Orange Juice (Lawrusso)

Part 3 - The Competition.

"Karate competition this weekend" Susan sits down next to him on the bench as they wait for the bus after school. Daniel just nods, he's seen the posters around school. And also the massive poster currently plastered right next to them on the bus stop.

She bumps their shoulders together "Are you coming? Please come!". Daniel sighs, he wants to go. He really does want to go, to be able to spend time with Ali. The problem is... Johnny is competing and Daniel's not sure if watching her ex-boyfriend beat other people up (or get beaten up) is the best way to hangout.

He's been wondering for the past 2 days if it's worth it to go to this competition with Ali, knowing that Johnny will be competing there. Knowing that Susan wants him to come does sway him slightly. He really likes her. Not in the same way he likes Ali, though no one's on that level, but in their own special way.

She's like a sister to him, even though they've only really known each other for almost 2 weeks, it feels like so much longer than that. Susan snaps her fingers in front of his face "Helloooo! Earth to Daniel? Are you listening to me?".

Daniel looks over at her and blinks "Sorry, yeah i am. The Karate Competition. I don't know if I'm gonna go, not if Johnnys the main competitor". Susan groans "No Daniel! You have to come! You can't let Johnny stop you. Plus Ali and Barbs are just going to be talking about school the whole time! I want someone who I can speak about sports and boys with"

"Woah" Daniel frowns "I'm not gay". Susan makes a face that either says 'i know that' or 'are you sure', Daniel can't quite tell, before saying "I know. But you probably know more about boys subtle signals than I do because you're a boy yourself."

Ok. That makes more sense. Although Daniel's pretty sure when it comes to boy signals he's just as useless, he doesn't even know his own signals. "Ok fine. I'll come. But you have to pick me up, I am not going with Johnny"

"Of course i'll pick you up" She crushes him against her side in a hug and he shakes his head, why are all his new friends girls?. "You're gonna have such a great time. Trust me" Susan smiles as she slowly releases her grip on him.

Daniel runs a hand through his hair, already regretting saying yes as he hears a group of motorcycles in the distance. This will just add more fuel to Johnnys fire of 'Daniel's gay and in-love with him'. At this point Daniel could probably make out with a hundred different girls and Johnny would still find a way to make it about himself.

"I'll see you tomorrow, yeah? Don't overthink the competition and then decide you don't wanna go again because I swear to God I will find you and I will hurt you" Susan climbs onto her bus and then blows him a kiss "Good luck".

All the girls had gotten into their head that for some reason Daniel needed some sort of good luck or small miracle to survive at Bobby's house. When, in reality, it was the complete opposite. He actually really enjoys living there. Bobby's parents are really friendly and treat him like he's their own kid and Bobby is so different from Johnny it's astonishing.

Although Daniel's pretty sure Bobby's still scared Daniel's going to tell his parents that he made out with Jimmy. Daniel doesn't think Mr and Mrs Brown are homophobic in any way whatsoever and wouldn't care at all if their son was gay but he's also pretty sure Bobby still isn't even ready to admit it to himself.

The bus pulls up and Daniel climbs on, ignoring the way his chest tightens. Whatever Bobby is going through doesn't mean anything to Daniel. He doesn't understand.

-

For some reason, that Daniel doesn't understand,
when he walks downstairs for breakfast it's not Bobby sitting at the table... it's Johnny. Mr and Mrs Brown aren't there either.