Five, Daniel
I was already awake at four am.
I got up and got dressed. Then I put make up on my walnut brown skin to cover the hideous bruises.
Let me clear this up: I'm a guy, and I hate make up, but people would question my bruises and red marks if I didn't wear it.
By four fifteen in the morning, I was grabbing an apple and walking outside where the sky was navy blue.
I locked the door behind me and mumbled a curse in hopes my sorry excuse of a father would encounter some bad karma.
I got in my car and started it up. I drove over to my best friend's house.
I didn't have phone, so I had to get out of my car and go around back to her window.
It was two stories up so I started grabbing pebbles from the garden. I threw a couple at the window, whispering my best friend's name.
After about a minute, the window opened. Chantelle popped her head out, blonde hair blowing in the wind, and smiled at me.
"Hey Dan. Get up here!" Chantelle whispered.
I nodded and started climbing the decorative fence thing attached to the wall.
I reached Chantelle's window. "Morning, Elle," I said in a quiet voice, climbing through the window.
"Morning," she replied sleepily, "You're early, you know? I was just about to get dressed."
I looked her over. "Nice jammies... My Little Pony."
Chantelle gave me a death glare and a low growl in the back of her throat.
I immediately apologized and shut up. The twelfth grade blondie could be quite terrifying when she wanted to be.
"I'm gonna get dressed," she announced, "Close your eyes."
I put my hands over my eyes, but jokingly peeked through them.
"Pervert," she mumbled, smacking my arm with a pillow.
I laughed, but it was actually all I could do not to wince. The other day, my dad hurled a lamp at me, which crashed into my arm. The glass from the lamp cut my arm open slightly so it was all bloody. And I got a burn from the light bulb.
My arm was starting to heal, but still so freaking sore.
Even though I covered up my pain pretty well, Chantelle could see through me like a looking glass.
"Did I hit a sore spot?" She asked guiltily. I nodded. "Let me see."
I shook my head. "No. This one's ugly."
Chantelle crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. I told this girl everything, from my favourite television show to all the tales of my abusive father and broke, alcoholic mother who lived in a freaking trailer.
I sighed in defeat and held out my arm.
Chantelle gingerly rolled up my sleeve to reveal the hideous mark.
"Oh, Daniel," she said, I think she was on the verge of tears.
Then Chantelle did start crying. "No, no," I whispered, pulling her into my arms. "It's okay. I'm fine. I'm doing just fine. The wound will heal soon, Elle. It's okay. Don't you worry about me. Promise you won't worry about me."
Chantelle shook her head and pulled away. Tears were running madly down her cheeks. "I've offered s-so many times f-for you to come and live w-with me. Why won't y-you?!" She cried.
I sighed and wiped away a few of her tears. "I can take care of myself, Elle."
She closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead. "Turn around and let me get dressed, Dan."
I nodded solemnly and turned around, sitting cross legged on the floor. While she couldn't see my face, I let a few tears escape my eyes.
The truth is, I didn't have time to be good to myself. I was positive the only reason I was on this planet was so I could be the best friend ever to Chantelle.
Really, I was doing fine. Just fine.
***********
Hours later, I pulled into the school parking lot, Chantelle sitting in my passenger seat.
"You ready for the first day of twelfth grade?" I asked.
"Absolutely not," Chantelle replied.
I laughed and we got out of the car. Before I could start walking, Chantelle grabbed my hand and looked me dead in the eyes.
"Stay safe. I'm always going to be here if you need me Daniel. I don't care where you are, I would crawl to the ends of the earth if you needed me there."
Not giving me a chance to reply, Chantelle kissed my cheek then turned around and started walking away.
I smiled and took a deep breath, then started walking also.
As soon as people noticed me, they started talking. Over the past several years, I've learned to ignore the racist comments I revived. So I was black, what's the big deal?
I walked along, trying to find a place to be alone. I had social anxiety.
In other words; I didn't like people and they made me nervous.
I've been like this since I was twelve, and have gotten a great amount of control over my panic attacks.
I entered the school and headed to science class.
The day passed along dreadfully. At lunch, I found my locker.
I opened it to put in my books, but noticed a piece of paper falling to the floor. I caught it in mid-air. Putting my books in my locker, I opened the folded paper and read it.
'Daniel Mackenzie,
You and five others have been selected to join The Campfire Of The Outcasts.
This Friday at 8:00pm, come to 273 Kentonany Drive. Go around back, where a fire will be ablaze.
You will find a place there.
We have one rule: You mustn't tell anyone about The Campfire Of The Outcasts. If you do, this operation will be shut down forever. Never again to help a single person.
If one member does not follow this rule, all members of the group will receive a note in their locker, explaining that the meetings are over.
This will be a weekly event, every Friday at 8:00pm, come to this address and join the other five people selected to come.
If one night you come to the fire and it is not ablaze. The meetings are over. The campfires will have ended.
We hope you will come and join The Campfire Of The Outcasts.
-Anonymous Group'
I knit my eyebrows. Outcasts? Sure I only had one friend and no one else liked me but that didn't mean....
Okay. I was an outcast.
But I wasn't allowed to tell anyone? I told Chantelle everything. How could I keep this secret from her?
I was really considering going though, it seemed like it would be good for me.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A/N
Paige here :)
How do you guys like Daniel?
I really enjoy writing for him.
So my next chapter is gonna be Alice again!
I'm really excited and I'll see you soon :D
~Paige
