A Collection of Short Stories

Indifferent - Pt 3

Friday night was Daniel's football game. Although Lana did not want to go, Daniel insisted and she gave in. She had surprisingly enjoyed watching him play and even cheered for her. She also enjoyed, despite not admitting it, the kiss he gave her right after he scored a touchdown. He ran to the bleachers where she sat and kissed her. He did every time he scored a touchdown. He did that quite a lot.

After the game was over, there was a celebration party at someone's house. Lana decided to use this opportunity to get closer to other popular people and make into some pictures.

Daniel had a silly smile on his face as he watched her play a game of beer pong with his friends. She didn't want to drink so one of Daniel's friends had stepped up and was drinking for her. She laughed out loud at something one of them said and Daniel couldn't help laughing as well, even when he had no idea what she was laughing about.

'Dude, you're whipped.' Luke commented from beside him, sipping his drink. Daniel hadn't even realised when he had gotten there. Daniel rolled his eyes – something he had been doing quite a lot since he started hanging out with Lana.

'You have no idea what you're talking about.' Daniel said.

'This might be fake,' Luke said referring to Daniel's current relationship, 'But this,' he pointed between Daniel and Lana when she looked over with a triumphant smile, 'This is real.' When Daniel looked at Luke questioningly, Luke just shrugged it off.

Lana walked over to them and smiled, greeting Luke. They made some small talk before Lana looked at Daniel with a pleading look. He instantly knew she wanted to go home. He nodded. They bid their goodbyes and as they walked past Luke, he made the sound of a whip cracking.

Daniel couldn't believe it. Did he really like Lana?

*

Daniel Finch decided to end his fake relationship with Lana Smith. That is until she called him.

'Hey, Lana,' He greeted her in a serious tone. He already knew how this conversation would play out; he'd tell her they have to talk and he'd end it, his mom was getting better anyway, so he wasn't as desperate.

'Hey,' she said. Her voice sounded fragile and weak. Daniel immediately worried.

'What's wrong?' He asked, his voice carrying a certain urge to it.

'Hm?' Lana hummed on the other line, 'Nothing's wrong. Everything's great. You're great. I'm... Great.' She said, but Daniel wasn't convinced, he chuckled softly.

'Lana? How are you, really?' He asked.

'Honestly?' She asked and sighed, 'My life's a mess.'

Then she poured her heart out to him; how her dad acted like a capitalist pig; how she finally realized her family didn't know how to co-exist when the cameras were off; and finally, she talked about Daniel.

'And your mom... It's just not fair, Dan! She doesn't deserve any of it! You don't deserve any of it!' She exclaimed, with a sigh, her voice shaking. Daniel smiled softly, but he knew she couldn't see it.

'It's alright, Lana. We know how life is. You can't have everything you want, even if you really want it.' Daniel said and he heard Lana sighing.

'I know, but... It sucks.' She finished and he laughed, agreeing with her.

They talked for a couple more hours until Lana had to go down to dinner. Daniel had a silly smile on his face after they had finished talking. He stared at his phone, wishing she'd just ditch dinner and talk to him some more. Then he got a text. He quickly opened it, hoping it was from Lana, but it was just from his friends.