Just something that I had going through my mind, sort of an alternate explanation why the teenager’s parents were away. This is a bit lengthy, and has some angst, so you might be bored with it.
[spoiler]Danielle took a breath, and tapped the side of her guitar, flexing her fingers to loosen them up. The chill air was a welcome relief after the heat of the day, and the moon shining overhead gave her plenty of light to see by.
Just as she started to strum, she paused as she heard the window beside her open.
“There you are,” Madison said, sticking her head out of the attic window. The blonde teenager took a glimpse at the countryside, and she gave a wistful sigh, “It is rather beautiful at night, isn’t it?”
“Why do you think I like to come here?” Danielle replied.
“Well, I wasn’t sure. I mean, I know you said you didn’t mind if moved in, but you’ve been quiet all day,” Madison said.
“It’s just been a long day,” Danielle said. She patted a spot beside her, “If you want to join me, come on.”
Madison took a slight breath out of hesitation, then clambered out the window, making sure to stay well away from the edge and settled down by Danielle’s side. Madison ran a hand through her hair, and said, “Thanks again for allowing me to move in.”
“No problem,” Danielle said, “Though I apologize if it is a little crowded.”
Madison drew her knees up to her chin, “If you don’t mind my asking, but what is the deal with Jillian and Kelly? They practically have been by your side since I met them.”
Danielle shrugged, “I really couldn’t tell you.”
Madison cocked her head to one side, “Then how did you meet? I mean, I recognize Kelly from the news, but not the other one…”
Danielle rested her guitar on her knee, “Believe it or not, Kelly was my neighbor. I only saw her the few times the neighborhood came together. As for Jillian, I never saw her before she tried to steal from me.”
“What?” Madison said in a voice louder than she met, “Are you serious?”
“Yep,” Danielle said, “Her and Lyle…”
“Lyle? Who’s Lyle,” Madison interrupted.
“Jillian’s boyfriend,” Danielle explained, “They knocked on my door, asking for help. I…”
Danielle’s face reddened, “I was about to turn them away, but my nephew pleaded that I take them in.”
“But you said Jillian tried to steal from you, didn’t she?” Madison asked.
“Yes. I…I caught them in the act. I was going to boot them out, but given how dangerous things were…well, I gave them a second chance,” Danielle said.
“So, where’s Lyle?” Madison asked, “Is he…one of the infected?”
“I really don’t know. After I saved them from Rosie and Driver…” Danielle answered.
“Wait, you knew Rosie and Driver as well?” Madison asked, confused.
“Sort-of. Jillian and Lyle went back to get the rest of their stuff, and I…well, I didn’t trust them, so I followed. They got jumped by Rosie, Driver, and their friend Dylan. They were about to get robbed, maybe worse…and I intervened,” Danielle said, her face getting a distant look.
“Shit, no wonder Rosie and Driver hate your guts,” Madison said with a sigh, “But it makes sense Jillian would stand by your side. You saved her…although, from the looks she’s been giving your way, I think there might be something more.”
“Really?” Danielle said with wonder, then shook her head, “Nah, it can’t be. I mean, she has a boyfriend…”
Madison snorted, and punched Danielle’s shoulder playfully, “Maybe she goes both ways. Trust me she’s interested in you. So, what happened with Lyle? You…you didn’t shoot him, did you?”
“Of course not. He…he freaked out, argued with Jillian, and then left. So, she’s been by my side since. Even if things started rough, she’s had my back since…and she’s good with Logan,” Danielle said.
“That’s really important to you, isn’t it?” Madison said.
Danielle shrugged, “I don’t think I was cut out to be a parent. As it is, I don’t have much time to spend with him with all my other duties. However, Jillian is helping with that. So is Kelly, for that matter.”
Madison bit her lip, “They should. You’re practically keeping a roof over their head, and making sure they’re fed.” Then Madison’s cheeks reddened, “…and I guess me as well. I promise I won’t be a burden.”
“I never even gave it a second thought,” Danielle lied, “But if you don’t mind me asking, why did you move out from Brody?”
“Mostly for my health,” Madison answered, “He…he is one of the sloppiest people you could ever know. When I saw his underwear in the hallway floor, well, I told him to start cleaning up or else…”
“Did he?”
“No,” Madison said, “If anything, he got worse. So, I took all his underwear, put it in a trashcan, and set it on fire.”
Danielle laughed, “I thought I smelled burning rubber.”
“Elastic, actually. It wasn’t to much longer when I asked if you had room,” Madison grinned back.
Madison looked off in the distance, and blew a strand of hair out of her face, “It’s weird. Just six months ago, my biggest concern was what I was going to wear to the Prom.”
Danielle briefly looked at Madison’s curvy figure, and her cheeks reddened at the thought of a form-hugging dress. Instead, she said, “Oh? Did you know what you were going to wear?”
Madison closed her eyes, “I had my eyes on this peach dress, but…” She shook her head, “And you?”
Danielle gulped, “Oh…I didn’t have a dress.”
“Why not?” Madison asked.
Danielle sighed, “For one thing, I didn’t have a date. I know many people go stag, but…well, it doesn’t matter. For another, money was so tight, even with a part-time job…well, I couldn’t justify saving money for a silly dance.”
“It sounds…rough. Couldn’t your parents have helped?” Madison asked, then realized that she might have come off as a little judgmental, though Danielle didn’t seem to notice it.
“No,” Danielle replied thoughtfully, “You know I was taking care of Logan?”
“You said his mother was getting treated at the hospital,” Madison said.
“Yes…and that was also why my parents weren’t home,” Danielle said slowly, “My parents…well, Dad had a job interview out of state, and Mom was scouting neighborhoods. Our house…our house was mortgaged to the hilt. Even with insurance…my sister didn’t have enough money, so Mom and Dad were doing what they could.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry…” Madison said, “If…if I had known…” She let the words die since she didn’t have anything else to add.
Danielle looked toward the distance, “So, next year, I would have been somewhere else for my senior year. When I went to your party…” Danielled almost added, “It was to see you at least one more time” but instead spoke aloud “It was to try and take my mind off things.”
“Well, I’m glad you came to the party…” Madison said.
“Really?” Danielle replied, biting the inside of her cheek, “I tried to talk to you, but once your friends came around…” Danielle shook her head, “It doesn’t matter. It isn’t like I would have stood a chance, anyways…”
Silence filled the night between the two of them, then Madison added, “Would you be mad if I said…well…I hoped we might have gone to the same college?”
“?” Danielle gave Madison a quizzical look.
“We…we would have been away from high school…I wouldn’t have to play their stupid social games,” Madison continued, “I mean, we were friends in elementary school…and I missed that once we hit junior high.”
Danielle exhaled softly, “I appreciate the thought, but it wouldn’t have worked. I…I wasn’t going to college. Not that my grades were all that bad, but when my sister got sick…Mom and Dad had saved some money for my college fund. I told them to use it…there was a huge fight…my sister even sided with my parents, but as I told them…I didn’t care about my future if it might help my sister keep hers.”
Danielle laughed bitterly, “But I guess fate decided to take a shit on everything. With the rise of the infected…”
Madison laid a reassuring hand on Danielle’s shoulder, and the two teenagers let quiet fill the air once again for a couple more minutes.
[/spoiler]