Chapter 2

On her way home, Danielle had tried squeezing her brilliant brain to find a better way to get even closer to James. There must be a way, so she kept thinking until she found herself facing the door of their house. She was so unaware how she got home with an absent-minded mind. She didn't even realized how dangerous it was. What if she had been hit by a car? She was about to hold the doorknob when her mom opened it up with some garbage on her hand.

"Hey honey, you're home!" after putting the garbage into the bin, she turned to Danielle and kissed her.

"How's your grade?"

Danielle ignored her mom talking  because she still couldn't think of a better way. She remained silent while her mom was making her way entering their house. She had eaten already but still her brain won't give her what she wanted.

"Let me guess, you did well on your grades, right?" her mom halted her thought, but after hearing the word 'grades', she finally got an idea that she had been thinking for. Why it didn't came up earlier? She slightly hit her forehead and ran quickly to her mother,  stooping so low and begging.

"Mom, let me transfer to Burkely this coming school year. Please..." on her knee, she said.

"What! But why? Was there something bad happened at school?" her mom tried to get her up.

"I don't want to be bullied anymore. I got poor grades since I can't concentrate on the class."

The truth was, she got poor grades because she had been busy taking care of James' business.

"That school is too expensive. We can't afford it. You've been bullied for years but you never complain, and now you suddenly want to  transfer? Tell me honestly, honey,'' her mom doubted the idea of transferring for she knew that no matter how her daughter had been bullied, Danielle always had a great smile to face the school everyday. She didn't take the bully very seriously. Or maybe, her mom didn't know that her daughter had an inspiration at school.

"N~No. Nothing bad happened. I'm just...I'm so tired of being bullied. Mom, please,'' she stuttered.

''But we can't afford it''.

They were not rich. They're were just middle class living in a big city. If it's not because of his father working abroad as Coach in basketball team, they couldn't afford to send her in private school. And then suddenly she wanted to transfer in a more expensive one.

''Mom, I  want change.  Besides, Terrence is going with me. And if it didn't work, I promise I will enroll in public school. Just this once mom, please,'' she was pleading, hoping it would work. 

Shoot! She was making another alibi again. Another lie that could ruin her mom's trust, but she was hopeless. She couldn't be blamed. That was the last resort. If she couldn't transfer, she could no longer see the apple of her eye ~ the only reason behind all these alibi and lies.

"Okay, fine! But I will check on that. If I find out you're only messing up with me, then you'll be grounded! Go up and change, the dinner will be served at seven," her mom headed to the kitchen.

That was another big problem! What if her mother found out that these are all lies? Then it would be the end of everything. All the efforts, stalking, fantasizing would be gone. She bit her lower lip as she thought about the dooms day she was heading. She couldn't let that happen, so she sneak out the window and ran quickly to Terrence's house. As she got there, she was throwing a stone in Terence's window. She kept throwing until he finally opened it to check.

"What!" he snorted after realizing it's Danielle.

"Shhh...Lower your voice. Come down here," she said in hush tone.

Terrence had no choice, so he went down to check why his bestfriend was acting weird again.

"What is it?" he sounded tired.

"You're my bestfriend, right?" she had to be convincing, so she gave him a pathetic look.

"Unfortunately, yes!"

If someone didn't know Danielle personally, first impression would be crabby or naggy. But only for one person, only for James. Thankfully, Terrence knew her well being, so he fully understood.

"Friends help each other, right?" she was asking for  confirmation so he couldn't refuse her.

"W~wait! I have a bad feeling about this. Did you messed up, didn't you? You're weird again.''

"Nah! Just a lil...'' she paused.

''Just a little mess and I'm sure it will be okay with your help. Go with me to Burkely next school year," she continued.

"No! No! And no!" He turned away to get inside the house but Danielle was so quick to block his way and kneeled with a pathetic look.

"Please, help me. I would be dead if you are not going with me.''

"What have you done crazy again?"

"I uh...I lied mom why I need to transfer to Burkely. I said I'm so tired of bullying and I need a fresh start there. But she didn't let me to, so I said you will be going with me."

"What? Are you crazy? Is that what you called 'a little mess'? You didn't even ask me, what if my parents won't let me go?''

"I have no choice. I'm sure you can do it, I believe you. I can't live without James so please, help me. You're the only person in this world that can help me with these things."

"Could you stop calling that name? It brings disaster to me," he scratched his head in frustration.

"Please...please...please" she kept pleading with her signatured pathetic look. She had even managed to have a fake teary eye.

"Fine! This would be the last. If this turns to another disaster again, I'm telling you, brace yourself for the punishment.''

"Sir, yes sir!'' as if she was a soldier who received a particular directive from a senior.

''Thanks" she hugged him in joy.

It was really hard to know why he was so obedient to her despite the fact that it would be a disaster to him. He was spoiling her so much.