Forced This Way

Chapter 3 ~Because I Like You Too (Edit)

          "You forgot I was in jail for two years. My cell mate was from Romania. He taught me a few things and in return I taught him a few things." Daniel explained.

          "Is that right? What did you teach him? How to count to the highest number you can count to?" I asked.

          "What do you think is the highest number I can count to?" He asked leaning down close and smiling. His eyes were full of mysteriousness. I smiled back.

          "22." I answered.

          "That's cruel, love. Would you allow me to prove you wrong?" He said, beginning to count on his fingers.

          "Would you stop with the nicknames?" I asked him.

          "Umm...no." He said simply. I rolled my eyes.

          "What do we do now?" Kristina asked. I looked at her.

          "You thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked her.

          "Does this involve running around like total idiots and singing Eminem?" She asked. I looked at Daniel and smiled. He smiled in return. I turned to Kristina.

          "You bet it does." I told her.

We stood up, locked arms with each other and started singing 'Survival' by Eminem. We went up and down ails, skipping. Everyone laughed and Daniel stood in the corner with his arms crossed and one foot up against the wall all cool like. People started singing along and skipping behind us. Daniel just watched us.

          "Ever since you got out of jail you have been such a downer." I told him. Daniel just looked up at me and had a wolfish smile on his face. Miss Myer turned on Pandora. Everyone grabbed a partner and started dancing. I turned to Kristina.

          "May I have this dance?" I asked her bowing.

          "You may." She said respectful curtsy. We laughed and started twirling each other around. We danced until our hearts gave out and more. I looked in the corner where Daniel had been standing, only to realize that he was gone.

          "Where;s Daniel?" I asked Kristina.

          "Bathroom?" She suggested.

          "I'm right here." Daniel said behind me. I whipped around almost backing handing him. He grabbed my arm.

          "Nice reflexes. Just try to be a bit quicker next time." He said looking down at me. I stood there staring in his eyes. 

          "Hey..." What all I could get out.

          "Hey." He said back with a sexy smile. I felt my knees get weak.

          "I'll leave you two alone." Kristina said walking away.

I watched Kristina walk away.

          "Take a walk with me?" Daniel asked. I hesitated but nodded. He tangled his fingers into mine. I felt a shiver go up my spine. We slipped out into the hallway.

          "Why did you want to take a walk?" I asked.

          "Catch up, I guess." He tells me.

          "You guess?"

          "More like we need to." He said looking down at the ground.

          "Okay so what do you want to know?" I asked him.

          "Who is your latest boyfriend?" He asked. He sounded a bit... shy? That was so not Daniel.

          "No one really. Melik asked me to dinner tonight. We are having your favorite at my house." I answered. I heard a low growl come from Daniel.

          "Did you just growl?" I asked.

          "My stomach did. You talking about tacos makes me hungry. And when they're your tacos...you're killing me." He said smiling. I looked down and realized I was still holding his hand.

          "What was it like? I mean in jail." I asked. Daniel looked at me.

          "Do you really want to know?" He asked.

          "A little." I told him.

          "It was Hell. Somewhere I don't want to ever be again." He explained.

          "You said you went there on purpose. That you couldn't face me. Why not talk to me? Why not tell everyone you were lying, that you were joking?" I asked. Daniel stopped and turned me around. He backed me up against the wall. I tensed up and held my breath.

          "I told you I couldn't face you. It hurt me. More ways than one. I had to get away from you." He said with emotion.

          "What hurt you? Seeing me of knowing you were the cause of my sadness?" I asked him.

He put his hands up, pinning me to the wall. He looked at me. His eyes were filled with sadness.

          "Knowing I hurt you." His voice was choked up. I looked in his eyes. A tear slid down his cheek. I brought my hand up to his cheek and wiped the tear away. I rested my hand on his cheek, trying to comfort him. This was so unbelievable... why was I doing this to myself?

          "I'm sorry." He said.

          "Shhh...It's in the past. This is now." I told him. He smiled.

          "I would tell you I like you, but I think Kristina will kick my butt into next week." He said. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"She won't just kick your butt into next week. She will have to kick mine as well." I told him.

          "Why's that?" He asked acting dumb.

          "Because I like you too." I told him. We stayed there a moment longer, before Daniel pulled away reluctantly.

          "We should get back." He said.

          "Ahh...That means I'll have to tell Kristina."

          "Do you want me to tell her?"

          "No. You will make it sound more complex than it already is." I told him.

          "You know me too well Angel." He answered grabbing my hand and tuning around and walking to our class.

          "Did you just call me Angel?" I asked following him.

          "I sure did. Problem?" He asks.

          "No. I like it." I told him.

We made it back to class. We stood outside the door. We heard the music which means everyone was still dancing. I look down at my hand that was intertwined with Daniel's. I let go of his hand.

          "I'll tell her when we go home." I told him.

          "Speaking of homes, your parents and sisters are on a trip aren't they?" Daniel asked.

          "Yeah. Why?" I asked.

          "And Melik asked you to dinner?" He asked.

          "Da (yes). Where are you going with this?" I asked.

          "I'll come by tonight after he leaves." He said. Before I could protest Daniel opened the door and walked in. 

What in the hell did I just get myself into?