That Guy

Chapter Three

The sun was shining off the lake when I woke up. Danny wasn't next to me anymore. I tried to sit up and my back was hurting from when I was kicked. I could smell food. My tummy growled. I got up slowly, favoring my right side. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Danny, who was in a gray t-shirt and sweatpants, was standing over the stove. He was making breakfast. I smelled coffee. "Good morning Sleeping Beauty." He turned to look at me with a smile on his face, but his smile quickly faded away. "What?" I asked with a raspy voice. "Violet, your poor face," he put his hand on my cheek, "you're covered in bruises." He looked so sad to see me like that. "Danny I'm sorry..." I grabbed his left hand, it was bloodied and had scabs forming. "Look at this, you did this to yourself because of me, why do you care about me?" I was crying again. "Violet, no guy should ever hit a girl like that. It's not right. I care about you because you're special, you're different. I like that." As he said that, he put pancakes and eggs on a plate and handed it to me.

The food was amazing. I wasn't paying attention to the food though, I couldn't get his words out of my head. He cared about me. What did that mean?

"Okay. We need to get you home. You need to see a doctor. Don't argue with me  Violet.  Your mom is probably freaking out. Please go get dressed and grab your clothes." He was washing the dishes. I didn't want to go home to my mom. She would probably freak out. But, he had a point. My side was hurting so bad. So I did as I was told. I put on one of his t-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants that I found.

I walked downstairs to find Danny on the phone.  "Yes mom, her boyfriend beat her up at the restaurant- what- yes I punched him- no she's okay- taking her home now- okay love you too" He turned when he heard me walk in. "She's going to freak out. I don't want cops. What is the doctor going to say?" I was crying again. "Violet it's okay, I'm here." He wrapped me in a hug.

We got in his car and drove away from the lake house. I could barely talk, so we stayed quiet the entire ride home. When we got to my house, he stopped and helped me out. "Okay I'm gonna go Vie." He got back in his car. "No please. Please stay." I was fighting tears again. He got out and grabbed my hand.

When we walked through the door, my mom was on the couch. When she saw me, she ran to me screaming at me to tell her what happened. She turned to Danny with accusing eyes. "Lucky, mom. It was Lucky." I grabbed Danny's left hand, showing her his knuckles. "He defended me mom, it wasn't him." He just stood there watching me explain. I told her that we stayed at his family's lake house. And that we slept separately just so she'd have peace of mind. "Mrs. Masters, Andie needs to see a doctor. I think she might have a few broken ribs and some other major damage." He lifted my shirt, showing her the giant bruise that covered my entire side. She gasped and turned to him. "Danny. Thank you so much for protecting my Ands. I can't thank you enough. Come to the doctor with us. Your hand needs attention. I'll make this up to you somehow." She hugged him tightly.

We got in her car. She took us to the normal clinic, but as soon as they saw me, they sent us to the emergency room. The doctor immediately called the police. I was rushed into an X-ray, where they discovered I had three broken ribs. Danny's hand wasn't broken, just bruised. The police showed up eventually. I was admitted into the hospital, and Danny never left my side while they questioned me. I told them everything. They asked Danny questions and asked me if he hurt me too. I told him that he saved me and I owed him everything. Both officers left to go arrest Lucky.

They let me go home after they ran a few more tests. Danny's mom called him a few times to ask how I was. "Hey mom, is it okay if I go over to Danny's to tell his mom everything? I want to clear everything up." I really needed to. "Sure sweetie. When we get home you can go with him." She smiled and squeezed my hand.

"Danny, is it okay if I come home with you and talk to your mom?" He smiled and said yes.

We pulled up to his house, and it was beautiful. Brick and a long driveway and beautiful landscaping. "Danny. What does your dad do?" I was in shock. "He's never around. I wouldn't know." He half smiled and shrugged. We walked in, and his mom hugged him. "Hello, you must be Andie. You're just as beautiful as Danny said." She smiled and hugged me. I looked at Danny, I could see the blush in his cheeks.

"So those are from your ex-boyfriend who got angry because you finally broke up with him?" She rubbed my cheek. "Yes. He was never like that. I was just tired of being treated like I didn't matter to anyone," Danny had left the room and so I felt okay saying this, "your son makes me feel the opposite. He is completely different from Lucky. You raised an amazing man, Cynthia." I smiled and grabbed her hand. I wanted to know about her husband, where he was, what he did to afford this beautiful house. But I didn't ask.

Danny came in and said the police had just called him. "What did they say?" I jumped to my feet. "They got him Vie. We have to go the station though. He wants to talk to you." He looked at the ground.

I was silent in the car on the way there. I didn't want to see him again. I walked in the station and felt like puking. I saw him. He sneered and winked at me. Danny stood in front of me. "Hello Andie. I'm officer Welsh. We just need a few more statements from you. I want to question him with you in the room. Just to see how he reacts. Is that okay?" He smiled and stared at me expectantly. I nodded and he started walking towards a door.

I walked in first. Lucky growled. He tried to get up and advance on me. The officer pushed him back down. "You deserved every damn bruise I left on you. You're a slut and a stupid little bitch." He was being so violent. This wasn't him. "Lucky. What happened to you...?" My voice cracked again. "You happened you little bitch." He got in my face. He tried to hit me again. I smacked him across the face. "I'm done Lucky. This is bullshit. I'm done." And I walked out.

The police arrested him. The only way Danny and I could help, was to provide a testimony at his trial. I didn't want to see him again, but I would do anything to put him away.

I woke up on Monday. My face was still bruised and swollen. My side still hurt. My ankle was wrapped up because the doctor discovered that it was also broken. I didn't mind to put on make-up. There was no point in trying to hide them. The crutches hurt my arms and I didn't want to be a cripple at school. Danny offered to carry my books to every class for me.

Danny and I walked in the school, and everyone was staring at me. He yelled at everyone to mind their own business. He kissed my cheek in front of everyone in my first class. I blushed. He left me alone with the questions. I told my teachers about my accident. They all told me to take my time healing and that my assignments could be a little late if I needed.

When school was over, Danny helped me to his car. "I'm sorry about the questions Vie." He ran his fingers through his hair and I noticed his knuckles were bloody again. "Danny, why are your hands like that?" I ran my hand over them. "Some guys were saying how you liked it rough in bed that you deserved all of it. So I punched them." He wasn't looking at me. I wanted him to look at me with those beautiful green eyes  so badly. All I could say was thank you.

He drove to my house. I noticed my mom wasn't home. "Wanna come in Iron Man?" I smiled at him.  "Why Iron Man?" He giggled. "Because you have fists made of metal because you keep beating people up for me." I giggled at him and unlocked the door. He followed me inside and he helped me to the kitchen. I grabbed a water and handed him one. "Come on Danny. What's wrong?" I grabbed his hand. He looked at me. Sadness filled his eyes. "I just can't get that image out of my head, Violet. You laying there on the floor, crying out my name" He looked like he was about to shatter into a million pieces.

I didn't know what was happening until our lips clashed together. I fell into it, rocking against his body with the rhythm of the kiss. He pushed against me slightly and I let him, meeting him with the same intensity. It wasn't a sexual, fierce kiss, but filled with pent up passion that we had for each other. And I never wanted it to end. I wanted to live in that moment forever.