:DAN | danxreader

How a single signature changed a life

One year of me being his girlfriend is enough.

One year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8760 hours. 525600 minutes.

Everything is about to change.

A little ":DAN" started it all and a little ":D" is about to switch everything I know.

To be exact a little ":D" written on a sticky note on his laptop, which is gently placed next to me on the black and white bedsheets.

Since when does he leave a sticker on a random place like this? I remember the talk about stickers we had when  I moved in.

So I open the laptop and in front of me is a video, ready to be played.

Just from the thumbnail, it seems oddly familiar.

"So here you are, watching a video I made for you because the sticker on my laptop made you curious. I knew you'd be too nosy.", he laughs, "Look at me, having this all planned out." another laugh but he soon gets serious again "Fuck.", Dan silently swears, "This is it I guess.", pause, "Wait. Shit. No. Um- I mean this exactly isn't that." a sigh, "Babe, it is, um-", a quick look at his phone, "a few months before our one year anniversary and I thought that I'd do something special because I love you. I really really do. And I've been trying to come up with the best way to say that for a long time now but I don't think I can express how much I adore you. Never in my life did I think that someone like you would like me enough to live with me. You pick me up when I'm down and I trust you with all I have. You're something I never want to miss, ever. So, if you wouldn't mind, all I'm asking you to do is to go to the place it all started. I love you." and it ends.

"Wait...", I whisper to myself. My mind is flooded with emotions, thoughts and mostly just a big ball of confusion.

Not only am I overwhelmed with happiness and love by the sweet words he had to say, me knowing that I've seen this before but not knowing where, is killing me.

"Go to the place it all started."

The first time he contacted me was on Twitter. Twitter headquarters?
Our first kiss in front of their house? In LA? Our first meeting at the cafe?  When did it all start?

While I get the house keys and my jacket, I look through my phone to see the first picture we took together, maybe that will hint it.

Which it certainly does: A picture taken at the meet and greet I first saw him and Phil at, around one and a half years ago.

Of course: The venue in central London.

On my way there, I keep wondering about what he is about to do. Personally, there's only one occasion he would make such a big fuss about, but thinking about it scares me. What if I just get my hopes up?

I am about to arrive at the venue when it clicks: The video I just watched is the one he didn't want me to see when he edited on the plane, the one that made him act suspicious and hide his laptop from me.

"You pick me up when I'm down and I trust you with all I have."

Arrival. I open the door to the venue, expecting it to be closed. But it isn't.

It not being closed doesn't help me because when I get in and close it behind me, everything is dark.

Not a pinch of light falls into the big hall.

Hot flashes come over me, my breath shortens.

Now that my vision is cancelled out, my other senses are more alert than ever.

I am about to turn around when I hear a song start to play.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in."

"But I can't help falling in love with you.", I silently sing along.

"Our first kiss in front of their house? In LA?"

Click. A beam of light flickers at the stage and shines down at someone. A special someone surrounded by rose petals.

I can see him looking at me from a far and can't mistake him waving me over.

Slowly, I make my way to my boyfriend, on beat with the song still playing in the back.

"What is going on?", I ask quietly.

He grins from ear to ear, takes both of my hands and kisses my forehead.

"Love, I can't believe you found me so quick.", he begins, "Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary to you too, babe.", I say and give him a peck.

"It's a big one, hopefully. And not only because it marks one year of us. Let me start of by saying that I love you. I know I probably say that way too often, but there aren't any other words I could possibly use to describe my feelings towards you. I'm in love with you. I adore you.", he looks down and smiles, "I remember the day I first saw you and instantly thought you were stunning. But when we actually got closer and I realised that you were even more than that, that you're an intelligent, talented, encouraging, loving, funny and caring girl. 'You're something I never want to miss, ever.' I said in that cringe worthy video you just saw. Also props for finding me.", he laughs, "And, ehrm, I still stand by that, even stronger. So-", Dan reaches to his back pocket, takes something out of it and looks at me before kneeling down on one knee: "Will you make me the happiest person alive and marry me?"

With tears dwelling up in my eyes, hands shaking and a huge smile on my face, it is finally my turn to speak: "Yes, of course I will. I love you."

I fall into his arms and he gently swings me around before placing me on the ground again and kissing me: "I love you."

"I love you more."

He takes the ring out of its black box, his hands shaking, and puts it onto my finger. It has the same diamond on it as the promise ring, giving it another special meaning.

See, me being his girlfriend wouldn't last for ever.

***

"... it's pretty insane being able to call you my fiance now. And my wife soon. My wife forever. Mrs. Howell forever. I hope I brought everything I wanted to say out and this letter you're reading right now is just a reminder of what I said on our anniversary for ever. I love you and will be in love with you for ever.
Thank you for giving me everything I have, :DAN"

I smile down at the letter in my hand and call his name.

"Done?", he asks, a painful smile on his lips, hands on his head, not being able to handle him being in the same room as I read the letter.

I nod and gesture him to come over to me: "Thank you. I can't wait for the rest of our lives, I love you."

He smiles and sits down next to me before kissing me: "Anime to celebrate?"

"Anime to celebrate."

***

Now, we're sat here, watching the episode we talked about the day we first met at the cafe.

Peaceful, just sitting here and enjoying each others company for ever, making time to reflect on the past year.

All of the drama, tears, fights and disappointment leading to this moment.

Sometimes you have to go through hell to be able to experience and see the light of life and exactly all that happened in the past 365 days showed me that.

Maybe not everything I wanted to happen, happened. Or maybe not every fight should've happened.
Maybe my biggest dream, the 'positive' line, never happened but little did I know another positive line, two to be exact, would be something that would make the sadness from the failing line disappear in an instant, replacing it with more love than I've ever felt.

I look up at my fiance and reflect on everything that has happened in the last year, thankful for it all leading to this life we share now.

This was the story of how a single signature changed a life.