A/N a different outcome to the Lori Curtains chapter in the previous story


Linda couldn't believe it. She just couldn't believe it! Danny was supposed to be better than that. She was supposed to be better than that. She wasn't sure who to be more angry with: Danny for trying, or herself for letting him.

She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, wondering what had possessed her to let her boyfriend touch her that way. She had wanted it so much, but she was determined never to let him do it. And until that stupid janitor's closet, he never did anything that made her uncomfortable. Now here she was, trying to figure out where it all went wrong, the memory of his fingers pressed against her underwear.

What the hell had she been thinking? She was adamant about staying "pure" (and pissed off at Danny), but then she just let him feel her up?! What's the correct term? she thought. Fingering?

The more she thought of it, the more that stupid itch came back. She groaned in frustration and stalked out of the bathroom and into her room. It was bullshit, she thought bitterly. That's what it was: bullshit!


She yelled at him again, and he apologized, looking truly sorry.

I forgive you. Come back. Be here. Don't it again. Kiss me now. Make me feel okay again. Make me feel loved.

But she didn't say any of that stuff. Instead, in a small voice, she said, "I don't think I want to see you anymore."

"What?" He asked, feeling his chest tighten.

"I don't want to see you anymore."

"So th- that's it?"

"That's it?" Linda repeated, fury in her eyes. "No, this is it!" She flipped him off and stormed away, biting her lip hard to keep the tears in.

She cried herself to sleep for at least a week after that day.


It was well into summer, and Linda hadn't seen Danny since graduation. It wasn't how she wanted it, but it was the way it had to be. She wasn't going to let another boy walk all over her just because he happened to be nice and kind of good looking.

Very good looking, she corrected herself. She huffed at that thought, and stuck her nose back into her book. Someone might ask her who reads by the pool, and she'd answer lots of people. She looked up from her book just in time to see Danny making his way across the pool. She didn't know he was here! Otherwise, she wouldn't have come.

She stood from her chair and crossed her arms, trying to appear annoyed and stand-offish. But in reality, she wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him silly.

"What do you want?" She asked him, hoping she had put enough false anger into her voice.

"To apologize. Again."

"Do you think I'm going to change my mind?"

"I'm hoping you'll give me a second chance."

"Give me a reason why I should."

Neither of them had seen the little boy running behind Linda. Otherwise, they would have moved. The boy slammed into Linda, who lost her balance and fell into Danny... who gripped Linda's arms to keep her from falling. Nearly simultaneously, he slipped with surprise and they both went into the pool.

Danny came up before Linda did, swiping the water off his face. He turned to see Linda coming back up, looking thoroughly pissed off.

"Look what you did!"

"Me? I didn't do anything!"

"You grabbed me!"

"Yeah, to keep you from falling!"

"Well excelent job, Danny. Bravo!" She angrily shook her head and hoisted herself out of the pool. She grabbed her towel from her chair and started to dry off.

Danny heard her hiss, "you okay?"

"Yeah, fine. I just—" she touched right above her eyebrow and hissed again.

"Lemme see," he held her hand and saw a small cut above her brown eyebrow. It probably felt worse than it looked. "Let's see if we can't find a first aid kit."

Her eyes went wide, "is it that bad?"

"No. Just a scrape. Come on." So he dragged her to the lifeguard, and she led them to the office.

"What happened?" The man, who looked like he just graduated college, asked.

"I hit my head on the bottom of the pool," Linda explained, a little embarrassed.

"Were you diving in the shallow end?"

"No."

"Were you running?"

"No."

"Were you—"

"Someone bumped into her, and she slipped and fell and bonked her head," Danny explained, annoyed.

"Do you have a headache?" He continued, still sounding annoyed.

"N— yeah... but I always get headaches for a minute or two if I hit my head." She turned to Danny and shrugged, "I'm a headache-y person."

"You could have a concussion."

"I don't think-"

"Sit while I go get someone."

Linda sighed and wrapped her towel around herself before sitting in a chair against the wall. She swung her feet as she waited for someone to come and check her. "It's only a little bump!"

"I'm really sorry, Linda," Danny ignored her comment. "For cheating on you, and for touching you inappropriately. I know you didn't stop me right away, but I shouldn't have taken that as an invitation. I don't expect you to want to be with me anymore, but I'd like to have another go at it. And I swear on whatever you'll give me that I will never do something like that again. And if I do— which I won't— you can kick my ass. Do you forgive me?"

"I shouldn't take you back." She picked at a loose thread on her towel.

"I know."

"I should walk away and tell you that I don't need this."

"You should."

"I should tell you I never want to see you again."

"You should. And I wouldn't blame you."

"But..." She sighed, finally looking at him. "These past few weeks have been hell, Danny. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

"And I am so stupid for saying this, but... yes. I'd like to try again."

"I completely—" he stopped himself short. "You would?"

"Yes. Against my better judgement, probably. It's just that..."

"What?"

Linda smiled a little and shook her head. "Not important. But if you ever cheat on me again and touch me like that without my explicit permission, I will kill you."

Her calm voice was eerie. Surely she didn't really mean that?

"Deal?"

"Deal. No cheating, and no touching. Not without your permission. I swear."