Learning to Breathe by J. C. McClean Page B

why?”
    I shrugged. “Just curious.”
    He threw me a questioning look but conti nued on. “Uh huh. Well I wanna be a paramedic or something where I can help people.”
    I nodded my head. “I guess that’s why you’re the pool lifeguard and swim team captain then?”
    “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons why I do it …” he then trailed off, looking quite thoughtful but didn’t elaborate further.
    I wasn’t sure what to say next but I didn’t have to worry since Danny beat me to it.
    “So, anyway … what subjects are you studying?”
    “English Literature, Psychology, Sociology and Business Studies.” I told him as the waitress appeared with our food.
    Danny nodded thoughtfully. “Okay and what do you wanna go on to do?”
    I shrug ged at him as I bit into a chip. “Dunno, maybe a psychologist or a journalist or something.”
    “Ah,” said Danny with a smirk. “Y ou think that because you won’t open up to people, others will open up to you?”
    I was a little hurt by his snide co mment so I decided to retaliate.
    “Just because I don’t like talking about my problems doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help others with theirs.” I told him testily.
    Dan ny held his hands up in defence. “Wow, I didn’t mean it like that. It just strikes me as quite ironic – that’s all.”
    I couldn’t answer him since I was taking a big bite of my burger so I settled for throwing him a dirty look instead.
     
    Half an hour later and we had both finished eating without much conversation. I glanced at my watch – 6.10pm – it was still too early to go home but I had no other choice. I sighed heavily and Danny glanced at me.
    “You ready to go?” he asked me cautiously.
    I nodded. “Yeah, I guess I’ll have to face my mother sometime.”
    Danny nodded knowingly. “Okay, I’ll just pay and then we’ll go.”
    I nodded my head in agreement and tried to pay my half of the bill but Danny stubbornly refused to take it.
    Once we were back in his car, I idly wondering what was waiting for me at home. I glanced at Danny and decided to distract myself by thanking him for dinner.
    “Hey, thanks for buying me dinner … and I’m sorry I was a bit short with you before.”
    Danny waved off my apology. “Don’t – I’m the one who should be apologising. I didn’t mean to be so rude earlier.”
    I didn’t argue with him as he started the car and pulled out into the road. I could hear the faint strains of Lifehouse’s ‘Somewhere in Between’ and I didn’t mind when Danny turned it up as it meant that we didn’t have to talk for the remainder of the journey.
    Once we pulled up outside of my house, I instantly felt sick at the sight of my mother’s car – I would definitely be in for a lecture. I sighed heavily and turned to Danny.
    “Thanks for everything. I’ll see you in school.”
    Danny nodded and waved me off before driving away. I took a few deep breaths to mentally prepare myself before I faced my mother. I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to end well.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    As soon as I opened the door, my mother bolted from the kitchen to meet me before I could escape upstairs.
    “Darcie! Where the hell have you been? I c alled the leisure centre at ten past five but they said that you’d already left. Why’d you run off like that?” My mother was breathing heavily and I could tell that she was furious with me for running off but I was just as mad as she was.
    “ I didn’t really appreciate being ambushed!” I yelled back at her. “I mean seriously, who does that?”
    “Som eone on the edge of desperation.” my mother replied quietly.
    I was momentarily stunned into silence by the look on my mother’s face – it was one of intense hurt.
    “Darcie,” she began, “I feel really bad about going behind your back and doing that to you but I was out of ideas! All I wanted was for you to talk to me and that’s what I got. I know you’re mad but at least it’s a reaction!