Danny walked out the hospital and into the parking lot. Through the haze of tears in her eyes, she found her car sitting where she left it several days ago. Those days seemed a lifetime away. Those days she carried the guilt of loving her best friend’s boyfriend. Those days she carried the secret and illusion of him loving her back. She knew the truth now.
She meant nothing to him. It was all a game. What had she expect? That he would really fall in love for her? A girl like her? What would he see in her? He was a major star. He could have any girl he wants, why would he choose boring old Danny? He was probably sick of those arrogant, fake, gorgeous models and was looking for fresh game. And she played right into his hands.
Danny rested her head on the steering wheel. It hurts; her heart hurts so badly, like a ripped open wound. It never fully healed from the last time it was broken, the time she saw Nick exchanging body fluids with Jade. Now, not so long later, he did it again.
When will she learn? Her father had proven the theory that men couldn’t be trusted, why hadn’t she listened?
Danny dashed her hand across her eyes, sweeping away the tears. Now wasn’t the time for regretting. Danny started the car and with a newly formed resolution, she drove home.
“Hey, sunshine, how are you?” Darrell asked his niece. He hadn’t expected her to call him; it’s been so long since she voluntarily called him. Now, listening to her on the other end of the connection, he missed the old days.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” came the sober reply. Darrell paused in the action of signing a document and stared at his gold pen. She sounded desolate.
“What’s wrong?” He asked worriedly. “Has something happen to Cato?”
“No, Dad’s fine. Stubborn as ever, he’ll probably outlive us all.”
“Then what is it?”
Danny deftly sidestepped the question. “Darrell, I missed you.”
Darrell’s handsome face relaxed into a fond smile. “I miss you too, brat.”
“Darrell, do you think I can fly in earlier?”
Darrell frowned, “Sure. I’ll send the jet over whenever you want it.”
“Thanks, Darrell,” Danny breathed a sign of relief. “Will tomorrow night do?”
“You sure are in a hurry to see me, aren’t you? Never thought that you missed me so much,” he joked. “I’ll just call Roger and tell him to get the jet ready. I’ll come and get you tomorrow, it’s a long time since I’ve seen your dad anyway.”
“Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow. Take care of yourself, Danny.”
“I will, bye.”
Danny replaced the phone in its cradle and stared at it. She’s doing it again. She’s running away again. It seems as if she’s running away from men her entire life. Her father and now Nick. She is an idiot. Danny felt tears welling up again. How she hates this weakness in her. This weakness that Nick brought out, she wanted to be that Danny she was, all icy cold and who felt nothing. She wished she didn’t still love him.
Her stomach hurts again, it was the kind of sour feeling, the feeling of disappointment, fear and pain all mixed together. They formed a poison in the pit of her stomach and it was poisoning her… slowly torturing her.
Her bedroom door slammed open and Baxter flew in looking radiant. “She’s awake!” He shrieked, abandoning decorum for perhaps the second time in his long life. “She’s awake and coherent, Miss Danny! She wants to see you now! Hurry!”
Danny’s heart skipped a beat. Jade’s awake. She had to go see her and tell her what happened. She has to assure her that it will never happen again for she’s leaving. Danny never want to set foot in this place ever again.
Danny went up to Baxter and hugged him. He stood surprised for all of one second before he returned her warm embrace. “Baxter, tell my father that Darrell’s coming tomorrow at my request. I’m leaving with him.” Danny released Baxter and took a step back.
“You’re going to leave with Mr. Walcott tomorrow?” His concerned voice revealed the surprise he felt at that piece of news. “But what about Miss Jade?”
“Jade has her mother and her father’s on the first flight home now that he’s received the news. She’s the least of my worries now, Baxter. I’ll just have to go see her and explain to her before I leave tomorrow.” Danny picked up the purse she had discarded earlier and made for the door. “Don’t wait up, I might be very late.”
Nick stood over the now sleeping Jade. She had just fallen asleep some minutes earlier. The doctor had pronounced her fit and healthy- well almost. She would be as good as new when the school term starts. Looking at her battered face, Nick felt relieved that she’s finally woke up and was going to be all right.
Nick shook her head and folded his body onto the hard hospital chair by the bed. He owed Jade a huge deal. He made use of her the entire time they were together, lied to her and her feelings and welfare was worth less than peanuts to him. All he could and did think about was himself and his feelings for Danny.
His world had been entirely too small. It contained him, what he wants and what he has. He’s learned the hard way that in his life, he may be the main character, but he may not be the most important. Now, he’s sitting in the uncomfortable hard chair and finally heeding his mother’s advice. He’s using his head and he’s using his heart.
His head tells him that Danny would be here tonight to see her friend and his heart tells him that although she may hate him now, he had to talk to her. And to talk to her, he had to find a place where she couldn’t run from him. The place was the hospital, Jade’s hospital room to be precise. She would be trapped here. That was perfect for Nick’s plan.
The room’s door creaked open. Nick froze in the chair in anticipation. After the horrible scene this afternoon, he felt ashamed of himself and his immature behavior. He had apologized to AJ for calling him those names, but that didn’t diminish his feelings of discomfort.
Danny lightly eased the door shut and headed for Jade’s bed. Nick waited until she was within reach of him before announcing his presence. He snaked out a hand and grasped her hand. Danny let out a muffled shriek as she stared wildly in the general direction the hand had come from, hoping to see someone she recognized. “Danny, it’s me.” Nick whispered urgently, shooting the sleeping Jade a worried glance, but she didn’t even stir.
Danny took several deep breaths before anger set in. “What do you think you’re doing? Let go of my hand!” She hissed, pulling her hand with all her might.
“No, I’m not going to let you go until I have a chance to explain.” Nick told her determinedly.
Danny ceased with her futile struggles. She had never felt as tired and defeated as this. “What’s the point?”
“Danny, I love-“
“Don’t say it, Nick,” she interrupted. “Stop lying to me! You never loved me, never felt anything for me, why do you persist in continuing this charade? You’ve won the Goddamn bet! Isn’t that enough for you? What? You want to ruin my life while you’re at it? Don’t worry, you’ve already done it. I’m leaving, you’ll be relieve of my presence forever, just what you set out to do, isn’t it?” With a sudden influx of strength, Danny tore her hand from Nick’s grasp and ran out, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. The dam was broken for now.
Nick was rooted to the chair for all of one second before he gave chase. < Danny really has some weird ideas running through her beautiful head, > was his irrational thought as he raced through the darkened hallways of the hospital.
Brian was happily minding his own business when a tornado slammed into him, headfirst. The tornado was sniffling like there was no tomorrow and swept past him without an apology before he could recover. That put him in a black mood.
He was in the hospital at this unholy hour because his conscience has been pestering him to come and take a look at the tragedy he has helped create, this is the reward he got for giving in to his conscience, how wonderful.
Brian was scowling at the direction his attacker disappeared to when another idiot plow into him.
“Hey, watch it-“ Brian’s eyes bulged as he recognized his best friend. “Nick! What the heck are you doing?” Brian steadied Nick with a hand on his shoulder.
Nick shook Brian off. “I don’t have the time for this now, Brian. I’ll tell you later.” He tried to run off in the direction Brian’s attacker had taken just moments earlier, but Brian, having figured out what was going on, grabbed a fistful of Nick’s T-shirt and yanked him back.
“You’ve not going after Danny now, Nick. You going to come with me to the cafeteria and tell me what exactly I have missed. Come.” Brian started walking in the opposite direction Danny had taken, dragging an unwilling Nick behind him, protesting at every step.
Sipping his ice cappuccino, Brian eyed a sullen Nick determinedly. “So tell me,” he prodded.
Nick remained stubbornly silent for a minute before spilling the beans. “She knows everything,” Nick informed him desolately.
Brian swallowed, paling visibly. “Everything? Including the bet?”
Nick’s forehead thumped loudly on the table as his head fell forward, “Yes,” he groaned. “What the hell am I supposed to do now? She’ll never believe that I really,” Nick swallowed hard, “that I really do love her.”
“Believe you?” Brian scoffed. “She’ll never want to see you for the rest of her blessed life! You’ve messed up big-time, Nick. You don’t exist, as far as she’s concerned.”
Nick raised his head and shot Brian a poisonous look. “Why don’t you elaborate on how much she detests me and how she’s going to cut me from her life forever? I do so enjoy hearing the gruesome details,” Nick mumbled sarcastically. “Just shut up, Brian. I have enough on my mind right now, I don’t need you carrying on about fire and brimstone.”
Brian frowned as his best friend mopped distractedly right in front of him, at a table, in the cafeteria of a hospital. Brian would never believed that this would happen if he didn’t see it with his own two eyes. Nick mopping over some, gasp!, girl.
Brian sighed, time to tell his best friend the little secret he had been keeping from him all these years.
“Perhaps, I can help?” He offered carefully.
“Yeah?” Nick said disinterestedly. “Like how?”
Brian took a deep breath, “Would it help if I say that I’m on very close terms with Darrell Walcott?”
“No, my problem’s with Danette Wilson, nothing to do with a Darrell Walcott.” Nick sat up straight. “Brian, do me a favor and shut your trap for like, ten minutes. I need to think and you’re interrupting me every few seconds. If you really, sincerely want to help, just keep quiet, okay?”
“But-“
“Thank you.” Nick stood up and strode away.
“Hey!” Brian shouted. “Where are you going?”
“Away from you.” Came the curt reply.
Brian didn’t try to stop Nick. He did try to help, Brian reasoned. Nick just didn’t want to listen, anything that happens from this point onwards would have nothing to do with him.
“Everything that could go wrong, will go wrong,” muttered Brian to himself as he sat down and polished off his ice cappuccino in one huge gulp before he headed to Jade’s room.
He’ll try to speak to Nick later, he admitted to himself as he let himself into Jade’s room. If he doesn’t watch out for the bumbling fool, no one will.
Chapter Thirteen
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