Forever [COMPLETED]

Chapter Nineteen

What would life be like after high school? It's a question Dana thought about every now and then, especially when it came to college. She wondered if things would be easier or harder for her. If she would make a ton of new friends in another city or keep to herself. Though Michigan would be nothing like California, she would still be able to create a different version of herself. Maybe one that was more outgoing, didn't hide away in her bedroom under a ton of books, or only partake in the serious conversations. These are things she thought about when it came to college.

Now.

She wonders if Chandler would be near.

"Northwestern University?" Dana watched him type away at his essay with ease. An issue she also had very little problem with. "That's in Illinois."

He pulled away from his computer desk and whirled his chair around to face her. She sat at the edge of his bed with her laptop on her lap and legs crossed at the ankles. "And the University of Michigan is in Michigan." He smiled simply while taking her laptop from her presence. "You know... those places aren't that far." He moved closer, her knees in between his. She watched him lean back in his seat in a relaxed posture. "Which one of us planned it that way?"

Dana fell flustered. "Maybe you," she giggled.

Without thinking, she placed her hands on his knees and leaned forward at the same time he did. They were face to face, inches apart, big smiles on their face. "Maybe me?" He then grabbed her chin gently, his thumb rubbed her skin slowly. "Maybe so." His voice fell deep as his eyes trailed from hers to her lips. His thumb brushed across her chin once more then he released her. "Some things just work out, you know?"

She did know sometimes but most times she didn't. She figured everything could be the biggest coincidence. How she met Chandler when they haven't spoken a word to each other in years of going to the same school. That he chose a college four hours from hers. Then they sit across from each other after four weeks of dating and lose focus of the world.

Was it all just a coincidence?

The moment his hand left her chin, he placed it right behind her neck. Her heart skipped a beat when he pulled her closer to him with one swift jerk. His eyes turned dark within seconds and his lips were now a centimeter from hers. "This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, Dana." Her lips parted to match his in a desperate effort to keep up. "Pecks in the hall just haven't been enough."

The moment he leaned in to connect their lips, she leaned away. "I've- I..." Chandler went from lustful to concerned.

"Am I moving too quick? I'm sorry! I should have asked." He pushed himself away until the back of his chair hit his desk. Frustration written all over his face as his mistakes flashed in front of him.

Dana quickly gathered herself and placed her laptop to the side to comfort her boyfriend. "It's not you. It's me. I've just never... kissed anyone before. It sounds so embarrassing saying it out loud but it would be even more embarrassing if I just didn't say it at all. Then you'd have to find out by actually kissing me."

Chandler chuckled at her. "You're silly, Dana. I would love to find out by kissing you. That's the whole point."

"Hidden honesty?"

"No, just going with the flow." He pulled her down so she could sit directly on his lap. "I can judge if you're bad or not. As long as you let me."

She looked at him for a long moment—studying his lips, his eyes, the small mole on the edge of his jaw she hadn't noticed before. And then she leaned in, trembling slightly.

Their lips met—slowly.

Chandler kissed her like it was the only thing he'd waited for all week. No pressure, no urgency—just presence. He didn't rush. He didn't take. He met her where she was.

Dana's breath caught. Her hands tightened around his shoulders. It felt unfamiliar but right, like a song she didn't know she already knew. Her lips moved tentatively at first, guided more by instinct than knowledge, but he matched her softness, and the space between them disappeared.

It didn't last long—just enough.

When they pulled apart, her lips were tingling, and her eyes fluttered open to find Chandler smiling at her like she'd just lit up the entire room. Without saying a word, he walked his chair across the room and to the edge of the bed. Dana held on for deer life the entire time. In one swift movement, she was up in the air then back flat on the bed. Chandler crawled on top of her and connected their lips once more. This time it wasn't passion, but pure hunger.

Dana fought to keep up but his lips broke from hers and went to her neck instead. The feeling of his wet kisses with a mixture of soft nibbles sparked a part of her brain she didn't even know existed.

Her hands tangled in his hair as she forced him closer to her body as if he was threatening to escape. The soft laughter that escaped his lips when she let out a moan only pushed him further. He slid her higher in the bed until their feet were no longer touching the ground. The next break was Chandler sitting up to peel his shirt off his back. "We can stop at any time," he reminded as their desperate eyes locked onto each other.

"Oh, shut up," he responded while grabbing his shoulders and forcing him back on top of her.

Lana
She is probably having his babies rn
No response says a lot

Dana rubbed her eyes as the sound of her phone buzzing finally woke her up from her light sleep. She didn't bother to look at her phone first. Instead she gawked at the shirtless handsome guy lying next to her. He slept so peacefully with his eyes lightly closed and a slight part of his lips. His snore was barely recognizable and she wondered if she was as quiet as him.

She moved his arm from across her stomach as careful as possible but that didn't stop him from stirring himself awake. "You leaving?" He asked in a groggy voice as he propped himself up on his elbow.

"N- no. I was just adjusting." She then laid comfortably on her side so she can face him and he laid down to do the same. "How did you sleep?"

"Can I show you something?" He said with a hint of excitement. "Or... tell you something may be a little more accurate."

Dana watched as he jumped out of bed to his computer in nothing but his underwear. "I've been writing something on the side. After winning that dumb award, I've been putting more effort into my music." He typed away on something then a soundtrack started to play in the background.

I think I struck gold and I found home all at the same time.

My high and my baseline.

You're my holiest ground.

So good it hurts. You make it worth all of the waiting.

Dana sat up from her pillow as he sang over his creation.

Somebody patient. Somebody kind.

They say love can come so soon.

You're my living proof.

He gave her a peck on the cheek.

Oh my God what a blessing! Out of ten, you're eleven!

I waited so long. I'll never move on!

Your love is a short cut to heaven!

He pressed paused and turned to face Dana with a huge smile on his face. "I wrote that," he said a tad bit out of breath. "For you."

Her breathing stopped and for a second she didn't know if it would start back up again. A small cough escaped her lips and then she was smiling right back at him. "It's beautiful, Chandler."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. There was no need to. The quiet in the room wasn't awkward or uncertain—it was safe. Full.

Dana leaned in and pressed her lips to his, slower this time, softer, the kind of kiss that said thank you without ever needing the words. When they pulled apart, she rested her forehead against his and smiled. "I don't know how to stop stressing about the future, but when I'm with you I don't think about it." She caressed his cheek with her thumb.

"We keep each other in this bubble where time just stops. I feel it. You feel it. It makes it difficult to leave. Nothing in me ever wants you to."