Chapter 13
On Saturday Danielle and Matt were sitting on the
couch finishing a game of
Monopoly. They had spent the afternoon together the way they always
did. " That was a
great game," said Matt.
"It was, wasn't it?"
"I actually won," said Matt in disbelief.
"It's a miracle," Dani teased throwing up her hands.
"Thanks a lot. You make it sound as though I am hopeless."
"You are," Danielle laughed.
"Well at least I can kick your butt at basketball, soccer, football,
and baseball,"
said Matt proudly.
"Well I can just kick your butt," Dani retorted.
"If you can, it´s only because you take taekwando," said
Matt defensively.
"So. I am also better at board games, track, and
a billion other things."
"Please," Matt replied. "You just can't handle being second string."
"Why, when I can be first?" asked Dani.
"That's what I like about you. You have confidence."
"Thank you," said Dani.
"I know this off the subject, but do you want to see a magic
trick?" asked Matt.
"Sure," said Dani. She loved magic. When ever illusionists like
David
Copperfield came to town, she would attend their performances. She
always wondered
how they pulled off their illusions, but she never figured it out.
"Okay, pick a card any card."
"All right," said Dani as she picked a card," now what."
"I am going to tell you your card," Matt replied. " It's the
queen of spades."
" No," answered Dani.
"You´re right I was testing you. It's really the
ace of spades," said Matt.
"No," Dani laughed.
"Then what is it?" asked Matt. He did not have a clue what
the card was.
"It's the two of hearts," announced Dani.
"I should have known," said Matt.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's your favorite card," said Matt.
"Who told you about that?" asked Dani. " I didn't tell you."
"Randy told me."
"That explains it. The two of hearts isn't my favorite
card," said Dani.
"It isn't?"
"Nope," Danielle answered. "I don´t have a favorite, I
mean who has ever heard of
a favorite card?"
"Then why did Randy tell me that it was?"
"Because he mental?" asked Dani jokingly. " No, no I'm just joking.
He said that
because I beat him at a poker game and the wild card that put
me over the top was..."
"The two of hearts," Matt finished.
"Interesting story," said Matt switching the subject. "But let's
talk about other
things."
"Like what?"
"Like the other day," said Matt.
"The other day. That's an interesting subject. What
part should we start with
first?"
"How about this?" asked Matt as he leaned forward and kissed
Danielle.
Dani was a little dazed after he released her. " I want to know
if we are official."
"If you want me, you've got me. All you have to do is say
the word," Matt
answered.
"The word," said Dani jokingly.
"Ha. Ha," replied Matt sarcastically.
"So then we are a couple," said Dani.
"Looks that way," he observed. "You know that day we had the
fight with the
milk was it because of the day before?"
"Yes," Dani answered embarrassed. She could not believe
the way she acted that
day.
"You had a right to be angry with me," said Matt. "If the tables
were turned I
would have acted the same way, except for the milk."
"You think so?"
"I know," said Matt.
"How do you know?"
"I never told you this, but I asked Chris that day in the park
and--"
"I know about that," Dani broke in. " That's why you could never
come to the
phone."
"Yeah," said Matt sheepishly. He thought about that day.
He remembered
everything that happened.
"He really hurt you didn't he?" asked Dani when she saw the pain
on his face as
he relived the memory of that day.
"Yeah, but it's okay now. I have you."
"That's sweet."
"Well I'm that kind of guy," said Matt smugly.
"Yes you are," Dani agreed as she snuggled up next to him on
the couch. Matt
put his arm around her." What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about you, me, that terrible magic trick, and the
Prom," Matt
answered as smoothed back her hair.
"Why?" asked Dani puzzled. She wondered why he was thinking
about the prom.
That was one of the worst nights of her life.
"Because that night you were at your absolute best looking.
I had never seen you
so beautiful," said Matt. " You know that night I watched you from
where ever I was. I
just could not take my eyes off you."
"Really?" Dani asked. She enjoyed the compliment.
It made her feel good.
"Really," Matt repeated as he pulled her closer to him.
"When you hold me I feel safe. I feel as though there is
no one else but us."
"I know what you mean. When I hold you, I feel as though
this past month has
been worth it. I never want to let you go."
"You don't have to."
"I hope not," said Matt. Then he kissed her lightly on
her lips.
"It's about time," Mrs. Richardson said as she entered the room,"
you two finally
got together."
"Mom!" Matt exclaimed embarrassed as he let go of Dani to shoo
away his mom.
"Okay! I'm going," said Mrs. Richardson as she left." Congratulations!"
"Thank you," called Danielle as Mrs. Richardson left.
"I'm sorry, Dani," he apologized as he sat back down.
"Don't worry about it. She's just happy for us."
"I know," said Matt. " It's just wasn't the right moment."
"Timing is..." Dani began as the telephone rang.
"Hold on a sec." Matt got up to reach the phone. "Hello?
Hi...Grandma."
Dani shook her head and stood up. "I have to go," she mouthed
as she gathered
her things. She kissed him on the cheek and headed for the door.
"Hold on a second, Grandma," Matt said into the phone.
He put the phone down and rushed over to Dani. "Before you go..."
His let his
sentence trail as he kiss her deeply. "I´ll call you," he said
as touched he face.
Dani smiled, "You know where I´ll be." She opened the door
and walked out.