The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 6: It's your birthday

"Want to go to a movie this weekend?" Josh asked as we walked down the hall together.

Josh and I were coming up on our month-a-versary and it was my birthday.

"Aw, I wish I could," I said. "But my uncle is visiting this weekend."

"That's cool," Josh said. "Is that your mom's side or your dad's?"

"My mom's. She has three sisters and a brother. Maybe next weekend we could do something?"

"Okay, that sounds good." Josh hugged me. "See you at math?"

"See you there."

I smiled, then veered off to homeroom. After that, it was time for social studies.

Danny was the first person there, as was normal. He absentmindedly rolled his finger skateboard across the desk. I plopped down next to him.

"Whaddup, MJ?"

I yawned. "Morning, Danny."

"Up late?"

"Yeah...I was drawing."

"Not surprised."

I got out my notebooks.

"It's your birthday tomorrow, right?" Danny asked.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

Danny shrugged. "You told me once."

"I did? Oh," I laughed.

"Are you doing anything cool for your birthday?"

"Yeah," I grinned. "My uncle is visiting this weekend. It's been a while since we've seen him and I'm really excited. He always comes up for Hector's birthday and my birthday since they're close together. Our uncle is a lot younger than my mom and he's really cool. He usually brings up his N64 and we play Golden Eye until one in the morning and eat pizza."

"That sounds awesome," Danny said. "And he sounds super cool."

"I know, right? He has a cool job, too."

"What's his job?"

"He's a firefighter."

"Woah, that is cool," Danny said.

"I know. He's got some crazy stories! You should hear him talk. He's one of my favorite people."

Danny smiled. "I wanna met him someday."

"You should! He's the best."

Danny did an ollie with his finger skateboard.

"Are you doing anything fun this weekend?" I asked him.

"Just the usual. Gonna be practicing pitching, skating, ya know."

I nodded. "When does the season open?"

"Mmmm...not for a few more months, but I still gotta practice. I'm gonna do baseball at school and then I'm gonna try out for a traveling team that's mostly during the summer, but stuff will overlap with the school league a little if I make the team."

"I'm sure you'll make it. Sounds like you'll be really busy."

"Ya. You're usually real busy in the summer too, right?"

"Yeah. I usually do a couple of architecture camps and math camps."

Danny rolled his finger skateboard back and forth. "If you're not too busy this summer, maybe you could come to one of my games, sometime?"

"Yeah definitely! I'm already planning on it."

Danny smiled softly at me. I held his gaze for a moment. He exuded so much warmth and I sometimes wondered how.