Danny could fully get behind Valerie and her feelings.

This dog was a menace.

It didn't help that Elizabeth overheard that, saw the dog in question, then got down to comfort the dog and bestowed him with a nicer name of Dennis.

Which Cujo loved.

The attention. The dog still perked up his ears at Cujo after all. Danny shot a glare up at the ceiling. His breath visible, but dog at least, not.

Good Cujo following his orders.

For now.

Interestingly, Danny now has knowledge that the majority of the classrooms, which wrapped around the small library in the middle, were all interconnected. For whatever reason, the walls between them didn't go all the way up. Easier to get up and poke around in there for work?

In any case, skipping lunch and heading to Geometry early paid off. Because Cujo up there was slightly better than relying on a puppy's ability to focus, not quite managing the order of 'hide' for long while sitting at Danny's side in class. He didn't think anyone noticed or saw by the time he hissed for Cujo to hide again.

And at least Elizabeth rushing in early with a clear plan of speaking to Danny failed at sight of the dog.

He'd nearly praised the dog for that.

Danny glared at the folded up piece of paper on the corner of his desk, pointedly ignoring the glances over. Instead, he took notes from the power point. Keeping one hand at his chin, fingers splayed over his mouth. Elizabeth may know about ghosts, thank you Cujo, but she didn't know about him.

Frowning at the projection, Danny paused in his note taking as Mr. Gamm answered one of Rachel's many time waster questions.

It'd make things easier. Wouldn't it? Why hadn't he told her?

Here. Right here. This is who to blame. Stop helping. He should be hated. He could deal with the hate. Kindness? Not so much.

He scowled to himself.

Apparently, somehow, Jesse seemed to know (and how did Jesse know?). And the two of them seemed to be talking to one another. If she didn't already know, she would soon.

Heaving out a sigh through his fingers, Danny looked to the folded up paper.

It might be the last like it again.

His insides turned at the loss, the feeling of it being final and possibly gone soon. Of whatever this had been or growing into. As much as he had not wanted it, Danny could admit Elizabeth had a quiet warmth to her that eased and lightened this past month or so.

Both out of intimately knowing what could be the last of something and sense of wrongness in dismissing her, he set down his pencil to pick up the folded note to open it behind his small stack of books.

From the corner of his eye, Danny could see Elizabeth's head perk up and her shoulders drop.

Well.

Waiting a moment, checking to see if Mr. Gamm was still answering a Rachel question, Danny looked down to read the note in a rip the bandaid off and not savoring the last dessert way.

'Danny.

There is too much. Too much to think and say and ask. But this is what it boils down to, the important bit at the heart of everything.

I don't blame or hate you and I wish you wouldn't because it's clearly eating you up.

You were in pain and lost and angry and hurting, and it built up until it burst and lashed out at the world. It's not not fully understandable. You're right. Our Homecoming isn't your home. And as much as you were consumed and lost in letting all that out on Homecoming, your hand shook and dropped from causing anyone else such hurt like yours. Or any possible injury another can get when you can help it. Don't you forget, I've seen you with my siblings, town kid. I feel I know you well enough.'

She. She already knew? She knew and... What the hell did she mean not blaming or hating him!? Look at Jonah! Look at her back! Know him well enough? Then she should be keeping away from something like him! Not. Not reaching out to it!

'I doubt you've reached a point to read my notebook, much less implement anything from inside to take a step toward digging out of current emotions. Which is, well, not fine, yet you need to do it for you and when you're ready. But. I don't like seeing you hurt, to hear you'd welcome it or even search it out.

Danny. You don't have to be perfect. It's okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes them. Including you. It makes you human. And I believe in you. Even if you don't right now. I believe in you. Stop. You can't argue or disagree with that. I wrote it, I thought it, I believe it, and I will say it to you.

Elizabeth'

Danny stared. Eyes stuck. Watering up.

It makes you human.

Gulping, he dragged his eyes off that.

'P.S. Jesse will not 'break your fucking leg'.

P.P.S. I can't believe I have written profanity in school after years of promising to never use that language at school. There goes that ten year streak. Ask Dad. He still thinks it was funny neither he nor Mom thought to give me any heads-up to not say a certain farm chore at school. Actually, that probably sums it up. And since I broke it, I might as well enjoy it. Shit. Damn. Crap. And, you can't be fucking serious. Cujo? That dog deserves better than Cujo. If you want famous St. Bernard, Beethoven fits much better than Cujo.'

And, as if knowing he was being thought of, a bark went off up above. The entire Geometry class derailed far past any former Rachel shenanigans. Danny inwardly cursed at the damn dog as various students gamely stood on desks to lift and peek up into the dimlit depths of the ceiling for the last 7 minutes of class. All trying to catch sight of the supposed dog.

Yeah.

Danny glared up at the ceiling.

Fully behind Valerie and her feelings.