Chapter 7
Too much rejection
No love injection
~ Underground by David Bowie ~
~*/*\*~
Dani smiled as she leaned back. With a sigh, she looked around her room and stretched. A month had passed since the yard sale. Now it was November. Her room was furnished with some stuff from the attic that she had liked and wanted to keep.
With some help from her uncle Jason, Dani had nailed some old planks of wood to the beams to make book shelves. An old ironing board served as a place to just dump stuff, a wooden stepping stool served as a side table next to an old chair that had been buried beneath boxes of junk. Her bed was set up beneath one of the windows and was covered in cheap blankets and pillows that looked nice. Dani had fallen in love with the dollar store. She and Eddie had stopped at an arts and crafts store in town and picked out a bunch of random beads and charms then strung them together. Dangling from the rafters and hanging in front of some of the windows - who knew there were three in total? - the little light catchers decorated her room.
Dani even took some of the silverware that hadn't sold and made a wind chime out of them.
Standing from the black beanbag chair that she had settled in, she walked over to her one of her many bookshelves and plucked the red-leather-bound book from its place. Flipping through the pages, she came to the last place she had read and began pacing the floor. She had read through the story to it finish in a short time, but now she was committing it to memory. The princess' words were so - powerful sometimes. Dani wondered why she couldn't be as strong as this fictional character.
She stopped pacing suddenly and looked up at the calendar hanging on the brick wall beside her. Circled in red - with skull and crossbones drawn beside the date - was the dress check date for the winter dance. Dani frowned at the date. She didn't want to go, but, for some reason beyond her knowledge or understanding, Jessica had insisted.
"No doubt has some scheme to humiliate me in front of the whole school," she mumbled.
"You really need to stop being so cynical." Dani rolled her eyes and sighed at the voice inside her head.
"You've seen her and what she's like!" She snapped the book in her hands shut and let it plop down onto the old vanity desk she had kept.
"What who's like, Dani?" The teenager turned to see Eddie standing at her door. "Sorry, I shoulda knocked."
Smiling, she shook her head. "Nah, you're welcome whenever - well not when I'm naked."
Eddie blushed a little but asked his question again instead. "Who are you talking about? And - who are you talking to?"
Dani turned to look out the window and waved a hand at the sight she saw. "I'm talking to the owl. He's kind of annoying." Sure enough, a white barn owl was perched in the tall oak tree's branches just outside the attic window. "And I was talking about your sister."
Eddie gave her a confused look as he glanced from her to the owl and back. "He doesn't talk back to you. Owl's can't talk."
Dani shrugged. "No, they don't, but it's fun to pretend."
"Yes, this is all pretend," the voice groused irritably. "I'm always just pretend."
Dani made a face at the owl before plopping down on the edge of her bed. "What can I do for you, Eddie?"
"Mom said we could go to the park since I've got all my homework done," Eddie answered energetically. "We can practice soccer!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Dani waved him toward the door. "Lemme change out of my school clothes and I'll meet you downstairs."
"Okay!" Off the kid dashed.
Dani turned toward the window and quirked an eyebrow at the head-tilting owl. "Well? I'm going to change now. I'm not giving a show."
The owl's feathers ruffled in a manner that made him look rather flustered before the bird launched from the branch and flew away. Dani smirked and walked over to her green dresser.
~*/*\*~
Dani flipped her long black scarf around her neck and let the extra material hand down her back. The black material was a strange contrast to her white winter coat, but it matched her wool gloves that were clenching at her sides.
"Come on, Eddie! Let's see if you can get another ball past me." She smiled at his contagious laughter.
"Dani, I'm winning. Why don't we just go to that bookstore now? I bet Mrs. Sarah has some hot chocolate made." The boy's face was kissed from the wind. Nose and cheeks were red as cherries. Unlike Dani, he had shed his gloves, hat, scarf, and coat. Running around had made him warm.
"One more goal, I bet I can steal the ball away this time." Dani grinned and waited anxiously for her cousin to start dribbling the black and white ball toward her.
Eddie shook his head and smiled wryly at her. Without another word, he began his steady advance. Dani watched eagerly.
The boy faked to the left just enough to get her to commit, then dodged around to her right, and kicked the ball through the two trees that were parallel to each other. Raising his hands in the air he shouted, "Goooooooooooooooooooal!" like he had heard on the broadcasted soccer games.
Dani bent over to rest her hands on her knees. Shaking her head she said, "You win. Now, let's get some hot chocolate."
Eddie retrieved the ball and hurried to his cousin's side. "You're not mad I beat you, are you, Dani?"
"Nah. I'm not a sore loser." She smiled at him and motioned toward the bench where all his winter gear was waiting. "Better put those on."
"I'm too hot!"
"Yeah, you're smokin'," Dani teased. "But you'll be cold pretty quick, so put the coat on and stuff the rest of the stuff in your pockets. You don't have to zip your coat up." She waited for him to do as she had suggested. While waiting, her gaze wandered toward the path that led to the bridge and the bench beneath the oak tree beyond it. After not seeing that guy since the yard sale, Dani had given up waiting for him.
Eddie's return to her side gained her attention. With a smile she led the way out of the park. They crossed the street and walked the sidewalks toward the store.
The large, shop window boasted all sorts of book selections and sales. Teddy-bears and dolls were dressed up in winter greens and Christmas reds. The toys sat on little chairs and were surrounded by colorful boxes wrapped and tied for the holiday. White fluff acted as snow while paper snowflakes hung from the window frame.
Eddie rushed into the store before Dani, the shop bell announcing their entrance. Dani looked around the warm store and slid her scarf off. A radio was playing "I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Clause" and somewhere a candle that smelled like gingerbread burned. A Christmas tree stood in the reading circle - a place Sarah and her husband had set up for customers to sit and read while sipping coffee.
Eddie was bent over a glass display case that held some really old looking comic books.
Dani walked to the countertop where a cash register and call-bell sat. Tapping the bell, Dani stood and waited for someone to show up. Her gaze wandered over the cozy little shop and not for the first time, she wished she worked here - or even lived her.
"What was that you said about wishes and beggars and horses?" The irritating voice inquired.
"Oh, shut up. It's wishful thinking," Dani mumbled under her breath.
"Dani?" The girl looked up to see a man emerging from one of the rows of book shelves.
She lifted a hand and waved as Eddie ran to wrap his arms around the man's waist. "Mr. David!" The boy laughed as the man put him in a headlock and rubbed a fist against the boy's head.
"How's my favorite comic buddy?" David laughed as he released the boy.
"Great! I beat Dani at a game of one-on-one soccer," Eddie announced.
David gave Dani a teasing smile. "Really? What was the score?"
"Twenty to zero."
Dani winced, but she shrugged. "Hey, he's a great soccer player."
David ran a hand through his dark brown hair and chuckled. "Eddie, you and I need to play sometime. I'll give you some real competition."
"Yeah, and your 'real competition' is going to send you to a 'real ER'." The group turned to see Sarah coming out of the back room. "Hey, guys."
"Hi, Mrs. Sarah!" Eddie waved from where he stood.
"Hi, Sarah." Dani smiled. "Eddie was wondering if there was any hot chocolate."
"Sure is! Just set it up on the coffee table." Sarah watched in amusement as her husband and the little boy hurried over to the reading circle. The pair disappeared behind the large Christmas tree, but could still be heard as they chatted about soccer and comics.
Turning to the teenager, Sarah asked, "How have you been?"
Dani shrugged. "Busy. School. Family. The usual drama."
"I bet." Sarah motioned toward one of the chairs. Both ladies sat down and relaxed into the cushions. "What's going on at school?"
Dani looked away. Her gaze focused on the shiny ornaments that hung from the pine tree's branches. She appreciated Sarah's attempt to be a friend. A long time ago, the two had talked about everything. Dani had just opened up. She didn't know why. Maybe because talking to her imaginary owl friend didn't help. Maybe because she was tired of waiting for that mysterious guy at the park so she had someone to yell at without fear of punishment. Maybe because she knew that Eddie couldn't or shouldn't hear everything that was on the teenager's mind.
Sarah understood. She understood a lot.
Sarah knew what days Dani wanted to talk about her family. She knew what days Dani wanted to talk about school. Sarah knew when to back off or when all Dani really needed was chocolate and a box of tissues.
Dani was so grateful for Sarah's presence and friendship.
"Well," Dani began slowly, "the dress check for the school winter dance is coming up."
"Yeah?" Sarah's face brightened. "That's cool. You going?"
Dani sighed and shrugged. "Jessica told me I had to go. Then she somehow made it so I was one of the servers during the night. Which means I'll get stuck with the punch or something. Now I really do have to go."
Sarah hummed and nodded. "Not quite as much fun as going with a date."
"Not like anyone would ask me anyway," Dani complained.
"Ah! No defeatist attitude!" Sarah poked the dark-haired teenager in the arm. "This is a positive zone only!"
They heard Eddie's laugh from behind the tree. David offered to show the boy some of the comics that were in the back room. The girls waited until the boys had left before the conversation continued.
"Well no one is going to ask me - and if they did, I'd say no." Dani shrugged. "I'm not interested in any of the guys in the high school."
"Why is that?" Sarah pressed.
Dani's answer was simple. "They all believe Jessica." The two remained quiet for a while. The next song that played over the radio was "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
Sarah glanced at the girl out of the corner of her eye. "So what'll you wear?"
"I dunno," Dani replied as she turned her head to meet the woman's gaze. "I don't have anything really nice for a dance. I don't own a whole lot of dresses." Frowning in concentration she slowly shook her head. "Actually, I don't think I have any dresses. I don't even have money for a dress."
Sarah snapped her fingers. "A job!"
"What?"
"What you need, is a job." Sarah nodded sagely. "I know just the job, too." Leaning forward so she was on the edge of her seat, Sarah continued, "Remember how I told you there might be a job opening here in my shop if business picked up?"
Dani chuckled and motioned around the empty store. "Yeah, but it hasn't."
Sarah waved a hand to brush aside the comment. "It has - more the online store has. I need to go pick up some books for my stock and I also want to go scout out some more possibilities. Then I need to go talk to some potential authors that I want to display in my store.
"That all means, I have to leave the store," Sarah explained. "David can hold down the fort, but he'll need some help. So, how about it?"
Dani blinked a few times in surprise. "How about what?"
"I hire you to watch the store while I'm gone," Sarah clarified. "David has his own job so he can't always be here. You hold down the fort when he has to leave." A smile spread across Sarah's face. "You'd get paid."
Dani couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Yes! Yes of course!"
Sarah held out a hand and they shook on it. "Welcome aboard, Dani!"
~*/*\*~
"No! Absolutely not!" Veronica glared up at Dani from her position on the couch.
Dani pushed off the wall she was leaning against and asked, "Why not? It's a job! I need money if I'm going to buy a dress for the school dance."
"Just borrow one of Jessica's." Veronica turned back to the television and tried to ignore her niece.
"They don't fit," Dani explained irritably.
"Learn how to sew." Veronica shrugged.
"Veronica, what's the harm of her getting a job?" Jason looked up from the book he was reading.
Veronica spluttered in anger. "What's the harm? This Dugan woman is going to be out of town. Leaving her husband and a teenage girl alone in a store!"
"Mr. Dugan has his own job and will probably be there more than he'll be at the book store," Dani argued. "Besides, Mr. Dugan is a great guy. He wouldn't do anything wrong."
"Mr. David is really nice, Mom." Eddie's comment drew everyone's attention for a few seconds.
"Dani's a responsible girl, Veronica." Jason set his book aside. "She handled that yard sale all by herself. Not to mention she did all the work on her room. Managing the money. She's a hard worker around the house."
"That's different!" Veronica reached for the remote that was resting on the couch and started turning up the volume on the television.
Jason got up and pressed the power button on the television. "How is it different? I think we can trust Dani." He looked away from his wife and mumbled something. Dani glanced at Eddie and was glad he hadn't heard what her uncle had said. She didn't know what it was - but that tension that always rose when that topic came up was prevalent.
Veronica looked livid. Before she could say anything, Dani interjected, "I've already said yes. I've given my word and I'm not going back on it." She crossed her arms in front of her in a show of defiance.
Jason smiled wearily and nodded. "That's fine, Dani." Glancing toward the stairway that Jessica had disappeared up not too long ago he said, "At least one of the teenagers in this house is working and learning the value of a dollar."
"Jason!" Veronica turned the television back on in a huff.
Dani didn't stick around to hear another argument unfold. She rushed up the stairs and made her way down the hallway. She reached for the attic door when she heard someone behind her. Turning, Dani spotted Jessica on her way to her room from the bathroom.
Jessica glared at her cousin for a second before asking, "How is it you get whatever you want?"
Dani schooled her expression so it was neutral. "I don't get whatever I want, Jessica. For example: I don't have any friends at school. Why? Because of you."
Jessica scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
Dani didn't hang around to hear what she had that Jessica didn't have. She headed up the stairs to her room and shut the door as soon as she was there. Jessica had so much more than Dani. Jessica had parents - even if they were dysfunctional. Jessica had friends - even if they were the wrong kind of friends. Jessica had a whole lot more freedom.
"Stop throwing yourself a pity party, Danica. You have more important qualities and people than that blond bimbo." That voice chastised the teenager as she fell face first onto her bed.
Turning her head so she was facing the window, Dani stared mournfully up at the owl that was - once again - perched outside. "I'll throw myself a damned pity party if I feel like it. So either you join in or fly the coup."
"Oh, woe is you." Acidic sarcasm scorched her mind. "The whole world is against you and no one understands. You haven't gotten anything you wished for. I think I'll go curl up in a ball and cry."
"Shut up," she tried hard not to smile or laugh. The way the voice in her head was carrying on though wasn't helping her plight any.
"No. No, laughing. This is a pity party." The voice corrected her.
Dani rolled over onto her back but continued looking at the owl. "Thanks."
"Anytime, lonely girl."
~*/*\*~
Dani clutched her winter green coat close around her frame. She was nervous. She didn't know why she was nervous. It was just a dance. The car came to a stop. Dani stared nervously out the window of the front seat. People were walking leisurely toward the school gym. Music could be heard from outside.
"You look great, have some confidence." Dani turned to look at Sarah and gave her a grateful smile.
The weeks that had followed their conversation about work, Dani had come into the bookstore after school and manned the front desk. It hadn't been too busy until after Thanksgiving. Dani was actually shocked by how many people flooded the bookstore looking for gifts.
When Dani had enough money for a dress, Sarah had taken her after the teenager's shift to the mall. They searched for a few hours for a dress that met everyone's standards. Dani loved it. She wished her mom was there to see her.
Instead of going home that afternoon after work, Dani got ready for the dance at Sarah's store. Sarah had done Dani's makeup and hair. Dani couldn't remember feeling so pampered. Her long bangs were pinned back with a silver clip and Sarah had used a straightener to flatten the unruly mop of black hair that stuck up in all directions. The makeup brought out all the right features of Dani's face.
Dani felt like Cinderella - only Cinderella wasn't expected to work at the punch bowl.
"Thanks again for everything," Dani said.
Sarah waved a hand to dismiss it. "Least I can do. You saved everyone's sanity." Nodding toward the gym, she ordered, "Be sure to dance a little bit."
Dani smiled and reached for the door's handle. "The servers work in shifts so I should be able to work it on the dance floor."
"Let me know if you need a ride home!" Sarah waved as the door shut behind the teenager. Dani nodded and waved before turning to walk toward the gym.
"Here we go," Dani muttered to herself. She watched the words coming from her mouth turn to puffs in the cold air. A smile quirked her lips up. Her red heels crunched in the thin layer of snow on the sidewalks. She looked around at the piles of snow that had fallen and remained right after Thanksgiving.
Entering the gym, she looked around at the decorations. A winter wonderland decked out the gym with silvers, whites, reds, golds, and greens. Music beat through the air. Warmth enveloped everyone. People were happy and enjoying themselves.
Dani spotted the girl who was taking coats for those coming in to the party. Making her way over, Dani smiled in what she hoped was a friendly manner at the girl. "Hi, Marcel."
Marcel looked up but didn't smile back. Dani liked the quiet girl. The only reason Marcel was stuck on coat duty was because Jessica didn't like Marcel. Marcel was kind of a nerd, but a closet nerd. She liked some cool stuff, but if you asked the right questions, you'd find out that she liked a lot of weird stuff. She wasn't all that pretty either. She had a really bad problem with acne. She had braces and walked with a limp.
If Marcel wasn't scared of Dani, Dani was sure they could have been friends. That was the problem, wasn't it? Everyone was afraid of the dark haired orphan.
"I'll take your coat," Marcel offered in a quiet voice. Her gaze shifted to Dani's coat and the timid teenager wouldn't meet Dani's eyes. Dani felt her own anxiousness claw its way up her throat. She unwound her green, yellow, black, and white stripped scarf and draped it over her shoulders so it would stay under the collar of her coat when she took it off. Next, she shed her white fingerless gloves and stuffed them in her pocket.
Dani unbuttoned her coat and slid it off. When she handed it to Marcel, she could see the girl's eyes had widened to be two pools of shock. Dani offered a shy smile.
"I like your dress," Dani complimented. It was a nice dress. Marcel was wearing a floor-length black and white dress with white flowers stitched into the black material. Velvet material formed a shawl-like cover around her shoulders.
Marcel smiled in return and nodded. "I like yours too."
Dani looked down at her red dress that stopped just above her knees. The sweetheart neckline and strapless dress showed off pale skin and a silver necklace with a single diamond pendant. Dani's matching shoes shone with the color of newness. She truly did feel like Cinderella.
"Thanks," Dani replied as she looked back up at Marcel. "I better head to the punch bowl. Make sure no one's spiked it yet."
Marcel blushed and mumbled, "I think there's - a teacher stationed there to make sure - um - to make sure you don't spike it." She looked up and whispered, "I think Jessica was going to do it - or send someone to do it so you'd get in trouble."
Dani sighed inwardly. So that was how her cousin wanted to play it. "Thanks for the warning, Marcel."
Marcel smiled shyly. "Thanks for - thanks for just talking to me."
Dani smiled back and nodded. As she walked toward the punch bowl, Dani decided that coming to the party wasn't such a bad idea after all. Maybe Jessica didn't have such a strong hold on everyone as Dani thought.
Sure enough, there was a teacher standing not too far away in a conspicuous manner. Lucky for Dani it was her 'favorite' teacher too - Mr. Murton. Ever since that first day in his class, Dani knew he had it out for her. She had to fight tooth and nail for the grades she deserved. He marked her as the trouble-maker and threatened her almost daily with a trip to the principal's office. The only reason she had avoided the principal's office so far in the year was because she hunkered down and shut up.
Mr. Murton watched her approach but didn't say anything to her. Dani fell right into her job by prefilling some cups for when people swung by. She kept her eyes focused on people coming by her table to see if any of them had the intention to poor alcohol into the fruity concoction.
As the evening progressed, more students filed in and the party began to pick up. Dani watched couples come in. Some stayed together the entire night, some split up and changed with every song change, and some stood on the outskirts of the party watching everyone else.
Dani smiled at the people getting their picture taken. Some of them were just amusing to watch, others were cute.
"Dani?" Her attention was pulled away from her people watching. In front of her stood Greg and Charlotte. They both looked surprised to see her there.
"Hey, guys." She picked up two cups and held them out to the pair. "Punch?"
"Yeah, thanks." Greg accepted the cups and handed one to Charlotte.
Looking between the two, Dani guessed, "You guys here as dates?"
Charlotte blushed but Greg puffed up with pride. "Yeah!"
"Grace and Sophie got asked out too," Charlotte hastily added in order to get the attention off of herself. "They're around here somewhere."
"That's nice." Dani looked through the crowds for the girls mentioned but shrugged it off when she didn't spot them right away. "You guys having a good time so far?"
"Yeah, but we didn't expect to see you here," Greg tilted his head in confusion.
"What he means is," Charlotte interpreted, "we didn't think a school dance would be your thing."
Dani fought to roll her eyes. It wasn't her 'thing', but she was here anyway. "Well, someone has to serve punch." A smile forced its way to her face as she filled two cups to replace the ones she had given to Charlotte and Greg.
"Thanks for helping out," Greg said before taking Charlotte by the elbow and tugging. "I love this song! Come on!"
Charlotte set her cup down beside Greg's and began walking away. "See ya, Dani!"
Dani waved and nodded. "See ya," she mumbled. "Not like you'll talk to me again."
Taking the two discarded cups, Dani tossed them in a trashcan that was stationed near her table.
"Well if it isn't Jessica's felon - I mean, cousin." Dani didn't even try to bite back her moan. Turning, she glared at Drew who stood with an arm slung around Jessica's shoulders.
"Drew. Jessica. Would you like some punch?" She held up two cups and wished to all the powers that be that they'd take the beverage and leave.
Jessica smirked and shook her head. "No, thanks."
"We don't want something that tastes so weak." Drew made a face and made a gagging noise.
"We actually came over to see if you'd like a break," Jessica announced.
Immediately, Dani heard alarms go off inside her head. How dumb did her cousin think she was? Her expression going neutral, Dani shook her head. "I'm supposed to wait until one of the servers comes to take my place. I think Will is supposed to take my place later tonight."
"Don't you want to go dance for a little bit?" Drew flashed a perfect smile. "Hey, why not save a dance for me?"
"What?" Jessica looked up at her boyfriend with a glare. This was apparently not part of their act.
Dani smiled cheekily. "Thanks, but no thanks. You're out of your script and I don't want to deprive my wonderful cousin of your delightful company." Setting the cups down, Dani made a shooing gesture with her hands. "Go on and enjoy yourselves. Take a picture or something."
Jessica huffed and began dragging her boyfriend away. Drew rolled his eyes but looked back at Dani, eyeing her and her dress. Dani couldn't help but shudder at the way he had inspected her.
Time went on, the party dragged by. Mr. Murton even stepped away for a few minutes, giving Dani a chance to relax and just enjoy the music. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She was sorely tempted to slip her heels off. Glancing around, Dani shrugged. Not like anyone was going to notice or care. With a relieved sigh, she took her red shoes off and smiled at the cool gym floor soothing her sore feet.
When she looked up again, Dani watched a group of girls and guys stumbling toward her from the dance floor. When one of the giggling girls looked up from nearly tripping over he own feet, Dani recognized LeeAnn. The girls and their dates stopped in front of the table.
"Six cups, please!" LeeAnn's date, a guy from the varsity basketball team, ordered. Dani eyed him skeptically. His words slurred and he was talking way too loud. He was acting - pardon the pun - punch drunk.
"Sure," Dani began handing out cups and wondered why the entire group was acting like drunken morons. Where had they picked up alcohol?
Becky's date downed his cup like it was a shot but grimaced at the taste when it was gone. "Ugh! Too sweet!"
"Tell Drew to pore more in," Amy's date stated as he tossed the cup into the trashcan. Apparently he wasn't so drunk that he could make a basket.
The girls started tugging their dates away and Dani smirked at them as they stumbled away. Well, now she knew who to look out for. She was sure that if she tried reporting Drew to Mr. Murton, the teacher wouldn't believe her. So who to tell?
As time wore on, Dani noticed that more and more people were coming to get drinks and other refreshments. Whoever was in charge of mixing the punch came and went with a refill for the bowl. Dani began to wonder if she was ever going to get a replacement.
"Dani!" Looking up from serving the last group of people, she sighed. Drew was back. He turned so he was leaning against the table and facing out toward the crowds. "How you like the party?"
Dani shrugged. "It's fine."
Glancing at he with a frown, he asked, "Have you been stuck with drink duty all night?"
"Yeah."
Scoffing in disbelief he shook his head. "That's just BS! Come on, ditch the punch and come dance. One dance with me, remember?"
"I distinctly remember saying no - or a variation thereof." Dani rolled her eyes. "Where's Jessica?"
He motioned toward the dance floor. "Making an idiot of herself somewhere. She got a little mad at my kind offer to dance with you and is trying to make me jealous."
Dani laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like Jessica. Now you're trying to get back at her by actually dancing with me. Wouldn't that - I dunno - hurt your image? Dancing with the 'criminal'?"
Drew grinned at her. "Like I said, I like bad girls."
"And like I said," Dani glared at him as she growled, "never say stuff like that to me ever again."
Drew lifted his hands in a harmless gesture. "Hey, I didn't mean anything by it. I know, I was being an ass last time. Sorry. Lemme make it up to you. Come on. You know you want to mess with your cousin."
"I can do that on my thank you very much." Dani returned her attention to the dance floor and attempted to ignore him.
Drew rolled his eyes and made a grab for her hand. "Come on. Just one dance."
Wrenching her hand away, Dani snapped, "Don't touch me! I know about your little prank. Your friends don't understand the phrase 'loose lips sink ships'. So back off! I don't like people who drink."
Drew scowled. "What?"
Dani smirked at him, leveling her icy glare at him. "Better luck next time - not."
Reaching for her again, Drew grabbed her arm and tightened his fingers in a bruising vice. "Come on and dance. Nothing's gonna happen to the punch."
Dani felt her bare feet skid on the slick gym floor. She didn't want to go anywhere with Drew. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him - and she didn't think she could throw him very far. Reaching for the nearest thing to throw at him, Dani felt her fingers close around a cup. Hoping it was one of the cups filled with punch, she threw it.
Splash!
Dani felt her jaw drop and the pressure on her arm loosen enough for her to pull away. Stepping back, she stared at the boy who was wearing a rented tux that was now stained red. A laugh left her in a rush. She couldn't believe that had worked!
Looking around, Dani realized that a lot of people had stopped talking and dancing. They were all looking at the football player that was dripping. Dani next spotted Mr. Murton and one of the other teachers marching over to the pair of teenagers. She stepped back even further, wishing she could just bolt.
Where was a voice in her head when she needed one?
"What is going on here?" Mr. Murton demanded angrily. He glared daggers at Dani. "Would you please explain, Miss Trent, why you threw a drink at Drew Mason?"
Mrs. Quinton, the Algebra teacher hurried to the scene. "Now, Mr. Murton, it might have been an accident." She smiled encouragingly at Dani. Mrs. Quinton was nice, but she was also the cheerleading coach. So if Jessica came over and started making excuses for Drew or accusations towards Dani, the dark-haired teen was sure the one getting in trouble would not be Drew.
"It - it was an accident," Dani lied. "Drew wanted to let me dance for a little while but when he - started leading me toward the floor he jerked me off balance and I was holding a cup of punch because I was going to set it down before I left." She motioned toward the table, hoping that her lie would sound believable.
Mr. Murton looked from one teen to the other. Finally, he settled on looking at Drew. "Is this true, Drew?"
Dani almost laughed at the rhyme.
Drew glared at Dani for several minutes but looked away when she quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah. Must be. I didn't even see the cup. Would have waited if I'd known."
Mrs. Quinton clapped her hands together. "Well! Just an accident. Mr. Mason, come this way and I'll see if we can get that stain out." Smiling at Dani, she continued, "Miss Trent, since you have been so diligent in watching the punch bowl, why don't you go have some fun now. I'll return Mason to you shortly."
"I'll have to find Will first," Dani agreed, relieved to disappear.
"Mr. Murton can do that," Mrs. Quinton assured. "It is his job, after all, to see that the shifts change at the punch bowl." She gave him an irritated glare, as if he should have enforced the change much sooner in the evening.
Mr. Murton nodded and turned abruptly to walk away. Mrs. Quinton began to lead Drew away, and saw the gymnasium left in an uncomfortable hush. Waving her hands she announced loudly, "Nothing to see here."
The crowds slowly began quietly murmuring amongst themselves about what had happened before the chatter grew and people began laughing and enjoying themselves again. Dani sighed in relief when her peers turned away from her. She looked around to see if Mr. Murton had any luck finding Will and refused to move away from the table until her replacement showed up. She was not about to leave the punch after all her efforts to ensure it was not spiked while she was on duty.
"You may leave now, Miss Trent." Mr. Murton came walking briskly over to her with a reluctant looking Will in tow.
"Just making sure nothing happened if I left early, sir." Dani walked over to where her shoes were waiting and stepped into them.
Mr. Murton glared at her once more and walked over to the punch. He took the dipper and served a fresh cup for himself. He took a precautionary sniff before sipping the concoction. A disappointed grunt passed his lips as he glanced back at Dani. She gave him a haughty, inquisitory look.
"You may go, Miss Trent," he snapped.
Turning swiftly on her heels, Dani marched off into the crowds. After letting off some steam by stomping around, Dani slowed and looked around. Now that she was away from the punch bowl - Dani had no idea what to do with herself. She looked around at people milling about her. She didn't want to join the dancers because she'd be dancing alone. Another hazard was if Drew came back. Worse yet, what if Jessica found Dani?
Dani suddenly had no desire to stay. She began walking toward the coat collection area.
Marcel saw Dani coming and had the green coat waiting for her. Dani smiled a thank you to the shy girl and reached into one of the pockets where her cell phone was hidden. It wasn't until she pulled it out that she realized she had run out of minutes on her pay-as-you-go phone. Sarah was at the store and didn't have her cell phone with her, which meant no texting. She had no way of letting Sarah know she needed a ride home.
Sighing, Dani pulled on her coat and stuffed her phone back into her pocket. She would just have to walk part of the way home. Grimacing down at her red high heels, Dani wondered how she was going to walk through the park with snow on the ground.
Marcel seemed to notice Dani's plight. "No ride?"
Dani shrugged. "Out of minutes on my phone. I can walk - just not looking forward to it."
A sympathetic smile came to the quiet girl's face. "Well, I'd offer you a cell phone if I had one." She instantly brightened and a wide smile spread across her face. "I can lend you my snow boots! What size are you?"
"I can't take your boots," Dani reluctantly declined. "You need them."
Marcel shook her head as she hurried to retrieve them. She explained over her shoulder, "My mom is coming to pick me up in another hour. I only brought them as a backup in case the snow was really bad later." She held up the powder-blue boots. "Do you think you could fit in a size seven?"
Dani felt her shoulders relax in relief. "Yeah, that'd be fine." She stepped out of her shoes once more then tugged the boots onto her feet. "Thanks, Marcel. I'll give them back to you next Monday."
"You're welcome," Marcel blinked in surprise, obviously not used to thanks.
Dani thanked her again and left the gymnasium. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and stuffed her free gloved hands deep into her pockets. Her legs were freezing! "I should have worn tights," she mumbled as she gripped the straps of her heels in her other hand.
The teenager walked down the sidewalk and travelled the familiar path she took back to her neighborhood.
Dani decided that walking wasn't so bad. It was cold, sure, but the snow looked so - magical at night. As she entered the park, she smiled at the tree lights that the park maintenance crew had strung around the naked branches of the trees. The lights twinkled and decorated not only the trees, but bathed the snow in a warm glow. Snatches of the song "Winter Wonderland" escaped Dani's lips as she walked along.
Coming to the bend where the bridge leading to her favorite hideaway, Dani found her steps slowing to a stop. Panting to catch her breath in the freezing outdoors, she stared across the bridge. The foliage, even though they had lost their leaves, were still so thickly intertwined, Dani couldn't see the tall tree's base or the bench from where she stood.
Dani looked up and saw the Christmas lights had been wound around and through the branches of the oak tree as well. She had a sudden urge to go stand under it. Without another thought, Dani crossed the bridge.
Her booted feet crunched above the snow that had accumulated on the bridge's surface. Dani looked up from her carefully placed steps and gasped. There, sitting under the tree, was the mysterious jerk!
He was wrapped up in a black winter coat, his leather gloved-covered hands cradled a Styrofoam coffee cup, and a matching black scarf coiled around his neck.
The man looked toward her and lifted a hand in greeting. "Well, if it isn't the rude girl that throws away perfectly good books."
Dani scowled and debated within herself whether she should just walk away. The idea of basking in the glow of the lights overrode her dislike of the man and she felt herself walking toward him. "What are you doing here?" She asked irritably.
"Enjoying the winter weather," he answered before lifting his cup to his lips and sipping the steaming liquid. "Care to join me?"
"I think," she motioned to the snow covered space that he'd left open on the bench and said, "if I sat down, my dress would get soaked."
The man appraised her coat and must have seen the red material of a dress just peeking out from below the hem of her coat. A smirk came to his face and he chuckled. "Quite the colorful ensemble."
Dani looked down at the green, bit of red, and blue. "Well it matched before the boots came along."
He laughed and started brushing the snow off with one of his hands. "There, all clear. Not dry, but not covered in snow."
Dani wrinkled her nose at him and shifted her stance. "Are you some kind of creeper that likes to bother teenage girls?"
The man frowned and tilted his head slightly to the side. "No. I am quite honestly trying to be kind. If you don't wish to join me, then kindly shove off."
She could tell she'd offended. Shrugging and trying to feign indifference, she sat down. "Just asking. Can't be too careful now." Glancing up at him she warned, "But if you're lying and try anything funny, I'll scream my head off."
"Yes, and screaming would do you a world of good," he mumbled as he lifted his cup to his lips again.
Dani could have sworn she saw a smirk before the cup's lid concealed his lips. She set her shoes down in her lap and stuffed both her hands into her pockets.
He noticed her movement and gave a long suffering sigh. "Those gloves are pointless, you know."
"I didn't expect to be walking home, so shut it."
The cup was set down and he began pulling his gloves off. Dani blinked in surprise when they were thrust into her face. Her head tilted so she could look up at him. He wasn't meeting her gaze. In fact, he was staring straight ahead. "Put these on," he ordered.
"Why?"
"They'll keep your hands warm," he explained slowly as if speaking to a child. "You'll have to return them before you leave, this is a temporary loan. I'm not throwing them away." Dani grimaced at the smirk that quirked up the edge of his lips.
"Won't your hands get cold?" she challenged, still refusing to take the gloves from his slender, pale hands.
He dropped them on top of her shoes and picked up his cup again. "I've got my coffee to keep my hands warm."
Dani stared at him a while longer before she removed her hands from their pockets. Her white gloves were pulled off and she gingerly slid one hand into a leather glove. She was shocked by how warm the inside was. Balling her cold fingers into a fist, she nodded and said, "Thanks."
"Didn't want you to catch frostbite while sitting with me. Can't be held responsible for your stupidity," he explained in a bored tone.
She snapped, "I didn't plan on walking home tonight, thank you very much!"
"Did your date abandon you?" The man turned so his mismatched eyes could appraise her appearance once more.
Dani rolled her eyes. "No. I wasn't on a date. I was nominated the punch server at my school's dance. Then, I dumped a cup of punch on my cousin's moronic boyfriend. My phone ran out of minutes so I couldn't call my friend to come pick me up and drive me home. So I borrowed some snow boots and I'm walking to her store so I can get a ride the rest of the way home."
"No date?" His eyebrows lifted in mild surprise.
"No date," Dani grumbled, looking away again. She glared at one of the pillars that stood a few feet away from them. "No one would ask the girl who supposedly set her own home on fire." She hastily added, "Which I didn't."
The man shrugged. "I wasn't going to believe you did. You don't have the look of an arsonist."
"Isn't that how it is? You don't know someone's an arsonist by how they look but by their actions?" Dani looked up at him with a confused expression.
"Well you don't act like an arsonist, then."
Dani snorted a laugh. "You have no clue what an arsonist does."
He straightened and let out a huff of insulted breath. "Of course I do."
"Yeah, right." Dani shook her head. "Why are we talking about arsonists?"
"You brought it up," he retorted as he took another sip of his coffee. "So, no date."
Dani rolled her eyes. "Didn't I just say that?"
"So you decided to take out the lack of a date on your cousin's boyfriend? Real mature.
Dani scoffed and stared open-mouthed at the man sitting beside her. "Excuse me? I was not acting immature! That was self-defense!"
His head whipped around so he was staring at her. Dani was almost blown away by the concern that was flashing in his eyes. There was - something else, but she couldn't figure out what it could be. "What did he do? Did he hurt you?"
Dani thought about the grip that had tightened around her upper arm. She was positive there would be a bruise there eventually. "Well - he wanted me to go dance with him - but - I knew that he was only trying to get me away from the punch bowl so he - or one of his friends - could spike the punch."
"Spike - the punch." The man's frown deepened at her halted explanation.
Dani nodded and continued, "That way I'd get in trouble - as a minor - for possessing alcohol and serving it to minors. I could have been expelled or something." Rolling her eyes she mumbled, "Mr. Murton probably would have made sure I was sent to juvie." Tilting her head to the side and looking away, she spoke more to herself than to her company, "Then again, he would be satisfied with me getting tried as an adult and sent to jail."
"That's preposterous." She looked up at the man seated beside her. The wind threatened to blow the slicked back blond strands out of place but he merely lifted a hand to smooth it back again.
"Maybe, but that's how it is." Dani shrugged and looked away again. "Anyway, to ensure I didn't get dragged away and framed with intoxicating the whole school, I did the only thing I could think of - I threw a filled cup of punch at his rented tux."
The man started chuckling softly before his laughter grew and caused him to lean back slightly from his laughter. Dani smiled, then grinned, and found herself catching his infectious laughter. Quieting herself to a giggle, she said, "I think some of it even hit his face - and got in his hair."
"Oh, Danica," the man laughed. He glanced down at her, a grin showing off his straight, white teeth. Dani felt herself warm all over from the approving gaze. "I think you have nothing to fear."
She let loose a short puff of laughter. "That's not true, but I'm glad my image as a tough girl is still intact." A pause stretched for a second or two before she pointed an accusatory finger at him. "I still don't know your name!"
He nodded and looked up at the lights above their heads. "No, I suppose you don't."
"Not fair if you ask me."
"Ah, but I didn't ask," he teased. "And life isn't fair. That's how it is."
Dani stuck her tongue out at him before looking away again. She felt herself smile at his chuckle. His laughter was so - different.
"I am Jared. Jared King."
"Oh, don't sound so imperious like you're James Bond or something." Dani laughed. "You and your British accent is not all that."
Leaning toward her, he smirked. "You know I am all that."
"As if," she giggled nervously at his close proximity. Clearing her throat she said, "Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. King."
"Jared, please," he insisted as he took one of her hands and kissed the top of it. Dani's eyes widened to saucers, bringing another rumbling laugh from the man beside her. He pointed above them. Dani looked up and spotted a sprig of mistletoe.
"You knew that was there the whole time!" She accused, glaring back at him once more.
Jared released her hand and shook his head. "Maybe I did, but I had no intention of kissing you. You are a minor after all."
Dani waved her hand and demanded, "Then what was that?"
"A proper British introduction," He answered pompously.
"You're so full of it," Dani grumbled as she blushed.
Jared shrugged and took another sip of his coffee. After swallowing, he asked, "So, after you - doused the forward young man, what did you do?"
"I was let off duty and wandered the gym for a while." Dani stuffed her hands into her pockets. Even though the glove had kept his lips from touching her skin, Dani could still feel a disconcerting tickle on the spot he had kissed. Like he had kissed right through the material. "I didn't want to stick around and get chewed out by my cousin or get cornered by a mad football player, so I left."
Jared looked at her with an expression close to shock. "You worked all night at a party and given the chance to enjoy it - you just - left? Not even a single dance?"
Dani gave him a puzzled look. "Well yeah. School dances aren't really my thing."
"That certainly will not do." Jared stood and set his cup down on the vacated space. Turning to face the still confused teenager, he bowed and asked, "Miss Danica, may I have this dance?"
Dani laughed. "Are you serious?"
"Asking a lady for a dance is no joking matter." He smiled cheekily at her. "It would be a great offense to refuse."
"And we're so keen on not offending one another."
Jared sighed in a longsuffering manner. "Please, Miss Danica, I worked up all that courage. Do not break my already fragile heart."
Dani was about to laugh in his face once again, but something in his gaze stopped her. She almost believed he was dead serious. Not about the dance, but the bit about building up courage and his 'fragile' heart. Without realizing she had done it, Dani placed her hand in his and felt his fingers close around her gloved hand.
A grin of success spread across his face and lit up his eyes. Jared pulled her gently to her feet but before he placed their hands in the correct positions, he frowned at the gloves that swallowed her smaller hands. "This will never do," he tsked. Before Dani could process what was happening, he had removed the gloves and stuffed them into his coat pocket.
"I was going to run off with those," she mumbled.
Jared smirked and set her one hand on his shoulder. "I know." He then set one of his hands on her hip and caught the other hand in his.
"I - I thought we were going to dance," Dani stammered. Her heartbeat sped up at her growing nervousness.
"We are. Do you know the waltz?"
Dani shook her head. "That's not the kind of dancing I'm used to. But - but," she hesitated and bit her lip before she whispered, "my dad used to dance like this with Mom and me."
Silence stretched between them. Dani was about to pull away from him when she heard a soft spoken, "Look at me, Danica." Her head lifted just enough for her to look at him through her eyelashes. Jared said, "Danica, it's quite easy. Just follow my lead."
Dani slowly nodded and whispered, "Okay."
Soon they were gliding over the snow. Dani apologized every once in a while when she stepped on his foot, but Jared would chuckle and assure her that she didn't weigh enough to make it hurt. Quiet conversation bounced between them. Comments about snow and Christmas traditions allowed them to laugh and feel at ease.
The clock tower chimed eleven times, signaling the time. Both Jared and Dani stopped to look up at the clock that was visible over the tree tops. Dani smiled up at the man and broke free from his gentle hold.
"I - I better get home," she said in an apologetic tone.
Jared smiled half-heartedly. "Yes, I must return as well. I have work tomorrow."
Dani walked over to the stone bench and picked up her red shoes. She lifted the Styrofoam cup and held it out to him. "I'm afraid your coffee is cold now." Dani was trying to figure out why she was in such an apologetic mood all of a sudden.
"I'll make more when I return to my home," he assured her. Motioning to her coat he said, "You better put those flimsy gloves back on."
"Oh, right!" Dani dug into her pockets and retrieved the forgotten articles. She hadn't even noticed her hands were bare. While holding his hand, Dani's had been encased in warmth. Feeling his shoulder beneath her other hand had left it tingling with a strange sensation. She hadn't expected to feel muscle. He was so tall and thin.
Smiling sheepishly at him, Dani tried to reign in her skittering thoughts. "Good night."
"A very good night to you, Danica." He nodded his head as if he were bowing to her once more.
She waved in a ridiculous, girly manner and started walking toward the bridge. Stopping suddenly, Dani turned. "Jared?"
Surprisingly, he was still there. Watching her. "Yes?"
A sincere and grateful smile brought the corners of her lips up. "Thank you. For the dance."
He smiled back at her. "My pleasure." Dani waved one last time and walked briskly over the bridge.
~*/*\*~
"Sarah?" Dani knocked on the door to the shop and peered through the glass. The woman was sitting and reading in a chair in the reading circle. So it wasn't long until the brunette looked up in shock.
Dani waited patiently as Sarah hurried to the door and unlocked it.
"Dani? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to call when the dance was over!" Sarah fussed and scolded as she shuffled the girl into the store.
"My phone ran out of minutes and you said to call the store because you didn't have you cell phone on you," Dani explained as she shivered. The warmth of the store made her realize just how cold it had been outside. She missed Jared's warmth.
"You could have texted David, you know." Sarah fussed as she walked over to where the coffee pot and hot chocolate mix were set up. "He could have called me for you and relayed the message."
Dani shrugged as she sat down in a chair. "Sorry, wasn't thinking."
Sarah returned with two cups filled with coffee. "No big deal. So?" She smiled knowingly. "How was the dance?"
"Okay. I was at the punch table practically the whole time though," Dani admitted as she took a sip.
"You did dance at least once, right?" Sarah eyed the girl with threatening disapproval.
Dani recalled her dance in the park. A small smile lit up her face, which she tried to hide behind her cup. "Yeah. One dance."
"With who?"
"Jared," Dani answered without hesitation. "He's nice."
Sarah crowed with laughter. "And you said there wasn't a single guy who would dance with you!"
"He's different."
Sarah beamed with smug joy. "You, dear, are smitten."
Dani shook her head, feeling the euphoria suddenly evaporate. There was no way she had a crush on the jerk that stole her book and drove her insane with his comments. "With Jared? Please! He is so irritating and -"
"Yup. Smitten." Sarah nodded as if this would answer and cancel out all of Dani's objections.
"Whatever," Dani grumbled into her cup. "After I finish this cup, I better head on back home."
"Let me drive you that far," Sarah ordered. "I feel bad enough that you had to walk this far in the snow. Where did you get those boots?"
Dani smiled again. "Walking wasn't so bad. It was - a winter wonderland. And I borrowed the boots." She began retelling what had happened for the second time that night. Everything except her visit in the park.
~*/*\*~
Dani hung her dress up on the rod she and her uncle Jason had set in between two rafters for all her clothes that needed to be on a hanger. Stepping away from her makeshift closet, Dani made her way to her bed. Dressed in felt pajama bottoms and a large sweatshirt, Dani was content and warm.
Slipping into her bed and under her covers, Dani snuggled down. She rolled over so she could peer out the window. Sure enough, her white barn owl friend was perched outside her window.
"Hope you had a good night, too," she mumbled around a yawn.
"It was indeed pleasant." The voice in her head agreed.
Dani hummed a little laugh. "Good to hear. Well, I'm sorry, but I can't keep my eyes open." Eyes fluttering shut, she mumbled a good night.
As she drifted to sleep, she heard from the darkness of her dream a kind voice say, "Pleasant dreams, Miss Danica."