Danielle watched her face grow redder and redder in the bathroom mirror. She closed her eyes and prayed Mercedes didn't say anything else embarrassing. "I'm um, gonna go now there is a bubble bath with Justin in it, and it's calling my name," Mercedes giggled with delight. "I'll talk to you later. BYE!" Danielle starred into the mirror in horror. "Maybe he didn't hear it," she thought optimistically.
She ran her hand across the wet collar of Josh's jacket she was still wearing. She touched up on her face, wiping any smudged mascara or cakey foundation spots away. Finally, after much hesitation, Danielle slid the barrette from her hair, allowing her long, wet hair to fall upon her shoulders. She took a deep breath and dared to venture back into the living room. She watched Josh casually examine the room.
"Here," she said, handing the towel to him. "Thanks," he said with a shy smile, taking the towel from her hand. Danielle watched him rub the towel through his hair and over his body. His skin glistened with millions of tiny raindrops, his hair jet black from the moisture. Danielle bit her lip, and forced her eyes to stop staring. "Um," she said nervously, "Maybe, they're giving the weather report." Danielle quickly walked over to the kitchen counter and turned on the radio. Towel in hand, Josh leaned over the counter in front of her.
"Storms are expected to continue through the night, til early morning," the DJ's voice said. "So kids, if you're home, you might as well break out the flashlights and get comfortable, cause you aren't going anywhere anytime soon It's ten after ten, currently seventy degrees, I'm DJ Nick the New Guy, and we are now going to roll back into the music. Here's a sexy tune from Miss Janet Jackson. "Tonight's the Night." Maybe all you love birds should snuggle up and pray the power DOES go out with this one," the DJ laughed at his own joke and the song began.
Josh quickly peeked out the window with uneasiness. "You know, I think it's letting up."
"What?" Danielle peered out the window beside him, and watched the rain pour down just as heavy as it was when they arrived. She looked at Josh oddly. "Josh, I don't think it's let up.."
"It has," he insisted. He stared at her for a moment, listening to the words of the song still playing on the radio, and realized he needed out of there, quickly. He stared at the lay of her wet hair on her back, and the sparkle in her eye next to the rain. "I have to go," he said, turning towards the door.
Danielle stared at him with confusion. "But, Josh," she said with a laugh, weakly pointing at the rain, "It's still..."
"I have to," he said weakly, placing his hand on the doorknob. His body wouldn't walk itself out the door. He stared for a moment at the door, before slowly turning his gaze to Danielle. "I can't stay here with you," he said weakly.
"Why?" she questioned, full of frustration. She stepped closer to him, and took a deep breath to calm herself down. She stared at him pitifully. "And, I don't just mean now, Josh," she stared at him bitterly. "Why are you so afraid of me?" she asked quietly. Her tone slowly rose with anger.
"What? What is it? What is it I do that makes you leave the room everytime I enter it?" Josh didn't know what to say. "Because, Danielle," he said softly. "Because why?" she screamed back at him. "Don't I deserve a more decent answer then that?" Josh let go of the door and stepped closer to her. "Yes. You do."
"Then what? What is it?" she demanded. Her eyes grew wide with excitement. She had never been so confused and frustrated in her life. "Because everytime you smile...everytime you laugh...everytime you tuck your hair behind your ear like you do, I-I-I," he couldn't say it. Danielle shook her head vigorously.
"You, what?"
"I...I..I want to do this," Josh quickly spit out. He cupped Danielle's head in his hands, and forced his lips upon hers, before she even had time to respond. He pulled back from her, and stared at her face, her eyes still closed, absorbing every ounce of the moment. "Because," he continued, brushing his hand across Danielle's cheek. He took a deep breath and licked his lips. "Because, I think I'm in love with you." He waited for a response. Danielle took a moment to process all that had just happened. A smile slowly spread across her face. She leaned in and kissed him again, sliding her hands up his chest, to his shoulders. "I don't want to leave," Josh whispered over her shoulder. Danielle smiled to herself. She leaned forward and locked the door. With a teasing smile, she slipped Josh's jacket from her shoulders and let it fall to the ground. "Then don't.�
Fourteen