Forever [COMPLETED]

Chapter Eighteen

The morning air was thick with anticipation. Dana could feel it vibrating in her fingertips as she stood outside the school's main doors, her backpack heavy on one shoulder, her phone clutched in her hand. She had her whole day decided down to the hour.

It was time.

She and Chandler had been something real for weeks now, and the secret of it had become more weight than magic. She was tired of sneaking glances and editing her smile down to half-size just to protect someone else's comfort. Especially now that Lana was laughing again in group chats, showing up to lunch with glossy lip gloss and new stories instead of silence.

They were all healing in different ways. But Dana was done pretending. She deserved to express her happiness to her friends like she'd done for them for so many years.

She walked through the double doors, and just like every morning since their first date, Chandler was waiting near her locker. Hoodie on. Northwestern University logo stretched across his chest like a quiet promise.

"Hey, stranger," he said with a crooked smile that still made her stomach somersault. Instead of responding with a whisper or a shy glance, Dana stepped right up to him and placed her hand on his chest. Bold. Intentional. He then held his hand out to her which she accepted and intertwined their fingers.

"Hey, boyfriend," she said.

His eyes widened just slightly before softening. "Wow. We're making it official-official in public?"

She shrugged, but her smile betrayed how fast her heart was thumping. "I don't want to hide anymore."

He dipped his head a little closer to hers, just enough to say, "About time."

Their fingers intertwined—openly, boldly—as they turned down the main hallway. It felt surreal. Like she had stepped into one of the many daydreams she'd carefully shelved during late-night anxiety spirals. She thought her body would explode from the inside out knowing all eyes were in her. Instead, she felt at ease.

They passed Jessica and Dominique by the lockers. Jessica did a double take, eyes jumping between Dana's hand and Chandler's, her lips curling into a grin like she'd been waiting for this moment all week.

But further down, Lana stood by the vending machine, talking with a girl from yearbook. She hadn't seen them yet.

Dana's stomach knotted.

Chandler gave her hand a squeeze. "You okay?"

She nodded, even though she wasn't sure. "Just... give me a second."

He let go instantly—respectfully—and leaned against a nearby locker, keeping his gaze soft and steady. Watching her, but giving her space. She loved him for that.

Dana walked toward Lana, her palms sweating more now than they had the first time Chandler almost kissed her.

"Hey," she said, voice calm but cautious.

Lana turned, her brown eyes immediately brightening. "Hey, you! I was just about to text you."

Dana smiled. "Got a second?"

Lana gave her a curious look but nodded. They stepped aside near the bulletin board, just enough privacy without being totally out of view.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Dana began, shifting her weight. "Actually... more like confess."

"Oh no," Lana laughed nervously. "You didn't join the cheer squad behind my back, did you?"

Dana let out a small breath of relief, then shook her head. "No. I... I've been seeing Chandler. For a while now. Since before the party, really."

The sentence landed with a hush.

Lana blinked, slowly, like she needed a second to download the meaning. "You and Chandler?"

Dana nodded, watching every flicker of emotion on her friend's face.

"Wow," Lana said softly. "Okay. Um. That's... freaking great!" Lana looked as if she was about to turn into a ball of confetti in the air. "Dana? Chandler? Dana?! Boyfriend?!" She weighed the scenario in her palms. "How did I not see this coming? You two are like chemistry in all of its entirety!" Dana laughed at how Lana screamed away. "How long? Since when!?"

"I didn't want to throw it in your face," Dana said quickly. "You were going through so much, and it felt selfish to be happy. But I don't want to keep it from you anymore. I love you. And I also—" her voice cracked just slightly "—really like him."

Lana was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I appreciate you telling me. Really."

Dana blinked. "You're not mad?"

"Mad? Dana, why would I be mad at you? You're my best friend and as long as you're happy I'm beyond thrilled! I cannot believe you were scared to tell me this," Lana said honestly, her mouth quirking into a crooked grin. "But I'm not mad. You didn't lie. You were just... protecting me. I get that. But girl, don't ever shrink for me again. You deserve to be happy."

Dana stepped forward and hugged her so tightly it felt like her chest might crack open. Lana squeezed back just as hard.

"You're the best," Dana whispered.

"I know," Lana whispered back with a wink.

When Dana returned to Chandler, he looked at her with the kind of eyes that didn't need questions.

"She's okay," Dana said softly. "I'm okay."

He smiled like she'd just handed him the moon. Then he took her hand again—no hiding this time—and they walked into first period together, fingers laced, hearts light.

The rest of the day moved differently.

In the hallway between classes, Chandler kissed her cheek in full view of half the senior class. During lunch, he slid into the seat beside her instead of across, his arm draped over the back of her chair. She rested her head on his shoulder for a beat, unbothered by the stares or whispers.

During last period, while they passed notes in the back of English, Chandler wrote:

This is the best I've felt all year.

And she wrote back:

Same. I don't want to go back to before.

By the time the final bell rang, Dana wasn't afraid anymore. The warmth of Chandler's palm against hers, the freedom of finally being known, seen, chosen.

That night, as she lay in bed and watched her phone light up with a simple text—

Chandler Beckett
I miss you already.

—she knew something had shifted forever.

This was what love looked like when you stopped hiding from it.