her a small smile as he fingered through his signed papers for the class trip. "Guess so"

A month had passed since Danny found out about the class trip to Oahu. After much debate, and some friendly yet forceful persuasion by Meghan, Danny decided to attend the ceremony with his classmates. Though a big part of himself kept on warning him that this was a bad idea, he couldn't help but also be drawn there. Drawn to the place where tragedy struck and victory was born to prevail.

Much of the paperwork was due that Monday morning in their Period four AP History class. Meg was extremely psyched and cheerful as she had entered the classroom. When Mr. Omiat asked for a single file line for everyone to turn in their forms, Meg placed Danny ahead of her in line. This way, there was no way he could back out on this trip now without having to face Meghan.

"Got your papers signed, Danny boy?" Meg asked, just as there was two more people ahead of Danny. Before Danny could answer, Meg reached around him and snatched the forms from his hands.

"Hey!" He began to protest, yet an amused smile appeared on his face.

"Alright, Kawika!" She patted his back, smiling proudly at him. Meg handed his forms back. "Getting both parents to sign one Mrs. Samantha E. Walker James and one Mr. Joshua Kapono James." She said as she spoke both of Daniel's parents' names. Meghan fell into silence as a thought dawned on her well, not exactly a "thought," but more like a question.

Once Daniel and Meghan handed in their forms, they returned back to their seats. At their desks did Meg asked him her question. "Hey, James,"

"What, Conner?" He glanced at her, a small grin on his face.

"What does the E' in your mom's name stand for? I never got around to finding out. Weird, huh? We've known each other since forever and there are still some things about you that I have no clue about."

Danny chuckled, "I know same here" He paused, trying to recall his mother's middle name. Suddenly, as the name began to appear before him, Danny felt this undeniable sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Danny?" Meg regarded him, especially as all color began to fade from that tanned frame of his.

He blinked, trying to register the shaky coincidence. "Uh" He gulped, then answered, "It's Evelyn my mother was born Samantha Evelyn Wallace Walker."

Meg nodded, "And when your parents married, your mom sort of dropped the Wallace and became Samantha E. Walker James. Jeez, and it's a good thing that she changed it because," Meg laughed, "Because that's a really long name! Samantha Evelyn Wallace Walker James! Five words!"

Danny just nodded, still reeling over the fact that his mother's middle name was the same as the woman he fell in love with in his dreams.

Meg, who seemed to be oblivious to Daniel's stunned silence, paused as another thought crossed her mind. "Actually, as I recall, wasn't your grandfather's last name McCawley? So your mother's name could be Samantha Evelyn Wallace Walker McCawley James!" She chuckled, then added, "You were named after your grandfather, weren't you?"

"Yeah" Danny softly replied, turning his gaze down onto his history text book.

Meg began to play around, "So you could actually be Daniel Kawika Wallace Walker McCawley James Jr.!"

"Actually, my grandfather was Daniel Jr." Danny corrected Meg.

"That's right! I remember now!" Meg proclaimed, smiling up at her friend. She reached out for Danny's binder, causing the young man to jump from his reverie.

"Hey! What're you doing, Conner?" He watched as Meg ripped a notebook paper from his binder.

She waved the paper in front of him, her eyes twinkling playfully. She then began to scribble on it furiously.

"Meg" He began, but was interrupted by Mr. Omiat's voice.

"Okay, everyone. Is there any forms from those of you that I haven't collected yet?" Early thirties teacher glanced around the classroom of Seniors. There was a few audible "No's," which indicated to him that he has collected all the forms from everyone. He smiled pleasantly at his student, "Alright, then. Now that we've gotten that business out of the way, I suggest we begin today's lesson."

As Mr. Omiat turned towards the chalkboard, Danny leaned towards Meg and began to whisper to her. "Meg what're you—"

"I'll explain later, Danny." Her eyes still sparkling with amusement. "It's a surprise!" She giggled as she turned back to writing on the loose paper.

That statement coming straight from Meg's mouth only spelled trouble. Danny sighed, rolled his eyes at her, then slumped into his seat to take notes on the day's lecture. "Like I need even more things to worry about" He groaned softly.

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