It would be very helpful to have read "Embers Ignited Pt.1 - 3" for character descriptions, development, setting and plot details.
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School returned on Monday morning and with it, the familiar and comfortable rhythms of day to day life. After the events of the weekend, Daniel Shelton was happy to get back into the safety of routine. No doubt he had enjoyed the amazing things he's been able to experience; however, some of the sudden changes were heavy in his mind.
For the last three years the dynamic of their group had been consistent, at least from his perspective. They had spent many hours together, laughing at each other's jokes, goofing off, having fun ad making memories. They had also been with each other as tough events had shown up in each of their lives. Together they had forged deep bonds built through shared emotions. Sure, there had been some bumps. Feelings had gotten hurt, relationships had pulled some away from the core at a time, and they'd even survived the duration of Tucker and Lainey dating and their breakup. But this turn of events had rocked his world.
For the last three years, without a schedule or a mandate, the entire group had ended up hanging out in the intersection of the main hallways at school before the day begun. This week had been no different. Yet it had been different. Nothing pronounced, nothing major, nothing that would even be noticed to the average eye. But it was there. A sideways glance between Lainey and Amanda. A lingering eye as Danny turned and Amanda was late to look away. An almost too familiar touch of the arm as Lainey brushed by Danny. The tension was strong.
Classes blended into classes, moving from English, to Government, to Math together. There was some split for an elective period before the bell brought them into the cafeteria together for lunch. Habit brought them to the same table, to the same seats, and with almost always the same lunches. Now that Tucker and Lainey weren't dating and going to his house every day for "lunch", (which was what they said they were doing when everyone else knew they spent the time having sex), the table was full. Conversations bounced from one person to another, with people often being involved in two or three simultaneous dialogues.
The lunch bell rang and they began to head back to classes. As they dispersed, Lainey slid up beside Danny as they turned down the B hallway and headed to the Physics lab. Amanda and Tucker were a few feet ahead and Lainey grabbed Danny's arm to slow him down and allow some space between themselves and their friends.
"You have something for me?" she asked, with a knowing look in her eyes. He knew exactly what she was talking about and reached into his backpack. He looked both ways then quickly took her bra and stuffed it into her bag, praying no one saw it. Lainey giggeled.
"Call me tonight. After you get home. Ok?"
Danny listened to her and obliged with a mumbled, "Sure."
With that she accelerated up towards the others and they headed to their next classes.
The rest of the day was fairly mundane,. A couple of more classes for all of them before the bell finally signaled the end of the school day. Senioritis had set in and every day they faced the increasingly strong call to be anywhere but at school. Lainey met Amanda at her car and jumped in the passenger seat for her daily ride home. Danny and Tucker headed to basketball practice and before hey knew it, the sun was going down and twighlight had arrived. The showered and left the gym, headed home for a little homework, food and sleep before starting the routine all over again.
Amanda usually got her homework done as soon as she walked in the door. That was just part and parcel to her personality -- the straight arrow who always did the right thing. But something had changed. She wasn't nearly as much the straight arrow she had been just a few days ago. Today she was pondering what steps she should take to continue her quest to conquer the heart, body a soul of her best friend and temporary housemate, Daniel Shelton. This had been running through the back of her mind all day and she was slowly formulating a plan of action to draw Danny to her.
Practice was over and Danny made the drive back to Amanda's house. He put his truck in park and sat in the driveway for a minute. Practice had been tough; he was tired and not looking forward to the homework he needed to do. Jeff was gone for the week, and that usually meant Linda would cook. She said that cooking for the kids kept her busy and made it easier for her to not be lonely while he was on business trips. So at least he had that going for him, good food to help satisfy the teenage appetite.
Food was the only appetite that seemed always growing in his 18 year old body. After the weekend, his desire for sex seemed to be out of control. All day long he had found it almost impossible to stay focused on his classwork as his mind began to wander. And every time it wandered it somehow found itself wandering to the blowjob Amanda had given him or the two times he had fucked Lainey. It had been a constant fight to keep from wandering the halls of Heritage High School with a full blown boner all day long. Just about anything could trigger it too; the sway of Lainey's hips as they walked to class, a giggle the girls shared at some funny comment, the deep green of Amanda's eyes....each had triggered his body today. He knew for sure at some point tonight he would have to get some relief, and he looked forward to the bliss of jacking off.
Danny opened the door, grabbed his bag, and headed into the garage. He twisted to doorknob and stepped into the home that had been opened to him just a few weeks earlier. He could hear food going in the kitchen and if his nose was right, there was spaghetti going. Garlic and oregano wafted through the house and Danny smiled. He loved Italian food. He started down the hall past the door to Jeff and Linda's bedroom and into the living area adjacent to the kitchen.
"Hey Danny! Just in time. I hope you like spaghetti. I've made a ton so you better be hungry!" Linda was always so kind to him. She looked at all of the kids as her own, but she had an especially soft spot for Danny. Amanda was in the kitchen, spreading butter on some garlic bread just out of the oven. She turned to him and smiled.
"Go put you bags upstairs. We can get our homework done after we eat."
Danny was caught off guard. "You didn't already get yours done?"
"Nah. Wasn't in the mood so I procrastinated. I'll do mine with you."
Amanda never procrastinated but Danny was not wise enough to the way of a woman to understand there was a purpose to her every action. He bounced up the stairs, dropped his backpack on the landing between their rooms and came back down just as the food was being sat on the table. They each took a seat and Linda began to fill their plates. It looked delicious and Danny was ready to dive in. He remembered his manners enough to wait for Linda to fill all the plates and then attacked the pasta with gusto.
Linda broke the silence. "How was school today for you two? Anything special?"
"Pretty normal. Same ol' same ol'" said Amanda. "Just another Monday."
