The evening was indecisive. 

Some moments were warm and humid, while at certain moments, a cool breeze riffled through the pine trees, creating a smooth sort of rattle of the needles. Daniel had brought a blanket to lie on, and was using his jacket as a pillow. He still had the strawberry clip in his hair from earlier, and he occasionally ran the pads of his fingers over the soft wood, feeling comforted, as if his friends were right there with him.

"Can't sleep?"

Daniel jolted upright, looking behind him for the voice, 'Johnny' on his lips before he saw it was Bobby Brown. He cocked his head to the side, looking over Bobby curiously, not saying anything for a moment.

"Were you expecting someone else?"

Daniel shook his head, patting the flat rock beside him. "It's not exactly the Ritz, but it'll work, right?"

Bobby shrugged and nodded, sitting down beside Daniel. "You know, my family's a couple neighborhoods down from Encino. But it's not quite Reseda...no offense."

Daniel shrugged. He didn't really take offense to people implying--or straight-up saying--Reseda was a shithole. They were only speaking the truth, after all. It was when Encino assholes said it, really, and Bobby was--

"Middle-ground?" Daniel asked.

"Huh?"

Daniel supposed he meant middle class. He'd been thinking of the word "middle-ground" since his first time with Johnny. The town outside the camp, it wasn't Encino and it wasn't Reseda. It was some middle-ground it seemed, where things like background and future expectations didn't matter. Everyone was just spanned out and social under the blazing California sun, just like his mom had wanted when they first moved here. The people seemed happy. (And, sometimes, admittedly, Daniel imagined himself among them. Truly, wholly happy and fitting in.)

Bobby seemed to register the comment. "I'm more middle-class, yeah. I'm not from the country clubs and all that, I mean."

Daniel nodded. Bobby could sure go on about nothing. He was a good guy, though, and they were so similar...it was a wonder Johnny didn't hate him like he used to hate Daniel. Probably because Bobby didn't try to go in on Ali.

"What are you doing out here?" Daniel asked, because he felt he should.

"Could ask you the same," Bobby hugged his knees and looked out over the cliff. It was here Daniel felt he could see the full scope of the world, as if the stars spanned out in the vast sky below him as well, as if he could jump into it. "I just woke up and noticed you were gone. This really is the best view, though. It's a good place to bring a girl...if you're into that sort of thing..."

The way he said it, hesitant and breathy, made Daniel sit up, his blood running cold. His mind immediately went to the fact that this was in fact a rather steep cliff, and if Bobby knew...

"What makes you say that?" Daniel asked, trying to keep his voice level.

Bobby gave him a curious look, but his eyes held no hatred. In fact, he looked almost relaxed. Daniel half-wondered if he were stoned. "Just...sometimes, people would say stuff, in school or the dojo. Stuff about..." his eyes flickered down to Daniel's lips. Daniel never felt for a moment that Bobby liked him. Johnny was different, there was a certain energy about him (Jessica had a thing about identifying energies, like when she gave tarot readings at sleepovers). Bobby, though, was a hundred percent straight. He was just being weird. Very weird.

"They'd call you a fairy, things like that." Bobby looked down at his shoes. "I wanted to tell them to knock it off, but I didn't want them rounding on me. Besides, we were all pretty pissed at you, so I did my fair share of shit-talking. But, I mean..." Bobby looked, for the first time, like he didn't know what to say next. And it was an odd thing, because he was usually so prepared. "You're my friend--our friend, now. If you are...you know, gay, that's okay. I don't want you to feel like you can't, you know, be true to yourself or anything."

"Wow," Daniel couldn't help but laugh. Part of him wanted to say something snarky, but Bobby was trying to be nice. "What part of Vacation Bible School told you about that?"

Bobby gave him a slightly vexed look. "The part where they give you cookies and lemonade and tell you that Jesus loves everyone. Gosh, Daniel, I'm just trying not to be an asshole."

"I know," Daniel whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm just sick of people giving me shit based on an assumption. But I guess you aren't giving me shit, so..."

Bobby shook his head. "I could help you." he said, as if that made immediate sense, as if Daniel's mind didn't take a ten-point Olympic dive into the gutter.

"With what?" Daniel asked sarcastically. "Giving each other 'no homo' bro handjobs? I'm alright, thanks." (He immediately thought of the capture the flag game, but that was different. If Johnny ever said no homo or called him 'bro', Daniel would probably lose all will to go on.)

Bobby looked even more annoyed, but also a bit amused. "If you're gay, I can find you a good guy. And if you're straight, I can find a cute girl for you."

Daniel snorted, dangling his legs comfortably over the cliff knowing Bobby wasn't gonna go apeshit. "And if I like both?"

"Huh?"

"What if I like boys and girls, Bobby?" Daniel asked, feeling his heart go a million miles an hour, but just the look on Bobby's face was enough to keep a smile on his.

Bobby looked unable to process the statement. "Well," he started. "I don't think I could get you a boyfriend and a girlfriend, but, uh...I'd still be your friend. You're a good guy, Daniel, that's what matters."

Daniel nodded, and Bobby nodded, and a comfortable silence spanned between them. Even if it was a bit awkward, that was the best coming out he could imagine. Even Jess seemed more surprised and curious, but he had a feeling something odd was going on with her, anyway. At least where Bobby was concerned.

"You're gonna tell everyone?" Daniel half-said, half-asked, loosely hugging his knees.

"No," Bobby shook his head quickly. "Unless you want me to. It's your business, man." He paused, thoughtful. "You think girls can be the same? Liking guys and chicks, I mean."

"Oh," Daniel looked taken aback by the question. "I guess so. If I've met a girl like that, she hasn't told me. But I imagine it's possible. Why, did you have someone in mind?"

"No," Bobby fired back just as quick. "Just curious. Susan's probably like that."

Daniel nodded and shrugged absentmindedly. "Maybe. I don't think she really likes guys at all, but it's not for me to say."

Bobby found a rock next to where they sat and tossed it over the cliff. "I guess." He seemed unable to contain his words much longer, and Daniel could sense him looking at him tensely. "So, uh...did you really hook up with Jess?"

Daniel found his heart skip a beat, and he swallowed, thinking over what Johnny said. About not outing him to anyone. He'd already told Jess, but Bobby was Johnny's best friend. Even so, based on the thin layer of nonchalance, Daniel guessed Bobby wasn't just fishing for gossip.

"No, I didn't. We're not like that, despite what everyone in the world thinks. We're just friends." Daniel said.

Bobby nodded, finally looking away from Daniel, satisfied by his response. "Then did you really hook up with anyone, or was Tommy just making something out of nothing?"

Daniel swallowed. "He was just being, well, Tommy. Promise. I am sadly single for the time being, until you use those expert matchmaking skills." he flashed a charming smile, but something in the way Bobby looked at him, almost sad, made his smile quickly fade.

Bobby was silent for so long, Daniel began to grow anxious. Then, he seemed to grasp the words, and he said: "Daniel, I see the way you look at Johnny."

"What?" Daniel laughed incredulously, though already, his eyes burned. Was he crying? This couldn't be happening.

"I know that you two have been spending a lot of time together, and now I know that you like guys somewhat." Bobby explained. "I don't wanna jump to conclusions, but I think having a thing for Johnny would be a very bad idea. He's the straightest guy I know, and even when I have my doubts on that, well...he's very confused, Daniel."

Daniel knew what he should say to that. Even though this entire conversation was so fucking ridiculous that it shouldn't exist, he knew he had a potential response cut out for him. An escape route. 'Johnny?' he'd ask, then do another laugh--exaggerated, but not too much, this was his friend after all. 'No way. Too blond for me. Harrison Ford's more my kinda guy.'

But Bobby said he was confused. And if his best friend was picking up on something that had been rocking around Daniel's own mind for weeks, well, maybe he wasn't so crazy after all.

(Not that Daniel really cared. He wasn't looking to date Johnny, Johnny wouldn't want that, but he couldn't help but be curious about him. His curiosity was a weakness, and it was really Johnny's fault for being all the more perplexing than he was back in school.)

"Confused?" Daniel asked.

Bobby nodded. "You remember that night on the beach?"

Daniel cocked his head to the side with a sly grin. "How could I not? I was coughing up sand and covering up about a million bruises."

Bobby shook his head. "January sixth." He said it like a slur.

Daniel felt as if Bobby had just sucker punched the air right out of his lungs.

He assumed they were not going to talk about it. Why did they need to talk about it? It made everything worse. Daniel hadn't slept well for over a week afterwards, he'd barely talked to Ali or Jess then. He felt that, right when everything was right with the tournament victory, his world came crashing down. That his life was over. But he still had to keep on living.

It wasn't even that big of a deal, really. The whole year was spread out on the beach that night, celebrating the last day of winter break. Daniel and Ali were the school's power couple (and by that, it was really just that Ali was a hot cheerleader, so people were actually looking at this loser she was dating). Jess, even though she was a year behind, was pretty much adopted by the seniors as she used her cheerleader flexibility to do a super-long kegstand. Overall, it was a pretty good time, even if it wasn't really Daniel's scene.

But because of sheer mass of the party, Daniel didn't see any of the Cobras (or, ex-Cobras) until about two-and-a-half beers in.

"Hey, Danielle Larusso, how's it going?" Tommy came up from behind, wrapping an arm around Daniel's shoulders, which he blearily shrugged off.

When he turned around, though he could see all the Cobras, his eyes landed on Johnny's.

"Hey, man. How's it going?" Johnny asked, his words just as slurred. It was clear he'd had a couple as well, though his eyes were just as bright as any sober person's.

Daniel shrugged, eyes narrowing. He didn't say anything. His stomach churned.

Johnny looked slightly deterred, but he continued. "Can I tell you something?" He looked around at the other students milling around, drunkenly swaying to some pop playing from someone's boombox. "Maybe in private?"

Daniel just blinked. Jess was chatting with some girls from the art club, and Ali had gone to get a drink. And Johnny looked...nice. Nice and genuine. And very drunk.

"No," Daniel shook his head. "You can say it here."

Johnny's expression faltered, looking annoyed, almost angry. Then he just looked sad. Daniel thought back to the tournament, and Kreese, and he felt bad...bad wasn't even the word. But he felt worse after dealing with these assholes and how they made his life hell for months. They'd completely derailed the course of his life--and Johnny, well. Johnny was just adding to the pile, the tangle of darkness coiling within him. And he wanted to say something now?

Daniel wanted to get another beer. He didn't even like beer. (He was starting to think he was more of a margarita guy, after he and Ali and Jess had that sleepover where they made some. He wished more than anything to be at one of their houses and not at some stupid kegger with Johnny Lawrence.)

"Okay," Johnny took a deep, stupid breath, like he'd been practicing something. Bobby patted Johnny on the back, and Daniel cocked his head to the side and smiled with false warmth, amused. "I'm really sorry, Daniel. About everything. I was a massive dick, and I think we should put the past behind us, all of it. Maybe we could be friends? You're a pretty cool guy, man."

Johnny looked back at Bobby, silently asking how he did. Bobby nodded. Daniel smiled wider, all charm and teeth.

(They were waiting on his answer.)

"I really hope the tournament humbled you, Johnny, because you're gonna have to learn that you can't get everything you want just by buying it or asking nicely. You treated me like shit for months, and one apology set up by your asshole friends means less than nothing. I never want to see you or hear from you again. Now get out of my face, so I can have a perfect evening without having to see you."

Daniel took a deep breath, but it still felt shallow. "January sixth." he replied, refusing to look back at Bobby, afraid of what he'd see.

"Since the moment you won the tournament--or, really, the moment you and your Sensei agreed to have you fight at the tournament--it's like everything we knew shifted. We were the toughest dojo because everyone knew we were the toughest, so no one challenged us." Bobby explained. "But when you swooped in, when you stood up for yourself, it really changed things. You and Johnny, you were on equal ground from day one, even if you didn't know it. And I think..." his expression grew perplexed, curious, trying to explain a point he hadn't fully worked out himself. "He thought about you a lot, then. More than the rest of us put together. And sometimes, I think it grew to be something more than Ali."

Daniel wondered if Johnny thought about him a lot now. "And after January? What happened then?"

Bobby frowned, lips pursed like he didn't want to comment. "Like I said, he was upset and confused. Probably more than he himself could describe. I'd never seen him like that. And I just think that you...developing feelings for him would add to the confusion. He's in a weird place right now."

"You think he couldn't tell me this himself?"

"He wouldn't admit to it," Bobby replied with a hesitant smile. "I know it's none of my business, I just figured I'd warn you."

"Ah, well," Daniel smiled at that. Bobby Brown, warning him? Please. Danger was his middle name, etc, etc. "Thanks, but I don't think you need to be worried about that. I don't like Johnny that way. I barely like him as a friend."

"Oh, I'm not worried." Bobby shook his head. "I'm just warning you. Johnny's my best friend. You can date his ex all you want, but if you hurt him, well...I'd beat your ass, no mercy for real this time."

Daniel smiled wider at that. "I'm sure you could. But you can trust me, I'm not gonna hurt Johnny."

Bobby nodded. "I'm gonna give you two the cabin tomorrow night. I'll take Tommy out, leave you two to talk things out. I know it's like talking to a brick wall, and I know you don't like him like that, but still...there's a lot of shit you two need to sort through."

Daniel started to think that that really wasn't necessary, but then again...he and Johnny had been sneaking around half the summer. If they had some excused alone time...Daniel imagined one of Johnny's large hands pinning his hands up to his cabin cot, or perhaps wandering down his body, or even wrapped around his throat--

Well. Time to execute those thought before he gets too overexcitable just by talking with Bobby Brown.

"I guess that sounds okay, if you insist." Daniel said with an overexaggerated sweep of the hand, and he thinks he's really pulled off the nonchalance.

(He's going to be so screwed tomorrow, waiting for the evening to come. Pun intended.)

"Okay, good," Bobby stood and stretched his legs. "I'm gonna head back and sleep, and you should, too. The play is coming up in a bit, and those kids are gonna need all the help they can get."

"You're right about that," Daniel laughed softly. With that, the two started heading back to the boy's cabin, only the calming chirping of crickets and the dull flickering of lighting bugs behind them.

(And even if Daniel knew he wasn't going to have a deep conversation with Johnny tomorrow, he did know one thing: they were definitely going to hook up. And that was really what it was all about, wasn't it? At least, Daniel was confident Johnny wasn't nearly as emotional on the matter as Bobby had made him seem. Probably.)