Note: Thanks for the reviews. Things actually keep getting worse for Danny even though they appear to be better for a while. It wouldn't be aDanny story unless there was lots and lots of angst.
Danny moved in with the Taylor's and found out very quickly that Sheila was right. They were a nice couple. Mrs. Taylor took care of Danny until he was up and walking around on his own. Within a month, Danny was almost 100percentand already helping out around the house. He did whatever they needed him to do. He was determined not to screw up a good thing. He loved having his own room…even if it was a drafty basement, and he loved feeling safe.
One afternoon, a month before he was to start his junior year, Sheila stopped by the Taylor house. She made her way down to the basement to Danny's room. "Hey. How are you feeling?"
"Good. I feel good," Danny replied and then suddenly felt queasy because he feared Sheila was going to tell him he had to leave the Taylor's. "What wrong?"
"Nothing…nothing. I promise. The Taylor's seem really happy with the situation. I just talked to them. They say you've been more than helpful and very well behaved. That's not why I'm here."
"Then why are you here?" he asked skeptically.
"I have amazing news for you, Danny-just the best, most life-changing news ever."
Danny gave her a confused look. He had no idea where she was going with this.
"Do you remember last spring…a couple months before you were hurt…you took that placement test?"
"Yeah…I remember. You said that if I did well, I could get a scholarship to St. Anne's High School. Is that it? Did I get in?"
"You didn't get into St. Anne's. They filled their quota of scholarship candidates. But you did do really well on the test. You did better than well…you did fantastic. So I showed your scores to some other private schools in the area and you were accepted to Brentland Academy. They're giving you a full scholarship."
"Brentland Academy? That's on the Upper West side. Why does that rich school want me?"
"There you go again…being negative and skeptical. Why question it, Danny?"
"Because I've learned there are always strings attached…to everything. No one does anything nice without wanting something in return."
Sheila's heart sank at the sad statement. She knew that Danny had been let down so many times. It was hard for him to trust anyone or anything. "Well…if you must know…they've been criticized recently for being…well…racist. And some very high profile politicians' kids attend Brentland, so they wanted to diversify to enhance the school's profile. You're one of five minority scholarship students. At the most, you'll have to pose for some picture with the Brentland board members. It's a pilot program. They might not even do it next year. But even one year at this school will look great on college applications. Don't be stubborn about this, Danny. This is a great opportunity."
Danny nodded. "I guess anything's better than going back to a public school where the teachers are afraid to teach class."
"Exactly. You have to think about your future, Danny. This is the best option."
"OK…I'll do it," he responded apprehensively and then pondered the situation for a moment. He finally added, "But I want go into this with a clean slate. I'd like to change my name."
"Change your name? Why would you want to do something like that?"
"I want a fresh start. I want forget about everything that happened to Danny Alvarez, and I don't want share a name with my brother. Since things are going well here, I was thinking I'd see if the Taylor's would let me take their name."
"I don't know, Danny. They think you're a great kid, but as I said, they aren't looking for a son. They've raised their family."
"I know that. I just want their name…I don't expect anything else from them."
"Well, if it's what you want, then there is no harm in asking."
Danny asked the Taylor's, and they agreed that he could take their name. They understood that Danny needed a fresh start and wanted to support that. Also, Sheila explained there was less of a chance of Rafael finding Danny if he had a different name. So Danny Taylor started Brentland Academy with a new name and a positive attitude.
The first thing he noticed at Brentland was that most of the kids did their best to avoid the scholarship kids like the plague. They seemed to resent that outsiders invaded their school. Danny was thankful they wore uniforms; otherwise he and the other scholarship kids would stick out like sore thumbs. Danny decided not to let the other kids bother him. He figured he was there to do the best he could academically so he could get a scholarship to college. So he ignored the rude comments. The only time he intervened was when someone was picking on one of the other scholarship kids. Then Danny would set whoever it was straight. For that, Danny got a reputation as someone not to be messed with at Brentland.
In the spring, Danny tried out for the baseball team. He played in little league as a child and in the after school program, but never played in high school. He made the team and quickly became one of their best players. When the baseball team started winning, Danny became more popular. He still wasn't being invited to the posh Brentland parties, but at least he wasn't eating lunch in the library anymore. And then one day after practice, he was leaving the locker room to head home when he heard his name called.
"Danny?"
Danny turned around to see who it was. He saw Payton Whitfield walking toward him still dressed in her school uniform, which was white button down and short plaid skirt. She was the most popular girl in girl and looked like a living, breathing Barbie doll. Her mother was one of the well-known politicians who wanted Brentland to diversify.
"Hey," Danny responded casually even though Payton had never addressed him before in his life.
"Hi. I…um…I don't think we've ever been formally introduced, but we are in Chemistry together. I'm Pay…"
"I know who you are," Danny said in a slightly confused tone because everyone at Brentland knew Payton Whitfield.
"Right…well…um…I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join our Chemistry study group. I hear you did pretty well on the last test. We are all trying to cram for the final. To be honest, I still don't get what we learned first quarter."
"I don't know…I…uh…I'm not that great at it either. I just have to do well to keep my scholarship, so I study really hard. I don't know how much I could help."
"You'd be surprised. I think you could help a lot," Payton said with a smile. "Please come. We are meeting in Study Room 3 in a half hour."
Danny hesitated because something didn't feel right to him, but he replied, "Sure. I'll see you in a half hour."
Danny grabbed a sandwich from the deli down the road, and then returned to the school to meet the study group. When he entered the study room, no one was there. He waited for ten minutes and then gathered his things to leave, when Payton finally arrived.
"Sorry, I'm late. I…uh…I went to pick up my Dad's car. And traffic was a bitch."
Danny nodded. "No problem. Where's everyone else?"
"Oh…um…well…they had to cancel. I thought we'd get together tomorrow during study period."
"Okay…then I guess I'll go home," Danny said as he started to walk out.
"Wait…Danny…I…uh…I was thinking maybe we could do something tonight. I have my Dad's car. We could go for a drive…if you wanted to."
"No…thanks. I should get home. I have a lot of studying to do. And I don't have a lot of time with baseball…so…"
Payton smiled in an almost embarrassed manner. "Look…you're not making this easy. I mean I didn't want to come out and ask you out, but if you aren't going to take a hint…"
"You want to go out with me? Like on a date?" Danny responded with an amused expression.
"Yeah. A date…unless…are you dating someone? I didn't know…"
"No…I'm not, but I thought you were dating Trevor," Danny said. The last he heard Payton and Trevor had been dating for two years. Trevor was a real estate tycoon's son. He played on the baseball team with Danny and was the only player who still didn't think Danny should be at Brentland.
"Oh…right…Trevor and I…well…we sort of broke up. And really, we've never been that serious. I promise…there are no issues there. And besides, I'm not talking about a lifetime commitment. I'm thinking a drive through the park maybe?"
Danny still didn't feel right about the situation, but he hadn't been out with anyone since before the stabbing. And Payton was very pretty and seemed nice. "Sure. Let's go," he replied.