The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 11: Thanks for coming

After lunch, we went back to the stadium and got ready to watch the next game. It was also close, with the Pilgrims and Spoonbills going deep into overtime. My nerves were stretched thin, and my voice gave out completely.

But in the end, the Pilgrims lost.

We couldn't wait for Danny to be done with his team debrief because it was so late and I needed to get home. I hated not being able to see him after the game. How upset was he? Did he blame himself?

I didn't know.

We rolled into my driveway late. I thanked Pam for the ride and reluctantly, gave her back Danny's uniform shirt. She offered to pick me up for Sunday's games, but I hadn't managed to finish my homework. If the Pilgrims won tomorrow morning, which I hoped they did, then there would be another late game for the tiebreaker. My parents thought it best if I stayed home.

I'm sorry, Danny, I thought as I crawled into bed. His watch still hung loose on my wrist. I clutched it and fell asleep.

The next morning, I stayed home alone and listened to Danny's game on the radio while I finished up my homework.

After another close game, they lost again. Tears streamed down my face when the Spoonbills were declared the winner. I shut my radio off, sat down at my desk, and put my head in my hands.

My friend was three hours away, devastated, and I wasn't there. It pained me.

I heard the commotion of my family coming home from the soccer tournament. A few minutes later my mother knocked on the door.

"Come in," I said.

She opened it, and when she saw me, her expression fell. "They lost."

"Yeah," I said.

"Oh, that's so disappointing. I'm sorry, Princesa."

"It feels wrong to be here, instead of there."

She nodded.

I looked at my homework and blinked, unsure what else to do, or say.

"Why don't you call Danny later?"

I looked back at my mom. "I don't have his home phone number."

"You could call Pam's cell phone and ask for it."

I shrugged. "I feel like if he wanted to talk, he'd come here, ya know?"

"Hmmm," my mother said. "Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to tell. Sometimes people want to be alone because they actually want to be alone. And sometimes, people want to be alone because they want someone they care about to check on them."

"How do you know the difference?"

"A lot of times you don't. You just have to try and see what they say."

I looked at my clock. "Well, he won't be home for a long while, yet."

"Then you have some time to think about what you want to do. I love you."

"I love you too, Mama."

She shut the door and I went back to my studies.

Later that afternoon I looked at the clock. Should I call Danny's mom? Or should I leave him alone? Should I do something else?

What would I want in that situation?

After I broke up with Josh, I had to sit by myself at the lake. I remembered wishing someone was there with me. I thought about how Danny hadn't commented on my decision to break up with Josh. He simply wanted to know how I was doing.