Nothing But Trouble

Chapter Three

"Dan, this better not be a strip club or something stupid," I said jokingly. I knew Dan would never take me to a place like that.

"You know I'm not like that Rachel," He nudged me with his elbow to let me know he was in with the sarcasm since I could not see his face through the blindfold. "We are almost to the car, but you have to keep the blindfold on until we get there."

"Can I please take it off? Until we get to the car?"

"That would ruin the experience!" I know on the word experience he would have given me jazz hands if I could see him, but with him still guiding me to the car I knew he couldn't. He is just quirky like that.

We finally arrived to the car and we rode together in complete silence. He kept one intertwined with mine as he drove, making sure our fingers were knotted together perfectly. Our hands were made to fit into each others.

Dan and I had been driving for what feels like hours. Suddenly the type of road changes from smooth asphalt to a gravel back road. I still have no idea where I am or where we are going. I have a feeling that it is going to be a special place I will not forget. One of our places just for us.

"Dan?"

"Yes Rachel?

"Are we there yet?" I said this in a whining voice as if a child in the back seat complaining to their parents about the long car ride. I did this on purpose to make him laugh and it worked perfectly.

Dan's laugh is something that fills a person's whole being. I makes you smile when you hear it and evening if you can't see it, it looks beautiful envisioning as beautiful as it looks when you see him. The way he throws his head back and shows his white smile... it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It reminds me of when we had first met.

I remember it being the middle of the school year, being bullied by one of my ex-boyfriends and his new girlfriend. They constantly were degrading my life and wishing me as better off dead. That's when the next kid that started coming here just this year stood up for me. We had never talked before, yet he had the kindness and courage the stand up for me. For a petty girl he did not know, and that no one cared about. It was our junior year of high school, and definitely the best year so far now that I had met him...

My books were shoved on to the ground and my papers covered the floor like a carpet rug.

"Would you like to join me on the ground and laugh at the enemy?"

That's when I looked down and he was just laughing. That laugh that was so beautiful that as soon as I saw it, I heard the voice in my head say 'He's the one.'

Every time he laughs, I flash back to that exact moment. That was the moment I knew Dan and I were going to be together and live happily ever after. With that, the flashback ended as the car came to a cautious stop.

"Can I take off the blindfold now?" I was getting eager to where this surprise date was. Dan was a romantic, but not to the point where I want to gag myself. He knew exactly how to win over my heart.

"Not until we get to the spot. Don't worry, I wont let you run into anything."

"Are you saying I'm clumsy?" I tried to smack him and he wasn't there. I tripped over a root or something on the ground and fell down. I wasn't hurt and that's when I heard him laughing again.

"My point is proven!"

"Whatever. Lead me Daniel."

He took my shoulders gently and began walking. We didn't walk long, maybe about five minutes. That's when something magical happened. It was mine and Dan's first.

He lifted my blindfold and looked at me like he never had before. With cherishment and a true genuine love. We stood there staring at each other for a good two and a half minutes.

I tried looking away from him and he took my chin lightly and kissed me. Before this moment, we had never kissed. We had been dating for almost four years and this had never happened before. Not even once.

It consumed me. Our spirits felt closer than they ever had before. We did not kiss long. It was short and sweet. After that he held me and whispered in my ear, "Rachel, I won't let you go. I love you and I want you to know that will never change. No matter what."

I started crying because while Dan was romantic, he did not have a way with words. He would usually say corny pick-up lines that would usually be seen on a website making fun of it. This felt completely different to me. This was coming from deep inside his heart.

The last sentence has me thinking. No matter what? What was this 'matter' he was talking about? At this point in time, it does not matter. Nothing could be more important than right now. He wiped my tears away and grabbed my hand to lead me to the dock on the beach.

This beach was a tiny place off limits to most people. Dan has many friends, and one of them own this little secluded beach. It is absolutely breathtaking. The sun is about to go down for the day, and I have the privilege of watching it with the man I love. Everything from this miserable was no where in my thoughts and I leaned on Dan's shoulder. As we watched the sun set, we talking about what it would be like if one day we got married.

I told him how I had been dreaming and planning my perfect wedding for years. What I didn't tell him is that while I had been planning, he was always the groom.

"I'm going to ask you to marry me one day."

"Soon? My dad would be so happy."

"It's a surprise."

I kept my mouth shut. I took in the words he had just told me. My excitement could not be held in anymore and so I went through a series of emotions. First, I laughed. Dan was confused and started to laugh at me. My laugh is not the cute laugh, it is the low belly laugh everyone expects out of someone older or a man. Then, I began to tear up and eventually cry. Dan immediately asked what was wrong. So I, of course, began laughing at him then finally came to an abrupt stop and just sat there staring at the sinking sun behind the water.

I looked over and just say Dan staring at me with his mouth open.

"Those mood swings..."

I smacked him. As the light disappeared, we headed back to his car. There was no day as moody, disastrous, and wonderful as today.