Like You Mean It

  “I promise you’ll love it. Would you mind grabbing everything?”

  Danni rose from the bed to retrieve the gift bag from the table and smiled when she realized Darren had already opened everything. “How do you wanna do this?” she asked and then turned pink.

  Darren grinned as he slid over in his bed. “You can sit next to me and we’ll put the DVD player on the tray.”

  Danni’s eyes darted toward the door. “Are you sure the nurses won’t get mad if I sit on your bed for that long?”

  “Nah, they won’t care,” Darren assured her.

  Danni placed the DVD player on the tray attached to the bed before sitting back down. Not wanting to risk bumping Darren’s left side, she sat on his right. As soon as she was settled, she pulled the tray toward them and locked it in place.

  Though Casablanca was good, Danni found it hard to watch on a seven-inch screen and the sound wasn’t the best quality either. Despite the volume being turned up full blast, she had a hard time hearing it.

  “Maybe we should get the headphones,” Darren suggested.

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” Danni said, and he grinned at her.

  She popped from his bed just long enough to grab the headphones from the box. After plugging them into the side of the tiny movie player, she placed one ear bud in her left ear and passed the other one to Darren for his right.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  Danni smiled. “I should be thanking you.”

  “Why?”

  “For giving me the best kiss of my life,” she whispered.

  Darren leaned in closer to her. “Yeah, well, come here and I’ll give you another one.”

  The sweet sting of his lips pressing on hers made Danni forget about Casablanca, which was already blaring in her ear. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

  Chapter Six

  Darren Jacobs kissed me. Darren Jacobs kissed me.

  Over and over, Danni repeated the words to herself. She had been saying them in her mind ever since leaving the hospital the night before, as if that would make them real. The kiss didn’t feel real anymore and last night seemed a million miles away. Today, in the real world of Taft High, guys like Darren didn’t kiss girls like her.

  As she emerged from her car parked in front of the school, Danni wondered if her friends would notice anything different about her. Would getting her first kiss show on her face? If so, she would know it really did happen.

  Her friends already stood on the sidewalk. Both girls waved as Danni approached them.

  “Hey,” Chelsea called. “How was your visit with Darren?”

  “Good,” Danni mumbled.

  “You’re blushing, Danni,” Marcy teased.

  “I am not,” Danni said, feeling the heat of the lie in her cheeks.

  Chelsea grinned. “Yes, you are! How good a visit are we talking about?”

  Danni cast a hasty glance around to make sure none of the students streaming past them were interested in what she was about to say. “He kissed me.”

  “Darren Jacobs kissed you?” Marcy shrieked.

  “Not so loud,” Danni ordered.

  “Darren Jacobs kissed you?” Marcy repeated in a quieter voice.

  “Yes,” Danni answered.

  “How was it?” Chelsea asked.

  “Wonderful,” Danni murmured as she recalled how soft his lips felt on hers.

  “Didn’t it feel weird?” Marcy asked.

  Danni frowned. “Why would it feel weird?”

  “You know, since he’s only got one arm now,” Marcy said as her cheeks turned pink.

  “I wasn’t kissing his arm,” Danni reminded them.

  “That’s because he hasn’t got one,” Chelsea said.

  “That’s not true. He does have one,” Marcy joked, and the two girls cracked up.

  Danni glared at both of them. “Don’t be mean.”

  “Sorry,” Chelsea said.

  “So, does this mean you guys are going out now?” Marcy asked.

  The first bell of the morning rang, and the girls parted ways with Marcy’s question still hanging in the air. Danni didn’t want to admit she didn’t know because she and Darren hadn’t talked about it. Already, she guessed what they would say.

  Marcy, with her eternal optimism and loyalty, would smile and say something encouraging about how Darren thought kissing her must mean they were going out. Being more practical, Chelsea would say Danni should never assume something like that just because he kissed her. She might even go as far as saying that Darren kissed her to see if he could still get a girl. Of course, Danni would point out she wasn’t a fair test because of her pathetic four year crush on him, but that wouldn’t matter to Chelsea. Her response would be something like, ‘He’s using you, Danni. You’re just too in love with him to see it.’ That would make Danni mad, but only because she wouldn’t want to face the possibility that it could be true.

  * * *

  Darren’s eyes lit up when Danni entered his hospital room. “Hey, you’re so late I thought you might not come tonight.”

  “Hey, Danni,” Justin greeted her. “Guess I’ll be going.”

  Danni frowned. “What?”

  “Shift change,” he replied with a sly grin. “See you guys later.”

  “What took you so long?” Darren asked as Danni went to sit in the chair that Justin just vacated.

  “I thought I’d have a better chance of seeing you awake if I waited ’til later,” Danni joked.

  “Sorry about that. I have physical therapy after lunch and it kind of wipes me out.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  “Yeah, the therapist works on teaching me how to do things right handed and then moves what’s left of my other arm,” Darren explained. “By the time it’s over, I’m ready for some pain meds and I end up sleeping these weird hours. It sucks because I’m up late at night and I’m alone.”

  “You could watch TV,” Danni suggested. “You do have fifty of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest movies.”

  Darren smiled. “I told you I’m saving those for us to watch together.”

  “All of them? Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, if you want to.”

  “I do, but I gave you those so you would have something to help you pass the time. You know, like when you’re up alone late at night.”

  Darren’s expression darkened. “The nights are the worst. It’s when I feel the most phantom pains.”

  “Why don’t you take pain meds then?” Danni asked.

  “It won’t help,” he said. “I’m feeling pain in an arm that’s not there.”

  “You can always call me if you need someone to talk to.”

  “Wouldn’t your mom be mad if you got a call that late? Sometimes I’m up past midnight.”

  “You can call my cell phone,” Danni said. “I’ll keep it by my bed, and my mom won’t even hear it ring.”

  “I’d like that,” Darren said softly.

  The way he melded his eyes to hers made it difficult to sit still. God, how did he do that? No one else could look at her and make her feel things like that. Maybe that could be enough; maybe they didn’t need to actually date. Being Darren’s friend might not be so bad. At least she would have an excuse to see him every day and still have him look at her that way.

  “Uh, Darren, about yesterday,” Danni began.

  A worried look flickered across his face. “What about it?”

  “I liked kissing you,” Danni said as a blush crept into her cheeks, “but I understand if you’re sorry about it.”

  Darren knitted his eyebrows together. “Why would I be sorry?”

  “Oh, you know, because I’m this nerdy girl you kissed because you felt bad about the crush I’ve had on you all these years,” Danni said, trying to force a laugh.

  “That’s kind of funny,” Darren said. “Ever since you left last night, I’ve been thinking maybe you were sorry for kissing me.”

  “What? Why?”

/>   “Oh, you know, I’m this jock who used to be the most popular guy in school until I lost my arm, and you felt sorry for me and kissed me to make me feel better,” Darren said with a slight grin.

  “I’m not sorry we kissed. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I left.”

  “Me neither. Maybe we should do it again.”

  “Yeah, maybe we should.”

  Darren slid across the bed to make room for Danni to sit beside him. Just as she leaned down to kiss him, Sally burst into the room pushing the dinner cart. Danni froze as she waited for Sally to yell at her for sitting on Darren’s bed.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Sally said with a wide smile. “You know, things sure have changed since I was a teenager.”

  Darren frowned. “What?”

  “I never kissed my friends like that,” Sally explained, placing the dinner tray on the rolling table beside the bed.

  “Danni’s not my friend,” Darren said, and Danni’s heart constricted. “She’s my girlfriend.”

  Sally nodded. “That explains some things. I’ll see you two later. I’ve got some more deliveries to make.”

  “You want me to be your girlfriend?” Danni gasped. “You don’t even know me.”

  “I know enough,” Darren insisted.

  “Really? Like what?”

  He grinned at her. “You seriously want me to say it?”

  “Just say it.”

  “Fine.” Darren heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Your name is Danielle, but you like to be called Danni. You’re a senior at Taft High. Your parents are divorced, and you live with your mom and your older brother. Your favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz, now that the flying monkeys don’t scare the crap out of you anymore, but you’re starting to like classic movies. You’ve never had a boyfriend before, and I was your first and second and third kiss, and you blush really easily, like you’re doing right now, but it’s cute.”

  “You have a good memory,” Danni said, wishing he was wrong about the blushing.

  Darren resumed his grin. “Does that mean I pass the test and you’ll be my girlfriend?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Just maybe?”

  “All you have to do is answer one question.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  Danni gave him a sly smile. “What’s my last name?”

  “It’s, um, it’s…”

  Danni giggled as Darren fumbled to answer the question. It was kind of cute how his neck and ears reddened.

  “Oh, hell, I don’t know,” Darren admitted.

  Danni laughed even harder. She couldn’t tell whether Darren was bothered more by not knowing her last name or by having to admit there was something he didn’t know.

  “Want to know what I know about you?” she asked.

  “You’re not going to tell me your last name?” Darren said.

  “Why? Are you afraid I’ll know more about you than you know about me?”

  “Nope.” Darren shook his head. “Go for it.”

  “Okay, but you asked for it,” Danni warned. “Your name is Darren Jacobs and you’re a senior at Taft High. You’re seventeen and you’ve been playing catcher on the varsity baseball team since you were a sophomore. You hang out with Spencer Collins, but he’s not really your best friend. Your real best friend is your brother, Justin, who’s twenty-five and you call J.J., which is so cute by the way.

  “You like old movies because your parents got you hooked on them and, speaking of your parents, they’re still married, which I’d say is some kind of miracle in the twenty-first century. You have a grandma named Jean who wears way too much perfume and always leaves red lipstick marks on you when she kisses you. Your last girlfriend was Whitney Wheeler, and I’m guessing she did something really bad to you because every time I say her name you get this screwed up look on your face, like you just bit into a sour lemon.

  “Ever since freshman year, you’ve been voted most athletic, nicest smile and prettiest eyes, and from the way your ears are starting to turn red, I’m pretty sure that kind of stuff makes you uncomfortable, which, I gotta say, I never would’ve guessed about you. You like to draw, but you keep it a secret, so you’re either into some kinky art or you’re not sure you’re any good.”

  “Damn,” Darren murmured when she finished. “I thought you said you weren’t some kind of stalker.”

  Danni’s confident smile faded. She hadn’t even considered how it might make her look to tell him everything she knew about him. When she started to move away, Darren grabbed her hand.

  “Don’t get mad. I’m just kidding,” Darren assured her.

  “It wasn’t funny,” Danni snapped.

  “I know. That’s why I said I was kidding.”

  “I’m not some kind of stalker. I’m just observant.”

  Darren grinned at her. “Yeah, I guess you are.”

  “We’ve been at the same school for four years,” she reminded him. “Just because you never noticed me doesn’t mean I never noticed you. Besides, lots of people know stuff about you.”

  Darren’s expression sobered. “I noticed you.”

  “Yeah, right, if you noticed me, how come you never talked to me?”

  “Because you’re right about Whitney.”

  Danni frowned. “What?”

  “She screwed me over, and it kind of scared me off getting serious again.”

  “Then why’d you just ask me to be your girlfriend?”

  “Because you’re nothing like Whitney.”

  “You mean I’m not pretty or popular?” Danni asked, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

  “No, I mean you’re not a bitch who’s gonna break my heart and not even care,” Darren said.

  How could Whitney break his heart and not even care? Didn’t she realize what a stupid mistake it was to throw away a guy like Darren? It was just so unfair. While Danni spent four years hoping to go out with him, Whitney not only got the chance but didn’t even care about it. That was the trouble with girls like her. They were so used to getting what they wanted that they never thought twice about other people. It was the nobodies, like Danni and her friends, who knew what they were missing and never would have done whatever Whitney did to make Darren sneer every time he said her name.

  “You never answered my question,” Darren said.

  “You mean my last name?” she asked. “It’s Singer.”

  Darren laughed. “Not that question, but thanks.”

  “What question are you talking about?” Danni frowned.

  Darren smiled as he tightened his hold on her hand. “Will you please be my girlfriend, Danni Singer?”

  Not trusting the sound of her own voice, Danni just nodded.

  “What do you say we make it official with another kiss?” Darren suggested.

  Danni couldn’t believe it. Her biggest dream of the last four years wasn’t a dream anymore.

  * * *

  “Spencer’s back at school,” Marcy announced when Danni met up with her and Chelsea in front of the campus.

  “How does he look?” Chelsea asked.

  “There’s a huge cut on his cheek, but that’s it” Marcy answered. “He doesn’t look like he’s been in a major car accident.”

  “Well, it has been almost three weeks,” Danni pointed out.

  “Speaking of which, I wonder why he came back in the middle of the week,” Marcy said.

  Chelsea shrugged. “Who knows, but this place is going to be crazy today.”

  Marcy frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Spencer was driving that night, and everyone’s going to want to know what happened,” Danni realized.

  “What did happen, Danni?” Chelsea asked.

  “I have no idea,” Danni said.

  “Of course you do,” Chelsea insisted. “Your boyfriend got hurt the worst in that accident. You have to know.”

  “He didn’t become my boyfriend until after the accident,” Danni reminded them.

&n
bsp; Chelsea raised her eyebrows. “And you guys have never talked about it?”

  “Never,” Danni said.

  “Wait a minute,” Marcy interjected. “Darren Jacobs is your boyfriend now?”

  “Yeah,” Danni said, her cheeks growing warm.

  “Congratulations, Danni. You got what you’ve spent the last four years waiting for,” Chelsea said. “Too bad he had to lose his arm to realize you’re worth knowing.”

  Danni stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means if Darren hadn’t lost his arm in that car accident, nothing would’ve changed,” Chelsea explained. “He would’ve gone right on ignoring you while you fantasized about dating him.”

  “You don’t know that,” Danni countered.

  “Yes, I do,” Chelsea said. “And so do you.”

  Despite the sting she felt from her friend’s observation, Danni knew the real reason for her anger. Chelsea was right. If it hadn’t been for the car accident, Darren Jacobs wouldn’t even know her name. He admitted as much to his brother the first night she visited him in the hospital.

  * * *

  “I’m sorry,” Chelsea told Danni as soon as she walked out of her fourth period class. “I’m just jealous.”

  “You’re jealous?” Danni repeated with a frown.

  “You’re dating the most popular guy in school.” Chelsea gave her a sheepish smile. “Of course I’m jealous, but I’m happy for you too.”

  “You’re right though,” Danni admitted. “Darren Jacobs wouldn’t even know my name if it wasn’t for the accident.”

  “Who cares?” Marcy challenged. “This is what you always wanted, right?”

  “I’ve waited four years for this,” Danni said.

  Marcy smiled. “Then enjoy it.”

  “And whenever I start sounding jealous again just tell me to shut up,” Chelsea suggested.

  Danni grinned at her, but she didn’t feel like smiling. While making up with her friends made her happy, it didn’t change the truth of Chelsea’s words. Darren kissed her because of his accident. Before then he didn’t even know her name.

  * * *

  As usual, Justin made his exit not long after Danni entered the hospital room. She took her customary seat beside Darren without saying a word.

  Why did Chelsea and Marcy have to say anything about Darren not knowing she existed until after the accident? So Darren didn’t know her until he lost his arm. He knew her now. Wasn’t that all that mattered?