Save Her (Daniel Howell)

Chapter 7; Life is a Determined Chase

Dan and I still sat on my living room floor, both of us shakin from what we had just watched, my old video journal. I knew what had happened, and I knew that Dan was aware as well. As we sat, curled up together, we looked at each other. And that's when I noticed that he had also been crying, and I felt my heart nearly shatter.

"I...I'm sorry, Dan. I didn't want you to see that." I whispered.

He shook his head. "It's okay, Bailey. Really."

I just stared at him, unsure of what to say, of what to do. It was hard enough to think that I was actually on the verge of ending my young life. It was sad to think about how close I was to actually never meeting Dan or Phil.

It was probably the best option...

Dan hates you...pities you...

You should have ended right there...

"Bailey?" mom said, as she opened the fridge. "Why don't you and Dan go upstairs and relax, and I'll call you both down for lunch in a bit." She said, sniffling.

I nodded, and took a deep breathe. I stood up, and stepped in front of Dan, stretching both my arms out, offering to help him up. He gently took my hands, pulling himself off the floor. He followed me to my room, and we both laid on my bed. I laid across it, with Dan laying a few inches away, the opposite direction. I stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep my mind clear.

I closed my eyes, images of my smiling cousin flashed through my mind's eyes. I felt Dan's fingers lace around my hand. I wanted to cry, but I didn't. I just laid there, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the all too familiar numb feeling take over my body.

"Where are you right now, Bailey?" Dan's soft voice filled my ears.

I tilted my head to left, looking down at Dan. I forced a smile, and I saw pain flash through Dan's worried brown eyes. I didn't answer him, I found myself unable to speak. I didn't want Dan to worry so much about me, but I knew no matter what I said or did, he was going too.

Dan sat up, but still held my hand. I sat up, facing him, and looked down at ours hands. I felt so hallow, like someone had carved out all my insides, and just left the shell. Dan placed his curled up index finger from his free hand under my chin, gently tilting it up to face him.

Neither of us said anything, we just looked at each other. I felt my heart rate increase, but it felt different. I prepared myself for the negativity to come washing over my, but it never did. I scanned Dan's eyes, trying to figure out what I was beginning to feel. I felt myself blush, and Dan's cheeks also turned a deep scarlet.

Caught up in the moment, Dan slowly leaned towards me. I closed my eyes, feeling Dan's nose lightly brush against mine, it was then that I realized what was going on. I placed my hand on Dan's chest, lightly pushing against him. I opened my eyes, looking down at my bed. Dan and I stayed close, his warmth made me shiver. I clenched his t-shirt lightly in my hand.

"Wait...Dan...I-I don't..." I stuttered, whispering because of his close proximity.

"Bailey...I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." he whispered back. He tried to pull away, but my grip on his shirt tightened, stopping him.

I took a deep breathe, and looked at Dan's brown eyes. "I just don't know how...how to be romantic with someone. I have never done it before, I just don't want you to hate me if I screw things up. I have a habit of doing that."

Dan smiled at me. "That's what you're worried about? Bailey, there is no set of rules in  something like that. Just be you. I don't care if you have or haven't date before."

I nodded stiffly, careful not to smack Dan in the face, that would have been mortifying. I smiled at Dan, and before I knew it, Dan was closing the gap between us. I closed my eyes, and wrapped my hand that was gripping his shirt to know on the back of his neck, curling my fingers in his hair.

The kiss was short, but it still left me breathless. I felt a giddy, bubbly feeling flitter in my stomach, something I'd never felt before and didn't know what to do with. I smiled as Dan and I pulled apart, the blush on my cheeks only growing deeper. My door then swung open, Dan and I jump far apart, hoping whoever it was didn't see how close we were.

"Kids, lunch is ready. Dan, I hope you like pasta salad. I made my homemade grilled chicken pasta salad!" Mom said, beaming at Dan.

"Sounds great, Mrs. Bolt." Dan said.

Mom left the room, and Dan turned back to me. I giggled at him, and he made a heavy sigh of relief. I jumped up, feeling full of energy, and grabbed Dan's hands, pulling him up off the bed. I walked downstairs, Dan by my side, and I couldn't help but smile.

We sat at the kitchen table with mom, our plates full of the pasta she made. Dan and I couldn't help but smile and giggle every time we looked at each other. Mom was reading her paper, totally oblivious to us. Suddenly, my phone went off, making me jump.

Philly, Was the name that popped up on my screen.

Hey, Bailey! I'm done recording for the Dan, so maybe while Dan films we can play some games?

Sure, Philly!  Dan and I are finishing have lunch with mom, and then we will head back to your place.

Cool, see you soon!

When Dan and I finished eating, we put our plates in the sink, waved mom goodbye, and headed back over to their place. I met Phil in the lounge while Dan went to his room to film his video. it mentioned that it had something to do with his evil old Piano teacher, from when he was a kid.

"Hey, Bailey!" Phil said happily.

"Sup, Philly!" I said, giggling.

Phil eyed me for a moment, before a smile broke across his face. I could tell that Phil knew something I didn't, or at least thought he did. I raised an eyebrow, and sat on the opposite end of the sofa. Phil just stared at me, smiling like a fool.

"Yes, Philly? Can I help you?" I said, still not able to contain my smile.

"Maybe...tell me, what happened while you two were at your place?" Phil asked.

I sighed. "Nothing, really. Met my knew therapist, who forced us to review some of my old journal entries. Then we had lunch with my mom."

"Uh-huh. You sure nothing else happened?" he asked.

"Hmm...nope. Oh well, Dan and I may have kissed, but other then that it was boring really." I said, nonchalantly. I laughed as Phil's mouth fell open, and his eyes went wide.

"No! I knew it! I knew it!" he shouted, jumping off the couch. He did a little dance, which only caused me to laugh harder.

After all the excitement died down, Phil and I finally starting talking about what game to play. It was a hard decision, but we finally decided. Phil but the game in, and handed me my controller.

He smiled at me. "You are so going down, shorty!"

I laughed. "No way, Philly!"