Picture Perfect | Daniel Ricciardo

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Dani was frustrated after she woke up the next day after the start of the festival. The first thing she thought about was the conversation she had with Daniel. How could she let him in that easy after how much he hurt her? Was it time to just let go of the memory where he hurt me? No, Dani couldn't do that. The emotions of the morning after still felt so fresh in her memories. The boy who knew her the best. Who saw her get a broken heart by two other boys before and even promised her he would never break her heart. A bit ironic since he was the one that ripped her heart in pieces.  
'Daniëlle, are you up?' Dani heard her mom call for her. She rolled her eyes by hearing the name her mom used for her. She knew that was how her mom always called her. But since no one in Adelaide called her that, she wasn't used to that name anymore. 
'Yeah,' Dani called back as she walked downstairs. Her mother smiled at her as soon as she walked into the kitchen. 
'Slept well honey?' her mom asked as she put some papers away that was laying around on the kitchen counter. 
'Yeah,' Dani said again. If you consider thinking about Daniel the whole night as a well rested night, then sure.
'That's good to hear. I want to go to the ladies at the garden centre, do you like to come? They love to see you again. They've been asking non-stop about you!' her mom said like her cheerful self. Dani took an apple from the bowl and looked at her mom.
'Do I have to?' she asked with her mouth full.
'They haven't seen you in so long! And don't speak with your mouth full, I haven't raised you like your brothers,' Dani couldn't help but roll her eyes with an amused smile. 'Besides, I already told them you would come.'
'I'll stay an hour, no longer,' Dani made as a deal with her mom.
'Sure,' she smiled brightly, walking out of the kitchen. Dani looked down on her phone, seeing Imogen and Connor have a conversation in the group app about some movie. She already missed those two. 

~°~

Going to the garden centre with her mom was a mistake, Dani thought as she left the building. The women in that club loved to gossip around, and so they wanted to know all about Dani's life. She let Kurt call her after she stayed an hour, pretending she had to go somewhere with him. It was a great plan on her part and it worked. She said goodbye to her mom and the other ladies and was on her way to go back home. As the sun was shining bright, she could feel her skin burning on her arm. She was glad she had put on a cap to protect her eyes from the bright sun. She crossed the road but stopped at a particular building. The animal shelter. It was where Dani's family got Terry. She looked at the window because she saw a paper with something written on it
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
Was written on the paper in big letters. She knew the owner as his son, Nick, went to high school with her. She walked in as the door made a ringing bell, announcing someone walking into the building. She recognized Nick at the counter who was busing himself filling in some papers. He looked up and his serious looking face turned around with the corners of his mouth curling up.
'Am I dreaming? Or do I see the one and only Dani Martin standing here in front of me?' Nick asked with a bright smile.
'It is me Nick,' she laughed as she walked closer to him. He walked around the front desk and gave Dani a short but sweet hug. The two of them did consider each other as friends. They weren't in the same friend group back in high school, but there were many times at school where they would partner up for a project and they got along so well with each other. 
'So, through what do I get the pleasure to see you finally again after all those years?' Nick asked, walking back to his desk. Dani pointed back to the door where the paper that she saw outside was hanging.

'I saw the note on the window. Do you still need people?' Dani asked curiously.
'Glad to know that people actually read that. Or maybe you're the only one.' Nick laughed. 'But yeah, I think we are still looking for someone. Are you interested?'
'I am,' she said with a smile. Nick nodded as he was looking for some papers on his desk. When he finally found them he gave them to Dani for her to fill it in.
'Dad has to give the green card because he's in charge obviously. So you'll hear from us soon.' Nick said as Dani gave the papers back to him, all filled in.
'That's alright,' she said. 

After hanging out with Nick for just a little bit, Dani arrived back home. She was met with Kurt laying down on the couch in the living room, browsing through a sports magazine. He looked up as he realised her sister walked into the room.
'That took you long,' he said as his way of greeting his sister. 
'I got distracted on my way back,' Dani said back as she sat down on the other couch. She saw him nod as his eyes went back to the magazine. She expected the conversation to be done but was surprised when her brother started to talk again.
''We're having a small get together tonight at the beach, you wanna join?' he asked as his eyes made their way back to where she was sitting.
'How small is small? And who's coming?' Dani asked her brother. He answered with a simple: I don't really know. She couldn't help but wonder if Daniel would be there. She hoped not. Dani needed to ignore him from now on, or she will be thinking about him every night. She didn't want to admit to anyone that she cried last night when she thought back about some memories with him. She didn't want that to be happening every single night. There was a sentence Dani's mom would've said if she knew about it: Boys aren't worth crying for.