"What time is it?" she asked. "Almost nine. Don't worry, we won't go as late tonight. I promise," Josh said sincerely, finally looking her in the eye. "Well, I'm gonna get something to drink. You want anything while I'm up?" Danielle asked, rising to her feet. Josh shook his head and Danielle headed towards the lounge. "If I can just, distance myself, I'll be fine," Josh thought to himself. "If I can just not talk to much to her, or look at her," his thought trailed off.
"Josh, your woman's here," Ryan interrupted, poking his head in. Josh was immediately shaken from his thought, but for some reason, his body hesitated to move towards the door. Danielle sat on the edge of the table and starred at the refrigerator. She leaned forward and ran her hands through her hair. She didn't know why, but she had the strongest urge to breakdown and cry. She immediately dismissed that idea and shook her head. She wasn't sure what to do or think anymore. After minutes of hesitation, she finally grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to the studio.
"But you said, last night would be the last night that you'd have to be here this late," a voice argued from the studio. Danielle poked her head in and Josh seen her in the corner of his eye. A short brunette turned around to see what had caught his eye. Josh froze, his eyes jumping back and forth between the two girls.
"Well, aren't you going to introduce us?" the brunette asked, smiling at Danielle. "Danielle this is Bobbie; Bobbie this is Danielle," Josh finally said after much hesitation. Danielle felt her stomach turn as she extended her hand and smiled her best fake smile. "Nice to meet you," Danielle said sweetly, "I hear a lot about you."
"All good I hope," she joked, "I hear an awful lot about you, too. It's nice to finally put a face with a name." She quickly turned her attention back to Josh. "So when are you gonna be home?"
"I dunno..11?12?" he replied. "Well I'll just wait at your place until you get there, okay?" Bobbie walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'll see you then, k?" He nodded, and she kissed him lightly on his lips. "It was nice meeting you, Danielle."
"Ya, you, too," Danielle replied uneasy. Bobbie gave a little wave and went out the door. "Danielle maybe I should have..," he began. "You should have what?" she snapped. "I dunno- warned you she was coming."
"Why? I'm fine," she insisted. "Why wouldn't I be?" Josh shrugged, as he watched Danielle turn her attention back to the clipboard that rested on her lap. "Maybe we should talk about what happ.." Josh began. "Dear God, is there anything to eat around here?" Ryan interrupted, strutting into the room and tossing an empty Pringles can onto the floor.
"Tell ya what, I'll run to McDonalds. I'm hungry anyway," Josh glanced at Danielle. "I could use a break." Josh took Ryan's order and headed outside. Ryan sat himself down next to Danielle at the control board.
"Guess it's just us, babe," he said, extending his arm across the back of her chair. Danielle glanced up from her clipboard and smiled weakly at him. "So, what's going on with you two?" he asked slyly, leaning closer to her. His question caught Danielle off guard. She jerked her head around to face him.
"What?" she asked confused. He shrugged, and began massaging her shoulder. "Oh, nothin. Just you and Josh seem prettychummy. Be a shame if Bobbie knew about the little affair." Danielle glanced at his busy hand. She slowly pushed her chair back and stood up. "I um, I'm gonna get some water. I'll be right back." Ryan spun his chair around to watch Danielle exit. He slowly stood up and followed her. He watched Danielle bend over in front of the refrigerator and pick a bottle of water.
"You scared me," she said, placing her hand on her chest. Danielle hesitated her next action. She pulled a chair out from the table in the lounge, and sat herself down. She reached for a magazine and began flipping through the pages. Ryan strutted into the room and sat down at the head of the table, next to her.
Danielle could feel his eyes examining her body. She cringed and folded her arms across her chest. "So what do you and Joshy got going on exactly?" he asked evilly. "I'm sure Entertainment Tonight would love to know all about it." "I told you, nothing," Danielle said annoyed. Ryan smiled to himself and slowly slid his hand onto Danielle's thigh. "Well then that means your open to the public."
"What are you doing?" Danielle asked nervously. "Nothing! Nothing at all," Ryan insisted, pulling his hand from Danielle. Danielle shook it off and indulged herself back into her magazine. "Why are you so uptight, Danielle?" Ryan asked, pulling his chair closer to Danielle. "You need to loosen up." Ryan stood behind Danielle, and began massaging her shoulders. He leaned down and kissed her neck. "What are you doing?" she demanded, jumping to her feet. "Oh, Danielle, stop fighting it already," Ryan replied, leaning closer to kiss her again. Danielle began walking backwards to escape him, but smacked into the front of the refrigerator. She was stuck.
Ryan stood closely over her, both of his arms extended from his side, holding her hostage against the refrigerator. He leaned in to kiss her again, and Danielle immediately threw her arms viciously against his chest. He grabbed her wrists and smiled at her evilly. Danielle tried to kick but Ryan clasped his own legs tightly against hers.
"Ryan, STOP IT!" Danielle pleaded. Ryan merely laughed and continued on. He worked his way from her neck to her mouth, as he began tugging on Danielle's T-shirt. "Ryan, STOP!" Danielle screamed. He tightened his grip on her wrists. Danielle screamed out in fear and Ryan immediately cupped his hand over her mouth, scolding her for her action. "Ryan, get off of her NOW!" Josh shouted, pulling Ryan's arms from Danielle. Ryan immediately let go and backed away from Danielle. He began stepping back from Josh, positioning the table between the two of them.
"Hey, Josh," Ryan said nervously, straightening his shirt. He glanced over his shoulder at Danielle then back to Josh. "This isn't what it looks like, Josh."
"Then what is it?" Josh demanded, walking quickly towards Ryan. "I um," Ryan stumbled his way around the table, avoiding Josh's reach. "You see, Danielle here, she couldn't keep her hands off of me," he said
nervously. Danielle stared at him in shock. "Look, Josh," he whispered, "things just got a little bit out of control, that's all." Josh stopped in his tracks and stared at Ryan in astonishment. "Get out. NOW." Josh demanded. "Now, Josh, come on.."
"I said, NOW," Josh shouted again. Ryan's smile quickly faded, and he began backing towards the door.
Josh hurried to Danielle's side. She sat on the floor, with her back against the refrigerator, massaging her wrists with her fingers. He squatted down beside her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I swear if he did.."
"I'm fine," she said, smiling up at him. Josh extended his hand and helped her to her feet. She stood in front of him in amazement. He examined her face, "You sure you're okay?" he asked holding her head in his hands. "I'm so sorry, Danielle. I shouldn't have left you alone herewith..HIM."
"Hey, hey, hey no apology necessary. How were you to know?" she asked. Josh shook his head. "Still, I shouldn't have done it. If only I had been here," Josh paused and starred at her. "I'm taking you home."
"Josh, I'm quite capable of driving myself."Josh knelt down and picked up her purse. "I'm taking you."
"You sure you're okay?" Josh asked again, leading Danielle up the steps to her apartment. "For the millionth time, yes I'm fine!" she insisted, laughing at his worrying. "But, thank you, for everything," Danielle leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She hesitated to pull back. "Thank you for being such a great friend to me." Josh raised his eyebrows. "Friend, ya," he said with a sigh. "It's about time you get home!" Mercedes screamed, flinging the door open. "Where in the crap have you been?�
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