The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 15: Ask me

Ashley-Claire and I shared a special bond after that evening.

We didn't hang out every day or disrupt the status quo within our friend groups, but we'd sit next to each other in class if the seats weren't assigned. Sometimes I'd go over to her house when she didn't want to be alone, and sometimes she'd come over to mine.

Our friendship was quiet and deep; forged out of common pain and sadness. My pain wasn't the same as Ashley-Claire's, but I'd hung with her in the unknown long enough to be altered by it. I felt that change deep within me.

A lot of things were changing within me.

The one-month anniversary of the attacks happened, then the second month, then the third.

The nightmares eventually subsided, and though the world both inside my mind and outside of it was different, I went back into my normal routine.

"Yo, MJ," Danny said as he came up to my locker, "can I cash in my other favor?"

We'd just returned from our winter break. My family had spent most of it in New York visiting Tío Eduardo and my other aunts and cousins in Queens.

I looked up at Danny, half wondering if something terrible had happened. "What is it?"

"I want you to ask me to the Winter Formal Dance."

I laughed, then checked my hip into him.

"What?" he snorted. "It's Sadie Hawkins so you need to ask me!"

"Dork! You don't need to cash in your favor for that. I was already planning on going with you."

"Hmmm. That's news to me, MJ. 'Cause you still haven't asked." His eyes glittered.

"Daniel Francis McGarry?" I said in a mock-serious tone. "Will you go to the Winter Formal Dance with me?"

He bowed. "Yes. I would be honored."

We smirked stupidly at each other.

"So," Danny said, "what are ya gonna wear? I need to know so I can match."

"Mmmmm. I'm not sure yet. My mom is driving my brother and his friend to the mall on Saturday. I should probably go, too."

"The one in New Hampshire?"

"Yeah! Do you want to come with? They've got a Pac Sun."

Danny looked at me softly. "I want to...I'm just not sure if I can."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know you've been really busy lately. I totally get it. We've missed you at our house, though."

He closed his eyes for a moment.

What's wrong, Danny? I wondered, yet again.

He leaned just far enough to enter my personal space. "Let me talk to my mom," he said, his voice tender.

"You'll have to get up early. It's like...an hour-and-a-half away or something like that."

"I can get up early!"

"Can you though?" I eyed.

"Guess we'll see." His voice was full of mirth. Whatever had happened, he was back to normal.

"My mom said they were planning on leaving at around eight-thirty. So, if you can come, be at our house before then."

"How is your mom?"

"Better. She finally has some of her energy back."

"That's good."

The bell rang and interrupted our conversation. After a rushed goodbye, each of us darted to class. I slid into my desk which was next to Anna's and opened my literature book.