I'm Still Here

I Love You

I wake up in my bed, the covers damp with sweat. Danny is still asleep, so I quietly reach over Danny to get my phone. I quickly go into the bathroom and look at my naked body. The sweat makes my skin shine, my smeared makeup turns me into a raccoon, and my knees a little shaky. I turn on the shower and check my phone while the water heats up.

Mom: Come over. Aunt Amy's twins r staying here 4 awhile.

Me: Do I have 2

Mom: Yes!

Me: Fine I'll head over in 10

I sigh and take a shower. I haven't decide if doing what I did with Danny was a good or bad thing. For about 30 minutes I sit in the shower thinking about it. I fail at deciding, so I get out of the shower and wrap myself in towel.

When I walk back into my room Danny still seems to be asleep. I walk into my closet and grab a pair of black jean shorts and a black tank top. Next, I find my underwear and put them on. After, I slide my clothes on.

Danny's still asleep so I decide to right him a letter, telling him I'm going to my parent's:

Dear, Daniel

I have not ditched you. My mom wants me to come over and see my cousins. Call me when you wake up.

~Love, Lizy

It's not the best letter, but it's good enough. I reach over Danny once more to place the letter on the table next to his head. As soon as I set the paper down, Danny stirs a little and wakes up.

"What are you doing?" he asks sleepily.

"Trying not to wake you but I failed at that." I smile and kiss him. "I'm going to my parent's for a little."

Danny gets up, "I'll come with you, just give me a moment to get pretty."

I smile and start to feel awkward. This teenage boy has just seen me naked and has been inside me. How could I not feel a little awkward.

I meet Danny at the car and we start the drive to my parents. I keep the music up loud, so Danny and I don't have start any conversations about what we did. Do you even talk about it after?

I pull into my parents driveway. Anna and Jack, my 5 year old, twin, cousins, run up to the car and hug me hard, in their damp bathing suits, when I jump out of the car.

"I missed you, Liz!" Jack screams.

"I missed her more, stupid face!" Anna screams at Jack.

"You both missed me alot," I say squeezing them. Danny walks around the car and stands next to me. "Jack, Anna, this is Danny," I smile.

"Lizy got a boyfriend, Lizy got a boyfriend," the twins chant.

"Alright guys, go back to swimming," Mom says. The twins run toward Dad and disappear with him into the house. "Nice to see you again, Daniel," she smiles and hugs him, her belly slowly getting bigger.

"Hello, Mrs. Morton."

"You two should go swimming, Lizy can you take Daniel into Mikey's room and get him a bathing suit? Your's is in your room." Mom smiles.

Danny opens his mouth to turn swimming down, "We would love too," I say pulling Danny into the house and toward Mikey's room.

We get to Mikey's room and I search for a bathing suit in his black walled room that has neon splatter paint all over it. I find a black swimming trunks and hand it to him.

I turn to leave the room, "Lizy, wait," Danny says grabbing my arm. I turn to face him. "Do you regret last night?"

"No, I don't, you were my first I just need to process it, I'll be okay," I smile. I've noticed something between us has changed. My feelings for him have become more intense.

Danny kisses my forehead, "Okay, go get your bathing suit on."

I get to my old room, now the nursery. I look threw the boxy labeled L in the closet and finally find a bathing suit. I mean it's a black string bikini, which I have never worn and didn't plan on wearing ever, but I really wanna go swimming. I but on the bathing suit and walk into the hall.

I walk straight into Danny. I laugh embarrassed, Danny smiles and grabs my hand. We walk outside smiling.

"Attack!!!" Jack and Anna screams and starts spraying us with water. I scream as the cold water hits my skin.

"Don't worry, I'll save you," Danny pushes me behind him.

"Retreat, we're outta ammo!" Anna cries.

I laugh, "Danny get Anna, I'll get jack," I run after Jack and scoop him up. "Gotcha now!" I laugh and throw him into the pool. His head pops up, laughing.

"Come back here," I hear Danny yell.

Danny sucks at this game. I run up behind the tree Anna is about to pass and grab her and throw her into the pool. She tries to look angry but fails laughing so hard.

"I didn't get to through anyone in," Danny says smiling evilly at me.

"No, don't even think about it," I say backing up quickly. Not quick enough, because Danny grabs me and tosses me in. "Daniel!"

Danny and my parents laugh. I look back and my cousins and wink at them, they smile and wink back, claiming out if the pool.

"Danny come here, I promise I won't push you in," I say. He reluctantly comes over. I kiss him and float back a little. "Now!" I call.

Jack and Anna push Danny into the pull and jump in after. We all laugh at one another.

Danny grabs me by my waist and kisses me. "I love you, Elizabeth Morton," he says quietly.

Without hesitation I reply, "I love you, too, Daniel Morgenson."