Natalie's Journey: Saving Daniel (on hold until...)

Chapter 5: Arise

    Micah 7:8

"When I fall, I shall arise."

Chapter 5:

It had been little over a week since the truth about what happened to Sasha was revealed to me. Of course it was a depressing week for the both of us but with Dane's joyful presence he managed to lift our spirits with his corny jokes and contagious smile. He was really beginning to grow on me.

As for Blade...well I haven't seen or heard from him since the party. I am aware of the fact that he hasn't been to school for this past week and as much as I should be worried I can't help but feel relieved instead. I couldn't handle him along with Sasha's mood swings all in one week. I think it was God's grace providing me with some kind of break from the stress he had been causing me lately.

"Hey Nat." I hear his voice break me from my thoughts. 

I don't even have to turn around to place the voice to the person. "Dane!" I shout happily and turn around to face him as we both begin walking home from school.

It had become a routine for him to join me on my walks home seeing as we lived so near each other. "So guess what?" he asks enthusiastically.

"What?" I ask just as excitedly. I can't help it. His presence always seems to encourage happiness where ever he goes. It's his gift. Making people happy is his gift that I believed God blessed him with.

"I was searching on the internet and there's this Baptist church not too far from here. I was thinking we check it out this Sunday. You in?" he asks but this time I can tell there's some doubt in his voice as if I wouldn't accept.

"Of course." I assure him when in actual fact the whole 'church' thing still made me uneasy.

I must be as easy to read as a open book because Dane stops walking and turns to give me a 'I know what you're thinking' look. He sits down randomly right in the middle of the pathway. Trust him out of all people to do that and not care that he was receiving many stares from bystanders as if he was absolutely insane.

It's when he pats the concrete next to him in a gesture telling me to take a seat beside him that I shake my head. It's like I can't take him anywhere without him embarrassing me. I do however envy his confidence in Christ. He could care less of what people think of him whilst I was very insecure and if someone just happened to look at me weirdly I'd feel self conscious...but not Dane, no he was just himself where ever he was. He was the most real and genuine person I'd ever had the privilege of meeting, not too mention that he was easy to talk too.

"Dane you're insane." I laugh and continue on shaking my head whilst he lies down on his back, still in the middle of the pathway where people now had to walk around his body.

He sits up at my words and clicks his fingers, "Nice one Nat. That rhymed." he chuckles freely. It was the sound of life, real living and real life. Dane was filled with life. "Dane is insane." he grins. "I love it." he says before lying back down again.

"Dane I am going to walk home without you if you don't get up." I tell him whilst people walking past me shoot us cold glares with their eyes as if they were daggers.

"Natalie I am going to stay here and allow you to walk home alone if you don't get down." he says back just as adamantly.

That's another thing about Dane. He's too witty and intelligent for his own good, not mention he's incredibly stubborn and won't give in until you give him what he wants. "But Dane..." I trail off and pout.

"Sulking will not change anything Valentino." he jokes and closes his eyes so that he doesn't see my begging and pleading stare.

"Dane please can we talk some  where else instead of the middle of the pathway." I ask sweetly and when he shakes his head I stomp my foot because I was being indecisive. "Dane people are staring at us."