Forever & Always?

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I woke up the next morning in the best possible mood. I walked downstairs in Daniel's big hoodie and my hair up in a curly mess.

"Good morning, darling," my father said as I took my seat at the table. I smiled at him as he bent over to kiss my forehead.

"Hello, Mr. Caneapa. Hello, sweetie!" Daniel said, walking in.

"Hi, Daniel!" My dad exclaimed. I turned my head quickly. My hair was a disaster, my makeup was smeared from sleeping with it on, my breath had its morning smell, my top was covered by Daniel's sweatshirt and my legs were bare.

"Oh my God," I whispered to myself before mustering a smile and turning my head toward the love of my life.

"Hi, babe." He handed me a coffee before standing behind me and wrapping me in his arms.

"Big day tomorrow, aye?" My dad smiled, as Daniel handed him a cup of coffee, as well.

"Yeah, haha finally!" Tomorrow was graduation. Daniel was ready. Jennette had not shut up about the idea. Sam was very excited. Kara could not wait. However, I was scared. Horrified, even. I was going to be in preparation for my entire future. Soon enough, I would be starting my future. A future without Daniel. I shivered. The thought of living a life without Daniel was unimaginable, but the fact that I would actually be doing it, was simply and utterly unfathomable. Daniel looked down at me.

"Come on," he said, nudging his head toward the door.

"Daniel, I don't have pants on."

"Then go put them on!" I rolled my eyes and walked upstairs. I stared across the wall at the mirror. I could see Daniel's reflection staring at me with a smile, the whole way up. I chuckled and shook my head. I threw on his sweats and my Vans, of course.

"I'll be back," I said, kissing my dad's forehead. He kept his eyes on his newspaper.

"Have fun!"

"Will do!" I yelled before shutting the door.

"Where are we going?"

"The mountain," he said. Something seemed off. His big smile and faded into a pensive, focused expression. We had just been there last night, why the sudden urge to go again? Why were his words so abrupt? I glanced at him as subtly as I could manage. His facial expression confused me.

"Daniel, babe, you okay?" I asked, putting my hand to his face. He gently grabbed my hand and set it on the center console.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he smiled. His smile was off. His teeth were barely showing and his mouth was crooked. It was all ominous and for some reason that was as strange as the whole situation, I was scared.

He pulled to the side of the familiar dirt road and climbed out, not bothering to open my door. Unusual. He walked straight to the mountain, not waiting for me. Quite unusual. He walked all the way up the mountain, not stopping to view a single thing. Very unusual. When we reached the top of the mountain he stood completely still, his back to me. Unusual was now an understatement. I could not take the eeriness any longer.

"Daniel, what's going on?" He turned to me, tears streaming down his face. He locked his fingers together behind his head and walked around, slowly.