Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 21 - Wild Fire

< Danny's POV >

Danny had just left his second class when his phone buzzed with a text from Arin. Apparently he was outside. Danny grinned as he replied with a complain about the cold; he wasn't as bothered as he made out but he knew that Arin found it funny.

A string of texts from Brian sat just below Arin's notification, all asking where Danny was and whether he was coming to band practice after school. Danny sighed; he'd been texting like this all morning. Brian was a good friend, but this level of clinginess made Danny feel a little uncomfortable. He put his phone away, ignoring the texts for now.

He started his way down the hallway, trying to recall how to get outside from here. He'd been here a week and a half, but directions had never been his strong suit.

Approaching the first turn at the end of the hall, Danny felt his phone buzz again. He stopped, taking it out and actually growling to himself as he saw that it was Brian again. Once more his phone was shoved into his pocket and he started walking again. He didn't get very far. Rounding the corner landed him face to face (more like face to chest) with Brian himself, the blue eyed boy still holding his phone and apparently half way through typing another text.

Brian jumped, looking up in surprise and then smiling. Danny tried to return it, but in all honesty he just wanted to get to Arin at this point.

"Hey, is your phone out of charge?" Brian asked, "Or are ignoring me?"

His tone was obviously joking, but Danny couldn't help but tense up hearing that. He had been. He sighed, trying to release some of his building frustration. He gave a half smile as he composed himself.

"Sorry, I just haven't checked. Unintentional, dude," he lied, not wanting to have to explain himself.

"Okay. Well, one of my texts was about practice: are you coming after school today?"

"Um, I dunno. Still got some stuff going on, so maybe not..." Danny admitted.

Brian's face fell. He frowned, looking a bit confused.

"I thought you said you'd help us out with a song?"

Danny closed his eyes for a moment and rubbed his face, huffing in annoyance.

"Aw, we were doing that yesterday, weren't we? And I totally left you guys hanging... Look, Bri, I hate to say this man but I honestly don't know if I can. I'll text you after school when I know, okay?" he explained, starting to move around Brian as he spoke.

He wanted to go meet Arin. He didn't want to leave him alone, not after what he saw yesterday. It could so easily happen again, he needed to be there if it did. He wasn't sure why he felt so strongly. There was something tugging at his heart and he just couldn't stop thinking about Arin and how alone he was, how fragile.

"Well, do you want to hang out now? I think we've got next lesson together," Brian suggested.

He matched Danny step for step as he tried to edge away.

"No, I-I have somewhere I need to be."

"Dani, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just- get out of my way!" Danny snapped as Brian blocked him, a concerned look breaking through his signature hard stare.

He moved him aside, not trying to shove but struggling to control his frustration again. One of his many flaws. Brian looked taken aback and Danny softened for a moment.

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't... I'll text you later, okay?"

Brian nodded silently, watching as Danny walked off finally. Danny was glad that Brian wasn't the urging type, especially when he got like this. He'd never been this bad in front of Brian; he always managed to hold it back, but Arin was all he could think about in the moment. For whatever reason that made his anger even harder to curb.