The Original Four

Chapter 7

The two were sitting down at a table, eating hot dogs and enjoying one another's company. They were relaxed and content, a feeling that was often hard to find.

"I'm glad you came," Daniel tells Kate.

"So am I. I really need to tell you something," she replies, ready to tell him her true feelings.

He smiles. "I do too. You go first."

Kate puts down the food, wipes her face with a napkin, and takes a deep breath. "I thought seeing you again was impossible."

"I did too," he replies.

"But we were proven wrong, and my feelings for you slowly crept back. I realized just how much I care about you."

Surprised, Daniel looks up from his food and drops his corn dog on the floor.

"I was worried about how our work relationship would be affected and what other people would think, but I soon realized that what matters the most is that we're happy."

"Kate. . . " Daniel says, reaching for her hand and holding it.

A tear slides down her cheek. "I'm so sorry for turning you away. I'm no longer scared; I want to take this risk. I'm in love with a guy named Daniel Mayer."

.

"Finally," they all cheer.

"Is that the end?" they ask.

I shake my head. "There are a couple more parts left, don't worry."

Excited, they cover themselves with a blanket and hold it close.

"Continue."

.

"Daniel? Daniel, I would really appreciate you saying something instead of just sitting there speechless," Kate says, waving one of her hands in his face.

He sits still.

"Daniel, I'm over here."

She leans in front of him, her face inches away, and smiles. "Please say something." He places his hands on both sides of her face and captures her lips with his.

Pulled apart, they rest their foreheads against one another. "I love you too," he whispers. "Forever and always."

Kate looks down at her engraved necklace and smiles. "This must mean something," she says, clinging to it. "If I kept this necklace, and we reunited . . . this must be our fate."

Daniel smiles at Kate as he reaches for her hand. "As long as I have you, I've got everything I need."

"What did you need to tell me?" Kate asks.

Her exciting news had left Daniel's in the dust: forgotten and unwanted.

He tenses up and gives her a half smile. "Well . . . " he begins, his cheeks turning a slight tint of red. "I was going to say that I'm still in love with you." Daniel looks down, not daring to make eye contact. "And that I want to be with you whether we are working together or not."

"Daniel, that's so sweet of you," Kate awes and squeezes his hand. "I'm glad you feel the same way." The carnival was suddenly of less importance; they had more significant things to be doing.

As Daniel dragged Kate away from the fair, she couldn't help but smile to herself, knowing that he felt the same way she did.

"Stay there." He quickly runs off, and Kate is left by herself standing at an ice cream booth.

Only seconds later, hands cover Kate's face, blocking her view of everything around her. "W- who is this?" she yells.

"Shh..." the person soothes her.

The voice was familiar, and Kate immediately relaxed as she realized who it was. They uncovered her eyes, and Kate smiled, giving them a hug.

The person led her over to another area as they stepped over melted ice cream, silly kids, and . . .

"Rose petals?" Kate asks her capturer, Olivia, in surprise.

Olivia only returns with a goofy smile full of unanswered questions. "Just doing my job," she shrugs.

Daniel comes walking toward them moments later. "For you," he says as he hands Kate a beautiful red rose.

"Eight years," he sighs. "It's been a crazy eight years . . . but I wouldn't change a thing. Why? Because it all brought me back to the person I love the most. We may have only been fourteen, but our true love was nowhere near a fantasy. It was strong and true, something I never thought I'd ever achieve again.

"But then I saw you at the airport, and we were in the elevator at work . . . and that's when everything changed. You make me a better person. You support me in every way possible, constantly telling me to go out and do what makes me happy. And do you know what I say to that?

"Fine. I'll go out and do exactly that. This being said, Kate Mitchell, will you be my girlfriend?"

Tears were falling. I repeat, tears were falling. Kate couldn't contain herself as Daniel stood there, confessing his love to her, as a rose was placed in her hand. It was so unreal, yet she couldn't contain her happiness.

Kate loves him.

And Daniel loves her.

"I'd love to be your girlfriend," she exclaims, smiling through her tears.

"Forever and always?" he asks.

"Forever and always."