Chapter 5: Love and Relationships

It’s February now, which means Valentine’s day. From what Danny and I can figure out it’s the same as on our Earths. Yes Earths, turns out Danny comes from another Earth different from my own. Since Valentine’s day lands on a Sunday, the school decided to have two weeks of Valentine’s themed activities. The 8th graders get to have a ‘dinner and dance’ on Valentine’s day. Guess ‘rank’ has its privileges.

During the week prior to Valentine’s day it was all I could do to keep from giggling like a schoolgirl ... wait I am one, when Danny was around. I couldn’t help but hear his thoughts about him wanting to ask me to the dance he was broadcasting it so loudly. Finally, I had mercy on him and said I would go to the Dinner and Dance on Sunday with him. He was excited, to say the least. The rest of that week seemed to drag on forever. Then on Friday Danny did something unexpected and held my hand as we walked to class. He’s never done that.

<What are you... ?> I started to think to him

<Shh ... just enjoy it> He thought to me.

And I did enjoy the hand holding, and the butterflies in my stomach. I was surprised at the reaction I was having to just this simple handhold. Could I be falling for Danny? Although he is a combination of Kristen and Danny. I consider myself Paula now, but there is still a bit of Luke in me, in how I speak, act, walk, dress, etc. So am I falling for Danny or Kristen?

After school I invited Danny over to talk and work on our history homework. As we were working I asked him.

“Not that I’m complaining Danny, but who is asking me to the dance? Is it Danny, or Kristen?”

“What do you mean?” Looking up from his history book, a little confused.

“Well we both have two personalities so to speak. For me I have Luke in the background, and you Danny have Kristen. I may have been Luke, but I am Paula, a new Paula that is mixed with Luke. I would like to know where you are with this body swap thing we have.”

“I see, well I never really gave much thought as to who I am now. I guess I would say Danny. I’m him now, Kristen is still here, but to be perfectly honest, I’m neither one of them. I’m a new person with both their memories and personality mixed into one. So to answer your question: Neither asked you Paula, I as Danny did, the two of us, yet one. If that makes any sense”

“Kind of, I guess we are neither our old selves nor the ones we inhabit now.” smiling softly. “I like you Danny and I guess I was making sure we knew were we stood on ourselves.”

“I like you too Paula, I mean a lot. I’m not sure if it’s because we’re both 43 mentally. Or if we are the only ones we know of. But I do know I am drawn to you Paula and want to see where we go from here.

“I’d like that Danny, but I’d have to ask my mom if I can have a boyfriend.” I giggled a little at our situation, Danny giving a laugh as well.

I enjoyed Danny’s company, we had similar interests, he’s helped me with my streams, I’ve even put him on the credits of my streams for lighting and effects. Could Danny be someone to spend the rest of my life with this time around?

Soon it was time for the dance, I had gotten my dress Saturday at the mall, they had some gorgeous dresses. I picked out a backless red dress, the neckline plunged a little, accenting my breasts nicely, and going all the way down. I also got a new pair of red heels, crap, how was I going to walk in heels? I had my hair done Sunday afternoon, so it was fresh, my hair curled around my shoulders and curly bangs on the front. Also, before Danny arrived, I was practicing walking in the new heels to break them in. Fortunately for me once I stopped thinking about them, I was walking decently.

It was 6PM when the doorbell rang. Mom was putting on the last touches of makeup on me as I purchased a makeup kit for tonight, nothing expensive as I’ll have to learn how to do it myself with it. Mom called up to me saying it was Danny. I walked ... no I glided slowly down the stairs nervously, Danny slowly coming into view as I descended, he was holding a corsage for me. When he saw me, his eyes light up brightly. I watched as his eyes looked over me, my dress my eyes, my face, everywhere.

“Wow ... I ... your beautiful Paula” Danny stammered a bit as I came down to him as he put the corsage on my wrist.

“Thank you, Danny, you look handsome yourself.” He was wearing a sharp black suit with a red tie. Smiling with a bit of a blush as mom had to get a few pictures of us.

Finally, we got away from her and I was surprised to see waiting out front a limo and the driver opening the back door for us.

<This must have cost a lot Danny, you didn’t have to go this far.> Thinking to him, not wanting the driver to hear.

<You are worth it, besides some social research shows that on this Earth, events like these have a higher standard than on my Earth, and from the sound of things higher than yours as well.> Danny smiled and took my arm as we drove to the dinner portion of our schools ‘dinner and dance’.

Dinner was quiet, we had our own little conversation in thought. Not wanting anyone to hear, but we did talk aloud as well at times to make it look like we are having fun and being sociable. Mindy and Cindy were there, they were each other’s dates. Danny and I thought that was weird but then again, they were waiting for my brother to come to the right age to corrupt as the girls have said. Beth was also there with Zack, poor Zack I thought, probably dragged and forced by Beth to be here and probably pay for it all.

The evening went on with dancing at the dance hall at the school. Chairs and tables around the dance floor, low lights, red, white, and pink balloons and streamers. Drinks and small dessert like items to nibble on in between dances. Danny and I got out on the floor for about half an hour before Beth showed up and asked to cut in. Not wanting to start a scene I allowed her to dance with Danny, and I danced with Zack for a bit.

Getting back around to Danny now as the slow songs were going to start. Beth was clung to Danny and he was politely telling her to let go and she wouldn’t. Zack and I were just standing there annoyed. Beth trying to steal my date.

<I’m getting tired of her doing this> I could hear Zacks thoughts.

<Stand up to her and ditch her, make a big show of it.> I kind of thought back to him. But he wouldn’t hear me unless I really wanted him to.

No sooner had I thought that, Zack went over to Beth and grabbed her arm and took her from Danny. “I’m tired of this Beth! First you BEG me to take you to the dinner and dance, then you try to ditch me for someone else at the dinner, and finally you are throwing yourself on someone else’s date! We’re thru Beth! We weren’t even going out in the first place. You can find yourself a ride home.” Then Zack walked off to leave the dance, and Beth following behind yelling at Zack, I felt bad for him.

The dance didn’t have any more disruptions, and Danny and I danced unmolested by others. The final slow dance we danced close to each other, my head on his shoulder as he led me around on the dance floor.