The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 30

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, and if she was honest, she was rather curious why he was there.  Blake Connors hasn't talked to her for almost four years. Being a year older when she entered high school, Blake's popularity status was already well established as a sophomore. So she could have cared less that he was no longer her friend; what hurt was whenever he pretends as if she doesn't exist, most especially when his group of friends bullied her. So why the hell was he leaning on her locker. 

To think she was so pleased with herself that she could avoid the A-crowd the whole day.  To her dismay the A-crowd to were not your stereo-typical bunch of dumb jokes and cheerleaders. They actually are also the over achievers. They formed the school council and are also top of the class. 

However, Danny could outsmart any of the A-crowd. Maybe that’s why they hounded her, or maybe it’s because she refused to be part of their little cliché. It’s doesn’t matter, Blake is one of her tormentors. 

"Beauty, brains and brawn, oh my" She mumbles in the tune of Wizard of Oz's Lions and Tigers and Bears. 

She smirked at the thought that no amount of brains though changes the fact that they were a bunch of bullies. 

She tried herto avoidoiding them whecouldhe chas knownShe knew most of them since grade school, she was even friends with one of them back then, but things have changed. 

She was halfway down the hn she almost turned around when Blake waved at her.

"Dually wave at me? I knew it was too good to be true that I would be A-hole free today" s,he sighs.  

Blake Conner a iswell-knownn playboy asae star Lacrosse player. All the girls in high school would die to date him, all except Danny. Danny will always see him as that 10 year old boy who was the best Dungeons Master. He would create the most awesome raids for them to play in and it would last for entire afternoons in the basement of Lucas and Jacob's house. 

The memory of her, Blake, Lucas and Jacob playing Dungeons and Dragons made her smile which she instantly regrets as Blake smiles back at her.

Now he would think it's because of him that she was smiling quickly returning to her stoic expression. Reminding herself that his the very same jerk that hurt fully pushed her away the night she needed him the most. 

She pulled her over sized hoodie over her head. The oversized hoodie that swallows her petite frame with sleeves reaching the tips of her fingers and the hem reaching just a few inches above her knees.  This has become her uniform since she stepped into high school. 

"God Dans! you still wear this?" Blake tugs the hem of her Dungeons and Dragons Hoodie. Straightening himself as he takes a step back to allow her access to the locker. 

"Dans?" She repeats in a mocking tone as she opens her locker. Biting her lower lip in disgust hearing Blake say her nickname. A name she has not heard since she was 12.

Blake noticing her reaction arched his brow as he continuous, "Or you rather I call you Daniella?" He knows  how she hated that name. 

Danny may have not like back when she was 12 but not lately, and strangely hearing Blake saying it. Shaking her head wondering why her stomach did a summersault after hearing Blake call her by her real name. She desperately hoping that he didn't notice she hurriedly stuff her backpack.

Slamming The locker shut as she turns to Blake, "What do you want Conner? Run out of girls to bother?" 

In her hurry she threw the backpack over her shoulder a little too fast that it hit a bruise on her back. Danny couldn't help by cringe. Closing her eyes trying not to cry out in pain. 

Taking a deep breath she opens her eyes to see Blake's worried face staring at her. His dark brown eyes piercing through her as his hazel locks fall on his forehead. She started to panic worried that Blake will pursue the matter. She needed to change the topic fast. 

"Something wrong Dans?" as he tries to reach for her backpack Danny flinches away. This however just made Blake more concerned. 

It took her a second to compose herself before speaking, "Just too much homework and way too much coffee. Also don't change the subject, what do you want Conner?" 

"Homework? School is done in a week." Blake obviously noticing how she was evading the question.

Desperate for him to go away she decides to answer him honestly she was bad at lying. Half truths was better "I am working on extra credit, seeing as I'll need it if I want to graduate this summer"

"Wait? Extra credit? Graduation? But you're a junior?" Blake curiously ask. 

"Thanks point the obvious, Einstein" Danny snickers. 

"Then how are you graduating with us this summer?" 

"I have somewhere to be next year. So Dad ask the school if I could do extra credit so I can finish earlier. Seeing as I am top of my class the teachers didn't mind one bit. I just have to do some summer classes then I am done. So I may not graduate with your class per say" Danny was surprise at herself, how she just opened to Blake. She couldn't explain it but there was something about him that puts her at ease. 

Nevertheless he was still Blake Conners. Maybe this is how he charms all those girls he goes out with. 

"You're the only one I know who actually work to get into summer school." Blake's expression soften. 

"So none of your FRIENDS are planning to attend advance classes? What happened to the whole A-Crowd MO of being above everyone?" Danny stressing on the word FRIENDS as she snickers.

"Well not exactly top of everyone are we?" Blake says playfully as he arches his eye brow. Danny swears he licked his lower lip when he said top but she quickly brushes it off. 

"Again Connor what is it that you want?" Danny trying to end there strange encounter. Danny stops abruptly next to a door leading to the auditorium. When she turned to face him the door swung open as a couple of student came running out. Danny losses her balance preparing herself for the impact on the concrete.

Blake grabs her arms and pulls her into his chest. A jolt of electricity hits her almost knocking her off her feet. Without thinking, she allows herself to lean on his chest. Almost like magnet his body pulled her closer. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest as his breathing raced. His hands were on her arms gripping her tighter. Like he was gripping her to keep himself from falling. Even thou Blake was a couple of feet higher than her, she still could feel his breath come closer, almost brushing her cheeks. 

She doesn't know how it happened but one minute she was walking away from Blake Conner. Now she was wrapped in his arms as she leaned on him like he life depended on it. Her knees felt weak, her heart race as blood rush to her cheeks. A fire inside her igniting a burning for Blake she never knew existed. Her mind only thinking of ever inch of his face and how could kissing him would feel. 

A horrid screaming cuts through her trance waking her up. She pushes off Blake and straightening herself. Blake must have been notice as he lets go of her slowly. Allowing his fingers to trace her arm.

Blake's fingers may not be touching her skin directly but she could feel her arms burn in with each touch.  

"Dans" Blake's deep voice was soothing.

Her cheeks felt warm and she knew she was blushing. Biting her lower lip as she held her composure. Finding the whole interaction ridiculous, blaming it to her teenage hormones. Angrily she looks up to face Blake which turns out to be a big mistake. As Blake's face was not only inches away. 

Her eyes tracing his face and stoping on his lips. All she could now think of was kissing him. She could swear Blake's eyes were a couple of shades darker than it normally was. 

What the f**k was happening to her. Danny settled at the fact that Blake was a playboy and this must be how he charms her girls. And she wouldn't have any of, she can't.

Crossing her arms  to put some distance between them she finally speaks, "for the last time Conner what is that you want? You haven't talked to me since Freshman year. So what is it that you want?" Her voice now laced with anger as she continues, "If this is some prank that your FRIENDS are videoing to post on  social media. Please just get it over with so I can go home and continue my life Blake Conner free." 

There she said it, then how come she felt bad saying it to him. Didn't she just say he doesn't deserve any of her kindness? Then why did it hurt to push Blake away. 

Visibly hurt with her accusation Blake takes a step back. Looks as her as he shakes his head and replies "Nothing! I want Nothing!" Turning on his heels and walks away. 

Something inside Danny wanted to run to him and tell him to stay. Yet, this is Blake Conner the boy who hurt watched as his friends bullied her. The boy who pretended she doesn't exist. The boy who slammed the door on her face when she needed him the most. She turns and walks the opposite way while wiping a single tear off her cheek. 

XXX

Chapter 2

Blake

- Unknown time – 

All he could see was the freckles on her flushed cheeks. The green of her eyes filled with fury. Her sweet scent intoxicated him. He just want to drown his face in her thick red curls. Touch her pale skin and watch it redden from contact. Watch her bite her lower lip as she brushed it with the tip of her tongue. All he could think of is capturing those pink lips into his. All he could smell was her. Recounting all the little details of her face just incase he missed anything. 

He can't believe she was in his arm. He lowered his face their lips only inches apart. Rain stated to fall on their faces. He looked up to see the night sky wondering when did they step outdoors. 

"Blake" Danny's small trembling voice calls him, "What are you saying?" A younger version of Danny stood in—front of him. She was in her matching Mr. Spock pajamas. Her pigtails dripped from the rain.

Shock he took a step back, knowing this night very well. It has played countless times in his mind. Over and over again even if he tried to stop himself the end was the same. He will hurt Danny tonight. His words will cut through her and what ever friendship they once had will seize to exist. 

"You need to go. "He insisted 

"Blake I just need someone to talk to. You don't understand what happened that night. I can't go back to that house. All I see is my mother." She stuttered as her teeth chattered from the cold.