Danielle's POV
I was numb for several minutes. Thousands of thoughts ran through my head. The room was silent, too silent. I could hear the rapid sound of my heartbeat. I blinked hard, coming slowly into realization.
How? Why? How!!!
I slapped my palm on my head. Looking around, I took the off-white fluffy duvet that was on the ground and wrapped it around my body. Perhaps I could still make it. If I get there and beg them, give them a suitable excuse for not being punctual…
I looked around and found my dress scattered around the room. I could feel the tears fall to the surface of my eyes. I cannot miss my exams! I need the scholarship. To think I did this…
I shook my head and walked around to pick up my dress. Passing through an aluminum door, I found my way to the bathroom and dressed up. What if I never get to do the exams and forfeit the scholarship?
Forfeit? My skin prickled at the mere thought of missing my scholarship. It was almost midday and…hush.
I ran my fingers through my hair and packed it in a bun. My eyes darted around the room in search of my purse. It was lying next to the man on the bed. I sighed and shut my eyes, taking a long deep breath.
He's a stranger. I don't know him, we never met. I took my purse and left the room as soon as I could. I tried to balance my movement; I felt like my brain was rolling over anytime I took a step.
I called Clara but the cheek-ass didn't pick up her calls. Of all times to get fucked! Well…not fucked as in fucked, I mean scholarship fucked not… argh!
I didn't bother to wait or look for Clara. I board a cab down to the examination center. Getting down from the cab, I felt an instant splash of water on my body. I swept my gaze over the car that sped down the road toward Manhattan Beach.
Could today be any worse? I rushed down to the hall and found a few people walking around the hall. They didn't look like the exam officers. I sighed and hoped…hoped for what I know is already far from reach.
"Excuse me, please are you an exam officer or do you happen to know any around here who is" I tried asking one of the people walking around but he intersected my words.
"They are done. It ended about an hour and a half ago. We're just here to clean up. I'm sure you can see for yourself."
I nodded slowly. Why do I feel surprised when I already knew what I was going to hear? I missed it. I missed my exams, missed my scholarship, and lost Davis all within twenty-four hours.
I read my gut out. If I had just stayed back home, perhaps I would be telling a different story. My phone rang, it was Clara.
"Hey, girl. Where have you been since yesterday? Babe, I have searched this whole hotel and you are nowhere to be found. I concluded you would have gone for your exams seeing that you didn't pick up my calls, you must be done with it. Tell me, how was it? Did you kill it? I'm sure you did."
Her words fell on deaf ears. I hung up and tossed the phone in my purse. I'm a loser. My virginity, my boyfriend, my scholarship…humph.
*******
I walked into the house and found Pa by the little bar counter sipping on liquor and reading a newspaper with the brown reading glasses used every Sunday. He probably couldn't find the black tiny one.
"Aha. There is my girl. I've been waiting since yesterday. How was your prom? I thought you would be back yesterday but I realized you took the route to your exams…"
Pa stopped talking when he saw the tears fall from my eyes. I dropped on the couch, wrestling with the thought of being a disappointment yet again. I sniffed and allowed the pain to flow. I didn't hold back, the tears fell on their own accord and I watched as Pa used his red handkerchief to clean the tops of my cheeks.
"What happened? Why are you in so many tears?"
"I…I couldn't…"
"Hush," he hugged me and patted my back as I wailed. The weight of my distress weighed me down. "It's okay D. It's okay. Everything is okay."
After a few minutes, I dropped crying and looked up at Pa. He seemed to be in a bad mood, I just realized he wore the black satin he hated the most.
"D, what the fuck! Where have you been?" Clara barged in and sat beside me. She noticed my eyes were still moist, or so I thought.
"I didn't make it to the exam…I…I guess I slept in the wrong room and woke up late and…"
"D, if you are joking. It was really expensive. That's impossible."
I hissed in frustration. "Have I ever been this serious when I'm talking to you?"
"Then…you shouldn't feel that bad about it and forget about Devis. There are other guys out there and there are other exams for you to write."
"It's easier for you to say," I retorted to Clara. "I read my life out Clara, you know that." Clara kept quiet.
Pa said nothing. He certainly wouldn't have the words. I should have listened to myself and stuck to my books but he insisted and told me to go for the so-called prom. Well, my life just became more miserable.
I stood up and went to my room. Crying has no solution to my current situation. I carefully took off my dress and took a warm bath with the rose bubbles I bought last week for the Craings Mall.
I rested my head on the tub. My bathroom door opened slowly, accompanied by Clara's peeping face. "Can I come in?" She asked. I nodded. She started buttoning down her vintage shirt.
I shot her a disgruntled look. "Why are you undressing?"
"Well, you know you cannot live without me. I was worried some kind of monster would take you off the face of the earth."
I smiled and rested my head back. "Not if you're the monster. Where did you put your phone and why'd I end up in that room
…that disgusting room full of ill related things."
"D, I'm sorry."
Clara? Apologizing? She'd rather die than say those words. "Are you sure you aren't still high for the liquor you took?"
"I'm serious D. It's just…I know you must be feeling like the worst person on earth. I know how hard you have prepared for this exam and I didn't expect that you'd miss the exams. I'll make it up to you okay? We can go to see a movie if you like."
I dropped a heavy sigh. "What are you worried about?" I said. "It's not the worst of all. I am always trying again and I am not thinking about Davis, not even the slightest." That was a bloody lie.
Every inch of me is burning and trembling. I squeezed out a smirk. "I will be okay tomorrow in school."
"It won't be easy for you to stay here at home all by yourself, I'll stay with you tonight." Clara said and joined me in the tub.
*******
The next day,
"Well well well, you brought both your legs down to school after making out with Jack on prom day. I saw how you left the room the next day, Danielle or D. Such a dick, like your name." Isabelle ran in front of my desk in school.
I ignored her like I used to and kept on reading the Economics textbook I was reading.
"Who did you fuck that night?"
It was as if a bee stung my brain. Worst case, I don't know him. How did she…
Bryan’s POV The sound of a gunshot made me rush outside, Danielle was outside. I found Danielle’s lifeless body, swimming in her blood. I knelt and screamed so loud, I didn’t hear myself. The air, once familiar, became thick with an unbearable weight, and the pulse of grief pulsed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Emotions collided like storm-tossed waves — disbelief, anguish, and a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume me. I shook her body but she gave no response. “Danielle!” “Finally, goodbye Bryan. I’ll see you later.” I looked up and found Susan leaving. I thought she was dead. I lifted her and took her into the car, I could lose everything but not Danielle. I took her to the hospital where she was attended to immediately. They did all they could but I knew… I knew she was gone. She is the first treasure I had and now… I lost her. How careless of me.Every sound and strength drained in me. We had goals…we had things we wanted to do and…having her leave m
Danielle's POV I opened my eyes and finally, it was a new day with no worries and sorrow, although I would have to go and meet Pa Bruno and let him know all that happened. We all got in the car and went down to meet Pa Bruno. He welcomed us with a warm heart, he has always been that way. “What a lovely surprise,” he said when he opened the door. The kids rushed inside with their father.When I fit inside, I found Isabelle helping Mrs Helena with her hair. “Oh,” I said when I saw her.“Oh…”“I… what are you doing here?” I asked. “She volunteered to come and help us once in a while to pay for all the bad things she has done to you. She has been coming for a couple of months now,” Mrs Helena explained.I sat down beside her. “I um… I didn’t know you would be coming around. I should get going, I’ll see you all later.” She hurried and packed her bag. “Hey,” I laughed. “Where do you think you are going to? You can stay, you don’t need to leave.”“I want to stay but I need to leave, I’ll
Danielle's POV “Tell me it’s a lie,” I said to him but he didn’t answer me. I trusted him with my whole heart, he was like my best friend. What would the kids think? What of his family? Why!“Are you truly what they have called you out to be?” The judge asked him. “I am what they said I am. I give up. Yes, I killed Susan and yes, I framed Bryan for it. I wanted him to rot in hell and never come back. He took it all from me, everything.” Have looked at me, tears clouding his eyes. “I love you Danielle, you know I do. The kids… they used to be my kids. I was there where you were pregnant, when you gave birth and I also watched them grow up. Seeing Bryan take it all from me broke my heart and no matter how much I try to be there for you, you never see me. And that bitch, Susan. She deserved it. She was always after you so I didn’t want that. I figured there is no reason for me to lie when I am busted.”He turned to the judge. “You have heard it all.” Someone went to the judge and whispe
Danielle's POV ran out to the door and found the woman walking up the stairs. “Are you—”“Lead the way, quick!” The woman said and I led her to the court. It was the moment the judge was sentencing Bryan but he held it when he saw me come in with a lady. Everyone looked back and I took her to the panel. I winked at the defendant and he knew what to do. He stood up immediately. “My Lord, one and only witness, please,” he begged. All my oceans of despair were now replaced by a world of hope. The judge accepted it like he had been waiting for me to show up with someone.But sighed and went back to sit. The kids stretched their necks and waved from the far end of the row. I smiled and focused on the woman. She stepped in and took the oath. “My name is Margret and I will be telling you what exactly happened that night. This man,” she pointed to Bryan, “came in with a lady into my old house. He had asked me to lend it to him for a moment but I thought he was going to have sex or something
Danielle's POV I roamed about with the phone plugged into my ears. “Pick up, goddamit.” I have been trying this woman’s number for seven hours. It’s night time and there has been no response. I am starting to think it was all a lie. Maybe the woman doesn’t exist but Jack keeps putting me on.Eventually, I went to sleep with my phone in my ears.The next day, I woke up and found Jack making the call. I have not heard from Linda or Gabriel. I have tried all I can and it’s just a few hours to the trail. We have no evidence, nothing to prove him innocent. “I have an idea. The witness made mention of returning the instrument to the house. I would go and check the house out. There would be footage. Keep trying the woman, we will meet in the court.” He left with the Benz car. I feel like I am restraining him from doing a lot of things in his life and all he does now is go and look for evidence to prove his boos innocent. I sighed, I just have to keep trying. I kept calling the woman… duri
Danielle's POV “What did he say?” Jack asked in haste. “He has evidence. An old woman who takes care of the old house. He says he knows where she is but he wouldn’t tell me unless I come over to his house. He also said I should come alone.”“It’s a trap. He might not have any evidence. We need to find our means and besides, he might want to kill you. He’s unpredictable so I would not allow you to go alone.”I raised my brows. “I’m not taking any chances. I would go and I would go alone. I would be perfectly fine.” I took a small knife from the table. “Just in case he tries shit, I will stab him wherever I can. I would be fine, trust me. What if this is my best shot? What if this is the only thing that can help me get Bryan out of there? I am not letting it go just like that. I’ll be back. “Jack stood in front of me. “Then let me put a tracker on you.” He attached it to my phone. “You can go now.”I followed the map and went to the location Mark sent me. The road that led to the plac