The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 1

“f*****g Blake Conner” – Danny

- Present-day –

"What the f**k?" Danny mumbles under her breath as she

spots Blake leaning on her locker. She could have turned around, but she badly

needed her backpack. If she was honest, she was rather curious why he was

there.

Blake Conner is one of the most popular boys in school. He is a

star Lacrosse player—the head boy for his class. Also, a known playboy with a

new arm candy every week. Despite that fact, all the girls in school

still wanted to date him—all the girls except Danny.

Danny Blake was the 11 years old Dungeons Master she used to

play Dungeons and Dragons with throughout middle school. They would play in the

twin, Jacob, and Lucas, basement every afternoon after school. The basement was

their little clubhouse. No one dared tease them in middle school. Not even when

they all came as their characters from the game one Halloween. The three boys

were more prominent than most middle schoolers and looked formidable

together.

But after the summer, Danny’s mom died, and Blake has not talked

to her.

So why the f**k was he waiting for her? She thought.

Blake Connors hasn't talked to her for almost four years. Being

a year older than her, Blake’s popularity status was already well established

when she entered high school, even if he was only a sophomore.

She didn’t care that they were no longer friends. But it did

hurt whenever he pretended that she didn’t exist. It hurt her more when he just

watched his friends bully her.

Blakes circle of friends consisted of the overachievers’ jocks

and cheerleaders. They also headed the student body council and mainly were top

of their classes. It annoyed her that they were not the typical jocks and

cheerleaders. It would have been easier to make fun of them.

Yet, for all the potential this group of kids had, they were

still a bunch of bullies. And bullies were dumb in Danny’s book.

You’re assuming he’s waiting for you! What if he’s waiting for

his latest flavor of the week? Who happens to have the locker next to you? Her

inner monologue debated.

She bit her lower lip as she weaved through the crowd of

students in front of her. Her eyes never left Blake, busy fiddling with his

mobile phone. Hesitating to go ahead of the public, she strolled behind the

students’ group. She was peeking behind them every so often and checking if

Blake was still there.

Anxiety consumed her at the thought of what if Blake was waiting

for her. Why would he? We’re his friends pulling a prank. And why is she

suddenly so flabbergasted at the thought of Blake?

She was worried about what the other students might think seeing

him by her locker. She may be a loner, but she was not invisible. Danny was one

of the most brilliant kids in class. However, she hardly participated and would

quietly submit her special projects in peace. She hated any attention.

"Beauty, brains, and brawn, oh my," Danny mumbles in

the tune of Wizard of Oz's Lions and Tigers and Bears. She walked

slower, almost hitting another student behind her.

“Watch it?” The student groaned as he passed her.

“Sorry,” she whispered, not that it would have mattered if she

talked any louder as the student was already halfway through the hallway.

For some reason, Blake’s presence was unnerving her. She didn’t

mind it before. Yet, she could almost sense when he was near for some reason

lately. And when she would turn to look his way, she could have sworn he was

staring at her.

It must be teenage hormones; she scolded herself.

“Oi Danny, just because your turning 18 doesn’t mean I go

catching you smooching with some boy.” her dad’s voice in his thick Welsch

accent broke into her internal monologue. Something her dad told her

over the weekend as Danny’ casually announced her birthday was coming up in the

next month.

This made her smile, thinking about the trip they would take. A

the smile she instantly regretted as soon as she saw Blake waving at her.

Stupid to think I was smiling because of him. She sneers while

looking at Blake, still waving at her with a silly grin on his face. He looks

almost like the 11-year-old she once played with. The one who would wave at her

with a massive grin on his face while waiting for her at the end of a school

day.

Blinking fast and slightly shaking her head, she reminded

herself that this was not that boy anymore. This was one of her tormentors.

Part of the ultra-snobbish group of bullies who have made it a point to torment

her when they can.

It was pulling her severely oversized hoodie over her head. The

clothing almost swallowed her 4ft 10 inches frame. The hem of the hoodie was up

to her knees, with the sleeves reaching the tips of her fingers. She would

match it with matching track pants which only made her look like a onesie. This

has become her unofficial school uniform. Wearing it was more like a comfort

blanket for her. It made her feel invisible.

Danny has PTSD, something none of her schoolmates, especially

Blake knew. Only the principal and selected teachers knew. It was a

prerequisite that her father shared it with them as at the start of her high

school, they needed to help her ease around other students. The teachers would

ignore her outfit or be hesitant to join gym class.

"God, Dans! you still wear this?" Blake tugs the

shoulder of her Dungeons and Dragons Hoodie. Straightening himself as he takes

a step back to allow her access to the locker.

Danny didn’t realize she had reached her destination until Blake

spoke. She shook her head and repeated what Blake had just said in a mocking

tone. “Dans?” The last time he called her was when she was 12 years old.

Blake noticing her reaction, arched his brow as he continued,

"Or you would rather I call you Daniella?" Blake knew how she hated

to be called by her full name.

Danny may not have liked it back when she was 12, but hearing

Blake says it sent shivers down her back.