The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 18: Everybody falls

Danny was absent from school for an entire week. Rumors started spreading that he was avoiding me. That after the dance we'd fought and broken up. Some people thought the opposite. They thought we'd gone all the way.

Why him being absent from school caused them to think that I'll never know.

Over the weekend I had taken my bike to the skate park and waited to see if Danny would show up. In the evenings, I'd sit on AIM waiting and hoping for him to come online.

I even considered calling Pam because I was so worried. I was worried about Danny and I was worried about his feelings toward me.

Was he avoiding me?

The following Monday I heard that Danny was back at school, but I didn't see him at all that morning.

My heart pounded. My palms sweat. My mind whirled. What would he say? What would I say? Did he love me?

At lunchtime, I darted to the cafeteria and waited. When he failed to show, my heart sank. I tried to think of a different place he could be.

Be calm, Maria. Act normal. Don't run. Just walk.

I left the cafeteria and wound my way back to the lockers. I peeked down the hallway that Danny's was in. Not there.

Next was the gym. I looked in and didn't see him. I could get in trouble, but I decided to keep searching. It was too important, and I didn't think my heart could take any more suspense.

I went down a different hallway and passed an outside window. I stopped.

Danny.

He was sitting alone, far away, on the baseball bleachers.

I looked around. Not seeing any teachers, I slipped out a side door and made my way across the grass to the baseball diamond.

His black sweatshirt hood was up. I had no jacket and the wind was cold, but I wasn't going back. The closer I got to him, the more my heart pounded.

"Danny?" I said in a choked whisper.

He didn't move.

I swallowed. "...Danny?"

No motion.

I stepped closer and cautiously laid my hand on his shoulder.

He startled, jumped to the side, and grabbed his ribcage. He revealed his face to me. His eyes were wide with fear and darkness. It was as if someone had sucked the life out of him and replaced the seafoam with an inky abyss.

"Danny? What's wrong?"

His eyes came into focus. "MJ?"

"Yeah. I'm really sorry I startled you. Are...you okay?"

He didn't answer.

I sat down next to him. He watched me cautiously as if he wasn't sure what I'd do.

"Can you tell me what's wrong? Is...it something I did?"

He shook his head. "No. No, it's not you. Sorry. I had a skateboarding accident. Hurt myself bad so I've been outta school."

"It wasn't when you were skating home from the dance, was it?"

"No," he said quickly. "Not that. Sunday. Tried to do a trick and I fell."

It was hard to believe him. Why was he sitting out here if it was just a skateboarding accident?

"I'm sorry if I bothered you." I felt insecure. "I was worried."

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. When he opened them, I saw focus. But the sparkle was still gone.