Unfortunately Intertwined

Chapter 13

The rest of the week was a blur. I barely saw Janie, it was like she was getting up earlier and leaving classes later just to avoid me.  I saw Danny a couple of times and he even sat with me one lunch time, but I asked him not to again because most of the girls in the cafeteria didn’t even look at what food they were buying cause they were staring at us so much and his friends wouldn’t stop shouting things or making noises. I even once caught Sebastian’s eye trailed on me, but as soon as he saw me looking back smiling he just got up and left the room. I’ve really been longing for some friends recently. Just some people to sit with at lunch or call when I need to talk. Janie and Sebastian used to be my friends, but for reasons, some I’m unsure of, they’ve stopped talking to me. Now my only friend, if that’s what I call him, is Danny.  I also have Elsey but she’s not around much and hardly ever picks up her phone. On the odd occasion she does call me, it’s a full nights worth of conversation. She’s dropped by my house once, just to see how I was since the party but had to run because she was on her way to a music festival. The person I found myself missing most was Sebastian. Whenever we did speak it just felt natural. He was more of a friend to me than anyone ever has been.

Saturday morning came around too quickly for my liking and I was beginning to worry who Danny had told about our so called ‘date’ and what people would be saying. My thoughts were interrupted by a rhythmical knock on the front door. I opened it to find Danny standing there in worn jeans and a navy blue, zipper hoodie.

“Hey Sunshine.”  He said with a gentle smile on his lips.

“Hey.” I said a bit sheepishly, although I couldn’t figure out why. I did have a worrying thought that this could all be some kind of joke or bet the popular kids had going like you see in the movies.

“This isn’t a bet or a joke is it because if it is please tell me and we can maybe not do this and you can get your money or whatever.” I said the words so fast they almost fell out of my mouth. Danny looked genuinely shocked.

“Maya, I’m really not that kind of guy.” He said slightly laughing at my nervousness.

He went to his car and opened the passenger door for me and sort of bowed.

“My ladies chariot is ready to go, if she is?” He asked.

He held out his hand as if to help me up into an actual horse and cart and as I took it I said, “Your ladyship is quite content to leave.” Attempting to keep up the posh theme we seemed to have started.

As we drove to the mysterious place, I asked him several times where we were going and he just kept saying it was a surprise. We didn’t speak about much of interest on the car journey, mainly just idle chitchat. Danny’s car began to slow down and I thought we must be arriving and looked out of my window as he turned down a dusty lane. As we pulled in I knew immediately, without looking at the sign, where we were.

“OH MY GOD! You’ve brought me to the petting zoo?!” I sort of shouted.

Danny’s face suddenly filled with a look of concern, “Oh… well you said you liked animals and well, I mean if you don’t like it we can go somewhere else an-” I cut him off.

“NO WAY. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I haven’t been here for like three years, my dad took us here when we were about 15, when we first moved here.” I began laughing as I flung myself out of the car door. “Janie hated it here. Even then she carried round a pink handbag and started complaining when one of the goats began chewing on it.” I said, feeling a bit like I’d embarrassed her in return for telling Danny about me getting drunk that one time back in our old town and smiled to myself thinking, ‘two can play this game Janie’.

“Oh GREAT! I’m so glad, I knew you wouldn’t be grossed out by the animals.” He sighed with relief.

“Thank you so much for this.” I said sincerely and swung my arms around his neck which seemed to take him a back a bit.

“Oh, ha, that’s ok.” He said as he hugged me back.

I released myself quickly though, eager to get in. I couldn’t believe Danny had brought me here. I was so grateful, and it’s not like he really understood either. This is probably where my happiest memory has been for the best part of six years. We spent all morning there and most of the afternoon. Our last stop was visiting the billy goats. I took a whole cup of grains in with me to feed them and, as I was feeding them to, what can only be described as to be the sweetest baby goat ever, a little black and white spotted kid, I heard a yelp from the other side of the pen followed by,

“Erm.. AH! Maya, help. Please!” It was Danny being chased by what I gathered to be a mother goat. All the other children in the pen were giggling and pointing at him and I couldn’t help but join in. I laughed so hard I began to cry. That was the first time I’ve laughed so hard in years and I couldn’t help but love him for it.

As soon as I got the goat to feed on the grain rather than Danny’s belt we left, with me still laughing. He told me to shut up as he shoved me jokingly. When reached his car I managed to stop laughing so hard and choke out a few words.

“Thanks for today Danny. I haven’t had this much fun in ages!” I said still giggling.

“Yeah, well it’s alright for some!” He said smirking and shaking his head in disbelief at the chunk the goat had taken out of his belt.  “Well, there’s plenty more fun were that came from!” He said raising his eyebrows.

“What?” I said confused.

“The wonderful day is yet to end Maya. As some would say, the night is still young!” He said dramatically starring off into the distance.

“Yes people do say that… at NIGHT. It’s three in the afternoon.” I said laughing.

“Well, we better get a move on then!” He said hopping into the car.

As I buckled my belt in I asked, “So, do I get to know where we’re going this time?”

Danny stopped and looked deep in thought. “Errmmmmmm…… Yeah alright then. We’re going to the beach.”

“The beach?” I said confused.

“Yes indeed friend. The beach it is.” He said as he started the engine.

Of all places why the beach? Don’t get me wrong I liked the beach but it just seemed like an odd place for him to choose.

As we took to the road again I rested my head on my arm that was set on the undone window frame and realised how much I’d opened up today. I hadn’t been the usual me. I hadn’t lost myself in my thoughts once or been closed off to anything. Thinking about it made me want to curl up and shut the world out, like I’d done something wrong. But I hadn’t, and I knew that so rather than doing what I usually do, isolating myself and not talking, I reached over to the radio and turned it up, allowing the music to flood my mind as I let out a sigh of what felt like relief.

“Like this song?” Danny said slightly shouting because it was so loud.

“Love it.” I said, but I didn’t. I didn’t even know what song it was, but it felt free.

With the wind embracing my face, I closed my eyes and I felt so light, like the wind was carrying me through each note that floated out of the speakers.