Dedicating this to my first fan and to anyone who decides to read this. I've never written a story before, I have read tons online though. But this idea has been lingering in my head for quite some time and I have tons of ideas coming at me at once so I am excited to be putting them to use. Please enjoy!
Song of day: Summer Nights from the Musical Grease
Edited by LittleRedFox who is amazing for helping me out on short notice!
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1: Boys Are Overrated
Washington
August 10, 1999
She was officially in love. It was summer in Washington and Dani’s parents had the air conditioner cranked up high. As early as June and up until August, the summer heat was unexpectedly scorching and left many residents complaining of fatigue. Not once, did Dani sleep through the night without waking up dehydrated, which was why she kept an icy-water bottle close, at all times. But right now she could care less about dehydration. She glanced down at her diary, where she just finished recording what her day was like. Forever she will have the memory of how Thomas Peterson had offered to pay for her ice cream from the local ice cream truck. The memory countinued to replay in her head like a broken record.
Dani Peterson, she thought dreamily as she stared out her bedroom window. The smile on her face was nearly permanent. For a year now, she had had the biggest crush on Thomas, the most popular---not to mention smartest boy in school, and finally, the heavens sent her a sign that he liked her too. To her, things happened for a reason and today she finally found her Prince Charming. Eleven couldn’t be too early of an age for that. After all, Juliet was only thirteen when she found Romeo.
“Danielle! Get down here!” Her mother’s voice vibrated through the house, sounding livid.
What now? Dani thought. She jumped up from her seat, flew through the door, and ran downstairs. Her blissful smile disappeared once she saw her mother’s expression.
“Danielle, how many times have I told you not to bring your mud-caked shoes in the house?” she chastised with a hand on her hip. Even angry and flustered, her mother was stunning in her plain faded jeans and cardigan combination.
Dani looked down as guilt colored her features.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you.” Again, there was that stern tone Dani despised. She lifted her eyes to meet her mother’s harsh ones.“I asked you a question.”
“Many times...” Her voice came out shaky and quiet as she felt the prick of tears. But she didn’t want to cry because her mother, a woman who kept a composed face at all times, would get mad.
“I want you to clean this up while I give your sister a bath. Is that clear?”
“Yes, mom.”
“Good.”
Dani’s face grew sullen as her mother went upstairs to tend to her five year old sister. Her mother was always getting mad at her for everything. Was it really her fault for not being just like Holly Jameson, the outgoing cheerleader and spoiled daughter that her mother adored? She was the same age as Dani, an only child, and lived just two houses over. She didn’t want to be anything like Holly, who was rude and obnoxious. And she couldn’t help that she didn’t inherit her mother’s olive skin tone and thick eyelashes, both reasons which she suspected as to why her mother favored her little sister.
Her father came through the door wearing his work boots and visor just as she finished scrubbing the last speck of dirt. His face was red from being outside doing yard work.“How are you, Lina?” he asked. Always, she admired how calm and gentle her father was. He called her Lina because it was short for Adelina, her middle name.
“I’m fine, Papa.” She was fine now that he was here. She watched as he brought out a handkerchief and removed a smudge of dirt off her face with a content smile on his face. He tucked the handkerchief in his pant pocket then turned to her.
“My Lina is growing up so fast.”
Dani beamed in response before she threw her arms around her father. At least he wasn’t always yelling at her like her mother.
He hugged her back then pulled her up into his arms and carried her upstairs. “You sure are getting heavy.” Dani worried for a second. Her mother had always stated that if a girl didn’t take care of her body then no boys will like her. “But that means you’re healthy and growing.” His words instantly put her at ease.
For the rest of the evening, she spent time with her father and played dolls with her little sister. For dinner, her family was eating at Holly Jameson’s house and Dani was certainly not looking forward to that.
She stood behind her parents and held her sister’s hand as the adults exchanged greetings at the door. Everybody knew each other so there was no need for introductions. They all walked to the back, where the porch was located for a nice summertime dinner and as Dani stepped passed the partition to go outside, she felt her heart drop. Standing near the table was Thomas, holding hands with Holly.
“Oh hey, Dani. Do you know Thomas?” Holly said in her mocking tone. Dani could practically see the smugness seeping through Hollys pores. Thomas looked at Dani and she watched as his face turned red before he looked down to his feet guiltily. “He asked me to be his girlfriend. How awesome is that?” Holly kept a haughty expression as Dani felt her heart breaking.
Dani wanted to yell at Thomas for being nice to her and misleading her. She wanted to pull out Holly’s blonde hair and stomp on her pretty face. But she didn’t; she just walked away. Her mood was officially spoiled. For the rest of the night, she just sat silently as her mother repeatedly warned her not to play with the food she was currently pushing around on her plate. Her father seemed to take notice of her mood shift because he kept shooting concerned glances. Her sister even tried to offer her some fruit snacks to cheer her up but it wasn’t working.
It was at that moment that Dani decided boys were overrated and that she didn’t need to experience a romance like Cinderella or the Little Mermaid. She should have listened to her divorced aunt who said that falling in love was a myth and that Prince Charming didn’t exist. She should have listened to her mother who said reality wasn’t like fairytales.
Now, she wanted a more practical relationship--like her mother and father. They didn’t fall in love right away and look at how happy they are now. While she was still in school, she would continue to make the perfect straight A’s her father proudly posted to the refrigerator. She would be better than Holly, Cinderella and the Little Mermaid, who depended on men to make them happy. She was going to make a plan and it was going to work.
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Author's Note:
The next chapter will be coming shortly so please be patient. Also my target of audience is 15 and older because things will get a bit intense later on (if you know what i mean *wink, wink*), not to mention there will be a few swear words here and there. And I would like to finish by saying I like humor but I love drama and I mean oscar worthy drama. Hope that gives you an idea of what to expect.
Isn't little Dani so cute? XD
PLEASE VOTE &/ COMMENT!
Also point out ANY errors.
I will take what I can.
~~timidFire~~
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