We drive forever. Eventually we find Danny’s house. It’s HUGE, like everything else in Toronto. I never realized Danny’s family was this rich. Not that it makes a difference to me, but he must have thought we lived in a shed compared to him.
I see Danny in what I think is his bedroom window. He smiles from ear to ear and races down to greet me. His mum opens the front door. “Millie!” she shouts. “Welcome to Canada!” Mrs. Trudeau gives my mum and Cindy the thumbs-up sign, they drive off, and the next thing I know, it’s just me and Danny.
He looks LUSH. He gives me a hug and it lasts forever, but it’s the sort of hug that you give to a friend. We kiss, too, but it all feels a bit wrong.
It’s not Danny feeling this. It’s me. I still like Danny loads, but …
“This is hard, isn’t it?” Danny says.
I put my head down. “Yeah, but why? We were so good together, and ever since you’ve been here, it’s just felt like you’ve…”
“Changed?” Danny says.
“Yeah!” I reply. “But I don’t think you have. I think I might have! Which may make me horrible and selfish, but I don’t think I want to go out with someone I can only see once a year.”
Danny does a half laugh.
“Millie. I have never met anyone like you, and I think you’re great, but…”
I get it. For the first time I understand what my stomach had been trying to tell me. I think I had to be with Danny in the flesh for the right words to appear in my head.
“This can’t really work, can it, Danny? You’re Zan and I’m not. Plus you’re Zan on another continent.”
“No,” Danny says sadly, “it can’t.”
I stand up and look out of the window.
We are both very sensible. Far too sensible.
“I wish I’d saved this conversation till later, though. Now we’ve got eight hours of being together and knowing that we are breaking up. Sorry!”
With that, Danny and I both start to cry. Eventually, after a huge sob on each other’s shoulders, Danny says, “Look! Why don’t I take you around the neighborhood? We can still have a good day! I can show you some sights. We can still be … friends!”
And that’s what we do. Danny shows me his school, his skate park, and the ice hockey rink. We talk a bit about his uncle (scary, but would be good in a war), we talk about bears (scary, and also good in a war—LAUREN WAS RIGHT!), we laugh about lots of things, and we eat noodles.
But when my mum eventually comes to pick me up, Danny and I are still splitting up.
“Bye, Mills,” he says on his porch. “Let’s still talk, but, you know.”
I do know.
“Danny, I have to ask. Is there anyone else?”
Danny looks at his feet and shuffles them a bit. “Nah. Just you. Honestly. I’ve been in a forest for ages. No girls there and, anyway, after this, I’m going to take my time.”
I sigh. “Me, too.”
Danny waves me good-bye, I get in the car, Mum says, “How was it, darling?” and I start to sob.