Hold Me In Your Everlasting Arms

Part 18: Danny Boy

I leaped into my bed and curled up in my sheets, I was about to fall into a coma when I looked over on my dresser and saw stats, AP lit, and AP US textbooks taunting me.

I groand and turned over facing my phone.

I decided the curiosity of Daniel's visit could be channeled through him helping me with homework.

'Hey Im home now, wanna  come over and do homework?'

'Sure! be over in a-'

Before I could finish reading the text the doorbell rang, followed by Emma yelling "DANIEL'S HERE!!"

I laughed thinking about how like him this is. I contemplated making him come up here. My mom's "No boys in your room" doesn't apply to him.

I finally pushed off the comforter and ran down stairs. He looked like a gentleman caller sitting on my couch. As i got yo the bottom of the staircase I heard Emma giggle. She rushed by me blush l-faced and smiling.

I saw him and rolled my eyes, "She still has a crush on me?" I slowly nodded widening my eyes for emphasis as i sat down next to him.

He was apprehensive, in that he moved away as fast as I sat down. Before I could say anything, my mom walked in with a plate of his favorite cookies, snicker doodles.

I was in disbelief, how did she know he was coming? Was he a gentleman caller??

"Oh thank you Katherine," my mom likes to be called her first name rather than my dad's last name. He reached for one and my mom started talking to him about his grandma who was sick. Daniel looked different for some reason, but I couldn't figure it out. His skin seemed to be glowing and his eyes seemed to be tranquil in happiness.

When my mom went upstairs I shut our US history book and made him look at me. "So tell me what's going on" I said more inquisitive than imperative.

He didn't look taken back at all, in fact he crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back. Before he reached for a cookie though he leaned in more concerned. "I went to Emily's party a little while ago, her and I got drunk in her room and she told me about you and Mr.Koenig", I leaned over to cover his mouth and yelled to my mom upstairs, "Mom! Daniel and I are going on a walk, be back later!"

Before she could respond we were out the door. "WHAT!!?" I screamed in his face and he held my hand to lead me away from my house.

"Look, let's just talk about it okay?" His calming voice ran through me I was so worked up. Mad at Emily mad at Daniel nad at Ezra.

He calmed me down and explained that Emily remembered him from Xaviers party, but didn't want to call me out on it. Then when she saw that I was always in his room, and away from my friends, she connected the dots. Doing all of this while leaving me in the dark.

My jaw was dropping at every word.

"Only you and Emily know?" I kept saying, "Yes" he kept repeating.

I looked down at my phone and realized I only had an hour to get ready for my date tonight with him.

"Maude, you have to break up wIth him." Daniel said as he stopped walking to face me. "I like him a lot." Daniel sighed because he has heard this from me before. Nothing has ever lasted as long as I want me and Ezra to.

"Maude, it's just another fling. You're just wound up with him because of the fact hes a teacher. Anyway, we both know how this will end. . ."

I had flash forwards of me sitting in a police station.

". . . you'll just break his heart anyway, so why not now?" As much as I loved Daniel, and everything he was saying was true, I couldn't help but resent him for saying it.

We walked home in silence until we got to his door. "Look, I told you my advice. Do what you want with it, but please don't be stupid okay Maude?" I nodded clenching my fists as he said my name. I had a lot to think about.