Chapter 18

"Rise and shine, it's time for school!" Daniel said, coming in my room and turning on the lights.

 "Yeah, yeah, I'll be up in 5 minutes," I mumbled under my pillow.

 "I know that trick. Get up," Daniel said.

 "TURN OFF THE LIGHT!" I screamed.

 "NOPE!" Daniel replied. It was no use. I looked at my clock and it read 6 AM. "Yuck," I mumbled as I rolled out of bed. I took my shower and got ready. I put on cargo pants and a shirt from my store, the Gap. I grabbed my yellow L.L. Bean backpack that said "Delia" on it and walked to the kitchen. Daniel was standing there with a camera.

 "Don't even tell me your gonna take pictures," I said.

 "It's my little girl's first day of school!" Daniel said, in a motherly voice.

 "Forget it," I said. Daniel pretended to cry as he put the camera away.

 "They just grow up too fast...," he said, wiping the fake tears away from his eyes. Darren walked in the kitchen half asleep.

 "I never knew people could get up this early," Darren said, rubbing his eyes. I slumped in a chair.

 "Okay Dee, if you don't feel good, or your legs begin to hurt, page me and I'll come get you," Daniel said. Darren sat down and yawned.

 "Ok," I replied.

 "And play nicely with the other kiddies," Daniel said.

 "Yes Mom," I said. He smiled.

 "D!" Daniel shouted.

 "Hmmm?" Darren asked, with his eyes closed.

 "WAKE UP! Hello! You're the one who has to drive her," Daniel said. Darren handed him the keys.

 "Here," he said.

 "Does he know what he just did?!" I asked, in shock.

 "I dunno, but I'm not telling him!" Daniel said. I got my bag and stood up.

 "Honey...," I whispered in Darren's ear. He lifted his head up and I kissed him goodbye.

 "Hopefully, he'll be awake when you get back," Daniel said.

 "The key word is hopefully!" I said. We walked out the door and got to the car. Daniel started it and drove off.

 "If you get caught, I'll laugh so hard," I warned him.

 "Hey! You're my witness! Darren gave me the keys!" Daniel defended himself. He pulled up to the school. "If ANYTHING happens, page me. Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do." 

 "Okay, see ya," I said, getting out of the car. I walked in and got my schedule. I recognized some of the people and got excited. I found the other sophomores and they looked at me like a I was a freak. They whispered "Is that Delia?!" I found my first period class and got a seat in the back. I couldn't find Mimi all morning. I went to my locker before lunch. I shut it and found Jason waiting for me.

 "Welcome back," he said.

 "Hi," I said. I felt like being nice since everyone thought I was a freak.

 "Heard you had a bad day," he said.

 "News goes around fast around here," I said.

 "Everyone's changed since you left," he said.

 "I noticed. Where's Mimi?" I asked.

 "In Florida for vacation till next week," he answered.

 "Oh," I said.

 "Are you signing up for indoor soccer?" he asked.

 "I dunno. I want to," I said.

 "You should," he said.

 "I gotta go to lunch," I said.

 "Ok, " he said. "Hey Dee!"

 "What?" I said, turning around.

 "Sorry for being an asshole," he apologized.

 "Its ok," I said. I walked to the cafeteria .I saw some old teammates and they turned their heads at me, like I was a traitor.

 "I don't get it," I said to myself. After lunch, I went to the office and got a flyer about indoor soccer. I wanted to sign up so bad, but I knew I wouldn't be allowed to play. 2 hours and 500 hearts around Darren's and my name on my notebooks later, school ended. I walked out the door and slid in the car next to Darren.

 "Hey!" he said.

 "Hey! Oh my God, you're awake!" I said. He laughed.

 "I missed you. Have a good day?" he asked.

 "I missed you too," I said. "My day was...ok." We drove home and Daniel drilled me about school. I didn't say a word on how much I hated it. We all sat down and watched TV.  I was silent until I got the nerve to speak up.

 "I wanna join indoor soccer," I spit out. Darren and Daniel's heads turned to me.

 "When does it start?" Daniel asked.

 "Next week," I replied. Darren was silent and let it up to Daniel.

 "Dee....I don't think its a good idea," he said.

 "Oh c'mon Daniel! I'm fine! I'm better! I can play fine!" I fought.

 "I dunno, what if you get worse?" he said.

 "I won't," I said, flatly.

 "It's just not a good idea Dee..." he said.

 "LOOK DANIEL! Soccer was my life! I'm fine now! You're not my dad! He would have wanted me to play!" I screamed. I ran into my room and slammed the door. Daniel sighed and shook his head.

 "Damn, I just blew my first parent job," he said. He looked at Darren.

 "Ok peacemaker, help," he asked Darren. Darren sighed.

 "Well, you're right, she shouldn't play, but I think she wants too cause she misses her dad and she's right. He would want her to play. Maybe this is her way of connecting with him," Darren said. Daniel nodded.

 "So, let her play?" he asked.

 "Yeah," Darren said. Daniel got up and knocked on Dee's door.

~~~~

 "What?!" I said.

 "Can I borrow ten bucks?!" Daniel asked, through the door.

 "WHAT?!" I said as I got up and opened the door, "Why are you asking me for money?"

 "Cause I got you to open the door," he said. He motioned me to follow him. I sat on the couch.

 "Dee, I know I'm not your dad, and I never will be. But I understand why you want to play soccer, and we're gonna let you," Daniel said, "I'm sorry."

 "Thanks Daniel. I'm sorry too. And....that's not the whole reason why I want to play," I said, looking down.

 "What happened?" Darren asked.

 "When I was a soccer star, I had everything. Now when I go back, everyone looks at me like they are gonna catch my disease. I want to play soccer so I can show them I'm ok," I said.

 "Did that happen today?" Daniel asked.

 "Yes. My day sucked," I said. Darren came over and sat by me. I cuddled up in his arms.

 "I'm so sorry Dee," he said, kissing my head.

 "I hate it. Just cause I have cancer doesn’t mean they are gonna catch it. I'm better," I said. Daniel looked at me.

 "Now I understand. Well, you can play," Daniel said. I smiled. Daniel got up and got some Pepsi.

 "Wanna go to the pier?" Darren asked.

 "Yeah," I said. The two of us walked to the pier hand and hand.

 "Remember when we met here?" Darren asked when we got there. I smiled.

 "Yep," I said. We sat down and I sat in Darren's lap as he had his arms around me.

 "I couldn't keep my mind off of you," he said. He kissed my head.

 "Darren?" I asked.

 "Hmm?"

 "Why do people get cancer?" I asked.

 "I dunno. But I do know that God gave you cancer cause he knew you could fight it," he said.

 "For a couple months, I thought I was gonna die. Now, right when I start to rebuild my life, it crashes again, my dad dies," I said. Darren held me tight.

 "Maybe God knew you were in good hands," he said. "Dee?"

 "Yeah?" I asked.

 "I promise I'll help you rebuild your life," he said. I leaned my head up and looked him in the eyes.

 "I love you," I said.

 "I love you too," Darren said. We sat there in each other's arms for a while. Darren shot up.

 "OH MY GOD!" he said.

 "What?" I asked.

 "I just realized I gave Daniel the keys this morning!" he said. I laughed.

 "Yep, he drove me to school," I said.

 "What was I thinking?!?! I put your life in danger!!" Darren said. We both started to laugh.

Chapter 19

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