Narrator
It was the winter break before the last semester of high school.
Y/n was riding their bike all over town. While, Danielle sat at home watching TV with her dad. Her mother and sister were cooking up something nice.
It was the usual routine for the pair.
One wondered around, while the other knew just where she belonged.
- Danielle POV -
Dinner was as lovely as ever.
Being home was always one of my favorite things. It was a safe space, my fun house, the one place I could just be myself.
"Dani, honey, can you take the trash out?" Mom requested from the kitchen.
Dad and I had gone back to watching TV, while my mom and sister cleaned up a bit.
"Yes!" I answered as I got up from the sofa.
I was about to skip my way into the kitchen, but dad poked me before I could.
"Hey!!!" I frowned as I poked him back.
"Dani!" Mom yelled again.
I narrowed my eyes at dad and pointed at him to warn him.... "Watch it, sir!"
Dad just laughed and I finally making way to kitchen.
I gather all the garbage I could before taking out to the trash container.
I wash just about finished with my task, when I suddenly heard someone say.... "God dammit!!"
I looked around a bit confused and started to hear more cursing coming from the street.
"Stupid shit, why you always gotta break at the worst time!" I kept on hearing someone complain.
I wrapped myself with my cardigan a bit more, it was getting chilly, and walked down my driveway to see what was going on.
"Stupid shit!" I saw someone kick what appeared to be a bike.
There was someone on the sidewalk in front of my house, just kicking a bike around.
"Fucking-"
The person kept on kicking their bike and cursing.
It was a bit amusing.
I stepped a bit closer once the person seemed to calm down and asked, "What are you doing?"
I person seemed a bit startled, but immediately turned to look at me.
"Umm, sorry. My bike chain broke and I was sorta having a mental breakdown 'cus of it. I'll move along somewhere else," The person politely answered me.
They then turned around, grabbed their bike, and walked away.
I raised an eyebrow a bit confused. I didn't recall telling the person they had to move.
"Dani!!" Dad suddenly yelled from the house.
I turned to see him waiting for me at the door and sighed out once I turned back to realize the person was gone.
- Y/N POV -
I sighed out in annoyance as I erased my answers yet again.
"Stupid shit," I whispered under my breath.
It was a bit early in the morning and I was at my favorite crepe place. I mostly only liked it because they had free WiFi and useable outlets in their outdoor tables.
"Uh, I think I want a savory one this time!" I saw a pair of girls walking into the Crepe Shop.
I took a deep breath, a bit anxious.
People always made me feel uncomfortable.
"God dammit!" I huffed again.
I couldn't seem to get the answer right at all.
Winter break was about to be over and I hadn't finished a single assignment. I was still stuck on the first problem.
"Stupid fucking sh-"
I was curious under my breath when someone suddenly sat in the chair across from me and asked, "What are you doing?"
It was one of the girls who had walked in just minutes before.
I furrowed my brows in confusion and asked, "Do I know you?"
The girl rolled her eyes a bit rudely, but then suddenly started to laugh.
"Wtf?" I thought to myself.
"No, no. I'm so sorry!" She laughed out.
"We don't know each other. Well, unless you count the other night, when you were kicking your bike in front of my driveway, knowing each other.... then no," The girl cutely giggled.
She had a cute smile to be honest, but I didn't know why she was talking to me.
"Okkkaayy," I awkwardly responded.
"Anyway, what are you doing?" She asked again.
"Homework," I sighed out.
Suddenly, I noticed the shop owner start to walk out and I started to grab all my things.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Either buy something or get the hell out of here!!" He yelled.
"Yeah, yeah," I answered as I got up to leave.
"Wait- wh-"
"Dani!!" The girl suddenly got called over.
I paid no more mind to her and just grabbed my bike to go on my way.
- Danielle POV -
It was another lovely day.
The sun was shining warmly on a beautiful winter afternoon.
Dad and I were out in the park across the house playing soccer. He was beating me really bad, but I was having fun regardless.
"Heads up!" Dad yelled once he realized her kicked the ball too hard.
We watch as the ball flew across the field, accidentally hitting someone.
I ran over to get the ball and apologize....
And what do you know.
It had hit that kid I kept seeing around town.
"Sorry about that!" I apologize.
The kid just looked at me for a second, before going back to what they were doing.
"What are you doing?" I asked curiously.
"None of your business," The kid rudely replied.
I shook my head in annoyance and just went back to what I was doing.
"I was just trying to be polite," I scoffed to myself.
For the next few days,
I kept on seeing that kid everywhere I went.
I'd see them when we'd go out to eat or late at night when we'd be coming back home from visiting my relatives.
Day or Night that kid was everywhere.
Every so often, we'd make eye contact and I'd try to wake 'hello' but the kid would just ignore me.
"I wonder if that kid has anywhere to live," Mom commented as we all got out the car to get in the house.
"I hope so," Dad sighed out.
It seemed like I wasn't the only one who noticed something odd what that kid.
"Dani, come on!" My sister whine.
For the next few hours, I looked out my window into the park across the street to make sure the kid was okay. I watched attentively for them to go home, but that time never came. Instead, the kid laid down on the grass and placed their hoodie over themselves like a blanket.
"Dani! Dani!!" Someone suddenly shook me awake.
I jolted up a bit startled.
"Dude, why'd you fall asleep by the window like that?!" My sister asked.
It appeared that I had fallen asleep while trying to check on the kid.
I looked out my window to make sure the kid was still okay... and they were gone...
"Anyway, mom said to take you to the mall for holiday shopping. So get ready and let's go!" My sister said all annoyed.
I ended up spending the rest of day with my sister. By the time it was over all I could say was.... "I SURVIVED!!!"
We were barely entering the house, when our parents were debating about something.
"I'm just saying the poor kid looks hungry. They fell asleep out in that field last night. It doesn't hurt us to share for once," Dad angrily told more.
"One meal turns to two. We can't afford intervening into whatever that kid has going on," Mom frustratedly answered him.
"It's just food!" Dad seemed to beg.
I sighed out and grabbed my soccer ball.
"I'll be right back. Prepare an extra plate," I yelled as I walked out the front door.
I only brought my soccer ball as an excuse to talk.
- Y/N POV -
I was relax at my usual spot.
The park had become my favorite spot. No one would bother me or ask me to leave. There were public restrooms at all hours of the day and free water at the water fountains.
I was getting ready to take a quick nap, when a soccer ball suddenly hit my leg.
"Hey!" I heard someone try to catch my attention.
I looked up to find the annoying girl I had been running into waving at me.
I sighed in annoyance and threw the ball back at her.
"What are you doing?" She asked, as usual.
I never understood why she was so nosey.
"None of your-"
"Oh, sorry. I have to go to dinner," Interrupted me before I could finish answering.
I furrowed my brows a bit confused.
She said she had dinner, but she just kept on standing in front of me.
"Do you want to join us? She suddenly asked.
"Tf?" I thought to myself, looking up at her confused.
"I don't even know your name. Why in the world would you invite a stranger to dinner?" I asked all confused.
"I'm Danielle. Dani for short. What's your name?" She randomly said.
I was so confused.
"Y/n," I awkwardly answered.
"This girl is odd," I kept on thinking.
"Nice to meet you," Danielle suddenly extended her hand for me to shake.
I looked at her hand for a second before shaking it. "Umm, yeah same," I hesitantly responded.
The girl suddenly pulled me up and started to drag me with her. "Great we know each other now, let go have dinner!" She smugly told me.
I was freaking confused, but I was too hungry to keep protesting.
- Danielle POV -
Mom was a bit upset about Y/n at first, but she came around when we all noticed Y/n's good manners.
"So Y/n, what do your parents do for a living?" Dad asked during dinner.
"They're... umm... work in business. They're on a business trip right now," Y/n seemed to be lying.
We all caught on to it by how shaky Y/n's voice was when they responded.
"Oh, I see. Well maybe you should stick around a little after dinner. We don't want you being all alone at home," Dad kept on trying to be nice.
"Umm, it's okay. My brother will worry if I stay out late," Y/n lied again.
All those times we saw Y/n out in the street, there never seemed to be a concern for time. It could be 2:30am and Y/n would still be out in the streets.
"Well, let's give him a call to let him know you're going to be a little late," Mom started to help out.
"No!" Y/n suddenly got defensive.
"I just mean..., h-he works late today," Y/n stuttered out a bit calmer.
"Okay," Dad politely responded.
Dinner soon came to an end and I noticed Y/n's intentions to leave.
"Thank you so much for dinner. It was lovely. You all have great hospitality," Y/n was being so polite.
"Hey, wanna see my room?" I interjected.
"I'd love to but-"
I didn't even let Y/n finish, before dragging them up to my room.
- Y/N POV -
Danielle and her family were really kind people.
They didn't really know anything about, but they made me feel welcomed.
I could tell that they had their suspicions about my situation, but they tried to be as respectful as they could be about it.
"Come on, just stay a little! You said your brother would be home late anyway," Danielle... along with her family... kept on entertaining my lie.
"Look, I have this really cool collection of odd stuffed animals!" She suddenly pulled me onto her bed.
My whole body sank down a little at just the touch of a comfortable bed.
My bones even started to ache from the soft feeling.
"This one is named Jerry, and this one is Jerry too, this is also Jerry," Danielle started rambling on about her stuffed animals.
Before I knew it,
I had fallen asleep.
"Mom, I can't find my old pajamas!!" I started to hear muffled yelling.
"They're in the wash!" A muffled response was given.
My eyes started to flutter open and I immediately jolted up from the bed when I realized it was the next morning.
"Shit!" I whispered under my breath and started to grab all my things.
I thanked the Marsh-Mo family a thousand times before making my way out the front door.
"Thank you so much! Truly, Thank you!" I said as I exited.
I sighed of relief when I finally walked out to the sidewalk and thought about what to do next.
"What are you doing?" Someone suddenly asked from behind me.
I already knew who it was.
It was Danielle.
I sighed in frustration and was about to speak, when Danielle suddenly said..., "You know we're not stupid, right? We know you have nowhere to go. We don't need to know or care how things got this way for you, we want to help you regardless."
I took a deep breath and let it out.
"I'm really grateful for last night," I started off.
"But, I can't live with you," I followed up.
"Your parents love you so much and your family is so united and happy together. It just seems unfair. It makes me bitter..... and I don't want to be bitter when people are being so kind to me. So, as much as I really appreciate the offer.... I hope you understand that you and I aren't the same. We don't live in the same reality," I explained....
Before walking off.
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