doppelgänger --> there's never just one {sequel}

dani

That Saturday night, Scout and Andy took the younger kids over to their grandparents to sleep the night, Dennis and Bex had run off to a party, and Grayson had driven Sadie over to his mom's house for dinner and a movie, it was peaceful and quiet, with just the two of them laying together on the couch and casually watching Friends on TV....

And she loved it.

As much as she loved the show itself, she took a moment to glance over at Ethan to see him propped up behind her, eyes trained on the TV ahead of them, his head thrown back as he let out that priceless laugh of his, something he always did when they watched Friends.

When the show took a break and it transitioned to a commercial, Ethan gaze switched over in her direction, causing the two of them to meet eyes and Ethan to smile wide.

"Dani Biersack, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I love you more than anything," he told her, his eyes now trained on hers the entire time.

She was so humbled, she didn't even really know what to say. She stared back at him in awe.

"I love you," Dani breathed, barely getting the last word out before he met her mouth with his.

She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Letting go of him for one moment, she looked at him and asked him nervously, "What if my parents walk in on us making out, Ethan, then what do we do?" She started to get up, wanting to look out the one of the front windows to check, but he pushed her back down, meeting eyes with her again. "Babe, it's fine, you'll hear them coming. You act like this is something we're not supposed to be doing anyway. It's fine," he said calmly, starting to kiss her again. He was right. Everything was fine; there was nothing to worry about. They were just.... kissing. There wasn't anything wrong with that. She sunk back down into the couch and moved her lips with his, relaxing a little.

Plus, if her parents did end up walking in on them, it shouldn't look suspicious to them, because Ethan was a sweet, innocent guy and they wouldn't really think much of it. Right?

He let go of her after a minute or so, pushing her hair back out of her face. "Hey. I have to tell you something."

"Okay. What is it?" she asked, not really thinking anything of it.

He hesitated. "Well.... here's the thing -- you might not like it."

Dani stared at Ethan for a second, slowly narrowing her eyes at him. "So that's why you decided to cuddle with me and then make out. You didn't want me to mad at you for what you're about to tell me!"

"Dani --"

She huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. Just tell me," she demanded, looking away in the other direction.

"Jeez, Princess, I didn't realize how much you were like your dad that way."

Dani looked back at him curiously. "Uhm.... what?"

"See? That. Right there. You're sassy!"

"Sassy?! You're one to talk, Mr. King of all Drama Queens!"

Ethan looked down for a moment, contemplating what she just said to him. Then, looking back up at her, he sighed, "Yeah. I know, you're right."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "So, go on...."

"Oh. Right. So, I might've signed up for boot camp after this school year...," he said slowly, and she raised her eyebrows.

"Boot camp? Why, Ethan?" she asked, her voice becoming fragile, though she acted.... well.... sassy about it.

"Because, Dani.... I mean, it's senior year for me, and I don't really know what I want to do with my life. And I think it's time to try something new. I'm going to join the military."

She was silent for a moment; taking it all in, but then, ten seconds later, she was a mess, crying all over Ethan, thinking of all the possibilities and bad things that could happen if he did end up leaving for boot camp.

"Ethan, what if you get shot? What if you get hurt so badly that you'll never be the same again? What if I lose you? What if you die?" She choked on the last word, starting to sob again.

"Dani --"

"I can't lose you, E. I love you more than anything in the entire world --"

"Danielle!" he yelled.

She stopped and was silent, with the exception of occasional sniffling here and there from crying.

"You're not going to lose me, Dani. I can do this, I'll be strong. Okay?"

She started back at him blankly, her eyes filled to the brim with wet tears. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers once more, then slowly pulled away to look at her.

"I'll be fine, alright?" he said calmly, giving her a small, gentle smile. "I love you."

He stood up, walking from the living room and over towards the front door, pulling on his jacket.

"Wait, where are you going?" she inquired, standing and making her way over to him. "I thought you were supposed to stay tonight," she said, her voice breaking. "Ethan."

"It's okay," he said softly, trying to be as gentle as possible to comfort her and not make her break down or get really upset again. "I have to leave now."

"So you waited this long to tell me? Right up until the very last minute?"

"I waited this long to tell you because I didn't want you to be worrying all the time before I left."

She paused. "Well what about school?"

"I won't be finishing there. I'll be finishing the last couple weeks of work online. Boot camp starts now, and then a few weeks later is the real thing. The Army. Otherwise, if I didn't go now, I would have to wait until next year to enter. Plus, I already signed up a while ago."

"But.... how was I supposed to know these would be my last minutes with you before you left?" she asked, sniffing.

"No, no, Dani, don't cry," he told her gently, grabbing her and pulling her against him. He held her head against his chest, kissing the top of it. "It's okay. It's alright," he said as her sharp sobs pierced the silence of the house. "I'll be back in two months."

"I love you," she cried, hugging him so tight, he almost couldn't breathe.

But he didn't mind.

"I love you so much," he said back to her, trying as hard as he could to restrain from getting emotional himself. A couple of tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'll miss you. It'll go by fast, though. Before you know it, I'll be back!"

As they said their final goodbyes, and Ethan walked out the door, he bumped into Scout and Andy as soon as they were getting back. Ethan gave them a firm nod and a salute. "Mr. and Mrs. Biersack."

When her parents looked at Dani, and saw her tear-streaked, tear-stained face, and how she saw Ethan getting in his car and starting it, she just didn't believe she could do it anymore.