Chapter 1
"The Lost is Welcomed"
**okay so this is my new "Stand By Me" fanfic..I had another one written previously but I didn't like how it turned out so I'm starting over :D I am absolutely in love with this movie! Stand By Me and Donnie Darko are my absolute favorite movies! I really hope you guys like this, please review :)**
Dani's p.o.v
Sirens...that's all I can remember... Sirens and the flames that arose so quick. What was I to do? I gathered what I could and ran. The thick smoke made it almost impossible to see my way out. I opened my eyes to see bright lighting and white walls.. a man stood over me.
"Where am I?" I asked the man as I glanced around the room.
"You're in the hospital. You've had some bad burns but none too serious. The ones on the palms of your hands, I recommend wearing fingerless gloves until they're healed" the man said with a smile.
"W-Where's my mom and dad?" I looked around for them.
The doctor's eyes widened and he glanced to the nurse next to him with an unsure look. Something was wrong here... something was very wrong..something that they were very reluctant to tell me.
"Did you hear me? Where are they?" I began to panic.
"Danielle..I have some bad news.." the doctor began.
"Your parents...I'm afraid they didn't make it out" these words hit me and tears just slid down my face.
"The fire was started by a single cigarette" the doctor informed me.
I assumed that one of my parents fell asleep with a lit smoke. How could they not make it? I should've ran back in to get them.
"Now we will release you, do you have family that you could live with?" the doctor looked over me.
"N-No I dont" I managed to speak.
"Well when the paramedics found you they grabbed this suitcase with a bit of clothes and money. Did you happen to savage this on your way out?" the doctor showed me the lightly burned suitcase.
"Yeah..is everything in it okay?" I sat up.
"Yes everything's fine" the doctor handed me the suitcase.
I opened the suitcase, counted the money, and pulled out a black t-shirt, black leather jacket, and dark navy torn skinny jeans.
"May I change into these" I asked the doctor.
He nodded, I carefully stood up and went into the bathroom to change. As I changed my clothes my hands just burned and stung so bad, tears filled my eyes. I found a pair of black gloves and a pocket knife. I sliced the fingers off the gloves and carefully slid them onto my hands. I moved my fingers around, attempting to get used to the constant stinging. I came out of the bathroom and handed the nurse my gown.
"Here's some gauze and anti-burn cream for your hands. It should last awhile, change it once or twice everyday" the doctor informed me.
He was explaining to me that he was going to let me leave because he felt sympathy for me. He wanted to release me early in the morning so I could find a place to stay. I was somewhat listening to him as I put the anti-burn cream and wrapped the gauze on my hands. I looked up to him and he gave me a friendly hug.
"Come one I'll take you downstairs to sign you out" he lead me to the elevator.
People, patients, doctors everyone looked at me as if they all knew my story. I got in the elevator and looked at myself in the reflection of the chrome walls. I looked awful...I was bruised, slightly burned, in tears. The emotions finally hit me...I've realized that I have lost everything. I thanked my doctor and headed out the entrance door. I glanced around the open world and thought to myself...
I am a 14 year old girl being exposed to the whole entire world with nothing...
This feeling felt awful..I didn't know where to begin..as I pondered all of this my stomach stirred. I need something to eat. I went in my suitcase and pulled out $30 out of the $100 dollars I had stashed away. I began to wonder around Castle Rock until I came up to a diner. I went inside and sat down in a booth by myself. I felt all the eyes on me...I look like I just got out of a rough battle. A girl with short, curly, red hair came up to me with a notepad.
"What can I get ya?" she looked at me as if she should've said "What can ya afford?" but she kept her rude comments to herself.
"Umm...a club sandwich and a coffee" I said glancing up to her.
"Okay. Everything on your sandwich?" she asked me.
I nodded yes as she jotted my order down on her little notepad. She looked me over one last time and headed to the kitchen. I glanced around the small diner and I noticed people staring at me and whispering to one another so I just kept my head down. The ring of the bell to the door opening echoed through the diner as a group of boys walked in. I looked at them, they seemed to be a bit older than me. One of them caught me glancing over to them and I quickly turned my head. Soon enough, all of them began circling me.
One boy with bright blonde hair, dirty blonde facial scruff, wearing dark, shiny, leather sat down across from me.
"Hey babe" he greeted me.
I just stayed silent, keeping my head down.
"I said hello" he repeated himself.
All the other boys in his 'clique' or 'gang' began snickering at this.
One of them caressed the side of my face and I turned my head away. One reached for my chest and I quickly stood up attempting to exit the diner. The blonde stood in front of me and made me sit back down. I just wanted to run out of here.
"Why don't you come with me and I'll put a smile on your face" a boy with wavy, dark, brown hair whispered to me.
"Knock it off Eyeball" the scruffy blonde said.
I think he's the leader...
"Let me look at your pretty face" he said carefully moving my bright blonde hair from my face.
"Hey...I know you! You're the musician daughter of the Carson house that burned down yesterday! Am I right?" he asked.
"...yeah" I said cautiously.
"I've listened to your music...you're pretty good! I've also seen your picture in the paper. Do you model?" he suddenly became interested.
"I used to..." I informed him.
"Yeah! You used to model for all the new leather for the ladies. Why'd you stop?" he asked.
"They demanded too much" I told him.
"Soo you a virgin?" the dark haired boy asked once again.
"Eyeball! Stop it" the scruffy blonde said.
"Are you?" a boy that they called Charlie asked me.
"Yeah...I'm a virgin...I did pretty good in school too" I told them.
"So you're a good girl" the scruffy blonde assumed.
"Are ya Catholic?" a boy named Billy asked causing the boys to all laugh.
"No...I don't know if I'm all good...but that doesn't really matter to me at this point" I said looking back down at the table.
"Why does that not matter? Look at you..you're pretty, talented.." the leader continued and stopped and just looked at me.
"...I have nothing now..." I muttered.
"How is that? Where your parents at?" he asked me in a concerned tone.
"...They...uh..t-they didn't make it" I said holding back tears.
"Oh...I'm so sorry" he said as the room filled with silence.
Finally, my lousy waitress came out with my food and all the boys carried on whistling, yelling, etc. I began to eat and the waitress stood there. I looked up at her and searched for my money. The scruffy blonde picked up my bill and quickly set money on the table.
"You didn't have to I have money" I told him.
"Save it" he said.
"I don't want people doing things for me just because they feel sorry!" I slammed my fist on the table.
"Oh fierce..ya know I like you. I'm Ace, Ace Merrill" he said extending his hand.
I reluctantly shook his hand.
"I'm Danielle Carson..but Dani for short" I introduced myself.
"This is Eyeball, Billy, and Charlie" he introduced his group.
"You guys ...you're the Cobras!" I said astonished that they were even speaking to me.
"Yes, yes we are. Ya know I think she has potential boys" Ace stood up circling me.
"What do you mean?" Charlie spoke up.
"I mean I think she has potential to be my little prodegy" he finalized.
The other boys just looked at Ace, their jaws gaping.
"I mean she looks perfect but could she really fit in" Eyeball judged me.
"Look boys, she has nowhere to go...why don't I take her in as my own... and raise her up to us. My house is big enough, I gotta guest room for her" the boys talked it over.
"Hey Dani..look I have a big house and you seem really nice...why don't you come live with me. I'll take care of ya and you can hang out with us" Ace suggested.
I hesitated at the thought of living with a complete stranger but...where else can I go?
"..Alright" I said hesitantly.
"Yeah!" all the boys cheered giving one another skin.
"Come on" Ace pulled me outta my chair and into his car.
We pulled into this huge white house with a massive wrap-around front porch. My mouth gaped in awe. Ace smiled and showed me inside.
"Okay this will be your room...there's a bathroom for ya next door..we can go shopping for like..blankets, and paint for the room if you want?" he suggested.
"Food and everything is downstairs..I'll usually make breakfast and such so I'll leave you a meal...I'll take ya anywhere you wanna go..I also have a bike if you wanna wander off by yourself..Umm... I tend to bring..ladies home..so I made sure that my room was upstairs" he said laughing.
"Um okay" I said setting down my suitcase on the huge canopy bed.
"So yeah. I'll take you out shopping. Come on" he gestured me.
"Why are you taking me shopping?" I asked.
"I want to fill the dressers. A girl needs clothes and towels, and stuff. Please just I'd feel more comfortable if you let me take you shopping" he said.
"Are you always this nice?" I asked him.
"...No...this is very rare..but I'll be nice to you" he assured me.
"So let's go I got the boys waiting in the car" he said grabbing a pack of smokes from the cabinet.
I followed him back outside and sat in the passenger seat.
"Boys we're takin this girl shopping" he informed them.
The boys sighed and slouched in their seats. I kept quiet as we pulled up to a huge store.
"Now boys I'll treat you to somethings too" Ace assured them and the boys' smiles brightened.
We went inside the huge store and all the boys split up but Ace strangely followed me around.
"Well what do you want?" he asked with a smile.
"Umm I'm not sure" I looked around.
"Follow me" Ace said tugging at my hand.
I followed him over to the furniture section.
"Here do you like these blankets and stuff?" he said pulling out a dark blue bedset.
"Yeah that's fine but I don't want you to buy me anything" I informed him.
"Shh child" he said putting the blanket set in a shopping cart.
"Oh! We have to see my buddy he works here" he said.
"Why" I asked following him.
"You'll see" he said with a smile.
He lead me into the clothes section. He pulled out some random ugly sweater and we both looked at it and laughed. The other boys followed us, muttering to each other. Something about this was weird...I could tell by how the boys were reacting. This must be the first time that Ace is actually being nice to someone. I picked up a few white tank tops, t-shirts. I also found some cool dark, ripped, thin-legged jeans. Ace smiled and put them in the cart. I found some black, ankle, boots to go with the jeans. I went in one part of the clothes to pick up some 'undergarments' and the brunette haired boy wanted to follow me into the changing room but Ace pulled him away.
I got all of my clothes into the cart and we all just followed Ace around the store as he picked up a few things. Ace slowed down letting all the boys go in front and when I went to catch up he tugged at my jacket sleeve.
"Hey Dani...can I talk to you?" he asked.
"Uhh yeah, sure.."
"Look I know this is all new for you..and you know me around town as the womanizing asshole..but I want to help you because I don't want to see you on the streets"
"Ace I thought I told you-" I attempted to talk but got cut off.
"I know I know well it doesn't matter if I feel sorry..I'd rather help you than let you rot. I'm sorry but I've heard a bit about your family and I know that they didn't really pay any attention to you. Well I know it's odd coming from me but I want to fix it. You're young and you deserve better" he stopped the cart.
"Oh..I didn't know you felt that way" I told him.
"Thank you..it means the world to me to have someone that cares" I let him know.
He flashed me a generous smile.
"Hey kid ..just...think of me as your big brother...you're not a Carson anymore I want you to be a little Merrill" he said smiling.
"Uh nevermind that I don't want you to forget your family, just think of me as part of your family as your guardian" he informed me.
I smiled and nodded to him. We went to the back of the store where Ace's buddy works.
"Hey Budd! Hey listen I added this little sweetheart to the family. Do you think you could make her a Cobra jacket?" he asked.
"Yeah! I got one just the size for her..just let me find it" the guy began frantically searching.
The guy pulled out a dark, shiny, black leather jacket that read "Cobras" in white letters on the back. He handed it to Ace and he smiled to me. He held it as I slipped my arms into it. I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked pretty badass! I flashed Ace a big smile and he gave me a friendly hug. It wasn't a love hug ..it was more of a brother hug. We got into the car and headed home. We dropped all of the boys off and just Ace and I headed to the place I wasn't yet ready to call home... by the time we got home it was 8 almost going on 9pm.
Ace offered me a meal and I said no. He helped me unpack and said goodnight. I layed down in this whole new place. I thought back to myself... In a matter of 24-48 hours I have went from nothing to something... no house, to a whole new house...no friends..to new friends...no family ...to Ace Merrill...maybe I can see him as family...
**okay! :D I can't wait to write more I really hope you guys like it! Review please**