A Very Warped Summer (Austin Carlile / OC)

Chapter 22

"I'm sorry...what?"

Danielle stared at Erick with wide eyes and nodded. She just let it slip that Vic kissed her. He stared back at her, his blue eyes shining under the bus's low light. He readjusted himself so he was sitting Indian-style on the couch, facing Dani.

"Vic Fuentes...kissed you?"

"What are you trying to say?" Danielle asked offendedly.

"No, I'm asking what the hell is wrong with him?"

Danielle stared at him with hurt in her eyes. Erick shook his head and put his hands out defensively. He tapped his lips, thinking hard.

"What I mean is..." he narrowed his eyes. "You're...dating...Austin..."

"Yeah..." Danielle said slowly.

Erick put his hands up in frustration. "Why did Vic Fuentes kiss you, then?!"

"I'm still trying to figure that out, Erick!"

"I'm sorry, what?"

Both Dani and Erick looked over at Jeff, sticking his head out of the bunk room's door with the same wide eyes as Erick. Danielle squeezed the bridge of her nose.

"Oh, God," she muttered inaudibly.

"Do I need hearing aids or did I just hear what I think I heard?" Jeff stepped out of the room completely, wearing nothing but his Spongebob boxers.

"Here we go..." Dani said quietly. "And Jeff...put some damn clothes on. I already had to see Vic in his underwear, I don't need to see yours, too!"

Jeff's eyes widened even more. "Danielle Perry, what—"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Danielle said loudly. "Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag already. Yes, Vic kissed me."

"May I ask why?"

"I. Don't. Know."

Jeff ran a hand over his face and through his dirty blonde hair. "Dani, do you realize that you aren't single anymore?"

Danielle smiled at him sarcastically. "Thanks for the information, Jeff. I had no clue, really."

"Does this mean Vic's always had a thing for you? I mean, I never noticed. Or do you think it was just a spur of the moment type of thing, like...?"

Danielle shrugged, her mouth unable to form words. She jumped when she heard the door open. Austin climbed in with a big grin on his face.

Oh, fan-fucking-tastic, she thought, just when I didn't think it could get any worse.

He looked at Danielle, the same grin on his face. She stared at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes?" She asked.

"So, how about that sleepover?" He asked.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Not tonight, Austin."

He frowned. "You don't come to dinner because you wanted to talk to Vic and now you won't even spend time with me? How'd that go with Vic anyway?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh...it was fine. We're okay now."

Austin stared at her skeptically. "Okay..."

"Another night, I promise."

"Why?" He whined.

She groaned. "You're like a child!"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the couch. "Pleeeeease?" He looked into her eyes pitifully. She could feel every ounce of regret dripping down her back.