From that day on the two women had connected, become friends. Not only had they’re children Danny and Michelle had become friends. Every day Michelle would be over Danny’s house, or Danny would come over Michelle’s. As the years past, Danny and Michelle just became inseparable. They were about ten at the time, when things really became clear that they were best friends, They were outside Michelle’s house playing a game of one on one basketball. Danny’s favorite game to play with Michelle since he always won. Danny had just made a two-pointer and rubbing it in Michelle’s face when the biggest bully in elementary school Jesse Blue went riding down the street on his brand new two-wheeler bike, but saw them playing basketball and stopped at Michelle’s house. Danny stopped bouncing the ball, “What do you want Blue?” He smiled, “I just got myself a set of new wheels.” He rubbed his hand on the seat, “She’s a ten speed.” He had a mocking look on his face. “Yeah…So, your point would be.” “Oh nothing…” He looked over at Michelle who had her arms crossed just starring at the two of them, Rival’s of the 5th grade class. “Can I play?” Jesse knocked the ball out of Danny’s hand. Danny turned around his face red, “No…sorry…can’t. Only a 2 player game.” “Then I’ll be on little Michelle’s team…I can guarantee she needs the help.” “Shut up…Jesse!” Michelle folded her arms, and tapped her foot. Jesse laughed, “Oh I see, it’s just for you and your little girlfriend Danny.” Danny got defensive “She’s not my girlfriend!” You heard Michelle’s little voice, “Eww!” Jesse laughed, and started bouncing the ball, “So what do you say Danny, how about a little game of one on one…” “Whoop on him Danny!” Michelle got all excited. Danny took off his sweater, even though it was a cold fall day, “Alright Blue, your going down! I’ll even let you take the ball out.” The game lasted about fifteen minutes, with Jesse cheating every chance he got, pushing Danny down, tripping him, tricking him. But even through all his efforts, Danny still beat him 10-7. Danny was out of breath and sat down on the ball, “There Blue…I beat ya! What you got to say now!” Jesse ran over to his bike and put the kickstand up, “You cheated! I’m gonna tell the whole class tomorrow.” “Go ahead! They won’t believe you anyway!” Jesse peddled his way out of the driveway, and hurried down the street. Maureen yelled from the window, “Danny honey, put back on your sweater before you catch phenomena.” “Yes, Mrs. Bauer.” Danny put back on his brother’s old football sweatshirt on, and picked up the basketball and looked at Michelle. “How about another game?” “Fine, but I get ball first…You always get it.” “Cause I always beat you!” “Not fairly!” “Fine…I’ll give you a free shot.” They continued to argue, and play until the sunset, and the street lights came on, then went inside, knowing they’d do the same thing the next day.
A few years later in they’re early teens, Danny had just turned fourteen and Michelle had just turned thirteen. Danny was up in his room playing his newest “SEGA” game that he had gotten for his birthday, when the phone game, he didn’t peel his eye’s away from the screen, “Hello?” “Danny?” “Hey, What’s up Michelle.” “Nothing, I’m bored…wanna do something?” “Yeah sure, come on down we can play SEGA or something.” “Alright be down in a few, C-ya.” “Bye.” Danny paused his game and poked his head out the door, “Mom!” She came from around the corner, with his little sister Pilar following right behind her carrying her Barbie doll. “What is it Danny? I’m trying to clean up your sister’s room.” “Michelle’s coming over, alright?” “Yeah, ok…” Danny closed his door, and went back to his game, about five minutes later Michelle showed up at the Santos door, Carmen answered with a basket full of dirty clothes, she blew her hair out of her face, “Hey Honey.” “Hi, Mrs. Santos.” “Danny’s upstairs in his room…Just go ahead up.” “Ok.” Michelle ran up the stairs to Danny’s room, she opened the door, and saw Danny talking to his screen “Come on! Get ‘em! YEAH!” Michelle walked over and sat down on Danny’s bed, next to Danny. “Hey Michelle” Danny said not moving his head. “What are you playing?” “Its this new NFL Football game I got…” “Can I play?” “You’ll loose!” Michelle looked at him, “Oh I will not! Give me the remote…” Michelle pulled at it. “Michelle let go!” “No! Let me play!” Michelle pulled harder, and so did Danny, before either one knew what hit them, the remote got unplugged the game was lost. Danny looked at the screen then back at Michelle, “See! I told you, you would loose the game!” “It’s your fault! You wouldn’t let me play!” “My fault? It’s not my fault you have no patience!” “I do to have patience, you’re just a remote hog.” “Yeah Bite Me.” “Oh Shut Up!” Danny got up off the bed, and turned off the T.V. “You are so…” Michelle crossed her arms, “I’m so what?” “…I don’t know…your just you!” “Oh that made a lot of sense!” “Whatever, let’s go do something I’m bored.” “Fine.” Danny grabbed his new jacket off his chair, Michelle looked at him “Leather?” “My dad got it for me, so shut up!” “I didn’t say anything, jeez!” “Oh whatever…” They continued to argue all the way outside. When they got outside, nothing changed they were still bored, “Wanna play basketball?” “No…you’ll just beat me, you always beat me.” Danny shook his head, “True…” Michelle was going to say something, but a group of girls walked by, one in particular she didn’t like at all, and of course she’s the one who started talking to Danny. “Hey Danny…” “Oh Hey Drew.” She didn’t stop walking, since her friend’s hadn’t, “Nice Jacket.” Danny smiled his sly smile, “Yeah…” “See you around.” She smiled and turned back around not facing him anymore. Michelle was standing there, like she usually did…with her arms crossed. Michelle knew the reason why she hated Drew, she “blossomed” early, she was tall, thin…had gorgeous long black hair, and the guys in the eighth grade swooned over her, including Danny, which just irked her even more. Michelle repeated in a mocking voice, “Nice jacket Danny…” Danny looked over at her, “What’s your problem?” “Nothing…just that the drool from your lip is a little annoying.” “I was not drooling.” “Well it was just as bad! Why don’t you just go out with her and get it over with!” “Maybe I will!” “Fine!” “Fine!” After that little argument match was over with, “I’ll go get the basketball…” “Alright…” No matter what they did, they always ended up playing at least one game of basketball a night. Michelle just looked at him as he walked in the opposite direction of her to go get the basketball. That’s when it became clear, she wasn’t just jealous cause she hadn’t “changed” like Drew had, but that things would be different if Danny had a girlfriend, that no one would joke anymore about “Michelle and Danny together forever…” , she was also jealous of Drew because she could have Danny if she wanted him bad enough.
As the days, weeks, and years passed Danny had hit his growth spurt and Michelle was beginning to become more then just Danny best friend that he could pick on. She was beginning to get noticed. She had used to hate her curly hair and always tie it back, but now she was letting her curls fall loosely at her back. She started wearing make-up as well, not so much that it looked tacky but just enough to make her stand out. She wasn’t exactly tall, she was mid-height almost short, but it had its advantages anyone she dated would be taller. Danny had always been “cute” but over the years, he had grown into one of them most beautiful people in High School. All the girls in school envied Michelle in the way, that she could talk to him whenever she wanted, where ever she wanted. One girl especially always had her eye out for Danny, and that was none other then Ms. Drew Jacobs. He still had his leather jacket, it may not have been the same one he had gotten when he was fourteen, but it still made him stand out in a crowd. With his chocolate curls, and tall lean figure he was hard to miss. It was the beginning of they’re senior year at Springfield High, that everything changed. Michelle was down waiting for Danny to pick her up, like he had been doing for almost two years now. Even though Michelle had her license, she felt no need to bring her car when Danny could just pick her up. Danny was late as usual, and Michelle would have his head this time because she wanted to get there a little early to see Justin Michael’s in the office. Justin, was…well I guess you can say the opposite of Danny, Blonde hair, blue eyes, mid-height yet taller then Michelle, and he was the biggest prep there was, which meant another one of Danny’s rivals. Michelle heard Danny’s car horn, grabbed her books and headed outside. Needless to say she wasn’t in her regular…well she wasn’t wearing what she would normally wear. She had on a black skirt that showed off her legs just a little too much if you were to ask Danny. Silver chain belt, with a white tank top and a matching black coat over it. It wasn’t something that Danny would expect to see Michelle Bauer in. She walked to the car, and for some reason Danny couldn’t keep his eyes off Michelle, she saw this and automatically thought she had something on her. “What? Is there something on my skirt?” He shook his head no, “Then What is it Danny…Jeez…Your creeping me out, stop starring at me!” Danny snapped out of it, “So…why you all dolled up?” Michelle fixed her skirt, “I’m not…” Danny laughed as he pulled out of the driveway, “Yeah right…Michelle, you can’t lie to me, I can see right through you.” Michelle sighed and then smiled and got excited all in one, “Well…Justin Michael’s is going to be down at the office today, and well…prom’s coming up…so I’m seizing the opportunity.” She fluffed up her hair, but turned her head when she heard Danny’s uncontrollable laughter, “You want to go to prom with…Justin…Michael’s.” “Yeah so what?” “He’s a geek!” “Oh he is not, he could kick your butt.” “Oh I would pay to see that happen, I would kill Justin.” “Keep telling yourself that…besides you’re just as bad with your date Drew Jacobs…Could you be anymore tacky?” “Drew is not tacky…she just has her own style.” “Whatever just drive…” “What do you think I’m doing?” “Why do you turn everything into a fight?” “I don’t, you do!” “I do not!” “Oh just shut up…” “Don’t tell me to shut up, or I’ll just Justin on your butt…” Michelle smiled with that one. Danny turned around, about to say a good comeback, when he saw Michelle’s smile. He chuckled and turned back to face the road, “Cute Michelle…Real…Cute.” “I thought so too…glad we agree on something.” They both laughed, and Danny pulled into the parking lot of the High School. They both got out, Danny only carrying one book and a notebook, and Michelle with her book bag around one shoulder. They were still laughing and talking while walking up to the front door, when Drew stopped Danny. Michelle didn’t even bother to argue, “Talk to you later…” And she kept walking, she turned away with a face that seemed hurt, but didn’t know why. She walked through the front doors to the front office to meet Justin, not knowing Danny had the same face when he saw her walk away from him.
