Book I: to cross oceans for [BxB] (trans) - completed

Safe - Sean

"Baby, is that you?” my mother's voice asked from somewhere inside the house.

“Yeah, it's me.” I closed the door behind me just as I heard foosteps.

“What happened?” Danny demanded, looking me up and down.

“Is Keanna here?”

“She texted. Said she'll be here in ten minutes.” He informed me.

“Okay, let's wait for her. There's something I want to tell both of you.”
I went to move around Danny but he grabbed my forearm, stopping me.

“Shawnie, what's going on with you?” he asked, concerned eyes boring into mine.

“Nothing. I'm fine.”

“Bullshit.” He retorted, glaring at me. “You haven’t been ‘fine' for a long time and you keep lying to me.”

His voice was hard and had an edge to it. I stood there, not knowing what to say.

He was right. I hadn’t been fine in a long time. I just didn’t think he'd noticed.

“I’m not as oblivious as you or the rest of the world thinks.” Danny said dryly, cocking an eyebrow at me.

I opened my mouth then closed it. I didn’t know what to say. But it was clear by the hurt in his eyes that not saying something wasn’t an option.

“Look, after I-“

“Baby, we need to have a little chat.” My mother said. I turned and saw her standing behind the sofa Migh was still curled up on. Had that cat even moved?

She had her arms crossed over her chest and wore a stern expression. Or as stern of an expression as she could muster. She never had been very good at the whole ‘tough love routine'.

“I'll, Uhm, be upstairs.” Danny said and hurried out of the living room. But not without glancing at me with an expression that said we would be talking soon.

“So,” she began, uncrossing her arms “detention, huh?”

“Is it really that big of a surprise?” I asked cautiously.

She just looked at me and raised one eyebrow. God, was I the only one that hadn’t mastered the art of the sarcastic eyebrow?

I smiled tentatively but she just kept staring at me with that raised eyebrow. I shifted from foot to foot.

“It's just two days. And I’ll be helping professor Spinser in the music room. I'm basically just a glorified cleaner.” Trying for levity I widened my smile but it was forced and she narrowed her eyes.

Boy, tough crowd.

Finally she sighed and walked over to me.

“You're a great kid and I wouldn't trade you for the world.” She rested her hands on my shoulders and pulled me closer.

“Mom.” I whined.

It always made me a little uncomfortable whenever she got all mushy on me. Because there were things - big things - I kept from her. Things she deserved to know.

Not telling her made me feel like an imposter sometimes.

“But it's time to step up kiddo. The big bad waits for no one. And it's just waiting for an opportunity to eat you up.” She proclaimed, nodding in agreement to her own nugget of wisdom.

“The big bad?” I asked, trying to raise my eyebrow and failing. Hey, I’d get the hang of it someday.

“World! The big bad world!” She moved her arms wildly about the living room.