Chapter 10

We don't want you to see we come and we go
Here today, gone tomorrow

~Trust Me by the Fray~

~*/*\*~

Dani woke the next morning with a splitting headache. She looked around groggily, confused, and dazed. Where was she? With a groan she sat up and looked down at confusion at the stone bench she lay on. Where was her room? Her bed? Dani ran a hand through her hair and looked at the oak tree at her back and the park surroundings.

She froze.

"I - I punched Jessica," Dani mumbled to herself with dawning horror. She'd been kicked out. Eddie -

Dani rapidly stood and stumbled on sore legs. She looked down at what she was wearing. A gray hoodie and black sweatpants - torn on one knee. Socks began to soak up the dew covered ground.

She sank back down onto the bench. She was homeless and without food, clothes, money - nothing. Dani looked up at the clock tower that was visible from where she sat. 8 o'clock. With a lurch, Dani stood up again and jogged over the bridge. She had to go to school. Maybe - maybe after school she could go back to the house and maybe Veronica would let her come back.

Dani nodded to herself as she hurried toward school. Right. Veronica told her to leave when the woman was drunk. Surely she wouldn't mean it. Surely Jason would be on Dani's side -

~*/*\*~

Dani entered the girls' gym locker room. So far, she had evaded anyone who may ask her what she was doing outside of class - or why she was late to school - or why she didn't have any shoes. Dani found her locker and quickly opened it so she could retrieve shoes, gym shirt, and her pair of long gym pants. She stuffed her torn sweatpants into the locker and pulled her hoodie on over her gym shirt.

She tried to clean herself up as best she could with what she had stuffed into her gym locker. Somewhat clean but unsatisfied with her appearance, Dani trudged to the school office to make her excuses.

The secretary at the office did not buy Dani's excuse of sleeping late; in fact, the secretary had information from Veronica that Dani would no longer be attending the school. Dani made a hurried excuse for Veronica's call into the office. The secretary wanted to call Veronica - and did. Whatever Veronica said appeased the secretary, and Dani was allowed to go to class.

"Danica," the secretary said, "perhaps you should visit your school counselor?"

Dani gave the woman a wan smile. "I'll - stop by her office later. Thank you."

Dani trudged down the hallway to her locker and retrieved a spare notebook and pencil. Her textbooks for most of her classes were at her aunt's house. Maybe Marcel wouldn't mind sharing today in study hall.

Everywhere Dani went that day teachers and students gave her a chilly reception. Dani wasn't sure what Jessica had told them - or what the Veronica must have communicated. She didn't even see Jessica that day.

After school was dismissed, Dani hung around to see if Peter or Eddie were there. She waited until the last car pulled away. Neither Peter nor Eddie had appeared.

Dani walked back to the house, nervous of her reception.

When she reached the sidewalk in front of the house, the door opened - as if she had been expected.

Veronica stood on the porch. Hands on hips, head tilted in a look of superiority and defiance.

"What do you want?"

Dani stared up at her aunt with confusion and fear. "I - I came home from school."

"This is not your home," Veronica snapped. "This is my home, and I do not house violent delinquents!"

"I didn't mean to hit her!" Dani defended. "I was just trying to - she wouldn't stop talking! Eddie - he shouldn't have to -"

"Shut up!" Veronica flushed, whether from anger or embarrassment Dani did not know. "If you had never come here - I never should have brought you here. It was out of the goodness of my heart that I did! Look where it got me."

"The goodness of your heart?!" Dani retorted angrily. "Name one good thing you've done for me? Did you buy all the clothes in my room? Did you buy the furniture? Did you buy the school supplies? I've lived like Cinderella in that house!" Dani marched up the steps to the porch. "Fine, if you want me out, I'll go! I've had it with your hospitality! Your sense of guilt - whatever! I am going to collect my possessions and go!"

Veronica spread her arms to bar the door. "I will not let you into this house!"

"Veronica! That's enough!" Jason stepped in behind his wife and glared at her.

The woman turned on her husband and retorted, "No! I already made it clear that I will not let her stay here any longer! It was your idea in the first place! I won't let her stay!"

"Fine!" Jason growled. "But she can get her things. They belong to her, like she says." His eyes focused on Dani. "Come on, get your stuff."

Dani clenched her jaw and nodded. Veronica huffed and stormed away to some other part of the house.

Dani entered. The house was quiet. No one came to greet her. No Eddie with a worried expression or relieved smile. No Jessica with a snide remark or hurtful jeer. Not even Peter with his Nintendo.

She looked up at her uncle with the unasked question. He shook his head and just motioned up the stairs. Dani ascended the stairs to the second floor and from their made her way to the stairway hidden behind the door to the attic.

The room was just as she left it. Veronica had yet to tear it apart or search through it.

Dani picked up her backpack - all her assignments for the school day stuffed inside and incomplete. She turned in a circle to look all around with a sad expression. Her solitude and sanctuary - the space she could call her own since being uprooted - she was going to lose it once more.

The stairs creaked and signaled a person coming up to join her. Dani felt her heart stop as she hoped it was Eddie. Maybe she could run away with him! Adopt him! Maybe -

Jason poked his head around the entrance way and offered an unconvincing smile. "Need help?"

Dani's shoulders slumped in defeat. Her face crumpled.

"No - I'll - I'll pack." She turned away and pulled a beat-up suitcase out from under her bed. She hardly thought she would have to use it - never dreamed she would be leaving this house so soon.

"I can - get you a couple more - if you need it," Jason offered as he shifted from one foot to the other.

Dani shook her head and pulled out the blue duffle bag with her dad's medals and flag stashed safely inside it. She moved to a dresser and began pulling out clothes. She packed what she knew she could carry then began picking over other essentials. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, towel, washcloth, soap, shampoo - where was she even going to bath? The school's locker rooms? Somebody would find out eventually that she was homeless. Report her to child services. What then?

Her eyes tearing up, her gaze landed on the shelf she had made for the stuffed animals that once belonged to Sarah. With trembling hands, she picked up Sir Didymus and hugged him. She felt like she was eight years old - that time she got lost at the store.

"I'm sorry, Dani," Jason spoke quietly from across the room. "I tried to talk to her - reason with her - but -" He left the thought unfinished.

Sniffling, Dani questioned, "What did she mean?"

"What?"

"About - my staying here was your idea?"

Silence stretched between them until Jason sighed once more. "I - your mother was -" He stopped talking again. Slowly he began again. "We all lived in this town you know. Veronica, Chelsea, me - went to the same school. Veronica and your mom went away for college. I stayed in town. I - hoped they would come back - well - your mom really. You see, I liked your mom. Veronica liked me - I suppose that's when the rivalry between them started - in Veronica's mind.

"Veronica came back from college," Jason stated. "Your mom didn't. Chelsea met Grant and they eloped. Ran away together. Lived happily ever after. I proposed to Veronica. She thought she had finally won over Chelsea - but - Veronica was still a little jealous. Your mother was a wild child - had her fun, but always had her own set of rules to live by. She never - never broke them. Was always faithful to your dad. Chelsea could never -" Jason stopped again.

"I'm not - proud of what I did," he murmured. "It's my fault your mom and dad never visited again. They wouldn't step foot in this house even if Veronica had let them. Veronica hated me after - after what happened. She neglected the kids and started going out a lot. She was trying to hurt me the way I almost hurt her and your mother. That's why Eddie - happened."

Dani turned to look at her uncle. He stood looking down at the floor; his hands stuffed into his pants pockets.

"Your mother offered to adopt him - because I didn't want him. I don't know what Veronica wanted. She - she never said."

"Stop," Dani pleaded. "If he hears you -"

"The kids aren't here," Jason explained. "We sent them to my sister's.

"Anyway - Veronica wouldn't hear of letting Chelsea have Eddie. That would be like admitting she had failed in every sense of whatever twisted competition she had with Chelsea. We kept Eddie - as a reminder to me or to Veronica - I don't know.

"When your mom died, I thought I could - my way of apologizing for everything. Take you in and help you." He looked up at her sadly. "Be an uncle to you - family. Now I've failed you and your mom once again. I'm - I'm sorry."

Dani didn't speak. She just looked at the man standing before her and didn't know what to think. So, instead of answering, she merely turned back to the suitcase and began packing it. She set Didymus on top and began picking up a few books. She listened to her uncle's departure - not knowing what he was thinking or what he would do.

She zipped her suitcase shut and looked around the room once more. So much was being left behind. Dani walked around the room one more time, checking to see if she forgot anything. Her gaze fell on the red, bound book Labyrinth. Picking it up, she held it between her hands.

She flipped it open near the end - where a gold ribbon held her place. Dani sat on the edge of her bed and read aloud. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back the child which you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great! You -"

"Dani!" Jason called up the stairs.

The girl's head lifted and the trance she was in as she read broke once more. She hastily stuffed the book into her backpack and began hoisting her possessions onto her shoulder or off of the bed. She descended the steps and met her uncle at the base of the attic stairs.

He looked her over with worry written on his face. "Do you have everything?"

"Everything I can carry," Dani answered.

"Money?"

"What I have saved up."

Jason pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a couple twenty dollar bills. "I know this isn't much, but it's something."

Dani began to shake her head to refuse, but Jason shoved it toward her anyway. "Please," he begged.

The girl accepted it reluctantly and stuffed the folded bills into her hoodie's pocket.

"What about a place to stay?" He questioned, worry still etched on his face.

Dani worried her lip between her teeth. What should she tell him? That she was either going to sleep in the park tonight or break into the school and live in the hidden room in the library until someone found her? In the end, she opted to say, "Yeah. I'll - I'll stay with some friends."

Jason nodded, not satisfied, but mollified for the moment.

Dani forced a smile. "I better go - before Veronica storms up here or something."

"Yeah," Jason agreed. "I'll - I'll see you to the door."

~*/*\*~

Dani sat on the stone bench in the park and stared at the phone in her hands. She wished Jared would show up - yet she hoped he did not. He worked with kids - kids with problems - did that mean he worked with social services?

She wished she had his phone number.

Dani glanced up at the clock tower. She didn't work today.

She leaned over to grab an apple out of the grocery bag settled beside her. There was no way she was going to get into the school or the secret storage closet in the library tonight. She would just have to wait until tomorrow.

Dani munched on what she had bought from the store, did her homework while the sun was still up. When it went down, she huddled with all of her stuff and kept a small plastic case of pepper spray in her hand so she could fall into a fitful sleep.

~*/*\*~

Dani quickly stowed her suitcase, duffle bag, and groceries into her locker. She eyed the people around her and wondered if anyone had taken notice of her unusual assortment of things. If they did, they did not ask her about it.

Dani sat through classes and tried to stay out of sight. She spotted Jessica during lunch, but neither one bothered to approach the other. Dani was pleased to see the bruise that had swollen part of her cousin's face.

When Dani's study hall hour rolled around, she cautiously made her way to the library to see when she could get her luggage in there and sneak into her secret room. She bypassed the group huddled together to study for upcoming tests or working on homework. Dani approached the forgotten storage closet near the back of the library then stopped.

The potted plant was gone. The shelf was gone. The door - was exposed.

Dani hastily tried jiggling the door handle, but it was locked. A new lock.

"No -" she choked back the panicked tears that threatened to stuff up her throat. Once more, she was without a sanctuary or safe harbor.

~*/*\*~

The bell for school to be over rang throughout the building. Dani collected her school books, suitcase, and duffle bag. She shuffled through the hallway, ignoring the sounds of happy students. They all had homes to go to - friends to spend time with - parents or family that loved them.

She exited the school building and started her way toward the park.

"Dani!"

She turned from staring at the sidewalk to see Eddie making a dash for her. Dani felt a tug on her heart. Turning toward him, she opened her arms for a hug. Eddie slammed into her, causing her to stagger back a step. Dani squeezed his as hard as he was squeezing her and she was certain he was crying into her shirt.

"Why weren't you at home?" He cried.

Dani sank to her knees to look into her cousin's face. "I - your mom -"

"I hate her!" Eddie shouted as he wrapped his arms around Dani's neck. "Why did she send you away? You're family," he ended pitifully - with a whimper.

Dani held him tight. Where was Veronica? Peter? Jessica? They were sure to come drag Eddie away. Or did they not care about him anymore?

"Take me with you," Eddie begged. "I don't wanna go back! They're not my family - you are!"

"Eddie, I can't -"

"You promised!" Eddie backed away. "You said we were family."

Dani wiped away the tears on the boy's face. "Eddie, I know what I promised. We are family - nothing has changed that. But I can't take you with me - legally I can't. I'm not old enough, and I don't have a place to take you to."

"You could someday - couldn't you?" Eddie pleaded.

Dani smiled. "Maybe - I hope so."

"Eddie!" There was Peter - looking for his wayward brother.

With one more hug, the teenager said, "You gotta go now - 'sides, I have to go to work."

"You'll come visit me, right?" Eddie asked as he hugged her tightly.

"Maybe we can hang out at the park," Dani suggested. "Or you can swing by the store - visit me while I work."

"Eddie!"

"You better go," Dani stated as she broke away from the hug. She stood and tousled his hair. "I'll see you soon.

~*/*\*~

Dani hurried into the bookstore and waved to David. "Sorry I'm late! Lemme stash this stuff in the back and I'll be right up front." She ducked toward the back before Sarah's husband could ask questions. Dumping school bag, luggage, and duffle bag into the storage room in the back, she hurried back to the store front and began helping David shelve books.

"Sarah will be back in a few days," David stated. "You'll get a few days off again."

Dani's heart sank. Days off meant no money.

"That's great!" She fibbed, trying to sound upbeat and positive. "Hope her trip was successful."

"From our phone calls it sounds like it has been." David smiled. "So, you going to a slumber party or something?"

"What?"

"All that stuff you brought in with you. Going to a slumber party?"

"Oh that!" Dani turned away and fussed with a couple of books on a shelf. "Yeah," she drawled. "That's right."

"Hope you have fun!" David looked up when the bell over the door chimed. "Mind taking the register?"

"Not at all!" Dani hurried off, thankful that she wouldn't have to lie too much more.

~*/*\*~

Dani returned to the park bench and collapsed. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her of the bag of cheeseburger and fries that she had bought for her dinner. She unwrapped her meal and scarfed it all down without a second thought.

Homework came next and she finished it with little enthusiasm.

A sigh worked its way from her lips. Dani leaned back against the oak tree and stared up at the clouds. They looked gray, angry, and ready to split.

"Please don't rain," she begged the sky. A rumble of thunder answered her. Fearing the worse, Dani shoved the duffle bag, suitcase, and book bag under the stone bench and covered all of it with her rain jacket. Taking another jacket and pulling it on, she huddled up under what little space was provided by the bench. Opening her umbrella, she covered herself as best she could.

Her arm cushioned her head as she lay on the ground and contemplated what to do next. Her eyes stared unseeing at the rainbow stripes on her umbrella. The patter of raindrops on the umbrella canvas lulled her to sleep, while she shivered as her exposed lower half slowly became drenched.

~*/*\*~

"Hello? Hello? Can I help you?" Dani felt something or someone kick her foot. She mumbled and tried to bury her face into her arms. Something wet hit her face and she looked up in a stupor at whoever was spraying her.

"Wha -?" She so eloquently asked.

"Danica!" A shocked voice rattled her from her sleep and she stared up into the wide-blue and green eyes of Jared.

Dani blinked owlishly and mumbled a confused, "Jared?"

He swore under his breath and dropped both his and her umbrellas. Gripping her upper arm and hauling her to her feet, Jared angrily asked, "What are you doing here?"

Dani began to wake up more as she stared into the hardened face of the man she both longed and dreaded to see. Unsure if the wetness now streaming down her face was rain or tears; she wrapped her arms around Jared for a much needed hug and sobbed the whole story into his chest. He said little, merely soothed her and reassured her.

"I - I have nowhere to go!" Dani hiccupped into his shirt.

"Yes, you do," Jared contradicted. "Come." He shed his coat and draped it over her shoulders before bending to retrieve the umbrellas. Dani stood gripping the hooked handle of her umbrella as she watched mutely as Jared retrieved her belongings from under the bench. As if he knew how much the blue duffle bag meant to her, he allowed her to carry that one bag as he led her from the park.

They made their way to the book store. Dani wondered how he knew where it was, and why he was taking her there of all places. The shop was closed - being after hours. He wandered to the alley and a side door. Dani knew that the side door led to the apartment over the shop where Sarah and David lived.

Jared pressed the buzzer and waited. Dani stood shivering and wondered if Jared knew Sarah and David.

"What are we doing here?" Dani asked.

"Finding you a place to stay," Jared answered.

"No - I couldn't!" Before Dani could voice her objections, the door swung open and there stood Sarah.

Sarah gasped at the sight before her. "Jare-!"

"Sarah, could you please let us in?" Jared interrupted her, a bite to his voice that made Dani flinch."

Sarah looked from Jared to Dani then back again. "Y-yes," she stuttered, "of course." She stepped back into the narrow stairwell to allow access. Sarah looked at Dani with concern and quickly led them both upstairs.

Author's note: Again, I'm sorry for the wait. It's been forever since I wrote for either of these fics. =/ Being my final semester in college, I'm really busy. Consider this a New Year's gift to you all. Thank you for your patience. I may not be updating frequently for some time, I apologize for that.

It was pointed out that, in my haste to submit/type the previous chapter I mixed up Jessica and Veronica. My mistake. =/ Eventually I'll go back and revise that chapter.

As for this chapter, it may seem hastily done. Again, I am sorry. I want to move the story along and this method seemed to be best - after all, Dani is feeling a bit hurried and disjointed at this time - so writing like that seemed best.

Please, feel free to review. I do enjoy reading them! I don't respond as often as I used to, but I do read them. Your comments are appreciated. =)