40: before

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

October
1989

Danny and Scott were sharing a cheap motel room in London. It was the first weekend of October, and clouds loomed in the grey sky, throwing the city into shadows. The boys didn't mind; they were just happy to be in London, away from the trailer park. Away from Jenifer's moodiness and Peter's perpetual state of stress.

Of course, Danny had his own source of stress. He was here for the audition, and that simply terrified him. Acting had never been more than a hobby and a wild dream for him. And now, he was supposed to stand up in front of a group of professionals and recite lines from a script he had only been sent a couple of days ago.

That's why he had brought Scott. To warm him up with smiles and kiss him when he felt the anxiety rising a little too close to the surface.

They were walking through the city; past commuters, great big buses, looming tower blocks, noise, and pollution, and the buzz of energy. There were so many sounds and smells and things to gawk at. For the first time, Danny truly understood Scott's dream to live in the city. The atmosphere was electric. He was electric.

Scott's fingers brushed against Danny's, and for the first time, Danny reached out and took his hand in public. For the first time, he didn't care if anyone saw them. If anyone judged them. Because they were in the city. And it was electric. "God, this place is amazing." He hummed, leaning into Scott's side.

Scott smiled fondly, "Isn't it?"

"Your fantasy makes so much sense now." Danny sighed, "Maybe I should scrap acting. Live here with you instead. Fuck Hollywood."

Scott chuckled, "Acting exists outside of Hollywood, y'know?" He said in amusement, "You can be an actor and live in London."

"You're right." Danny agreed.

"You could work in the West End." Scott suggested, "Theatre actors are really well respected."

Danny nodded distractedly, "I could." He said, "Then we could think about getting that flat together. Two dreams in one; acting, and you."

Scott squeezed his hand affectionately, coming to a halt in front of a tall grey building. This was the studio where Danny's audition would take place. "Well," Scott let go of Danny's hand, "Your first dream awaits."

Danny combed his fingers through his hair nervously, "Right." He sighed, "And if it doesn't work out, I still have my other dream." He smiled shakily, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Scott's cheek.

"Good luck." Scott beamed encouragingly, "You're gonna be great."

"Let's hope so." Danny shrugged, "I'll see you later."

It was all a blur from there. A cheery receptionist, a half-empty waiting room, a long grey corridor, and a tall daunting door. Then he was reciting his name in front of a casting director and a camera. Lots of questions, forced small talk, and then the audition itself. He performed his piece, pretending he was back in drama club, stood in front of a gaggle of teenagers. If he didn't think about the stakes, his nerves seemed to mellow. If he didn't think about the fact that this audition was for the BBC, he didn't feel like he wanted to pass out.

When it was over, he met Scott in a cafe by the Thames. He was restless, running on adrenaline and caffeine. Scott only laughed, asking him a million questions about the audition, and congratulating him just as many times. But Danny couldn't relax, he was full of electricity from the city, and so he bolted out of the cafe, taking Scott with him. And when they got back to their motel room, they had some of the best sex they had ever had.

They were quiet during the train ride home the next morning. Being in the city had sparked something inside them both and the idea of returning to their dreary grey town was just plain depressing. They wanted to stay in London forever, camped out in a grotty motel room, talking about dreams and fantasies, tasting each other's lips and bodies.

When they walked through the door of the trailer, London still lingering on their skin, they were met with the sight of Susie, frantically zipping around the living room. When her gaze landed on them, she sighed in relief, "Oh, thank God, you two are back." She had an armful of Jenifer's clothes and was stuffing them into a backpack.

"What's up, Mum?" Scott frowned, stepping closer to her.

"It's Jen." Susie said shortly, though a ghost of a smile lingered on her lips, "She's in labour."

"Oh, shit." Danny cursed loudly, a laugh breaking through his lips, "Holy shit, that's amazing."

Susie nodded distractedly, eyes scanning the room for anything she had missed, "I was just picking up some clothes for her before heading back to the hospital."

The boys tossed their bags onto the sofa, nodding along in unison. "Okay, great, we'll come." Scott smiled, "Is Peter with her?"

"Yeah." Susie slung the backpack over her shoulder, "C'mon, let's go."

When they got to the hospital, Peter rushed into the waiting room to meet them, a wide toothy smile on his face. He leapt into Danny, Scott, and his Mother's arms gleefully, pulling away with a laugh, "It's a girl!" He announced, not waiting for a response before pulling them out of the waiting room, and into a private suite.

When they found Jenifer, she was buried in blankets, ginger hair falling around her sweaty face, a lazy grin tugging at her lips. She was holding a bundle of blankets, and as they got closer, a little red face could be seen poking out of the fabric.

Danny's eyes were wide and startled as he stared at the baby, lips parted, adoration growing in his chest, "Oh my god." He breathed out softly, afraid to make any real noise. "Oh my god, you did that." He said gently, "You did that, Jen."

She chuckled tiredly, eyes fixed lovingly on the baby in her arms, "I did, didn't I?" She whispered. She finally looked up, between the face of the three boys and Susie. "Who wants to hold her?"

Peter nudged Danny out of the way, "Please." Peter smiled adoringly. He leant against the edge of Jenifer's bed, gathering the bundle into his arms, eyes full of sweetness and love. "She's beautiful."

"She's called Hannah." Jenifer told them.

Scott leant into Danny's side, an arm around his waist, "Hannah?" He echoed quietly.

"It's pretty." Susie ran her hands through Jenifer's frizzy curls in a Motherly way. "You did so well, sweetheart."

Jenifer leant into her touch, eyes falling shut for a moment, "Thank you." She hummed.

"Do you need anything?" Danny asked her eagerly, "Anything we can do or get for you...?"

Jenifer glanced between Danny and her baby, seemingly lost for words. "There is one thing." She told him shyly, "But I don't think I can ask you to-"

"Don't be silly." Peter cut her off, still staring down at the baby in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth, "Whatever you need. We got you, Jen."

She sighed, "There are a few things I left at my house. I've been meaning to go back for them but I... Well, I didn't want to face him." She gulped, "But now the baby's here..."

"It's no problem." Danny clasped his hand around hers, raising it to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles, "We'll fetch whatever you need. What is it, clothes? Books?"

She smiled gratefully, then cast her eyes back to her baby, "Everything really." She admitted guiltily. "As many clothes as you can carry."

"Of course." Peter agreed, still refusing to look up.

"Thank you." She glanced between the pair of them lovingly, "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"Love you, Jen." Danny squeezed her hand, "Now, Peter, stop hogging the baby. Hannah needs to meet uncle Danny."


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net