taking chances
part 7


I woke up to a distant argument. I looked around, my head pounding. 

"Oh my God. We fell asleep in a tree." I said, rubbing my aching neck. Brian untangled himself from me. I gave him a hug and kissed his lips. He kissed my nose and smiled.

"I love you." I said in his ear. He leaned foward and whispered in my ear.

"I love you more." I smiled and the argument got louder. It was coming from my house.

"I have to go." I said quietly and sat up. I squeezed him one last time and stood up. I made my way down the tree, him following behind me. I kissed him one last time before running off.

"I'll see you soon!" I called over my shoulder. "Not soon enough." I mumbled loud enough for only me to hear. I picked my phone up from the rock I'd left it on and shoved it in my back pocket, keeping up my run.

"What's going on?" I asked in the kitchen, out of breath. My mom and sister were yelling back and forth.

"Don't be surprised if one day, you wake up, and I'm gone!" Brittany screamed and ran out the door, tears streaming down her face. 

"What was that all about?" I asked, watching her walk out the door.

"Nothing. Where have you been, young lady?" My mom put her hands on her hips.

"I took a run." Luckily, I was out of breath, so it seemed like I did take a run. I looked back in her narrowed eyes.

"I took your phone away. Why do you have it?" She snatched it out of my hand and put it on the refrigerator. "You are not to take it until tonight." She stated firmly. I sighed and walked upstairs. I walked into Dave's room. He was listening to loud music.

"Do you know what the fight was about?" I sat on the end of his bed as he turned his music off. 

"What fight?" He asked. 

"Figures." His music was too loud that he'd hear anything. "Why are you up this early?"  I asked, looking at his clock. 

"I don't know, why are you up so early, Squirt?" He asked and put his hand on my knee. "No, really. Why are you up so early? You sleep in for hours." He narrowed his eyes. "Where've you been?"

I didn't answer. Instead, my cheeks turned beet red and my hand flew up to my key necklace. 

"You were with a boy. Oh my God, Danielle. Did you lose your V-card!?" He sat up straighter. "Details!" He said in a girly voice. I laughed. He was only joking around. I could tell by his face.

"No, I didn't. Thank you for being so concerned."

"So, you were with a boy." He said, folding his hands on his lap. 

"I dunno!" I shrugged and smiled.

"You were."

"Don't tell." 

"Did you like sleep in his bed!? Did you have some kind of make-out session or something?" 

"No, and yes." I said, considering the question. "We slept in a tree." His eyebrows raised on his forehead. "And yes, we did make out."

"My sissy's growing up so fast!" He teased. I stood up and walked to the door, pointing a finger at him.

"Do. Not. Tell." 

He put his hands up in surrender. "I won't!" 

----

"Mom, have you seen Brittany?" I asked the next morning. "I haven't seen her since yesterday."

"No, she's been talking about a party. Maybe that's where she's been." She shrugged her shoulders and continued reading the paper.

"No, the party is next week." I said, narrowing my eyes. "Mom, you're not worried?"

My dad busted through the door.

"Oh, thank God you're here." He said and breathed a sigh of relief. "Where is Brittany?" He asked. He was out of breath. "Where is she!?" 

"Why, Dad!?" I walked a little closer to him.  He started pacing.

"Brian's dad got out of jail." He said, worried. "He's on the loose."