My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter fourteen

I remember the first night of Carol's divorce from her husband, Danny's dad. It was rough. Ken wasn't a bad man but he definitely wasn't a good one. Ken was always focused on his job more than anything else. He would always tell Danny, "Go away, I'm working." Every time I was over at his house, Ken would always be in his office on the computer, If I ever dared to go in there while he was working he would get super mad at Danny. He basically grew up without a father, and when Ken ended up wanting to spend time with his kids...it was too late, they had already let him go. I remember seeing Danny in his room while his parents were fighting. He'd look so sad, which was rare because Danny was never sad. I would start singing to him and he would smile. I feel like he really enjoyed it, especially in that time. One night when the fighting had been the worst it's ever been, Danny climbed up through my window. Kaley was at summer camp for this school thing so he hadn't gone to her. I knew he would've if she was there but I was so thankful that she wasn't because that night was one of the best nights in my existence. Danny climbed through my window on a rainy summer night. I was already in bed and he was soaking wet.
    "Danny?" I said while sitting up in my big t-shirt and shorts. He shivered and his arms were folded.
    "Gosh you're soaked, come on let's get you dry," I said while hopping off my bed.
    "I'm sorry," he said while getting a towel. I walked closer to him and I shake my head,
    "You're welcome here anytime, especially now," I said with a smile. I remember his babyface when he was only fifteen, a sophomore in high school. I had never seen Danny so down in my entire life, it hurt me more than words could say.
    "C'mon let's get you a warm shower, I can dry your clothes while you're in there," I whispered while walking him to the bathroom. I wanted to take care of him, he meant the most to me, he was the person whom I would quite literally do anything for, I fell harder each day. After his shower, I snuck him back into my room. He made a bed on the floor and laid down. I told him that he could've slept on the bed, but he insisted. We must've talked for hours, I didn't mind though, he needed it, and I'm glad it was me that he trusted. It went quiet after a while, I thought he was asleep when I suddenly heard.
    "I'm glad it was you I came to, I love you, Kara, you're my best friend." My heart melted. That was the first time he ever said I love you. I know it didn't mean the real deal, but it was still my real deal. He loved me and I loved him. He fell asleep and he snored louder than ever. I wanted to laugh but I knew that that was probably the most sleep he's gotten in a few nights. That night brought us closer not just physically, but emotionally. I was there when he needed me, and I am forever grateful that I was there. I hope he still felt the same way, I hope that that night altered his brain chemistry, as it did mine.

I checked out the window to look and see if Danny and Kaley were arguing. They seemed calm, I couldn't see the flames coming through her ears so that was a good sign. I just watched as they talked to each other, Kaley seemed sad though, that couldn't have been a good sign. I flinched as soon as she started to walk away. Her arms were crossed and she looked like she had just started to cry. Kaley always crossed her arms when she was upset, I think it was a comfort thing for her. My eyebrows furrowed as I watched Danny go into his house. They must have broken up, I hope the night during camping didn't ruin it for him. I got up off of my bed and I ran out of the door and Kaley stopped in her tracks. She looked at me and started to cry harder. Even though they needed to break up, my heart still broke for her. I asked her to come to my room and she did. I took her puffy coat off of her back and I told her to lie down on my bed. I draped her coat over a chair and I walked over to the bed.
    "Scoot over," I say quietly. She sniffles and scootes over. She layed her head on my chest and I patted her hair. It's weird that she was so close to me, but I knew she needed it.
    "We broke up Kara, we just broke up," she says. I sigh and say,
    "It's okay." She wipes her eyes and sniffles,
    "I always thought we would be together forever, guess we weren't made for each other," Kaley says. I see Danny in the window and my eyes grow wide, Don't look over here, don't look over her, I think to myself. He looks through his window and sees us, his face turns sad and he closes his curtain. I have a feeling this would break our family.
    "Kaley you have so many boys lining up just to talk to you, don't settle for Danny just because you feel like you have to," I say. She nods and looks up at me,
    "I really thought he was the one, it seemed perfect for the longest time, but all we did was bicker, I think that maybe this was for the better, it was a mutual breakup," she says wiping her tears. I nod in agreeance..
    "But why does it hurt so bad?" she says crying again. I'm sure if I was in a relationship with him and if Danny broke up with me I'd be devastated.
    "Because of all of the years you had, they're precious," I say comforting her.
    "Half of them were spent bickering, but I know I love him," she says.
    "You'll always love him, Kaley, maybe it was never in a romantic way, he's been in our lives forever!" I say. She nods and then curls up closer to me. I pat her head again and then close my eyes.
    "Thank you, Kara, thank you for always putting up with my brattiness, I know I can be pretty shallow all of the time," Kaley says. I smile and say,
    "Mm, I don't think I can forgive you for that, " I say with a chuckle. She scoffs and then chuckles too. It felt like such a crime to still have the biggest feelings for Danny. I felt like a terrible sister for just even thinking about him and I together. This might be terrible to say but sometimes I wonder if he and I were meant to be together. Kaley needs someone who matches her energy, Danny did in the beginning, but they were too much of opposites, Danny always wanted fun, and Kaley wanted peace and quiet. For Danny, I would do anything, even if it hurt me. I wish I didn't have to feel like that, it was so impossible to get over him. Even seeing what Kaley and him were like. I needed to do something with these feelings, they were starting to get harder and harder each day to get rid of.
    It had been about 6 hours later. It was pouring outside which was weird. It hasn't poured like this since summer. I decided to call Lee and tell her the news.
    "Hey girl!" she says with excitement. The phone is glitchy and the background is loud.
    "Are you at a party?!" I ask. She smiles and goes into an empty room.
    "Maybe...maybe not, listen I have no life, if I didn't do this I'd just be sitting at home," she says with a smile.
"You literally just went to Chile, how is your life not interesting?" I ask with a laugh.
"Oh whatever, so what's up?" she asks.
I sigh and shake my head,
    "You're about to be so flabbergasted right now," I say with shock. Her face lights up, she loves it when something interesting happens in my life.
    "Consider my interest peaked, what's going on?" she asks.
    "Kaley.." I say quietly.
    "Ew," she answers quickly. I close my eyes and contain myself before saying,
    "They broke up," I say. Aleah's eyes light up and she covers her mouth quickly,
    "No freaking way! The perfect couple isn't so perfect?" she asks.
    "It's ot funny, she's actually really hurt," I say putting my chin on my hand.
    "And? This means you came to make a move on him now, it's your dream come true, why aren't you leaping with joy?" she asks with excitement. I sigh and look at Danny's window which is still closed.
    "Because I feel wrong, I love Kaley she's my sister and Danny...he doesn't see me like that, I don't think," I say.
    "Well, I guess, there is someone out there for you K...I know it," she says. I smile and we end the call. I heard a knock on my door and my mom walked in.
    "I'm guessing you heard?" I say as I see my mom's face. She nods and sighs.
    "I never even thought that there would ever be problems between them...they were so perfect," she says.
    "No Mom, no they weren't, they were far from perfect," I say.
    "Oh yes they were, they were supposed to get married, and have kids, it was supposed to work," she says. I shake my head,
    "Drop it, Mom, they're done, they aren't right for each other, you can't force a relationship, let it go," I say while pulling my bedspread down. My mom goes silent,
    "I didn't push anything, Kara, how dare you accuse me of that, they were so in love," she says with anger.
    "Maybe they were but...I think you need to start thinking about other people other than Kaley, you would realize that she's not all unicorns and rainbows, and you would realize that you can't butt in on others relationships," I rant to her.
    "I don't just focus on Kaley," she says.
    "Mom? What's my softball number?" I ask. Silence... "What is my favorite color?" I ask.
    "Purple, it's purple," she says with a sad look on her face.
I shake my head,
    "That's Kaley's, mine is green," I say. My mom's face turns white, she looks guilty.
    "Kara..." she says.
    "Go to Kaley's room and comfort her, she needs you," I say while getting in my bed. She looks at me before leaving my room, I hope she realizes that I'm her daughter too. She leaves and closes the door, I lay back on my bed and cover my eyes. How could my life get so complicated in only 2 weeks, it all started when Danny came back. I go on my phone and I lay on my side while I listen to the thunder and the pouring rain. I start to drift off when I hear knocking on my window. I jump and I fixate my eyes on the window. Bad timing, really bad timing. I got up off of my bed and walked to the window, what was he doing here? I thought to myself as I unlocked the window.
    "Okay just don't get my carpet soaked," I say while he grabs my shoulders to help him down. He looks into my eyes and he looks lost.
    "What's wrong?" I ask with worry. Danny's wet hair fell in front of his face and he was breathing heavily.
    "I just don't want to be alone," he says. My heartbeat starts to pump faster.
    "It's dangerous to be in my room right now Danny," I say while getting a towel and handing it to him. "Woah, I just got deja vu," I said while looking up at him. He nods and takes the towel.
    "How bad was she?" he asks with a nervous expression. I make a cringed face and then sit on my bed.
    "She's okay, she said that it was for the better, she knows that," I say. He nods and pinches his forehead,
    "I didn't want to hurt her, I really didn't, it was just hard," he says. I get up and go closer to him.
    "I know, and I'm sure she knows that too, you both deserve someone who you have unlimited butterflies with, someone who, when you see them your heart flutters," I say passionately. He smiles lightly and says,
    "Sounds like you already know the feeling," he looks into my eyes implying something. I look at him and everything that I just had explained, happened to me, the butterflies, the heart flutters.
    "Yeah well, I'm just saying," I say breaking the eye contact. "I think you have some leftover clothes in our laundry let me go get that for you," I say while beginning to walk out.
    "Kara?" Danny asks. I look back and cock my head with interest.
    "Thank you for being here for me," he says. I nod and smile lightly before leaving. I go into the laundry room and my mom catches me up.
    "You have school tomorrow, why are you up at 12?" she asks. I stutter trying to find a reason to make up.
    "I'm trying to collect Danny's clothes just in case Kaley sees them," I say while grabbing a shirt and grey sweatpants he had left. She nods,
    "That's actually very sweet," she says. I put a fake smile on and walked back to my room. I opened the door and Danny was drying himself with a towel. I walk up to him and he throws the towel to the side.
    "Thanks," he says while taking his clothes. He takes off his socked shirt and then throws it into my hamper. My eyes grow wide and I turn my face a little bit in awkwardness. He chuckles and says,
    "What it's not like you've seen me without my shirt off before," he says. I look back at him and say,
    "I feel like I'm invading," I look at his ribs area and see a tattoo, I never knew he had gotten one. Danny cocks his head and looks confused why I was looking at him like that.
    "What? Is it my tattoo?" he asks. I walk closer to him and examine it more.
    "I never actually thought that you were gonna get it," I say as I look at the art that I drew for him back in eighth grade. He asked me one day to draw him something cool, so I drew him a snake going through a crown, I loved to draw, especially things like that. I was shocked to see my art on his body.
    "You got my art on your body?" I asked with shock. He smiled and nodded his head.
    "I knew one day that I wanted a tattoo and this was just too perfect, and it was by my favorite artist. I make an uncontrollable smile and then I look back at his tattoo. I touch his rib area and graze my fingers over the colors. I was utterly fascinated with it, I couldn't believe he actually did it. My hand stops in motion as soon as I realize what I have been doing. I feel Danny's eyes on me as I look up. His eyes are soft and heavy as he looks into my eyes. He gives me a look of understanding and complete calmness, gosh what was he doing?
    "The rain stopped," I say while still looking into his eyes. He doesn't say anything for a second,
    "I think maybe you should go back home," I say quietly.
    "Kara-" he says while being cut off by a phone call from Carol. He quickly looks away and then answers the call.
    "Mom? Yeah, I'll be home in a few minutes, I just went out for a bit," he says while looking away from me. I turn away and scratch the back of my neck with awkwardness before looking back at him. What was happening between us? I thought to myself. He ends the call and slips his shirt on quickly.
    "Uh, yeah I've gotta get home, I'll uh see you in about a month okay?" he says quickly. I nod and then I see him go out of the window,
    "Bye Kara, I'll see you soon, take care of Kaley okay?" he asks. I nod and he leaves. I flopped down on my bed and dwelled on what had just happened between us. It was an understatement to say I was confused.