Malediction

21 - Cold Shoulder

It had been about 4 days since the adventure Danny and I had embarked on to meet with his grandfather.
My weekend had been a quiet one, Saturday consisting of sulking in my bedroom, only heading out to watch Luke play his soccer game. Sunday, I slept in until about ten, and when I finally dragged myself out of bed, showered and dressed, dad and I had decided to spend the remainder of our afternoon baking cookies and terribly slump looking cakes.
We both knew that the treats wouldn't be eaten, but it was the time that we had spent with one another that had really been of importance. For once, we hadn't spoken of Danny. He had slowly become a shadow, the cloud lingering over his existence, especially when he hadn't showed up Monday and Tuesday for school.
I was somewhat concerned, somewhat relieved.

Occasionally I would consider asking Andy where his brother had disappeared to, but I decided that it would be better to give it time.
I was angry, confused, upset.
I knew that what had happened with Danny and I at his grandfathers had affected him, I knew that it had something to do with his absence, and I couldn't blame him.
I tried to put myself in his shoes, and I realised just how hard it would have been to be in his situation.

Wednesday morning, I stood with Skyler, Cara, Dayton, and Paisley awaiting the first bell in our usual spot.
I anxiously chewed my bottom lip, my arms over my chest, lost in my own world as the others spoke to one another.

"Em? Does your space mission have anything to do with the missing planet Danny?" Skyler suddenly cut in, standing directly in front of me, her eyes wide, hand waving

I snapped back to reality, staring back at her gorgeous caramel brown eyes.

"Sorry" I apologised, unsure of what else to say. I couldn't tell her the whole truth, it all lead back to Danny's secret, which needed to be kept under wrap until controlled.

"Where is he?" She asked me, redoing her long straight ponytail

I shrugged "I don't know"

Skyler opened her mouth, but was thankfully cut off when the bell rang.
I didn't want to talk about Danny anymore. My life seemed to be consumed by him and his family.

"Have you decided who you are going with Friday night?" Skyler asked as we sat in first class

I shook my head, dreading the night already "No, I have no idea, what about you?"

She sighed as we settled into our seats "James Cavill asked me, I told him I would give him an answer by the end of the day, but I still don't know"

"James Cavill?" I repeated, rummaging through my memory to find a portrait of the boy I instantly recognised

"I've only ever spoken with him a few times, I don't even understand why he asked me" She leaned back in her chair, Mrs Clareton beginning the lesson

"Oh c'mon" I leaned forward, staring at her as I remembered the boys face, chiseled and kind "He had a crush on you for two years when we were pre-teens, but you were too immersed in that loser Joshua Tomkins to acknowledge him"

"Oh, that's right" She lightly cringed guiltily "He's kinda cute I guess, and he's got a pretty good body for someone who doesn't play any kinds of sport"

I rolled my eyes "Sky, he's a good guy, you should give him a chance"

Skyler deserved romance, she deserved a relationship. James was a sweet guy, quiet, mostly involved in school work and his part time job at the local diner as an apprentice chef. He had dirty blond hair and deep blue eyes, tan and tall, I pictured him standing neatly beside her, complimenting one another nicely.

"Okay, I'll tell him I will" She agreed with a small smile "On one condition"

Conditions were never good, that's why they were always printed so small on every disclaimer.