Faded Hope

Acceptance

Danielle's POV

    Running to catch up to Lexxi, thoughts running rampant through my head. The biggest of which was, how did they not see this as insensitive? It couldn't even, remotely, look like an accident. And why on her birthday, did they not think of her feelings? "Of course not they're men," she answered her thoughts. Did she want her brother to be happy? yes, her best friend? again yes. But how to do it is where everything got screwed up. I suppose this is the reason you don't leave a man to do a woman's job.

    "Lex, You ok hun?" Dani wanted to know, as she caught up with Lexxi.

    "No, How could they ask him here?" Alexxia asked. "No offense, I know he is still your brother. But seriously after everything that happened, how? And Why would he accept knowing it was my party?"

    Dani reasoned, "I don't think they were thinking about the whole scenario, and I know your hurt, even angry still, but I believe the boys were looking at a little bit of normalcy. you know like it used to be? I'm sure they didn't intend to make you feel scared or upset. They love you just as much as you do them, they would never hurt you on purpose. And as for Daemien, He might not have known, you know how sneaky Dare can be, when he thinks he's doing something he feels is right."

    "I know that I just wish I could have been prepared to run into him. I didn't figure he would be here. I would have never believed Jeremy would ask him, I should have though, it's not like Jeremy has a lot of friends around this town. " Lexxi rationalized.

    "So do you wanna try to go enjoy the party, yet? Knowing the guys, they are freaking out wondering where we are." Dani inquired

    "Not exactly, but let's go." Lexxi sputtered. And turned around to head back to the bonfire.

    I am so glad Lexxi's temper usually flares fast and goes away faster, Dani thought. The two girls walked back to the fire silently. Giving me time to try to think this whole mess through, as well as, come up with a solution.

    Trying to come up with a plan to get them at least talking as friends again, shouldn't be that hard should it, I wondered. Once I figure it out maybe I'll let the two idiots help, but not until I have a plan and it's perfect.

    When we get back to the fire pit Jeremy is the only one there.

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Darius POV

    I sped in my car to pick up Daemien, knowing he would be extremely grumpy would be an understatement. I knew my brother had major anger issues, he always has. He used to punch me just because I looked at him wrong. Four years ago, I had wondered if there were times he had done that to Alexxia too. Maybe now we are older he would have grown out of that, I hope, otherwise, this is about to hurt.

    I knew this was going to go all kinds of wrong, when I was about a mile away from the party only to find him stomping his boots as he walked, proving exactly how pissed off he still was. So I cautiously pulled up behind him and spoke to him out the window, "Hey D come on, get in." To which, I wasn't sure if I was ignored, or he was just so mad he wasn't hearing anything around him. I expected it to be the latter, so I then pulled my car up in front of him and stepped out.

    "Go away!" Daemien ground out, trying to get control of his Anger, and failing.

    "Not happening, bro. I am not leaving you to walk." I stated matter of factly.

    "I don't need a damn babysitter, Least of all one younger than me." He growled.

    "Ugh by all of two minutes, come on you can't hold that against me too. Not my fault your pushy." I tried with a cautious grin. "besides Dani beat you to it."

    With that statement fueling the fire, Daemien kicked the car and told me, "Leave now, without me."

    While I am about to reply my phone rings. I answer it on speaker, as Daemien starts walking again. I  tell Danielle to talk to Daemien as he's not listening to reason.

    "Hey Dae, I need to ask you to come back, please. Alexxia said, and I quote, Damien and Darius can come back, they were invited by my brother because they are his friends. She requests only that you stay away from her for now while she copes with herself. Like the other side of the fire." Dani encourages. "At least it's a chance to be with friends, right? Maybe it will help you both cope with the past, that you are failing to. "

    "I need to hear that from her if that's possible." Daemien spoke hopefully. His anger finally slowly subsiding.

    "Just a minute." Came Danielle's voice almost in a whisper. While they could hear her talking to Lexxi, They could hear and understand what she said, she wouldn't get on the phone though.

    Lexxi stated, "It is time for them to come back to the party, I would feel bad if my brother was unhappy and he did invite both."

    "We will be right there. Thanks, Dani." I replied, watching Daemien climbing in the car, with his head down in thought. I followed, turning the car around and heading back. Glad things are working out better than imagined, at least, it's a start at the possible friendship between the two of them again.

**************

    Alexxia, Danielle, and Jeremy sat at the fireside when the boys got back. Jeremy got up and grabbed drinks and served all of them, clinking his bottle against each as he handed them out. Once back to his seat he made a toast, "To my wonderful sister, whose temper could rival the flames of hell for their flair, her forgiveness like that of a saint, and to her love that is so strong, it could open the gates of heaven. Happy birthday, Lex, Now let's PARTY!"

    "HERE! HERE!" the group shouted. 

    The conversation flowed freely around the fire, except for Daemien and Alexxia, They were too busy thinking to themselves. She was so lost in thought she had tuned out. Her thoughts taking control, as she stared into the fire blankly. "How could he dare think he belonged here after what he did? Let alone not coming to see me after it happened? Four years! I was his girl and he cut me out like I didn't matter! No contact after that stupid fight, Why? Did he really not care, or was there something else in his head?" Alexxia wondered to herself. 

   staring into the fire, lost in his mind, Daemien was still fuming at how Jeremy and Darius had manipulated them. Still not able to wrap his head around what they could have been thinking.