Catching Attention


PART FOUR

Leaving Plumfield? But I can hardly stand being away from it for as long as I have been. How could I stand that long? But I could study painting, and music…You've always wanted to do that, Bess. Now's your chance, but do you still want it?

Bess stared out blankly, confused by what had happened over the last three days. Leaving Plumfield, Dan acting like a little two-year-old with the stunts he was playing, and the most surprising thing of all – him insisting that everyone call him Daniel instead of Dan!

She stepped back, and then stepped forward holding her feet up so the swing would rock gently. I still can't believe she, they, want me to leave Plumfield…Bess blinked, and with a sad frown buried her face in her hands.

~*~

"Did ya see him do that crazy thing over the fence today? He wasn't gonna do it till Bess walked out and sat on the porch swing. Soon's he saw her, he was up and over before anybody could blink." Nan swung her legs, twisting a piece of straw between her fingers.

"And the name Daniel? Why would he suddenly insist being called that?" Nat shook his head, looking down at the barn floor that rested at least twenty feet below them.

"Dan's in love, and pea-green with jealousy." Nan stated bluntly. "And he's tryin' to make himself look good, an' sophisticated by catching' her attention with the crazy jumpin' over the fence an' stuff. Just makin' sure she knows he's still there." She shrugged simply, as though it were no big deal.

"That's to say the least of it." Nat snorted, and quickly covered his mouth.

Nan's brows shot up, and she looked surprised. "I didn't know ya could snort like that! That's what Dan, ah Daniel, I mean, should do. He'd get Bess's attention quicker than anythin' if he did that while sittin' to tea or somethin' with them!" Both fell back, grasping their stomachs with laughter.

~*~

Dan, er Daniel, brought the ax down heavily on the block of wood. He'd taken up Nick's thing of chopping wood when angry. Why'd they have to have company anyhow? We were just fine before they showed up and that Mr. Sophisticated Daemon dude started calling Bess, Elizabeth. He narrowed his eyes and swung down again.

"Whoa Dan, you're a bit riled. What's got ya steamin'?" Nick questioned, walking up with more logs for his to chop.

Dan only frowned.

"Uh, I mean Daniel." Nick made himself a mental note to remember and call him that.

Heaving angrily, Dan replied. "Nothin'."

Nick snorted, and dropped the logs with a clunk. "Now Dan, er Daniel, let's be truthful here…" He said, a bit teasingly shaking a finger at him. Nick stood in his usual stance, crossing his arms. "Come on, Daniel. It's pretty obvious that somethin' is wrong. Want to talk about it?" His tone turned serious, and sincere.

Dan half frowned/smiled, and paused his chopping. (You know how he does that half smile/frown/laugh thing? That's what I'm talking about) "Naw, it's nothin' really."

Nick didn't look too convinced. "Are ya sure? I'm always here if ya wanna talk."

"Okay, I lied. You want to know what's really botherin' me? Is because that Daemon guy, Bess's friend, just waltzed in here and started callin' her Elizabeth and all that fancy stuff. And he just…He's a…" Dan swallowed, faltering. "He's a…"

A smile spread across Nick's face. "You're jealous?"

"Yeah." Dan answered before thinking. "I mean no." He shook his head quickly, feeling stupid because that had slipped out. A hot flush crept up his neck and spread to his cheeks.

"Well, I can guarantee that doin' all this crazy catching attention stuff ain't gonna work. It's just gonna make you look like a bigger fool than you already are."

Dan looked up, wide-eyed.

"I-I didn't mean it that way." Nick held up his hands, realizing the blooper he had just made. "I mean, the more you try to impress her the more she's gonna ignore you. That's just the way it is." Nick tried again to explain what he meant.

Dan dropped his shoulders, and let the ax lean against the woodpile. "I'll see ya later, Nick." He hefted an armload of wood and left without saying anything else.

~*~

"Oh Daemon, that's just fascinating." Bess smiled sweetly, and pretended to listen intently on what he was saying.

"I think you'll just love Mistleswaith. The teachers are wonderful and give a full explanation of everything. They won't let you stop until you've got it right either. Just remarkable people." He smiled and leaned back on the log. "It's a beautiful day." Daemon commented.

"It really is, isn't it?" She replied reaching to dust some leaves from her hem. "Do you hear that noise?" Bess questioned, looking up.

"No, is something wrong?" Daemon momentarily sounded concerned.

"Ahh, actually, I was wondering if you'd walk me back to Plumfield now? It's getting a little chilly." The sound was unmistakably the other Plumfield students.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay enjoy the fresh air a little longer?"

"No, I think we really should be getting back."

"Is a shame…It's such a beautiful day."

"Aunt Jo will certainly have the tea ready and be wondering where we are."
Bess tried to come up with the best explanation possible. There was no way she wanted to be around Dan when she was with Daemon.

Daemon laughed good-naturedly. "All right, if you insist." He stood up and offered her his arm.

"Thank you." She hurried them along, trying to get as far as possible before Dan and the others started to 'set up' their stuff. How much longer can you keep this up, Bess? She wondered catching Dan's silent frown filled with evident anger.