Chapter 4
Baby's black balloon makes her fly
I almost fell into that hole in your life
And you're not thinking 'bout tomorrow
Cuz you were the same as me
But on your knees
A thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one?
I saw the world spin beneath you
And scatter like ice from the spoon that was your womb
Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Or are you someone's prayer?
You know the lies they always told you
And the love you never knew
What's the things they never showed you
That swallow the light from the sun inside your room, yeah
Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Always someone there
And there's no time left for losin'
When you stand they fall, yeah
Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
All because I'm
Comin' down the years turn over
And angels fall without you there
And I'll go on and I'll bring you home and
All because I'm
All because I'm
And I'll become
What you became to me
Danny couldn't sleep. He was beyond stressed as this week had carried on. After his and Mandy's blow up at the park, work had been utter hell. Mandy just couldn't stand to be near him.
But, what could Danny expect? She had spilled out everything. Every little secret she had carried around with her in a suitcase had been unpacked and hung up in a closet for him to see.
Mac had noticed a change in the dynamic. He asked Danny if everything was alright, and Danny just told Mac that Mandy was still a little shaken up by her apartment being broken into. Mac must have believed Danny, because he walked off, leaving the two to their work.
Well, and then this case was spinning off into thousands of directions. It was proven that Kenneth killed Angel. But, it came out that they had known each other forever. They had split up for college, but reunited a few years later.
Mandy had left early after that evidence had been proven. Danny could easily tell that all that info was scaring her. Kenneth and Angel were older copies of them. And, it scared her. It scared her to be anywhere near him.
But, what could Danny expect? She seemed a little scared of him, because of his involvement with Tanglewood. And for all she knew, he was still a part of it. She never made mention to her knowledge of knowing he had left.
He walked into the kitchen, looking at himself in the hallway mirror. He didn't know why he bothered with a shirt with his pajamas. The people he hid the tattoo from weren't there. But, it was second nature. He used to hiding it. Why stop now? He was even trying to hide it from himself.
There was a knock at the door, totally surprising him. No one had made mention of coming over. And, ever since the mention of his involvement with Tanglewood, everyone always said when they were coming over.
So, he slowly walked to the door, scared to see what was there, or even who.
But, the who he found, he never would have expected.
Mandy was standing there. Her hair was wet, her face was flushed, and she seemed a little out of breath. "Mandy?" Danny said, peering out the door and up at the sky. "Was it raining?" He asked.
"I just got out of the shower." She said, catching her breath.
"Do you want to come in?" He asked, as Mandy nodded and then stepped across the threshold.
They stared at each other for a second and then Mandy spoke. "Danny, I have something to say."
Danny stood there, waiting. Watching as she pushed past him and went to sit on the couch. He followed, taking a seat across from her on his coffee table.
Danny looked at her, watching curls appear in her chocolate brown hair as it dried.
"Danny, I know the past few weeks haven't been the easiest." Mandy said.
"That may be an understatement." Danny said.
"Can you just let me babble? I really thought hard during my shower, and I kinda came up with a speech." Mandy said.
"Go ahead then." Danny said.
"Well, I know it's been hard, getting through past events. But, we've grown up. I'm not sure if you've left Tanglewood, but I'm guessing you have because it makes no sense to be a gangster but work for a police department. Unless you're just trying to help save some of your gang buddies. But anyways, I don't know if you've left the gang or not, but I don't care. You've been there for me enough since I've returned to know that you care for me, and I was wrong in high school. If I could go, knowing everything I know now, I would go back and say yes to the Prom, because I know it would have meant that I would be with you." Mandy said.
She kept talking, causing Danny to smile. "A simple 'I love you' would have sufficed." He thought.
When it seemed like she wouldn't shut up, Danny knew what to do to shut her up.
In mid-sentence, Mandy felt Danny's lips against hers, and his hands on her cheeks. At first, she was surprised, but soon, the kiss felt so right.
So, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let the kiss continue, letting it grow with passion each second.
Danny pulled away, looking at Mandy. She was flushed, the red tinge making her tan skin look a little sun burnt.
One thing he noticed, and loved, was that her hazel eyes had turned into a whiskey brown. "You could have just said I love you." Danny said.
"I love you." Mandy replied, seeing Danny's eyes grow a dark blue.
"I love you too." Danny said, watching Mandy smile. "You want to take this somewhere else?" He asked, as Mandy's smile grew bigger.
"Gladly." Mandy said, sliding her feet out of her flip flops and sliding the windbreaker off her shoulders.
Danny stood up and offered her his hand. When she accepted it, he led her to the bedroom.
*******************************************************************
"So this is where you lay your head." Mandy said, as Danny smiled.
"I guess that's what you can say." Danny said, as Mandy sat down on the edge of his bed.
"Danny, can I see your tattoo?" Mandy asked.
She saw Danny hesitate. She waited for him to say no, to leave the room, or even ask her or demand that she leave the room.
But, to Mandy's surprise, Danny carefully pulled his gray shirt off. And then, he turned his back to her.
She noticed how big the tattoo was and was awestruck on how he managed to hide it. She first noticed a date- a few days after his incident with the gypsy cab driver. He had turned to them after that.
And then, she noticed another date. Another date that caused her breath to catch in her throat. She put a hand on Danny's closest arm.
Feeling her hand on his arm, Danny sat down. He had no clue if that was what she wanted, but tat was what she did.
He felt her fingers lightly trace over a spot. He knew the spot all too well. It was the one spot that kept him going. It was the one spot where his out date from the gang had been tattooed on.
"You left on my birthday?" Mandy whispered, as Danny turned to face her.
"I never did tell you happy birthday." Danny said.
"You made it out alive, unlike Chris?" Mandy asked.
"Yeah." Danny replied.
"How did you survive?" She asked.
Danny turned to where he was fully facing her. He took her hands in his and leaned close. "Knowing you were there in the end." He said, as Mandy leaned close and slowly kissed him.
He pulled away. "Happy 18th birthday Mandy." He said, leaning back in to kiss her.
*******************************************************************
"Wow, glad that case is finally over." Mira said, as she and Flack walked towards the exit of the lab.
"Danny and Mandy will be glad." Flack said.
"I think it was a little too close for comfort for her. And then, to find out Kenneth killed his own girlfriend and baby. Insane if you ask me." Mira said.
"But, she and Danny get along great." Flack said.
"Mandy always told me, there's unity in a shish-ka-bob." Mira said. Off Flack's look of confusion, she continued. "I have no idea what it means, but she always said it when it came to something about Danny."
"She cared for him then?" Flack asked, watching Mira
"She always told me, from the moment she took me under her wing and we became friends, to never let anything but death, marriage, and being gay stop you from love. Even then she knew she had missed out." Mira said, looking at the clock above one of the doorways, and then turning to look into Flack's amazing blue eyes. "What do you think they're doing now?" Mira asked.
"Having sex." Flack replied.
"Danny and Mandy?" Mira asked.
"Of course." Flack said.
"What makes you say that?" Mira asked.
"It's three am, I must be lonely." Flack replied.
"Thanks for the answer Rob Thomas." Mira said with a smile.
"Well, it's like that one song both of them listen to but refuse to admit it to anyone. A thousand boys could never reach, how could I have been the one." Flack said.
"What is with you being so cryptic? This is a new side." Mira said, laughing.
"I'll become what you became to me." Flack replied, as they reached the exit. He stepped in front of her and held the door open for her.
Mira smiled at him. He watched her as she left through the door. He smiled to himself. "A thousand boys could never reach you, how could I have been the one?" He thought, as he followed her out the door.