"I'm sure she just needs some time alone. I mean, based on what she saw this morning, Josh, she probably thinks she means nothing to you."
"But, that isn't it Mercedes! I ended it with Bobbie this mor.."
"We know that, Josh but how can Danielle possibly know that?" Mercedes interrupted him. Josh fled from the window outraged. Where was she? This wasn't like her. At all. Josh had never felt so anxious in his life. He sat himself on the arm of the sofa. With his phone still pressed to his ear, he stared in agony at the hardwood floor below him. "I...I can't lose her, Cedes," Josh pleaded. The sound of the doorbell immediately turned his attention to the door. "Mercedes, someone's here, I gotta go," he said, rising to his feet. "Call me if you hear anything just, just so I know she's okay." The doorbell rang again.
"Coming!" he hollered across the room to the door. "Okay. Maybe that's her now," Mercedes suggested optimistically. Josh shook his head. "I think I'm the last person she wants to see right now." The doorbell sounded again. "I'm letting you go before your damn doorbell drives me insane. I'll be in touch, okay? Don't worry, Josh. It'll work out."
"Thanks, Cedes,"
"No prob. Bye."
"Bye." Josh tossed the phone onto the sofa and slowly slumped to the door. The doorbell sounded for the fourth time, as Josh reached for the doorknob.
"Okay, okay! I'm here already!" he said flinging the door open. His heart sank at the sight of Danielle standing in the reoccurring rain. Her head slowly rolled up to look him in the face. She pulled her jacket closer together insecurely, and nervously tucked her damp hair behind her ear, revealing her mascara marked eyes and cheeks. "Danielle," Josh whispered. A smile spread across his face. He had never been so happy to see such a sorry sight. Danielle gazed into his eyes for a moment, but refused to let herself be intrigued by them. She forced herself to turn away.
"Justin told me how to get here," she said quietly. "He said you wouldn't mind." Her eyes frantically jumped from one object to another, never falling upon him. "Mind? No, no, Danielle... I'm... I'm glad you came by I want to talk to you. Come in, please," Josh stepped back, and watched Danielle slowly creep into his living room. "Wait," he said, a little overtaken by confusion. "I was just talking to Mercedes. I had called her to see if she had heard from you. She said Justin was there, but he apparently failed to mention to us that he knew you were alive, which was more than either of us knew!" His eyes never left her, as he watched her examine the room in admiration. What he was saying didn't seem to phase her.
"I asked him not to say anything," she informed him without hesitation. "But...why? Didn't you know we were a little bit worried, Danielle?" he asked coldly. She stared at him blankly, not really knowing what to say. "Why wasn't he to tell me?" Danielle turned to face him. She extended her arm, almost hoping it would help pull the right words from her mouth. "I guess, I didn't want you to have time to think of what to say to me," she gave a little shrug. "I...I don't know. I just didn't want you to know. I was coming here not knowing what to say to you. I didn't want you to have the luxury of knowing what to say to me, " she said insecurely, not even knowing if she was making any sense. Josh was amazed at her quick change in character. He studied her body language, trying to figure out exactly how she felt. The black, grand piano in the corner caught her eye. She smiled as she lightly slid her fingers along the keys.
"Please, Danielle, sit down," Josh insisted, sitting himself down on the sofa, and hinting for her to do the same. Danielle's smile quickly faded. She didn't dare budge. It pained her to look at him once again; to look at something she couldn't have. "Look," she began nervously, "I just came to apologize for the way I acted today. I had no right to blow up at you like I did," she looked at him sympathetically. "I was out of line. I'm sorry, Josh." Josh quickly rose to
his feet to rush to her side.
"But, Danielle, you had every right," he insisted, stepping closer to her. Danielle backed away from him, leaning against the keys. "I can explain what you saw today, Danielle, I didn't mean for that to happen."
"Well, you didn't exactly stop it!" she quickly blurted out. Danielle paused, realizing her tone. She shook her head and continued. "But like I said it doesn't matter. It's not like I'm your..."
"God, Danielle, don't you get it!" he screamed in frustration. He took a moment to calm himself down, before he continued. "I ended it with Bobbie. What you saw today, was right before I told her. It wasn't honest to be with someone who thought you were in love with them, when you weren't. You were in love with someone else." Josh watched shock overcome Danielle. Her expressionless face stared into the empty air in front of her, absorbing all of his words. "And the second you left, I told her that." Danielle slowly sat down on the piano bench. "You did that,because of me?" she asked weakly. Josh squatted to his knees in front of her. "I fell out of love with her. But then you came along," he smiled shyly at her, as he wiped a single tear from her cheek. "I tried to ignore it, but I can't anymore." He waited for Danielle's reaction. She had to make this clear.
"So you ended a steady relationship with her," Danielle smiled through her tears, "for...me?" He laughed at her sight and nodded in agreement. "Why the waterworks?" he joked. Danielle covered her face with her hands to hide her red face. "I'm such a crybaby!" she joked through her sobs. Josh was puzzled. She grabbed his hand, and held it tightly between her own. "That's just the most incredible thing anyone has ever done for me." Josh smiled in satisfaction as he kissed her hand. Danielle fought her emotions as best as she could. He couldn't resist but to laugh at her red, puffy eyes. They each leaned forward, and rested their foreheads on each other's. "What now?" Danielle whispered. "I dunno."
"You do realize in a month, you guys will be gone constantly, making appearances and doing promotions and I'll be in school," Danielle leaned back and thought about what she had just said. She stared into his eyes with fear. Her lips quivered, as she nervously joked, "We don't stand a chance in hell, Josh." Josh smiled at her reassuringly. "Ya we do, Danielle," he rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand, "Cause, now that I've got you, I'm not letting you go.�
The End!
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