It's Me And Not You

20

Dan's POV

I lead Rachel to the rooftop. I know that she will love this view. I decided to keep the dinner simple and no candles. I don't want Rachel to feel any pressure to do anything with me. I just want to spend time with her and get to know her better in private without worrying about people taking pictures of us.

"So how long were you with Shawn?" 

"How do you know my ex's name? I don't recall telling you his name."  No, Daniel. How could you let that slip. You might as well come clean.

We are seating on one of the couches at the rooftop. Though, Rachel should move closer and not seat so far from me. 

Maybe I need to replace this couch with a smaller one.

Rachel, snaps her fingers in front of my face. I guess I dosed off. 

"I kinda stalked you on Facebook and I saw your relationship status after we met at the conference."

This is embarrassing but that is the only info I am disclosing. The pics I downloaded from her Instagram account are my secret, no one will know about that.

"So when you asked me If I am seeing anyone. You knew that there was trouble in paradise already."

" I am not going to lie, when I saw that you removed your relationship status on FB. I wanted to fly out and see you. But bam, you pop out of nowhere and you were in this city."

"Yah, I am glad that chapter of my life is closed."

"You don't sound so heartbroken about this. "

"To answer your initial question, I basically wasted 3 years of my life. We started dating during the last year of my articles.I am not going to lie, things were good at the beginning. I thought he was the one. But we just grew apart as the years went by and our busy schedules made it impossible for us to be in the same place more often."

This is torture,listening to Rachel saying that she thought freaking Shawn was once her soulmate. But I need to hear this so that I wont make the same mistakes he did.

I will not loose Rachel. She will be mine.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you guys break up." I know I might be overstepping my boundaries. But I am curios. 

She was with him for 3 years, they were practically married. Can you be with one person for that long?

I think I could as long that person is Rachel. 

Wooh, hold on a minute. I cant say that. Too soon.

Rachel is starring out in the distance and all colour is drained from her face now. Yah, I definitely should not have asked her that. You insensitive bastard. Things were going great and I just had to ruin the mood.

"I'm sorry, I should not have asked that question. You don't have to say anything if you dont feel comfortable."  

Rachel takes a deep breath. 

"He cheated on me Daniel." This is the first time she has used my full name and she did not make any witty comments.

" I am sorry Rachel. That bastard is a fool."

"But I am grateful for his foolishness. Otherwise, we would not have gotten this chance."

"Enough about me. " I think she does't want to dwell on this issue. But she has no idea that I understand exactly how she feels.But I am glad that she trusted me and she was able to share this with me.

"Rachel, I know that when people say that I understand how you feel. Most people will think that it is the right thing to say at the time."

"My first love cheated on me."

I have not shared this with anyone besides Jason. My parents thought she was it for me and were going to get married. I thought the same thing but I was blinded by love. 

"My whole family loved Catherine." 

"We were so happy or so I thought." 

Rachel is now holding my hand and she has moved closer to me.

 Finally.

"Daniel, you don't have to say anything." I must say, this is not a part of my life I like to visit. But If I want honesty from Rachel. I must do the same.

Besides,this might shed light for her as to why I have difficulty trusting women.

"It was our senior year and just a few weeks before we wrapped the academic calendar. We had even picked the same varsity."

" At my team farewell party. I found them in Josh's room since the party was at his house. I was there Rachel and the person I considered my friend was screwing my girlfriend upstairs."

" I am sorry Daniel." Rachel hugs me and rests her head on my chest. Maybe I should tell more sob stories about my life. 

But I definitely approve of our current position.

I put my arms around her and I lay my head on top of hers.

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