His Sunshine Baby

See him again

“Babe?”

Daniel found me, sitting in the middle of my messy room while staring at this unique necklace. Unlike the dress, the sun necklace feels strangely familiar whenever I look at it. As if I had seen it a lot before… 

“What are you thinking about?” He asks.

“That I wish this old hag talked more. I can’t believe she still won’t say a thing…” 

Daniel sighs and scratches his goatee.

“She probably has her reasons… So did your parents, Babe.”

“Question is, what was that reason? What did they have to protect me from….” 

I keep thinking, but I guess the answer won’t just fall from the sky. Gosh, this is so enervating! Daniel puts an arm around my shoulder, comforting me.

“Hey, Elena, you’ll find out eventually. Ok, babe? You know, I don’t care where you come from. Even if you turn out to be some weird alien.”

I laugh a bit. Danny and his thing for sci-fi movies...

“Anyway, you’re my babe, my bestie, ok? You can always count on me. I’m there.”

I smile at him. I love my Danny. He’s always been there for me. When we were kids, when we were teens, and now. I know he’ll never ever let me down. He knows how scared I am for my dad, how badly I want to know who I really am, how messed up I am inside.

I sigh and hug him back. If it weren’t for Danny, I would be a wreck right now. I might not even be there at all. 

“Alright, who was going to take me to Pepe and get me laid? My turn to get a guy!” Says Danny, suddenly excited.

I sigh and show him my arm.

“Danny, I’m full of bruises. I’m not sure I can go out looking like that.”

“Hell to that. Put on your purple jumpsuit, I’ll take care of the rest!” He says while getting up after putting a kiss on my head. 

I obey and get dressed as he said. Indeed, this one’s length covers down to my ankles, but it’s still quite low-necked and not hiding the purple spots on my arms. However, it turns out Daniel has a solution for that too. After a few minutes and with a bit of foundation, most of my bruises have disappeared. Now I just have to make sure not to accidentally stain my overall with it… I grab a few bracelets that his mom made, the bohemian style that compliments my outfit. Daniel is all dressed up too, in a sexy shirt and tight pants that enhance his thin legs. 

I slap his butt when he walks past me.

“Hey, pretty booty!” I say with a laugh.

“Stop it!”

I laugh at his outraged expression. For someone who always talks so bluntly, Daniel can be such a prude! I love to tease him like this. He doesn’t like to let it show, but he’s such a romantic at heart… He secretly reads mushy stories, and he’s the first one to cry when we watch a soapy movie.

Alright, tonight I’ll find a good guy for my Danny! While putting my hair up, I try to think of some mental criteria I should keep in mind. Danny loves tall guys, the muscular hunk type, preferably Latino. He’s crazy for Spanish accents… 

“You ready, babe?”

I nod, and we both exit our flat-headed to Pepe’s nightclub. It’s a small one, but the most famous downtown. Notably, a hotspot for good Latino music and dancing. Daniel and I ventured there before we were even in the age to, and have always loved this place since. A lot of the patrons are regulars; hence, we see a few familiar faces in the queue. Some friends from our pack come to say hi, but as we enter the nightclub, I suddenly feel a strange sensation of disappointment overcome me.

I know this place almost by heart, so why do I find myself comparing it with the Rain right now? I follow Danny, looking around, looking for someone who has no reason to be there. I’m stupid, alright. No way a Black brother would get lost in a small nightclub of the Latino District. 

I feel stupid for being so disappointed! What the heck am I thinking right now? This is supposed to be our fun night! I go ahead of Danny to order myself some cosmopolitan to the barman. Daniel goes for a caipirinha, one of his favorites. By the time our drinks are ready, the place is rapidly crowded. I don’t recognize the DJ, but he looks young, probably a newbie. Pepe lets the young ones start the night, as usual. Daniel is already moving his feet in sync with the music, but I’m not really in the mood yet. I don’t even pay attention to the mix playing. I’m just looking around, with that little, silent hope of finding a pair of sky-blue eyes.

“Elena!”

Daniel’s pinch on my arm makes me jump. 

“Wh...What?” I ask, a bit ashamed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Really? Snap out of it, girl!”

“I… I was not…”

“Oh, shut it!”

It’s no use lying to Danny, he knows me by heart. Instead, I avoid his glare by diving my lips in my glass of Cosmo, hoping I’m not blushing like a tomato. He’s right, he’s right. I’m stupid, and I need to snap out of it, for sure. I sigh.

“Alright, found anyone you fancy?” I ask, in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

“I’ll look as soon as I know I can take my eyes off you! Elena, you forget you-know-who right here and right now! Come on, the nightclub is full, just go dance with some dude!”

The nightclub is full for sure, but about two-thirds of its population right now is most likely gay. It’s Pride Month, and as George said, Pepe’s club is the perfect place for the community to celebrate that. Indeed, I spot a lot of same-s*x couples cuddling, and rainbows proudly displayed or worn here and there. 

But before I can even say a thing, Daniel puts me in the arm of the first person he sees. The guy, a bit surprised, laughs and makes me spin. He’s got curly brown hair, round glasses, a cute denim romper and sure enough, a warm smile. I smile back by reflex, and sure enough, start dancing with him. I see Daniel give me a wink from the bar before he steps off and joins the crowd.

Alright, I should have some fun. Tommy, as my partner introduces himself, is not really good, but sure enough, he’s really nice and here to enjoy himself. His boyfriend joins us a couple of minutes later, and we keep having fun a bit longer, more of their friends joining our little dance.

I’m having fun and lets the beat wash away all thoughts about a particular blondie. The last notes of Con Calma are mixed with those of a new song, a Latino romantic song, clearly a couple thing. It’s my chance to walk out, excusing myself to retreat all the way to the bar and take a break. Moon Goddess, I’m exhausted but feeling alive! Where is Danny?   

“Elena!”

I turn around. It’s Bianca, the girl from earlier! She’s holding a large glass in her hand, and I immediately frown. She’s freaking underage! But seeing my expression, she shakes her head and shows me her drink for me to try. 

“It’s just orange juice! I’m only here to mix, Pepe is letting me do the next set!”

Sure enough, it doesn’t smell like alcohol. I nod, and Bianca sighs in relief. I’m still her trainer, and older than her in the pack, I could have made her exit the club if I decided to. But I’m not the type to be so strict. She takes a sip of her glass and looks around.

“You’re alone?” She yells to be heard despite the crowd and music.

“Danny’s there too! I don’t know where!” I answer.

“Oh, I think I saw him too! Dancing! With a big guy!” 

Well, that would be good news! I try looking for him again, but with the crowd, and that weird purple lighting, it’s hard to tell anyone apart. Bianca puts her fingers on my knee to get my attention.

“By the way, is it true?” She asks.

“What?”

“About the meeting? With the Blood Moon?” 

What meeting is she talking about? With the Blood Moon? Why would we even meet with them? Our Alpha and the King, the Black older brother, don’t even see eye to eye. I shake my head, confused.

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard it just before coming! Iris said they want to meet with Clark! The Black brothers!” 

Where is this coming from! Bianca, seeing my confusion, shrugs. She just overheard my cousin talking about it at the main house today. Why now? This timing is so weird! If the Black Brothers come here… To our territory… Then that means I might see him again! 

Moon Goddess, this is only a rumor, right? Iris often overhears stuff like this from my uncle, but that doesn’t mean it’s true, after all. I empty my glass in one go under Bianca’s surprised eyes.

“You ok…?” She asks, a bit confused.

“Yeah, yeah. Where is Danny?” 

“I saw him near the entrance, on the left side. But, Elena…”

“I’m ok, Bianca. Have fun mixing, I’ll listen!”

She’s obviously a bit confused by my attitude, but she just nods obediently. Meanwhile, I get off the chair and try to go the direction she indicated. It’s only a few meters away, but I have to walk across the crowd of dancers, and the song playing is a bit wilder, so I have to be careful not to get hit by an elbow or a hand. 

But honestly, my thoughts are elsewhere. What’s wrong with me? I promised Danny! Even if he comes by, that doesn’t mean anything! A one-night thing, Elena, one night only! Get your ideas straight girl! Did I drink too fast? I feel a bit dizzy as I stumble among the dancers. 

After a while, I finally spot Daniel, standing against a pillar, and he’s not alone. A super tall guy is facing him, but I can’t see the guy’s face. I suddenly hesitate. Daniel’s obviously… Busy flirting. He’s extra close with the tall guy, and I recognize when he does his flirtatious eyes. He’s got one hand on the guy’s shoulder, one on his torso. The guy’s hand on his waist, too. Damn, those two look good together, almost like a couple… A couple obviously playing! There faces are so close, from a wrong angle you could think they’re kissing! 

What do I do know? Daniel didn’t notice me, too busy with his current partner to see me. I… Do I even need to tell him? It’s not confirmed yet. And if it turns out to be true, and Daniel knows…. He will probably prevent me from doing something stupid.

Yes, something stupid. Am I overthinking? Probably… Even if I see Nate again, it’s nothing! Right? He said one night, it’s over! I look around me, feeling lost and a bit lonely in this crowd of dancers. I sigh and decide to step out. I don’t want to bother Danny with my stupid ideas. 

I take a few steps outside, breathing in. I feel better to be out. It’s a bit cooler, and there’s no crowd either. I look at the line of people waiting to get inside. Everyone’s here to have fun, yet here I am, thinking about an impossible scenario, all worked up because of a few words… 

“Babe?”

I turn around. Daniel just came out too, followed by his love interest of the night. Damn, the guy is even taller than I thought now that I see him up close. And he’s not Latino, more like mixed? He looks kind, with big dark green eyes and a soft smile.

“Sorry, I just needed some fresh air… You should have stayed inside, Danny.”

“I was worried, I saw you leave.”

“I’m fine, babe.”

He doesn’t really trust me, making his suspicious face. So I turn my attention to the big boy next to him.

“Hi, I’m Elena.”

“Boyan. Nice to meet you.”

“Boyan?” I repeat.

“Yeah, but you can call me Bobo.”