Danny’s head seared with pain when he awoke in a cold sweat. Memories throbbed to be released from the prison of darkness in which they were trapped in his unsuspecting mind, but all the memories could do is slowly seep through a crack in the wall that hid them. Was it another weird dream? It seemed like a continuation of the weird dream from early that night. What could it mean? James does seem to be a large part of it. I wonder if it means there could be something between us. Well, I have had an eye on him and if he likes me that would explain why he acts so weird whenever I get near him, he thought.

Danny stood up quickly; he was going to be late. He popped a piece of gum into his mouth, grabbed his car keys and bolted out the front door. Driving down the street, he noticed the sun setting and he pulled over at a small shopping center in the beginning of the town. Danny frequented the game shop in the shopping center as it was conveniently located next to a flower shop and right along the way to Darren’s house.

He ran into the electronics store and walked out with a few new games for Darren. I hope Darren hasn’t gotten bored with racing, arcade style, and fighting games. Danny thought; he smiled to himself knowing that he picked out the games that Darren has been saving up for. He quickly ran into the flower shop and bought a dozen red roses and a box of truffles for Darren’s mother. He always brought her flowers or chocolates every time he came over. Danny really liked Darren’s mother; she was always nice to him, and even though she knew that he always took them out to eat every time he was over, she always offered to cook.

Danny offered her hundreds of times to help around the house, pay a bill or two, maybe get groceries. He had loads of money that he never even looked at and it would go to much better use if he spent it on her, Darren and his little brother. She was always too modest and would politely decline, stating she didn’t need the money even though Danny knew things were tight. On occasion, Danny would come in with the spare house key she gave him and fill the fridge with their favorite foods and leave before they got home.

Danny set the games and the flowers in the passenger seat. He sped off toward Darren’s and was at Darren’s house before 6:45. he stepped out of the car with the gifts and rang the doorbell, he could hear the thumping of Darren running through the house and as Darren opened the door, his eyes went wide with excitement.

“No! No, you didn’t!” he exclaimed, immediately recognizing the oh-so-familiar logo of the game store. Danny smiled, obviously accustomed to this reaction.

“Yes, yes, I did,” Danny said, handing the bag of games to Darren.

Darren invited him in and called his little brother to come take a look at all the games. Danny stepped inside and handed the roses to Darren’s mother; she smiled gently, then gave a hug to Danny and set the roses in a vase in the center of the kitchen table.

“Come on! You can play your games later! We’re going to miss the movie,” Danny told Darren.

“Okay, okay,” Darren replied before giving his mother a hug goodbye and running out the door to catch up with Danny. Darren got into the passenger seat and buckled in while Danny started the engine and sped off. It wasn’t long until they reached the theatre and Darren ran out of the car the second they stopped to pay for the tickets. Danny let him think that he won, but when Darren wasn’t paying attention, he would slip a twenty into Darren’s pocket to cover the cost of the movies.

Since Darren and Danny frequented the movies together, all of the theatre staff knew that Darren was Danny’s best friend. Even though Darren paid for the tickets, the staff assumed that Danny would be with him so they have him tickets for their “preferred seating” in a roped off area. Danny was at the movies weekly, his dad was best friends with the owner and had helped him out of a tight jam once by covering his debt for a loan and when the owner tried to pay him back. Danny’s dad wouldn’t let him. Since then, he’s made sure that even in their small town, the movies felt like a luxury theatre for Danny and his dad.

Danny thought of how funny it must look when all the movie stars had to sit with the public and they were sitting in a roped off section. Darren sat down and Danny went back to go and get snacks and drinks. He got himself and Darren some soda, popcorn, nachos, and candy. Just as he returned to the feature and sat down, the movie started. Danny leaned over and whispered to Darren.

“Let's hope this movie is as good as everyone says it is.” Darren laughed.