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Out Of The Shadows	By : Foraoo Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Savage Garden Views: 1790 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Savage Garden. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8- Gone.

Maybe I could transfer to a Japanese class? Darren mused on his way home. He shivered thinking of that growling noise Robert had made as he changed. The moment he was home he was showering away the afternoon, there was something about the way he had stared at Darren all day had unnerved him to the core. He knew without a doubt to trust his instincts. Like the way he did with Daniel.

Daniel He liked the way that sounded, even said it aloud sometimes. Daniel Jones And he’s my friend. He felt silly thig thg that, like a child on the first day of school. It sounded like they should run everywhere holding hands or something. He’d like to hold Daniel’s hand…

Stop it!” He scolded himself. Only the other day he had been entertaining thoughts like this about Robert and now the man gave him the creeps. Plus Daniel was probably straight. It was an insult to their friendship thinking like that. Yet he couldn’t stop. His mind kept drifting to the way he laughed, his unruly hair, the green of his eyes. He sighed as he turned the key in the door. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel.

“Where on earth have you been and what are you wearing?” His father’s voice greeted him.

“It was just some clothes my teacher loaned me. To paint in.” Darren explained, edging far away from his father.

“What are they? Some kind of pervert? They look like they’ve been painted on.” His father shook his head and sat down heavily in the chair. “Come sit with me, boy” He gestured towards the empty seat and laughed softly. “I think your teacher has the hots for you. Which one is it, Miss Payne? That art teacher?”

“Mr Cannavale.” Darren whispered softly.

“Oh bloody hell, Darren!” His father laughed softly. “Just try not to get detention with him okay?”

Darren was confused and shocked. His father wasn’t drunk for the first time in years. He looked round the kitchen in wonder, not one empty bottle to be seen. “Dad, are you okay?”

“I can’t blame him, you look so like your mother. She was beautiful…so beautiful.” Darren watched his father, the man he barely knew, with a fascination. He’d never seen this side of him before.

“Dad? Can I ask you something?” He spoke so soft he wasn’t sure he could be heard.

“Today would the way to do it, today.” His father nodded, looking so frail and old. So distanced from the man that twisted his arms, kicked him and punched him.

“Did you hurt Mum, did you hate her?”

“What! Of course not! I loved her. I’ve never loved anyone the way I loved her!”

“Do you love me?” He felt five years old again. The age he was when he learned his mother had died. So small and innocent. So scared.

“Darren…” The words were uttered as a strangled sigh. “Yes, yes I love you.”

“Then why do you…do you…” He’s throat, so close to pouring out sobs, closed off the question.

“Why do I hurt you? It’s not you I hate, Darren. It’s me. Since your mother died, I’m so angry. Angry with you for looking like her and not being her, angry with God for taking her, angry with the bastards who drove into her car but mostly at myself. Angry that I took something so beautiful, the most wonderful gift she gave me and I had no idea what to do with you. I wasn’t fit to be a father so I let you down and I let her down. So much anger I was choking on it. I was so mad that I couldn’t make her proud I began drinking to numb the pain, but instead of making it go away I made it appear and it no longer wanted me as a victim. It wanted you.” His voice shook and he trembled, feeling a cold that was inside him. That consumed him.

“Dad…” The tears ran freely now.

“Let me finish, Darren. I may never have the chance again. I want a drink now, so bad. But I won’t until I’ve said this. Because once I drink again, I don’t think the man I am at this moment will find his way back. I don’t want to be that other man, the one who kills every drop of your mother’s love with each blow. And yours.”

“Dad, please…” Darren begged but he didn’t know what for. Him to stop? To carry on?

“Son, you’d better go do your homework.” Darren didn’t budge. “Son, please. Go now.” Reluctantly Darren rose, as he made his way to the stairs his father grabbed his arm. “I love you, son.”

“I love you too, Dad.” Without looking back he tore upstairs.

In the kitchen his father quietly sobbed. The sound of a bottle been slowly opened was clearly heard.

The man he had just spoken to was gone.

*~*~*

The next day Daniel impatiently hopped from foot to foot. He had set off for school early that morning just hoping for a glimpse of Darren, with only a few minutes before the bell went Daniel just had to accept he had missed him.

Sighing sadly he made he’s way to the library, his heart leapt into his throat as he saw Darren in the same seats they occupied yesterday.

“Darren! Hey!” He shouted earning him many a shush. “Good morning.” He continued in a quieter tone.

“Daniel! Hello.” Daniel was shocked at just how happy Darren seemed to see him. He felt his heart make an almost cartoon like beat in his chest.

“I waited for you at the gate, I didn’t see you come in.”

“You did?” Darren earned himself a glare from the librarian. “Oh, I came in early this morning.”

“What’s in the bag?” Daniel said for something to say but regretted how nosey it made him sound. “I mean if it isn’t personal.”

“Just some clothes Mr Cannavale loaned me. “ Without thinking Daniel removed the garments from the bag, as if his hands were in auto-pilot.

“Hey! This is mine!” This time the librarian looked ready to throw something at them. Daniel gave an apologetic smile.

“Yours?” Darren inquired, eyebrows raised.

“I mean. I have a shirt just like this. Yeah. “ Play it cool, Daniel, you idiot!

“I’ll have to give it back in second period. I just really don’t know if I can handle English today.“ Darren sighed, a troubled look entering his eyes.

“Hey, are you okay?” Concern filled Daniel’s voice as he stared at the other boy.

“Yeah, just home stuff. Nothing huge.”

“Do…” Daniel leaned forward and licked his lips nervously. “Do you want to tick it?”

“What? You mean play truant? I couldn’t! I’ve never…I mean.” Darren laughed in disbelief but looked intrigued all the same.

“Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.” Daniel grinned devilisly.

“Er…okay. Just for a second say we did. Just hypothetically mind, what would we do?”

“Dunno, solve world hunger?” He smiled at Darren’s gentle laugh. “How about we go down to the river? That’s always deserted at this this time of day.”

“For good reason, it’s freezing cold!” Daniel pouted sadly. “Okay then, if you’re going to give me puppy dog eyes!”

“Come on let’s go!” He gripped Darren’s hand and pulled him to his feet. With a quick nod at the relieved librarian they headed towards the river. A mingled sense of excitement and tension pulsed in the air.

*~*~*

“It’s more then cold! It’s Antarctica!” Darren laughed as Daniel lay down on the grass. “You’ll freeze to death there.” Darren felt him sit down next to him, the warmth of his presence sending a tingle through his body.

“Lie back with me, Darren.” He murmured eyes still closed.

“I’ll get grass in my hair…” A nervous laugh came from above him.

“I’ll help you pick it out. Come on, lie back with me.” He felt the boy hesitate and then lie back. Turning on his side he opened his eyes and stared down at Darren’s beautiful face. Eyes closed he looked in slumber, his were cheeks a rosey colour from the cold. Daniel couldn’t resist the temptation of trailing a blade of grass down the boy’s cheek.

“What are you doing?” Darren giggled, opening one eye.

“Testing if you’re ticklish. Are you?” Daniel raised an eyebrow in mock threat.

“Nope.” Darren smiled happily and closed his eyes once more.

“I bet you are…” Daniel moved his hand slowly to the boy’s side.

“I bet I’m not…” Darren remained oblivious to the approaching hand.

“Aha!” Daniel exclaimed as his fingers dance over Darren’s body, immediately the boy began convulsing with giggles as the boy fought his captor. Daniel had him pinned down as he writhed below him enjoying the tinkle of his laugh.

“Daniel, please! You’re hurting me!” Darren cried and Daniel stopped instantly. Darren rolled over and clutched his side.

“Darren, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise how hard I was doing it.” Tears rose as he fought the bile in his throat. He’d hurt Darren?

“No, it’s not you. It’s…it’s this.” He lifted his shirt gingerly revealing a purple bruise across his stomach. “Late last night I went downstairs to get a drink…me and my father had had a talk earlier. He was kind to me, Daniel. But later on he…he was so mad at me. I don’t know why…” Darren began to cry softly, curled up into a small ball. Daniel gripped his shoulder gently and turned him to face him, the noses almost touching.

Daniel brushed a stray tear away with slow precaution and stared into those trusting eyes. He wanted to kiss him, he wanted it so bad but he couldn’t take advantage of Darren like this. He refused to do that to him.

“I…” but he never got to finish it. Darren’s lips found him first.
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Out Of The Shadows