In Between

Family dinner.

Soon the plane stopped. They were finally in Kansas. After 4 excruciating hours for Dani. She put in her headphones once they got into the car and ignored everyone. She didn't wanna be in Kansas. She didn't want to be with Katelyn, nor Colby. Katelyn's voice was so squeaky and annoying. Dani felt like smashing her head in.

Her thoughts started to consume her again. The whole way to Sam's childhood house her thoughts consumed her. She thought about what it would be like to not be here anymore. If everyone's life would've been different and better if she was never born. Soon the car came to a stop. She let out a relieved sigh. She put her AirPods away. She saw Michelle running up to her. She smiled and picked her up, she kissed Michelle's cheek and hugged her tightly.

Olivia came over to Michelle. Michelle liked Olivia too. Liam and Lisa came over. They all talked and went inside. Saying hi to the parents and everyone. Dani stood off to the side. She always watched from the sidelines. That was her life. The sidelines. Even with Olivia there it didn't make it much better. She just wanted to be back in LA. Then she could seclude herself from everyone.

She watched as her parents praised Liam and talked to Lisa and adored over Michelle. She wished she could make her parents proud. But no matter what she did she was never enough. Not strong enough. She zoned out. It's not like it was worth listening to. She was never enough. For anyone.

It was finally dinner. Dani was hungry. She hadn't been eating well these past days. She was stressed with hate comments and all the music. And with Katelyn around the house. It was all just so much. Too much. Sam's mom and her mom cooked some good food. Her mom looked young because she got pregnant with Liam when she was 15. Then once Liam was 5, then Dani was born. So she was young when she was pregnant. She always blamed Dani and Liam when they were younger that they ruined her. But it wasn't their fault.

She could've aborted them. Easy as that. It would be doing her and Dani a favor. She wished her mom aborted her. Maybe then everyone else would be happy and she wouldn't cause bad stuff to happen. She was like a bad luck charm people carried around. Always causing bad things. Always messing things up. She was the problem.

As everyone continued to eat Sam's mom brought out dessert once everyone finished eating. Dani was about to grab a dessert before her mom stopped her. She murmured to her, "Dani you're gaining weight, you need to stop eating so much. You don't need dessert."

It wasn't loud enough for most people to hear but since Colby was across from her and Liam was beside her they heard. It stung. Her own mom said that to her. She sat back down and didn't get dessert. Her mom smiled. Did hurting her own daughter bring happiness upon her? Dani zoned out again.

                                      ~•~

Dani sat on the steps of the house the nighttime cold breeze hitting her face. She heard the door open and close. She looked up at the person. It was Colby. He sat down next to her. She didn't speak. She didn't want to.

"Hey." He spoke first. Thankfully Dani didn't have to respond to that. She could stay quiet. "You okay? You can talk to me Dani." Colby spoke again she didn't want to talk, but she knew that if she did it would feel better.

"I just wish, my mom was nicer." Dani had spoken her voice quiet. Colby nodded. "I mean I'm 24 and all my life she's been rude. Even my dad's rude. And it doesn't help the fact that Liam is like a star. And he has an amazing wife and a kid. But I'm here with no one. And I don't have like any fans. I mean I'm 24, I should get my own house and marry someone." Dani spoke, her voice full with emotion.

"And kids right?" Colby said. He knew she didn't like kids but the way she was with Michelle she would be a great mom. She went silent. Why'd she go silent? "Dani?"

She looked down before speaking. "I-I can't have kids." Dani spoke picking at her nailbeds. "I'm infertile." She spoke again looking back up at him.

"Oh." Colby spoke as she looked back away. Why did he say just "oh." Was the question Dani had in her head. Maybe she shouldn't have told him. Maybe she shouldn't even be out here. Maybe if she would've just stayed inside none of this would've happened. They stayed silent. She should've never told him. She hadn't told anyone before. So why did she tell him? Katelyn came outside and told Colby his parents were asking for him. He got up and went inside.

And just like that Dani was alone. Again. Like always. She sighed and got up. She glanced at the living room window. Everyone acting as if everything was ok. No one was even looking for her. She started to walk. She didn't know where she was going but she just walked. For a little while. Until she found the park Sam used to take her to when she would visit. Her, Sam, and Colby carved their initials on the bench. It said,

"s + ᴄ + ᴅ + ᴏ
𝟺 ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇsᴛ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs."

She remembered the exact day they did that. Olivia wasn't there but Dani made the boys carve O to because she knew Olivia was apart of the group too. They almost got in trouble for doing it. But the police ignored it because Dani sweet talked him into getting out of the punishment. Then they went back to Sam's house and binged watched Harry Potter.

She missed when they were little. No boy problems. No feelings other than friends. Just best friends. Forever.

A/n

Did you guys see that coming?

I did.

Well I wrote it so...