A few days past by and soon it was the day before Brian had to leave. Coincidentally it was also Danielle's birthday. She decided to have him over as well as some of her friends. She sat in the living room on her coucn next to Gina and John. Brian was off talking to her three friends Ginger, Heather and Loretta.
"So, where's you boyfriend?" Gina asked Danielle. "He'll be a little late. Please promise me no arguing tonight, okay? I'm not in the mood and plus it's the last night we get to see Brian. I don't think he wants to go back to Orlando with the memory of you and Richard fighting." Gina nodded. "Okay I promise." Gina smiled and hugged her. "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." Danielle said and stood up. "I'm getting a drink, want anything?" Gina and John both shook their heads 'no'. Danielle nodded and headed to the kitchen. She walked in and saw Brian hunched over looking in the fridge. "Need some help?" Danielle asked. Brian turned and smiled. "Got any soda?" Danielle nodded and pulled two cans out from the back and handed him one. "Thanks." He said. Danielle smiled.
Brian was about to turn back into the living room but Danielle stopped him. "Brian, can I ask you something?" Brian nodded and leaned up against the counter. "Gina told me you two were talking about me in the supermarket the other day. Is something up?" Brian could feel his heart almost stop. What did Gina tell her? He didn't know what to say. "I...uh..well I told her that..." Her eyes were shimmering as she stared at him. He wanted to tell her so bad, but couldn't. "I'm really glad we became close over this past month. Your friendship means a lot to me and I'm gonna miss you. I was hoping we could stay in touch." Danielle smiled. "Brian, I'm glad we did too. Of course we can stay in touch. In fact, we better."
She was about to hug him when a voice interupted them. "Happy Birthday baby doll." Brian looked up and felt his heart drop. "Hi Richard." Danielle said with a smile. She walked over to him and kissed him lightly. Brian curled his hands in a fist next to his body. "Brian, this is Richard." Danielle said. Richard put his hand out infront of him. "Nice to meet you."
Brian shook it and then quickly let go like his hand had some sort of disease on it. Brian hated everything about him. His stupid looking curly brown hair, his scruffy goatee, his cheesy smile. Brian watched as Richard wrapped his arms around Danielle. "I'm saving my present for tonight." He said raising his eyebrows and licking his lips. Brian almost threw up. He quickly walked out of the kitchen and into the living room before he had to hear anything else.
Later in the night Richard made his way next to Brian on the couch. Brian was stuck talking to him by himself. He was hoping someone would save him but they were all to wrapped up in their own conversations. "You and Danielle have been together for two years, huh?" Richard nodded and took a sip of his beer. "Yeah. We'll probably get married but I haven't asked her yet." Real enthusiastic. Brian though. If that was him he'd be shouting from the mountain tops that he wanted to marry her.
Richard continued. "Once we do get married she'll quite that stupid bookstore job. She can keep the teaching one since that doesn't take up most of the day. I would want her home a lot so she can take care of the kids." Brian knew Danielle didn't want to be some house wife who sat around the house all day. "Well of course she'll get some of her writing published." Brian stated. Richard rolled his eyes. "That will have to stop too. I mean she can do it for fun but it won't waste to much of her time. Do you honestly think anything of hers would get published anyway?"
Brian's mouth hung open. He couldn't believe how much of a jerk this guy was. What does Danielle see in him? "I've read some of her stuff and it is amazing. She could really make it if she put her stuff out into the world." Richard shrugged his shoulders. "What would you know about writing anyway?" Brian was ready to explode but before he could he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Me and Ginger got into a discussion about the NBA, do you think you could help us figure something out?" Brian looked up and saw Gina looking down at him. He knew she was saving him from punching Richards lights out. He stood and followed Gina to the other side of the room without looking back at Richard.
The night was just about over and everyone had gone home except Richard and Brian. Danielle told Richard she'd be right back and walked Brian down to his car. Brian leaned up against it as he and Danielle said good-bye. "You'll call me when you get home?" She asked. Brian nodded. "Yup. The tour starts next week so I'll be bored. Expect me to call a lot." Danielle smiled. "Okay."
They were silent for a moment, then Brian got an idea. "Why don't you come see us one weekend? You and Gina?" "Well I'll see you when you come here." Danielle said. Brian sighed. "Yeah, but that's the last date of the tour. Come see us in another city. How about New York? Thats in a little more than a month." Danielle thought about it for a moment. "School would be out by then. Just a weekend?" Brian nodded. Danielle smiled. "Okay. But I'll have to talk this over with Gina."
Brian smiled widely and hugged her. "Okay. We'll talk about it. I gotta go." Danielle frowned. "I'm sorry I can't go to the airport with you tomorrow but I have class and all." "It's fine." Brian said. "I'll miss you kid." Danielle said, giving him one last hug. Brian got in the car and waved good-bye. Danielle watched him drive away. She couldn't wait to see him in New York city.
