Catching His Heart

Chapter Five

Chapter 5

Danielle Connors

I wake up the next day to an empty house.

Thank God!

I didn’t want my mom to see my puffy red eyes from crying all night and it was just way too early to deal with my dad. I got out of bed and ran downstairs to grab breakfast.

I smile in victory when I see a box of my chocolate chip cookies and grab them plus a mug, a spoon, and milk. I dump in four cookies in the mug then pour the milk in and use the spoon the pull them out and eat them.

I know what a weird way to eat cookies with milk but don’t judge me!

I run upstairs with my cookies and begin getting ready for school after I finish. I run into my closet and grab a pair of jeans with a black tank top and blue flannel shirt and leave it unbutton. I hear Ron honk just as I grab my bag and run downstairs and to his car.

I see Emily in the passenger seat and jump in the back seat saying a quick greeting to them.

“Whoa what’s up with you Dani?” Emily asks worried.

“Yeah you look like you’ve been up all night crying and didn’t sleep.” Ron confirms.

“Nothing, just a stupid fight with the sperm donor.” I tell them and they stay quiet knowing that things between me and my dad weren’t the best.

The rest of the car ride was silent with just the music playing in the background. As soon as Ron parked the car in the school’s parking lot, I said a quick thanks and jumped out of the car before it even fully stopped.

I went to my locker and dropped off my stuff deciding that today wasn’t a day to hang out with the team, so I went to the library to wait until the bell rang.

Hey just because I’m a jock doesn’t mean I don’t love to read.

I grab a random book and sit on the couch in the corner of the library. Not even five minutes into the book I hear someone clear their throat causing me to look up into the deep blue eyes that con only belong to Adrian Daniels.

He must have seen my puffy eyes because his usual annoying demeanor changes to one of concern which leaves me surprised.

“Are you ok?” he asks with genuine worry.

I get up from the couch, leaving the book there, and just walk pass him trying to avoid such a conversation, but I don’t get to far before he reaches out and gently grabs my wrist turning me so that I am once again staring into his beautiful baby blues.

“Danielle,” he says shocking me that he’s using my real name, “talk to me please.” He almost begs.

“I’m fine,” I whisper and shake out of his grasp, “Got sick last night remember?” I ask hoping he’d believe me but judging by his expression, he’s not falling for it, so I hurry up and turn just as the bell rings and instead of going to class, which I happen to share with Adrian, I head over to Coach’s office knowing he’ll write me a pass.

I walk into Coach Martinez’s office and no doubt he notices my expression as his face softens and he gives me a smile.

“How about you help me whip my Freshmen P.E. class into shape?” he asks and I give him a small smile loving him even more for knowing that I wasn’t in the mood to talk right now. This man is more of a father to me than my actual one. Funny thing though how we used to never be anywhere near what we are right now.

I remember coming in as a freshman three years ago, and while baseball season isn’t until the late winter or early spring, Coach Martinez was already having try-outs for his freshmen team, which another coach was in charge of, and possibly a special varsity player.