On My Way • Why Don't We | ✓

forty four

August 18, 2017 ; Vancouver, Washington
Evelyn

Daniel doesn't say a thing.

Instead, he's staring at me. Not in a weird way, instead as if he's searching for something, as if he's trying to see what I see, so I stand there and stare back. It takes me a moment to really realize who he is—who he's become. It takes me a moment to realize who I've fallen for so slowly over the past seventeen years that I didn't even feel the drop.

"Hi."

Daniel breaks the silence first, his voice echoing barely above a whisper, but at the sound of this, something I've been refraining from doing for nearly two weeks. At this, he's crying too, and we're both a confused mess crying over a hedge.

"Hi back," I finally manage to say, hiccuping on my tears.

Daniel doesn't respond, instead wiping his eyes and gathering his thoughts. He's smiling as if he can't believe we're actually standing within three feet of each other.

"Can we talk?" He takes a breath before shooting Anna a sideways look. "Alone."

"Yeah," I respond too quickly, letting out an awkward laugh while nodding, "Inside?"

I motion towards the front patio, but he's nodding before I've even pointed. My hands shake as I unlock the door before entering my house—musty from the closed windows all day. Daniel follows wordlessly, hovering by the coat rack.

"Ev, I know I shouldn't have said anything, and I might have messed it all up, but I can't live—"

I drop my bag as he rambles, turning to him.

"Daniel, you've talked already." I let out another awkward laugh. "It's my turn. Please?"

He promptly stops talking, his face going stoic.

"You were right." My voice is shaky as I look up.

Daniel stares at me, trying to figure out what I mean.

"About?"

I consider everything he's ever taught me, from riding a bike to chasing your dreams.

"Everything."

"I don't—"

"Remember when we were six and I fell from the top of playground?"

He nods, clearly confused.

"I only remember you running to me as soon as I'd fallen. I remember the way you helped me up, even though the kids were laughing at me—and you. Then, we went home and you asked your mom for ice and waited while she brought a first aid kit.

I never wanted to go back to that playground, and you were okay with that, even if all your friends would go there after school."

He doesn't respond, so I continue taking.

"Remember what you said to me before you left for your first audition on American Idol?

"You told me that no matter what happened everything would be alright, that even if you didn't make it through the first auditions you'd be okay. I asked you why, and you said it was because you had me, but you made it through the first set of auditions, and I had to go to school alone every day.

"I would sit in English class during lunches because I was too scared to go into the cafeteria alone, but I always knew I'd be okay because even if you weren't there I had you.

"Daniel, you have been with me since before I could even walk. I didn't realize how far I'd fallen until you told me the other day, and it was a wake up call. I finally realized just how important you are to me."

"Ev." Daniel's face is etched with confusion, so I stop talking. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying you were right." I take a breath, knowing what I want to say but not being able to verbalize it. "I'm saying that I like you too."

He pauses hesitantly, his arms moving upwards before stopping in mid-air. I realize I'm holding my breath, waiting for his response.

Then, he's wrapping two arms around me, lifting me up until my feet are off the ground, and I'm laughing as he spins around quickly. We're laughing and smiling in a whirlwind of emotion.

And everything feels too perfect to be real.