"Danielle, did you-"
"See that? Yeah, the hell I did! What a badass of a boyfriend I have!" I exclaimed. Eric looked down at his skateboard, proud as can be. He'd been practicing forever to get that trick down. Which one? I couldn't even tell you, but he did it! He sat down next to me and allowed me to wrap my arms around him.
"Hey, you alright?" An unfamiliar face asked me, bringing me back to reality. It took me a while for my eyes to adjust with the sun in my eyes, but I still couldn't put a name to his face. He sat beside me, bent a little and a face of discomfort. I caught myself from just sitting there and staring. I was prone to people watch, even with them a couple feet away. "Yeah, totally fine," I stated blandly, looking at the other skaters rolling past. "It's just...you've been staring out towards that skate ramp for a while. You scared you'll fall?" He questioned further, keeping his tone soft yet outgoing. He was straightforward, but that was better than sneaking around the main point of a conversation, wasn't it? I laughed sourly, followed with a grimace. I couldn't even attempt to skate without falling on my ass. "No, I'm just...deep in thought, that's all."
I look back over to him and notice he's examining his knee. I look down to see blood rushing down his leg, his hands covered in it as he tries to apply pressure to the wound. He saw my face and laughed down at the ground. "Just a scratch, that's all," He mocked my statement. I giggled shortly and stood up, "I got a first aid kit, just stay put."
Jumping into old habits felt comforting, even if it was for a stranger. Growing up, I was an athletic trainer in high school so I made it my job that I'd be Eric's first aid. For his cuts and bruises, I always came prepared. Even after he died, I kept the small red box in the trunk of my car.
"So before I even touch your knee, you gonna give me your name?" I smiled, sitting back down next to him and opening my kit. He laughed shortly, "It's Izzy."
He waited for me to respond but I decided to be a little difficult. Once he caught on that I wouldn't respond with my name, he lowered his head to my eye level. "What's yours?"
"Danielle, but my friends call me Dani," I said simple and sweet, making him smile a bit more. "Very nice to meet you, Dani."
"Likewise."
YOU ARE READING
Brighter | I. Stradlin
Fanfiction"Also the purpose of life isn't death, it's paying taxes...you're a living profit for the government." He broke into quiet laughter. "You're so random." I shrugged and folded in my arms. "It helps keep me distracted though," I murmured. He leaned o...
