Chapter 3: The Way It's Going to Be

Jack's car drove up to Danny's house. Jack put the car in park and looked in the back seat to see his cousin. Danny was getting his seat belt off.

"You going to be okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'll be fine," answered Danny in a normal voice.

They weren't too worried that Danny would overreact, so they didn't bother him. Danny just walked into his house. When he entered, his mom was in the kitchen cleaning up. She noticed him and said,

"Did you have fun?"

Danny shook his head. Kasie cleaned her hands and walked towards her son.

"What's wrong?"

Danny looked at her and answered,

"Maria and I broke up."

"Oh, honey."

"No. It's fine. I'm just going to turn in."

"You're going to be okay?"

"Yeah."

Danny walked over to his room. He lied down in the bed. He felt someone's presence but didn't bother to look. A couple of seconds later, he heard Trix talking to his mom. He could hear their full conversation.

"What's wrong with Danny?"

"He just broke up with Maria."

"Aw, man. Maybe I should talk to him."

"No. It'll be fine. He didn't act suspicious-like."

Act suspicious-like. That one made Danny think. He would have to just forget about that night. His family had already seemed him depressed enough. I think that pretty much left a mark on him. Danny Curtis, kid who overacts with depression.

Danny sat up and took off his good shirt. He and Maria could just be friends.

…….

The next morning, Danny was awoken by the telephone ringing. He reached over towards his phone and felt around for it. He finally clutched it and pulled it to his ear.

"Hello," he said sleepily.

"Hey, Danny. It's Keith. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah."

"Well get your butt on up! Alex, Jack and I are going to the CD store. The owner owed my uncle, so he letting us grab a couple of CD's free."

Danny wiped his eyes.

"When are y'all leaving?"

"We'll be at your house in about five to ten minutes."

"All right. I'll be waiting."

Keith hung up and Danny put the phone back on the hook. He rose out of bed and ran his head through his hair. He had gotten trimmed a little while back, but it was still a little long. But not too long.

He walked over to the closet and picked out his clothes. Danny took a glance outside. It looked like it was blazing outside. He put on a white t-shirt with a blue short sleeve button-up over it. He added on some long blue shorts to his attire and some black shoes. He looked over to his desk and saw a picture of him and Maria. He didn't want to look at it for too long so he flipped to where it was face down.

Danny walked up front, his parents had already g. one to work. He sat down on the couch and looked out the window, waiting for everyone. He cut on the television to see if there was a movie on or something. Before he could find one, a honk ran through his ears. He picked up the remote and cut the television off.

He locked up the house and walked outside. He got into the back of the car next to his best friend and the car drove off.

"Doing good?" asked Alex.

"Yeah. It's good."

"Alright."

When they reached the store, they went through the racks.

"What are you going to be looking for?" asked Jack.

"Atlanta music," said Danny. "T.I., Boyz In Da Hood, or something."

"I might grab one of the Diplomats," said Alex going through the rap/hip-hop section.

"What about you, Keith?" asked Jack.

"Weird Al'."

Everyone looked at him.

"Weird Al?" asked Danny.

"He's pretty funny."

Jack and Keith left the section and looked for their own CD's. Alex found one CD, then went to the opposite rack and looked in the R&B section.

"Since when do you listen to R&B?" asked Danny.

Alex turned around and said suddenly,

"Um. Well…"

"What's up?"

"We were going to tell later. With what's on and all."

"Who's we?"

"Um…"

"Spit it out."

"Alright….Me andRachel are going out."

"That's it?"

"Well yeah."

"Not that bad. She needed someone. What were you nervous about?"

"Well you just ended a relationship, and your best friend going out with your cousin probably would have made you feel worse."

"Nah. I'm over that. You're a good guy. You'll treat her right. Trust me.Rachel isn't someone to worry about."

Alex smiled.

"Thanks man."

"Hey. We've always been cool."

Alex continued to look through the section and grabbed the Bobby Valentino and Boys II Men CD. Danny looked at the Boys II Men CD. It reminded him of the song they made called, "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye."