A/N: I know that I should be updating one of my other stories, but this idea has been torturing me. Finally, it blocked me from writing anymore until this story was at least started. So I hope I get it right. This story is kind of the explanation for Danny's shy nature. First I have to write the flashback, so I have to achieve it in three chapters at the most. Hope you enjoy it…And thanx so much divinedragon7 for helping me on this and making the summary! I really appreciated it!

Note: This story will be written in a different style than how I normally write, and it is narrated in Danny's POV. Any misspellings are done on purpose to reflect dialect, because in the first three chapters or less, Danny is a kid, so he has a mind of a kid.

Jazzy Day: The Beginning

I never had a birthday. I was always the black sheep of my family, or so they told me. It was always my sister who was perfect. And who could deny it? As soon as people would lay eyes on her, they would instantly fall for her cunningness and smarts. Of course, I was proud of my big sister. Everyone in my family was, in fact. That's why every year; she received twice as many presents.

One day is her birthday; Mommy always makes extra tasty brownies and cake on that day, and we go out to some girly skating rink where she and her friends have fun. But that's alright, because Jazz is happy. The other is Jazzy Day, which is the funnest time of all year! We get lots of balloons and sweets, and it's so much better than her birthday. We don't go to some girly place like we do on those days; we actually go out for dinner. It's really fun! It's like she has two birthdays! Of course, Christmas doesn't count. It's really scary, and I don't know why people are so smily on that day. My parents always argue on whether Santa Claus is real or not, though I've always known that the fatty wasn't. It was like Jazzy said, 'If Santa Claus was real, he would have frozen in an iceberg ages ago!' Then my parents would ooh and ahh over her, then they would go back to arguing. Sometimes I wonder why they never take anything she says seriously, even though she's seven. She's really old!

Sometimes, I think that my parents don't like me. It's like, every time I walk into the room, they start to frown. But when Jazzy comes in, they smile and go to hug her and ask what she wants for breakfast. I don't ever get a special breakfast. I have to get cheap cereal. For a moment, I wish that I could have all of Jazz's attention. But then again, I don't, because then Jazzy would be as lonely as I am, and I don't want that. After all, she is older, and so deserves it.

My parents don't pay attention to me at all, not that I deserve it. I'm just the side little brother that gives his sister presents with his allowance. But I like doing that, because it makes Jazzy happy. I love making people happy, especially my family. When I'm extra good, they actually talk to me for a while, before they go do something together. When I make people happy, they pat me on the head or something. It makes me feel good, that I'm actually necessary in the big world, for it has all the beauty in the world! It has lots of plants, and bugs, and those little things that crawl around on the ground, and when you smush them all the guts come out…but that's not beautiful. Those kids in my pre-kindergarten class always mess around with them.

How would you think they feel: one second crawling around in their own little world, and then being picked up by this giant thing and getting pulled apart! It must be painful for each of them, every time…The kids even pick on those girly bugs that fly around with those beautiful wings. They pull the wings off and step on the remains. And those poor, duller girly bugs are stomped on while they rest on a tree stump. I just don't understand it! How would they like it if someone bigger than them pulled them inside out or stomped on them just because they felt like it!

One time, there was a giant shiny bug crawling around in the kitchen, then my mommy got out some spray and sprayed it, then reached for the broom and whacked it to death. I begged her to stop, I really did. Then after she removed the broom, it was dead. It never had a chance at all. I almost cried. Then my mommy complained that I was too 'whimpy for a boy'. But I don't care what my mommy thinks. That's mean to kill living things that aren't doing anything wrong. I only dislike the snakes when they bite you, or the musky-toes that suck your blood out like a vampire in your sleep. Those bugs are actually harming you. But if I see them sitting there, and not doing anything wrong, I let them stay. Mommy says that I'm too compass-on-it for a boy. Why do girls get to do whatever they want? But maybe it's fair in the end…

My sister is very nice to animals. One time I wanted a puppy, but Mommy and Daddy said no, but then Jazzy asked for it and begged that she wanted it so very badly. And then, my parents say yes. They never let me do anything. But I was still happy, because even though it wasn't my dog, I got to see it. The dog died last year though. I was sad all week. I don't think it liked me very much when it was alive…but I gave it lots of love anyways! But I hate to bother people, because I don't like it when they're angry at me. Maybe I actually caused its death, from bothering it…

It makes me feel so bad that I'd almost want to cry, but then I remember that crying's for babies, and so I whine instead. But then my mommy says I'm crying when I'm not. I only cried once in my whole life, and that's when the shiny bug died. Sometimes I dream about it, how I was in the place of that bug, and my mommy sprayed me with acid and whacked me with the broom till I couldn't breathe…and then I wake up and scream and everyone complains for me to be quiet so they can go back to bed. I hate the nights when I have nightmares. So now, most of the time when I wake up, I bite my lip to keep it in, so no one wakes up, and I don't interrupt their happy dreams. Then in the morning, they're not cranky.

I wish I was smart. Since Jazzy is smart, she gets all the attention. But then again, I don't think it would make a difference, because she's older and therefore is better than me in every way. I don't want to steal the attention away from her, because then she'll be sad and I would feel guilty and twitchy. But then again, everyone is better than me. I'm so low I don't even have a birthday. Did I just appear out of nowhere and mommy and daddy having to take care of me? Do I even belong in this loving family? I just wish I could do more for my family, because sometimes, I think that they don't want me to exist.

One time, I asked my mommy if I had a birthday.

She replied, 'no'.

I then asked her, 'why do I not have one? Jazzy has one!'

Then she said, 'You don't have one because you were born on a day that doesn't exist. You were born in between one day and the next. You don't have a birthday. Why don't you just accept that and stop bothering me!'

I, of course, turned my head so it was facing the ground and whined, then walked back to my room. I wish I didn't have a habit of getting on people's nerves, but I do it anyways. I try to be as cute as possible so at least someone would say something good about me. Of course, that never works, but I keep on believing it.

I could never run for very long. Every time I have to run an err-and for my Daddy or Mommy, when I get there I am always gasping for breath. My mommy says I'm too weak, and that I'll die if I don't try harder. That or I'll be a sloth (wonder what that is?) and never get married, and die old and alone. I don't want to get married to some girl who wears pink all the time and walks around giving cooties to the boys…I don't want cooties. I would only marry a girl if she didn't wear pink. If she loved animals, that would be even better.

Mommy never takes me anywhere by myself. When mommy was working in the lab with my daddy, I asked her a question. 'Mommy?' I said.

'What?' she said, sounding mad at me.

I went on. 'Can you take me to the park?' I asked, putting a cute look on my face.

'No.' she said.

'Why not? I asked.

'I won't take you unless your sister wants to go. And even then, I might not take you.'

'Why not?' I asked.

'Because, you're disturbing me from working,' she said.

Finally, I left the room and went upstairs to knock on Jazz's door. 'Jazz?' I said.

'What?!' she screeched.

'Do you want to go to the park?' I asked, hoping for the best.

'Sure, why not! I'm going to tell mommy, k?' She said happily, and then swung the door wide and ran downstairs.

'K.' I said to the air.

One day, my mommy, daddy, Jazzy, and I went to the town park. Mommy told me to sit on the bench because she and the rest were going to get some ice cream. And so there I sat, and I waited for what felt like forever. Then, I got tired of waiting, and then got up to search for them. After a while, I was tired of walking, and my legs hurt really badly. Finally, I saw them, sitting under a large oak tree. I ran to see them. When I got there, everybody turned up to look at me and frowned. But I, since I'm stupid like mommy says, went under the tree were my family was. I saw them all, licking their chocolate ice cream, and then I grew jealous. Didn't they bring me ice cream? Or did they just forget about me? Then I decided to ask. 'Mommy?' I said. 'Can I have some ice cream?'

'No,' she said.

'Why not?' I whined.

'Because you don't deserve any. You weren't good today.' she said with a mean look on her face.

'How? What did I do?' I said, confused.

'You didn't wait on the bench like I asked you to.' She said.

I almost turned into a statue at that moment, for I truly felt like one. I was being bad, every time I went to look for them or went to talk to them or made noise at night. I was being bad when I kept on asking mommy and daddy to take me places. I was being bad when I wanted even for a moment to take all of Jazzy's attention away. All in all, I was a bad boy. I cried for the second time in my life. I got up; I kept trying to wipe the liquid away from my eyes, but more kept coming, so I stopped. My mommy and daddy shook their heads, and Jazzy stared at me. 'Why don't you go away and leave us alone!' She yelled. 'We don't want you here! Can't you see we don't like you?'

'I can see that,' I said, trying to hold my face together, for it felt like it wanted to turn into mush. 'I won't bother you anymore. I'm gonna go now, ok? I won't bother you anymore….' I whined.

After I saw Jazzy's face fill with victory, I ran as fast as I could with my two imperfect feet, trying to carry my bad self as far away from my family as possible. There was never a moment when I hated myself more. Because of me, my family was unhappy. They would be much happier without me, I knew that. In my little heart, I was filled with a sense that kept me running, no matter how much my legs started to hurt and itch. After a few minutes, it became automated; the feeling had chased away all feeling in my legs. At one point, I felt so tired that I tripped over my foot, and fell face first into the soggy dirt. It coated my face and got into my eyes, and it stung. I wanted to cry out, but I held it in, for my parents might hear. I shook my head, and then continued to run, knowing that I didn't want to cause them any more pain. Suddenly, I felt something drop onto my head. I thought it was from a bird flying over my head, but it turned out that it was water. Why was water dropping now? It's not supposed to…it's too hot. But I continued on. I began to think of it as a little adventure, one that was fun and exciting, and that everyone wanted me to go on, away from everyone else…

It didn't feel fun. My legs were killing me, and I felt like going to sleep. But I kept on telling myself, 'this is what going on an adventure feels like. This is fun. When you complete it, you will be a better person all around! Maybe you're parents will accept you for who you are if you do it right!' I of course, bought it as soon as I thought of it. The rain fell harder, going into the soil and making mud. My shoe got stuck. I quickly slid out of it and ran on. I didn't need both shoes to run. I was stronger than that. No longer will I be weak and disappoint my parents. No longer will I give in to the feeling going through me at this very moment. No longer will I…

Suddenly, the wind blew, and I felt like I had turned to ice. It was still steamy, which was weird, but the rain was like ice in the freezer. One time, I put it in my mouth and it got stuck to my tongue. My mommy got mad at me and said,

'Stop playing around. I have stuff to do too, you know. I don't have time to clean up after your messes. Please stop and listen to what I say for a change?'

Her voice echoed through the trees, and I shook again. Even in my mind, my parents are still disappointed in me. I wish I could make someone happy. Then I thought for a minute. Hey, I'm making my parents happy, right? Since I'm leaving…And if I don't come back, they'll be so happy…I could just think of the possibilities for hours. Then, my thoughts were interrupted by a mewing sound. It was a cat! Where was it anyways…I listened closer. It was coming from the left path. But the problem was that that path was longer and I had no idea where that led. Oh well, I've got to save that kitty!

So I turned left and ran again, but much slower. I ran for a while, until I saw a trash can off the road. I decided to check, since the kitty might be in there. I walked over to it, and peeked inside. And there it was, curled into a tight ball, and purring loudly. 'Don't worry, kitty, kitty. I'm here to rescue you.' I said. 'Let me pick you up now…' After I said that, I stuck my hands into the trash and picked up the kitty. All of a sudden, it swiped my face, causing me to shriek in horror. It fell on the ground neatly, and then walked away. I ran my finger down my new injury, and looked at it. It had turned red. I felt a feeling of dizziness, but I knew I had to go on. Then, Jazz's voice spoke to me from the trees:

'Can't you see we don't like you?'

'Not everyone hates me,'I said aloud.

'Go away! Leave me alone! Or I'll tell mommy on you! I wish you'd die…'

I remembered that she had said that to me when I was trying to apologize for not giving her a present on Jazzy Day. I had whined for hours after that, feeling terribly bad about it. But I made it up to her by giving her one the day after. But it obviously didn't help. And that kitty didn't like me either. Maybe it wished that I was dead too. But I don't want to die. If I just go away, everyone can pretend I'm dead, and then they can be happy. Then I can be happy because they're happy. Either way, everyone wins!

And then, I was very pleased with myself. I started to run again, feeling that feeling that I felt when I first started on this adventure. I was doing a good thing! Something that everyone would be happy about! For the first time in my life, I would be making people happy! I almost cried then, out of happiness. But instead, I laughed. But I couldn't laugh for long, because my stomach began to hurt. I coughed loudly. But I knew that I couldn't stop running, not now, not ever, or at least until I got where I had to go to complete my adventure.

Soon after that, I lost my sense of time. I didn't know how long I had been running, but now I couldn't feel any part of my body. The rain was causing red streams to run down my hands, but at least it wasn't as thick as before. I could see through it! I could feel it running lower and lower and…After a while, I stopped thinking entirely. My whole body just focused on running, and my eyes were glued to the trees and the sky. The sky had turned a blotchy gray and black, and the clouds were moving in groups at a time. It was like they were invading…I laughed at that. Clouds invading…pouring water down at the people below…causing them to feel sleepy and warm after a while…that's how I felt.

I looked at the watch that I had gotten from my pre-kindergarten teacher. It was 10:30 PM. I felt as if I was almost there, to where I was supposed to go…then I heard sirens. Why would the police be in the park? Did my parents call them…for me? All of a sudden, I felt afraid. I knew that they were out to get me. My mommy and daddy probably called them to kill me. They would shoot me like in those TV shows my mommy would always make me watch if I did something wrong. She would always say to me,

'This will happen to you if you if you don't learn to behave yourself.'

But I don't understand. Why would they call the police to come and kill me? Didn't I tell them I was going to run away and never come back to bother them ever again? Did they not believe me? Or did they want to make sure I was dead? I don't want to die…If the police find me, they will shoot dots into me and cause red to pour out of me, and so I will become a fountain…I don't want to be a fountain either. So all the people that died turned into fountains? I hope that I don't die…If I don't I promise to never drink out of a fountain again. I then promised myself that I wouldn't let myself get shot by the police. I ran on.

The sirens got louder and louder, so I ran faster and faster. The feeling inside me was so deep, I felt like stopping to breathe, but I knew that if I did, they would shoot me dead. I was the one they were chasing after in the show. And I hated every moment of it. I could hardly feel the rain anymore, but I still felt myself become heavy. All at once, the sirens were so loud that my senses swirled and I couldn't see straight anymore. I then felt that I must stop, and so I did. I opened my eyes, and my ears were surrounded by the sound of roaring water. It was the river that was at the end of the park. I heard from my teacher in a story that if you traveled down the river and made it, you would get a reward, just like the guy in the book. What was his name again? Mr….Mr….Green. That's it. His name was Mr. Green. So if I can make it down this river I can be like Mr. Green and win a medal, and everyone will hug me…

I still heard the sirens, but I was no longer worried about them. My eyes could not go from the water. Oh, when it rained the water sure was magni…mag-nymph-eh-cent! But I didn't have a boat…but I could probably make it down there without a boat! And then I made up my mind. But how was I going to get down there? Would I just jump? The sirens were so close now that my ears hurt very badly. I then knew that I had to hurry and jump to complete my adventure, or else the police would get me and shoot me! I turned back, and saw the red flash through the trees. Then my mommy's voice came with the bright light:

'Don't be so weak! You'll die if you don't try harder than that…either that or…'

'I'm going to try this time mommy!' I said, hoping that she'd hear me. 'I'm going to be strong this time…I won't let you down! I wouldn't be able to live knowing that my family is unhappy…'

I closed my eyes, and opened them again. The sirens and the rushing water made me so dizzy that I fell. For a moment I felt as though I was floating, and then I was slapped hard by the water. After that, I started sinking, and then I stuck my hands up and floated to the top. I barely stayed afloat. I forgot, I didn't know how to swim! I was swept in the water's current. The water was so much colder than the rain. As the water hit my face, I felt like I was freezing from the inside out again. But it was so much worse than the rain…but the cold was comforting in a way. I opened my eyes a little, making sure that the water wouldn't get into my eyes. The water was now a swirling dark green. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the water…the green was so bright and intense, even though it was angry at the same time. It made me remember that nature was beautiful.

I suddenly felt sleepy. Since I wasn't running, it felt like my entire body had fallen asleep and my mind had to catch up. I wasn't afraid of drowning, and I was only half-way thinking of the possibility. I opened my eyes wider, and water got inside, so I shut them again, which was a mistake. I couldn't open them again. As I felt myself drifting away with the current, I thought, would I be a cherry-flavored fountain? Then everything became black.