5

*Sophia's POV*

A few days later, I was painting by the river again. Danny told me he was busy, so I couldn’t go and add to the portrait today.

Part of me was still berating myself for allowing him to kiss me. For kissing him back. Each time we kissed, it seemed to get more intense. Everything was happening so fast and I wasn’t sure if it was really a good idea.

What even was I to Danny? Was I just the girl who was painting his portrait who he happened to be kissing on the side? Did he want something more? I had only had a few experiences with boys. I wasn’t a virgin. Although my first and only time had been painful and brief. The boy in question had been in my class, and was just as inexperienced as I was. I essentially had no idea what I was doing. Danny, clearly did know what he was doing. If he did want to take things further, I worried that I wasn’t going to be any good. Then it would be more awkward than it already was. At least for me.

I also considered if this was something, I was really ready for. I still didn’t know everything about Danny. Would it be wise to get involved when there was so much that needed to be explained?

The experience with the gemstone had also unnerved me. I felt like there was something he wasn’t telling me about it, but I didn’t think I could ask him more questions about it after what he’d said in regards to his mother.

The thoughts whirled round in my head as I continued to paint. This one probably wouldn’t turn out very well, but I was finding the action of completing it therapeutic all the same.

I had however, misjudged the weather. It was colder than I thought it would be, and I shivered as wind whipped the stray strands of hair around my face.

The sound of a busker starting their set caught my attention, and I turned away from my painting for a moment to enjoy her rendition of ‘Thinking Out Loud’. Despite her playing being excellent, I knew I should try and finish my painting before the tube got too busy. As I placed my gaze back in front of me, something caught my eye. Frowning, I found a scarf sitting beside me. It was a beautiful deep purple, and looked like it was expensive, a cashmere type feel to the material.

I looked around for its owner, assuming someone had left it here by mistake. But no-one was close to me. As I picked it up, a note fell out of the folds.

WEAR ME

Was written in block capitals.

I looked down at it confused. Who would leave this here without telling me who they were? My mind went to Danny, but surely, he would have just approached me. Why leave it here mysteriously? Despite my trepidation, I placed it around my neck. The feeling of cold won over my reluctances to accept a random gift. Perhaps it was just a random act of kindness.

I wrapped the scarf carefully around my neck, instantly relaxing as I felt a little of my chill dissipate. Just as I was about to place my brush back against the canvas, Danny rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey, where are you? I have a surprise for you. I’ll come and pick you up.”

A surprise? Maybe he’d managed to find me another job? I’d spent the last few days dropping CV’s round to different places, but had not heard anything back yet.

“Erm okay, I’m by river. My normal place. I thought you were busy today?”

He chuckled. “Well, I was…with your surprise. Now its time for you to find out what it is.”

I couldn’t help but feel excited. Since Danny had come into my life, he had certainly added a little thrill.

“Wait on Weaver’s Lane. I’ll come and pick you up now.”

After ending the call, I quickly packed up my things and made my way to the pick-up point.

Danny appeared 10 minutes later, sitting in his signature black Range Rover. I put my stuff on the back seat, being careful not to make any marks on his leather interior.

When I climbed in the front, he looked positively smug.

I looked at him suspiciously. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

A flash of mischief crossed his face. “Aren’t you at least going to kiss me?”

My cheeks flushed brilliant red. I still wasn’t used to him being so forward. Taking charge, he moved towards me, cupping my face to angle it for his lips. As always, it began gentle, but Danny had started to explore my mouth with his tongue. He used his teeth to graze my bottom lip, and the warm feeling between my legs began to burn. I couldn’t deny my arousal.

As if he could sense the affect, he’d had on me, he pulled away. A predatory smile looking back at me. His blue eyes seemed to be darker than they were before, and I looked at them curiously.

He quickly placed his sunglasses on, stopping me from being able to look at them any longer. It was almost as if he didn’t want me to see them.

We drove most of the way in silence, my mind was partly racing on what Danny had in store for me. As we parked up, I remembered the scarf around my neck.

“Danny, did you have anything to do with this?” I tugged at the item around my neck.

“Your scarf?” His expression told me he was oblivious.

“Yeah…it was left by me today with a note telling me to wear it. I wasn’t sure if you’d done it?”

Danny didn’t answer me for a moment. Stopping still in his tracks. “Did you see anyone?” His voice was serious.

I shook my head, suddenly feeling a little anxious. “N…no. Should I be worried?”

Danny looked at me, his casual demeanour returning. “No of course not, probably just some weirdo right?” He removed the scarf from around my neck and tossed it into a nearby dustbin. The sudden hit of cold air made me feel exposed and somehow sad.

“Come on, I’ll get you a new one.” Without another word, he dragged me from the car pack. I gave a regretful look back at the scarf. I wished I had never said anything.

My mind however was soon taken off the loss, as Danny told me to cover my eyes when we entered the house. It was unlikely to be a new job if he didn’t want me to see. Perhaps it was a gift of some sort, but I hadn’t done anything to warrant him buying me one.

Carefully leading my elbow, everything seemed to be quiet around me.

“Okay, stand right there. Keep your eyes shut.” Danny’s hand left me and I stood there waiting.

Then, all of a sudden, I felt arms wrap around me. They weren’t Danny’s though. They were much smaller. This person was a similar height to me as well. A familiar scent hit my nose, and my heart would barely let me dare believe it.

I quickly opened my eyes and gasped. There he was. The same raven hair as mine, and hazel eyes.

“Jack?! Oh my god! Jack?!” I squealed with excitement and flung my arms around him, pulling him as close to me as was physically possible.

Croaking and tapping my back Jack told me to calm down. “You’re gonna squeeze the life out of me sis.”

I reluctantly loosened my grip, but refused to completely let him go, holding firmly onto his arm.

“How long have we got? What time have you got to go back to the fosterers?” I wanted to savour every moment I had with him.

Jack gave a sideways glance towards Danny and scratched his head. “Well, er, I don’t. Danny’s sorted it out with social services. They said I can live with Danny now, and obviously get to see you whenever we want.”

I looked at Danny in disbelief. “What…how?”

Danny grinned at me. “Don’t worry about it. Someone owed me a favour.”

I couldn’t close my open mouth. I was so stunned. I wondered what kind of favour Danny had had to pull in to make this happen so quickly. After all, social services didn’t just hand kids off to people they hadn’t vetted. Jack didn’t even know Danny. I was pleased, but I was also concerned about how this had happened. I didn’t want Jack getting dragged into anything that would wreck his future.

Deciding now was not the time to talk about the finer details, I pulled my brother in for another hug. “It’s really great to see you sprog.”

He tutted at my pet-name. “You really need to stop that.”

I pinched his cheeky affectionately. “Not a chance.”

Jack wasn’t going to start his new school until tomorrow, so the three of us spent the rest of the day together.

I realised part way through, that it was the best day I had had since my childhood. Danny took us out to dinner at an American-diner type restaurant. I laughed as I watched Jack’s eyes widen at the size of the burger that arrived in front of him, along with the pint of strawberry ice cream milkshake.

I tried to at least pay for some of the meal, not having enough to cover the whole bill. But Danny insisted on paying. After dinner, we went back to Danny’s place. It turned out that he had a games and movie room, equipped with a huge screen and surround sound.

I saw Jack’s eyes light up as he took in the floor to ceiling shelves full of every game for every console. Jack selected some kind of shooting game that I had never heard of. I watched as him and Danny sat on the large sofa chairs and began to play, throwing jibes and playful insults at each other as if they’d known each other for years. My heart warmed at the sight. Whatever Danny’s faults, he was being brilliant with Jack.

As it got later and later, I began to feel a little nervous. I wasn’t sure what would happen tonight. If I was going home, then I needed to go soon.

I caught sight of Jack yawning. “Bed time sprog, big day tomorrow. New school and everything.”

I expected him to protest, but he just nodded sleepily. Clearly today had knackered him out.

Danny showed him to his room, and I quickly put on my coat and grabbed my bag. I realised my art things would still be in Danny’s car.

When Danny reappeared, I asked if it was okay to get them out. I didn’t expect him to drive me home this late.

He raised his eyebrow and moved towards me. “Where do you think you’re going?”

My knees buckled as he brought his face close to mine, his breath fanning gently across my skin. “I…I…”

Placing his finger over my lips, he silenced me.

“Stay with me tonight.” His voice was low and husky.

I knew what he meant. He wanted to take me to bed. I wasn’t sure what to do. Was I really ready for this? It was so soon…and yet, he had already done so much for me. Surely him allowing Jack to stay here was a sign that he really cared for me?

I nodded my head, and allowed him to lead me up the stairs.