Daydreams

Chapter 2 {NATE}

Nate

An ice cream parlor in Manhattan; that's where I'd find her. I dreamed of this day a million times, and now it was finally here. There she was, standing on the sidewalk just across the street from me. Her brown eyes glistening from a street lamp above her and her brown locks brushing slightly to the side with the wind.

I wanted to run to Dani and tell her everything; from how much I love her, to how much I miss her, to how she's been, all the way to how much I want her to come home. But I couldn't. I was stuck in my spot, and she appeared the same. Then a thought dwelled on me;

Was this all just a dream?

Had I dreamt up the beautiful girl I was in love with? Maybe I was even going mad. There was no way this was real. It was merely a daydream. It had to be.

I then did the only thing I could think of to confirm reality.

"Dani?" I called out her name, my voice sounding weak and strained.

I watched as Dani clasped her hands over her mouth and dropped to her knees on the pavement beneath her. It was her. It was definitely her.

I practically threw my pizza box on the sidewalk as I began to sprint across the street, almost being hit by a taxi in the process as it honked at me.

"Dani," I called out again as I hopped onto the curb where she sat just a few feet away from.

She didn't say anything, instead she just stared at me and cried as I quickly engulfed her in a hug, pulling her up to her feet.

I'm not entirely sure why, but a felt a tear prick my eye. I suppose you get emotional when you spend five years searching for someone you never think you'll find, then finally do.

"I missed you." I cried as I pulled her closer into me, if even possible, as I stroked her hair.

I had so much to say to Dani, but 'I missed you' was the only thing I could bring myself to say. I mean, what else do you say to someone you haven't seen in five years?

We remained like that for what felt like ages, just holding each other in a warm and comforting embrace. Her scent was not quite what it used to be. She now smelled like a kind of sweet perfume, mixed with... mint, I think?

I slowly let go of our embrace and cupped her face with my hands, taking in her features.  Her eyes were still that deep shade of beautiful brown, but the bags underneath were darker than I remembered.  Had she still been having nightmares?  I then took in the length of her hair.  It was now shorter, hitting a little lower than her shoulders.  Before it was long and sun-kissed, with blonde streaks here and there, but now it was just brown. 

My gaze then moved down to Dani's lips.  They were plump and pink and I wanted to kiss them now more than ever.  I looked up to her eyes again and we stared at each other for a moment before my eyes began to flicker between her lips and her eyes. 

Screw it.  I thought to myself before crashing my lips against hers.  The kiss was long and passionate, and I never wanted it to end.  Her lips welcomed mine with lust as if it'd been 10 years instead of 5.  I'm sure people were staring at us like we were crazy to be having a moment on the sidewalk outside an ice cream parlor, but I didn't care.  I didn't care about anything but Dani in that moment. 

Finally, we pulled apart and I rested my forehead against hers, staring down at her.  God she was beautiful. 

"You came."  I heard Dani speak for the first time in five years. 

Her soft voice made me want to melt.  I loved the sound of her voice and missed it so much. 

"Of course I did."  I stated, staring down at her with a sly grin growing on my face. "When a girl runs, you're supposed to go after her."

"I love you so much."  She smiled through her tears. 

"I love you too."  The words slipped off my tongue with ease. 

We remained like this for a few minutes, neither of us knowing what to say next.  I mean, there was just so much. 

Still not sure what to say, I slowly lifted my head up and let go of her face. 

I then took note of the tears rolling down Dani's face, and quickly wiped them away with my thumb. 

"I got an apartment."  I explained awkwardly, suddenly feeling very self conscious of the beautiful girl standing in front of me.  "It's just right across the street, if you'd like to come in." 

I watched as Dani nodded her head with a grin before saying, "I'd like that." 

After taking ahold of her hand, Dani and I made our way across the street and towards my apartment.  I was probably an awful person for littering, but I totally forgot the pizza box on the sidewalk as I walked us up the stairs of the apartment building. 

We finally made it to the floor my apartment was on, which was the 8th, and after unlocking it, I stepped in, Dani trailing close behind. 

I threw my keys on the counter and turned around to face Dani, who stood awkwardly in the doorway as she looked around.  Her eyes eventually met mine, which were watching her curiously, and she began to tear up again. 

"I'm sorry."  Dani apologized, a tear slipping down her cheek.  "I'm so sorry Nate."

~~~~~

Well, here's the second chapter. Super sorry if it's not as emotion filled as you hoped it'd be. Also sorry for the long wait to get it. Thank you all so much for reading though, it means so much to me.❤️

I noticed that most people's favorite character was Sam, so I put a bit of him in the chapter. I think there will be quite a bit of him this book and I have big stuff planned for him (I probably exaggerated that a bit, that yanno😂). Anyways, I'm so excited for this story and hope you guys like it. Don't forget to vote/comment if you do(;

(Also peep the Notebook gif at the beginning because that movie is amazing and Nicholas Sparks is an iconnnnnn lmao)