Glancing over at Danny I saw he was watching me carefully, as if afraid of me. I beckoned him to me, patting the bed beside me. Slowly he padded over, plopping down. I winced as his weight momentarily upset the bed, causing me to shake. His eyes widened and he started to squeak out an immediate apology. I held up a hand, “Before you beg for my forgiveness, I want you to know I’m not mad at you, Danny. I know that punch wasn’t for me. I just want to know why you were swinging full guns of glory at Landon.”
He blushed,keeping his eyes downcast, as he mumbled, “Ithoughthewastryingtokissyou”.
Confused, I asked him to repeat himself, but slower. He repeated, “ I thought he was trying to, you know...kiss you.” Embarrassed he shut his eyes, as if trying to remove himself from the room.
It took me a moment before I realized Danny was jealous. Danny was jealous I was about to get my first kiss,from a hot guy, and so in a fit of envy he ruined it for me.
Now I was officially angry.
“DANIEL BAINE,” he flinched, “ YOU RUINED MY POTENTIAL FIRST KISS.” His eyes shot up and into mine.
Like a little boy, Danny bit his bottom lip looking dejected. I allowed myself a few more moments of fury before allowing the steam to vent out of me. Once again calm, I punched his shoulder lightly, chuckling, “ You know you’re going to have to make it up to me.” Relief flooded his face as he saw I wasn’t angry with him anymore.
“Anything! I know I was a stupid jerk, and I honestly don’t know what came over me,” Danny replied.
“Anything, you say?” I thought of all the evil things I could make him do for me, one idea flying to the forefront of my mind.
Without hesitation he nodded, so I finished by commanding him to massage my whole body. I was weak and sore and hurting everywhere, probably when I hit the ground and if Landon was carrying me awkwardly. Hesitantly, he gestured for me to lie on my stomach.
Tenderly we worked the knots out of my stiff back, his fingers warming my back. Slowly, he kneading, allowing my muscles to fully relax. Not once did he make a sound, and soon I could hardly concentrate on staying awake. Without putting up a fight, I allowed myself to drift into the inky blackness that welcomed me as I closed my eyes.
Some time passed before I slowly opened my eyes again. Confused by the sudden lack of light, I panicked and accidently punched something warm beside me.
“Ouch! Stop it, I’m right here, Evie! Stop, it’s me, Danny!” Hearing his soothing baritone voice reminded me I wasn’t alone.
“Why is it so dark?” I questioned, already off the tiny bunk Danny and I were sharing. He must have fallen asleep beside me.
“ Obviously because there is no light in the room,” he sarcastically replied. I rolled my eyes, although he wasn’t able to see it. I heard shuffling off to the left, and seconds later a tiny flame of orange appeared.
Danny lit a candle. A friggin’ candle. He saw the confusion of my face, and rapidly explained, “Landon thinks we need to conserve all flashlights in case we are on the move in the dark.”
“ ‘In case we are on the move’, what, are we fugitives now? Last I remember, my house went up in flames, and something exploded.” I could feel the beginnings of anger simmering in my veins.
Danny sheepishly shrugged his broad shoulders. Without a response, he held out his hand. Reluctantly I grabbed ahold, and followed him out. Cautiously I placed a foot on the bottom step. Weakly, I climbed the seven steps to the outside word. Once we reached the top, Danny pushed open a heavy cement door with much effort. Once it finally was propped open we slid by. Once again plunged into darkness, I gripped his belt loops, in hopes of not tripping. I lost my footing once before emerging into the nighttime.
I had forgotten what the forest sounded like. The back of the old church house loomed in front of us, casting our shelter in shadow. Two figures sat around a tiny fire pit, quietly talking. As the warm summer breeze changed course, the scent of cooking chicken invaded my nose, causing my stomach to growl. Following my nose, I found myself sitting beside one of the figures. The fire illuminated half of Landon’s handsome face.
Kneeling down, I had the urge to touch him. My fingers acted of their own accord as I ran my them through his unruly hair. He briefly closed his eyes, and I heard him sigh. Knowing full well the reaction I could stimulate. Continuing to rub gentle circles on his head, Jessica broke inn, “ I feel like I need to address the obvious.” Like cold water being splashed on us, I gasped, ready with a snappy comeback.
“We don’t have proper protection for you to be as trampy as you were in school, Evelyn. So I hope for your sake you don’t get pregnant after what you and Danny did.” Looking smug, she waited for my reaction.
Landon turned to me, his face hardening. Brows furrowed in anger, I bit back, “ At least I didn’t have to pay the football team to sleep with me, like a sad little prostitute. Guys actually want me.”
At the same time Danny clarified, “We didn’t do anything but sleep,” Zach chose to reappear, dropping a bundle of sticks at the foot of the fire.
“What’d I miss?” He asked innocently.
“Chick drama, dude,” Danny filled in, already used to the bickering between my step-sister and I.
“ Are you suggesting I paid Joshua Garmer to sleep with me? Or Ben Altro? “ Her voice was beginning to increase in decibel.
“No, dear, I’m not suggesting it. I’m saying it. Quite plainly, too,” I smiled nastily.
Before Jessica had a chance to insult me, a siren randomly began to sound in the distance.
Everyone forgot their next words, as Landon announced, “It has begun.”
