What We Do To Each Other

Danielle Hallers : Chapter 3

I met Danielle Hallers when I was 12 years old. Two years after Uriah Waters and I became sorta-kinda friends. We instantly clicked. We got along fine and we had all the same interests. Well, enough to be friends.

She lived down the road from me. Close enough to bike over if I had a pimpled-face emergency before school, and far away enough that we still begged our parents to hang out. We were there for each other. Especially during the times we needed it.

Danielle moved because of her parents divorce. Her father lives in New Jersey and her and her mother now lived in England. Far, far away from her messed up life.

I first knew of her as Danielle. Then, as we got closer, I knew of her as the new and improved Dani Hallers; the bad ass friend I needed. She's the type of person to not back down from a fight. She was most likely the one to start them. But everyone knew as much as she would start them, she sure as heck would end them too.

We were inseparable. We still are. Kind of. Now, we've grown up. Matured. We both have our own lives. But that sure as hell doesn't mean that we aren't best friends. Maybe now, since everything that has happened, we've become even more inseparable.

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Smirking, I push Uriah out of my way and take my place next to my best friend. Dani's hands are on her hips and she's glaring daggers at Uriah. His annoyed face is all it takes to make me burst out laughing, but I shake myself out of it.

I shouldn't even be laughing or talking to him after everything he did.

With that thought, I look down at my feet ashamed in myself. Dani walks up to Uriah, getting in his self absorbed face. "What the hell are you doing back here Uriah? After everything? You have some hard ass balls for coming back after leaving. Without saying anything." She spits in his face.

"Dani-" he starts. She's practically shaking with anger and all I can do is appreciate her. "No. You listen to me, here bud..." I tune her voice out when I feel another hand on my arm. Oh my god why is everyone touching me today?

I turn around, annoyed and pissed off with everyone. I freeze when I see the hot guy at table 12 looking concerned. "Oh- uh hi?" I question. "Hey, is everything alright?" He asks, glancing behind me but then suddenly snatching his hand and stepping back a step.

"Wha.." I glance behind myself too, and in the middle of all the busy kitchen with yelling and all kinds of noises is Uriah fuming, a still talking, pissed off Dani standing in front of him. Oh. I look at the blonde guy again and back to Uriah. Is he really... no he isn't. He has no right.

I face 12 again. "Everything's okay, really. By the way, I never got your name...?"

"Oh yeah. My names Raylin." I smile at him. "Good to know. I have to get going though. See you later?" I ask, anxious to get away from Uriah's prying eyes, which I know for a fact are still staring - or should I say glaring - at me and Raylin.

He smiles too and walks out of the diner, the bells shaking after him. I take a deep breath and turn around again, facing the problem. "Cmon Dani, let's go." I take her hand and she flips Uriah off. I'm pulling her out the door when I cant help it anymore. "And Uriah?" I yell, everyone staring at me. As if they weren't already. "Go away, please."

He stares after me, almost looking disappointed. And I can't help feeling a little disappointed too.

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"I'm proud of you." Surprised, I look over at Dani. She glances at me before returning her eyes to the road. "Hm?" I'm confused. What does she have to be proud of? "I'm proud of you, Liv. You didn't give into him. We both know once in a lifetime you would have. I'm proud that now, you didn't."

Yeah. A couple years ago, or even last year, I would have given into him. Forgiven him for everything. Not caring that he hurt me more than anyone really has. It wouldn't have mattered that he left me with no one. Or that he left me alone, no one there to help.

None of that would have mattered because he was there right? He came back, right? Wrong. Uriah Waters is a self absorbed boy who doesn't care for anyone other than himself.

I know that better than anyone else.

Reaching to the radio, I turn on some pop music. Again, Dani looks at me but she says nothing. I bet neither of us will say anything until I get home. I lean my head on the window, shutting my eyes and letting the music take me away.

     After a couple minutes of trying to sleep, I give up. The sun is in my eyes, my head is pounding from the thoughts overflowing, and the music is suddenly so damn loud. I sit up, groaning and punch the stereo, turning it off.

    Dani laughs at me, resulting in me extending the middle finger. She shakes her head, but the smile eventually fades when I stay with my head in my hands. "Liv.. I.. I'm sorry. I didn't know he was coming back." I can hear the concern in her voice. It just pisses me off. It shouldn't matter that he's back. I should just be able to ignore him and forget what he has done to me. But I can't.

    And I hate that. I hate that he's back and that it's changing everything. I hate how he's changed. I hate that he looks better than he ever has. I hate the way he stared at me. I hate the way he stood up for me in the diner. I hate that I still care for him.

     But I can't still care for him, right? I'm with Justin and I have a life. And he took himself out of my life when he left. It was his decision and I learnt to deal with it. I had to. I had no other choice. Not like he did.

    Dani pulls in my drive, and parks. We sit there awhile not talking. The quiet consumes us. I don't know what to say and neither does she. I don't think she knows how to help me. I don't know how to help me neither.

    She's staring at me, and I'm staring out the window. I close my eyes when I realize that I'll have to confront Ella about him. She told him you were there. I don't understand why she would. But I can't blame her. I'm just as confused as she is.

   "Thank you, Dani" I mumble, still staring outside. I know she heard me because she turns her body to me. "For what?" I look at my lap and then turn towards her too, looking into her brown eyes. "Being here today. Coming to my rescue. I needed it. For real." I say with complete and utter honesty.

    She smiles at me sadly and nods. "Want me to pick you up tomorrow? We could skip school and go out and..." She stops, letting the words drift around us. We both know I couldn't skip school. Not now, not with her. Not again.

   I shake my head and lean in to hug her. She hugs me back, and I sag against her. All the stress leaking out of me. Today was a hard day, even before he came to make it harder. "Love you, Liv. Don't forgot about my offer. I'm still picking you up tomorrow. Whether you like it or not." I laugh and salute her, opening the door. I pass her car and wave as she honks and drives past.

    I wait until she's down the road until I finally open the door to my house. And approach the awaiting storm.

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Well. Here's chapter 3! I hope y'all enjoyed lol. I put spaces in between each paragraph cus I was informed that you weren't able to comment unless I did so. Thank you for informing me abt that (yk who u are 🙏🏼)

Any guesses or ideas for the next chapter ?

Here's some things I would like to clear up :   

Liv (Olivia) is the main character : 17 almost 18 years - senior in hs

Uriah is Livs ?friend? We don't know yet :) is 18 years old - senior in hs

Dani is Livs bsf (u learnt abt her in this chapter, if you need a re cap just read the first couple paragraphs) : she is also 17/18 - senior in hs

Chloe is a fellow worker at Marlas place - the diner Liv works at (idk how old she is maybe 19-20?)

Justin is Livs bf ... i dislike him... so beware 😃

hope you enjoyed! comment and vote possibly? ur choice my guys

With love,
                     Em      👁❤️U