Dreamer ~ A Daniel Seavey Fanfiction

Chapter 12

DANIEL'S POV

On Monday morning, I'm still in the same mood I was in all weekend - numb.

I'm numb to the fact that this girl might be dead, and it feels like I'm partially to blame.

Did I crash her car? No. Did I get her drunk and high at that party? No. But I might've been the last voice she ever heard, and, if she is dead, then my reasoning wasn't enough to get her to hold on and stay alive. I wasn't enough to get her to stay alive.

Jonah beeps the horn, signaling that he's here to pick me up. I told him he didn't have to, I told him that I was perfectly capable of driving myself, but he said he would come anyway. I just think he doesn't want me to be alone.

"Morning Dani," he says after sipping his coffee. "How are you?"

I mumble something that qualifies as a response, and Jonah sighs and puts the car into drive. He turns the radio up, but I barely hear it as I watch buildings and trees blur past us.

When we get to school, we find the other boys near all of our lockers.

"Morning," Jack says. "Is anyone else totally unprepared for the English test?"

I nearly drop my books. "Oh, God. I completely forgot!"

They all exchange a look. Before anyone gets a chance to speak, I say, "Don't even. Don't do that. I forgot about a test - so what? It has nothing to do with that situation."

Corbyn sighs. "Look, Dani, you've had a rough couple weeks. We're just worried about you."

"Don't be," I snap. "I'm fine."

Zach snorts. "Dani, you're about the furthest thing in the universe from fine right now."

"Yeah, we're just trying to help," Jonah adds.

I slump my shoulders. "I know, I'm sorry. But it's like I can't go anywhere without you guys worrying if I'm thinking about her. You all act like I'm her boyfriend or something, like we have some epic romance story."

"You wish," Jack laughs.

I can't help but smile too. "Listen, I'm grateful for you guys, okay? I really am. And after today, if she doesn't come, I'll try and drop it and get back to normal."

Jonah shakes his head. "No, Dani, don't-"

"I'll be fine," I say, cutting him off. "It's about time I moved on from this weird fantasy thing anyway. I mean, my life is not a movie."

"You got that right," Zach says. "Okay, I'm off to study for English. Pray for me." He waves and disappears down the hall.

"We better go too," Jack says, and Corbyn nods. "Mr. Hillings will kill us if we're late again."

The two of them also disappear down the hall, and Jonah turns to me.

"And then there were two," he says brightly. "Come on, we can't be late for class."

The day seems to move so slowly. I'm trying not to think about fifth period, but it ticks closer and closer, and I can't ignore it. Soon enough, I find myself in the history wing.

I steel myself before I walk into class. Come on, Daniel. It's not that deep. It's just class.

I stand in the hallway for so long trying to calm myself down that the bell rings, and I force myself through the door.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Seavey," Mr. Ethens says from behind his desk. But I'm barely focusing on the words as I sit down at my desk.

There, diagonally in front of me to my right, is a girl with a bright smile, looking right at me. A girl I never thought I'd see again.

It's Harper. She's here. Alive.

For a minute, the world stops breathing.

~