The Secret Life of The American Teenager

Chapter Seven

Cheating... That's all Danielle thought about for the rest of the weekend. She tried to understand it, but she couldn't. She just couldn't bring herself to understand how someone can cheat on the person they love, the person they married and had children with. How could someone do that? Danielle didn't think, she hoped, her dad was cheating. That just wasn't the type of man he was. She told Ashley that and she told her that there must be another reason for their dad coming home so late every night. But her baby sister's question left Danielle thinking. Danielle shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts away before grabbing her bag and running down the steps. She raised her eyebrows when she walked into the kitchen and only saw her mom. "Hey" Anne said when she saw her daughter, "Where is everyone" Danielle asked as she sat at the table and Anne set a plate of breakfast in front of her. "Ben and his driver picked Amy up, and your dad took Ashley on his way to the store" Anne told her and Danielle nodded as Anne sat next to her. Danielle poked at her food with a fork as Anne continued to stare at her. "Something wrong" Anne asked her daughter worriedly and Danielle sighed as she dropped her fork. "Is everything okay with you and dad" Danielle asked and Anne raised her eyebrows, 'Why wouldn't it be okay" Anne asked, trying to hide her motions. Danielle saw right through it. "That look on your face." Anne's fake smile fell from her face. "What's going on, mom?"

"Hey..." Ricky poked Adrian's shoulder across the aisle. She looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Where's Danielle" he asked as he motioned to the empty desk behind her. Adrian shrugged. Ricky was kind of worried. Danielle may have been a little late before but she always managed to show up before class actually started. He had text her, but got no response. He didn't think she was doing this avoid him. At least he hoped not. He hadn't talked to her since Friday night. "I tried texting her, but she didn't respond" Adrian whispered, quickly looking at her paper as Mrs. Jones turned to look at them. Ricky gave the woman a tight smile as he leaned back in his seat slightly. She stared at him and Adrian for a few seconds before turning back to the board. He rolled his eyes before leaning up in his desk and placed his arms on the surface. Adrian glanced up at the woman's back before turning back to him. "Maybe she's sick" Adrian whispered, not believing her own words. Danielle never got sick. They both knew that. "Miss Juergens. Nice of you to join us." Ricky and Adrian's attention snapped to the door at the woman's words. Danielle handed a piece of paper to Mrs. Jones, annoyance written all over her face, before walking towards the seat behind Adrian's. Ricky raised his eyebrows at the look on her face. Something was wrong.

Danielle sighed as she stood at her locker and watched Amy talk to Ben. She seemed so happy. Danielle had never seen her sister look so happy, and confident. Amy was way more confident now that she was with Ben. Danielle really hoped that her mom was wrong about what she told Danielle this morning. Because, if she wasn't, it was going to kill Amy. Not to mention Ashley. "Don't tell me that you're developing feelings for your little sister's boyfriend..." Danielle rolled her eyes as Adrian opened her locker. Danielle knew that the Latina was joking, but Danielle wasn't in the mood for jokes. Danielle shook her head at Adrian. Adrian raised her eyebrows at Danielle. "Is something wrong" Adrian asked and Danielle shook her head, "No. Everything's perfect" Danielle lied as Adrian pulled her books out. Adrian raised a brow in disbelief. "I know you better than that" Adrian stated and Danielle sighed before shrugging. Adrian closed her locker before turning to look at Danielle expectantly. "It's really nothing" Danielle told her as she pulled the strap of her bag up on her shoulder. "Then you won't mind telling me" Adrian retorted and Danielle shook her head. "Just some things at home." Danielle knew that Adrian wanted to know more than that but that was all Danielle wanted to say at the moment. She gave Adrian a small smile before walking away. Adrian sighed as she watched her best friend go.

Ricky raised his eyebrows as he walked into the school and looked around. He was looking for Danielle. She wasn't in the courtyard. Adrian told him that she was upset about something at home, and Ricky wanted to talk to Danielle about it. Well, he wanted to make sure that she was okay. Ricky glanced down the other hallway. He didn't see her. "Looking for someone?" Ricky jumped slightly when he heard a voice behind him. He turned around. Danielle gave him a small smile while she sat on the steps. Ricky smiled before nodding. "Looking for you" he told her and Danielle smiled a little, shrugging her shoulders. "Here I am" she told him and Ricky nodded, "Here you are" he repeated as he sat next to her. Ricky set his arms on his knees before turning to look at Danielle over his arm. She glanced to him. "Adrian told you something was going on at him" Danielle said and Ricky nodded, "Yeah, but she didn't say what" Ricky stated and Danielle glanced to her hands. "That's because she doesn't know." Ricky raised his eyebrows in surprise. He thought she told Adrian everything. He was, evidently, wrong. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments. Danielle was the one to speak. "My mom thinks my dad's cheating..."

Danielle sighed as she walked up to the driveway, towards the back door, and heard arguing. Actual arguing. It was her parents. They were yelling. It was the first time she heard them yell at each other. They usually argued in hushed tones. Danielle heard footsteps walk up beside her and she turned to look at Ashley. Ashley raised her eyebrows. Danielle picked her youngest sister up from school, per her mom's request. Danielle assumed their parents weren't expecting them to be home so soon. Danielle shared a look with Ashley. Both were wondering whether they should interrupt or let it continue. It seemed like it had been a long time coming, and Danielle felt that they both needed this to get their feelings out in the open. Danielle glanced to her car, silently asking her sister if she wanted to leave. Ashley nodded before the two of them quickly made their way back to the car. Neither wanted to go in the house with that tension.

Danielle raised her eyebrows as she walked into Adrian's apartment, after swimming in the pool for a bit, and heard someone knocking on the door. Adrian went to get some food, leaving Danielle alone. Danielle wasn't sure if she should answer. What if it was one of Adrian's boys? What if they tried to get handsy with Danielle? Danielle walked over to the door and looked through the peep hole. She smiled before pulling back and opening the door. "You came." Ricky gave her as his signature smirk. "Of course I did. You call, I come. I'm easy like that" Ricky joked as he walked into the apartment and Danielle rolled her eyes at him fondly. Ricky glanced over her. When she stood in front of him. Danielle felt heat rising to her cheeks when she saw the look in his eyes. She had seen him look at her like that before, but this was different. She was half naked in a two-piece bathing suit. Danielle cleared her throat as she pulled the grey jacket she had on farther around her body, covering her breasts and stomach. Ricky laughed a little before walking towards the kitchen. "Where's Adrian" Ricky asked as he leaned against the counter, "She went to get some food. Want something to drink" she asked and Ricky shook his head at her. Danielle bit the inside of her lip. She wanted to talk about the kiss, but she didn't know how to bring it up. She had been trying to figure out a way, but her mind kept drifting to her parents' problems. "I heard you've been hanging out with Ben..." Danielle decided to go for something simple and not awkward. This way she couldn't be rejected right now.

~~

Danielle sighed as she pulled into the driveway and turned the car off. She debated on staying with Adrian, but decided against it when Adrian came back with a guy. Max was his name. Danielle thought staying there tonight would be a bad idea. Adrian had very thin walls. Ricky offered to let her come stay at his house, but Danielle didn't think that was a good idea either. Who knew what would happen between the two of them if they stayed the night together. Danielle took a deep breath before getting out of the sure, hoping that her parents were done fighting by now. She was pretty sure they were because Ashley was home. Danielle knew that because Ashley had text Danielle and told her that she didn't have to pick her up. Danielle started to make her way toward the back door when she saw her dad walking down the driveway with a suitcase in his hands. Danielle raised her eyebrows as he looked at her. George walked up to his daughter with a sigh. "Going somewhere" Danielle asked as she motioned to the luggage and he shrugged, "Business trip" he said. He was lying. "Dad, come on..." "I'll be back in a few weeks." George kissed his daughter's cheek. "I love you" he told her and Danielle sighed, "I love you too" she told him and he nodded before walking towards his car. Danielle knew that he wasn't going on a business trip. Amy and Ashley may believe that, but Danielle didn't. At all.