Chasing Fans (D.S)

The Pool

It got quiet, and everyone's attention was on me. I loved Daniel, but I loved him like any fan girl would love her favorite celebrity, but did I love him? He said he was falling in love with me. Was I falling in love with him too?

"Daniel I-" I start to say.

"You don't have to say anything. Not right now, when you're ready." He smiles at me.

Everyone awes. I sigh of relief. The guy takes back the microphone and tells the DJ to start playing music again. Daniel hugs me, then wraps his arm around me and we walk off stage.

"You're falling in love with me?" I ask, confused.

"I am. Is that hard to believe?"

"Kind of. I just never pictured it, I guess."

"Well, it's happening. All you can do is accept it now, El."

People start to huddle around us asking for Daniel's autograph. Him, being the kind bear that he is, decided he was going to sign everything they wanted. So, I went back to the table.

"That was bold of him." Marie says, turning herself towards me.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"He got up there an expressed his feelings for you. Do you know how hard that is to do?"

I shook my head. "I've never told anyone my feelings. Especially not in public like that."

"Eleanor, I've grown close to you, and I know you. Please don't let your negative thoughts ruin this, okay?"

I just nod my head. Sometimes it was something that I couldn't control.

It was 11 o'clock, and we decided to head out. We all packed back into the limo.

"I had a great time tonight, thanks for inviting me." Daniel smiles at me.

"I did too, thank you for coming with me." I kiss his cheek.

We pull up to my house, and Marie and Jack get out so that they can have a proper hug. Me? I hugged Daniel anyway, and I kissed him.

"El?"

"Yes?"

"I do love you." He says, looking at me.

I didn't know what to do, so I stayed quiet and got out of the limo. I walked up the stairs and Marie followed behind me.

Jack got back into the limo and looked at Daniel. "You good man?"

"I just told her that I loved her."

We wait until the limo drives away to go inside. We change into our pajamas and I lay in my bed while she lays on the floor. It took me about a half hour to say anything.

"Daniel told me he loved me before I got out of the limo."

Marie shot up and looked at me. "What?!" She whisper yelled.

"You heard me. He said he loved me."

"What did you do?"

"I ran away."

"What did I tell you?"

I sigh. "It had nothing to do with my negative thoughts. I just don't know how I feel. I don't want to say it if I don't mean it. Especially not to him. He deserves the world."

"Yeah? And so do you." She lays back down.

I wake up the next morning to a text from Daniel.

"I'm sorry if I came on too strong, or if I scared you."

I sigh, then reply, "Don't be sorry, it's fine. I just want to make sure I know where my feelings are at before I tell you anything."

He never replied. Did I mess up? He told me I didn't have to say anything right away.

I look down at Marie, and she's still fast asleep.

I do my usual scrolling through Insta. There are plenty of pics of Daniel and I at prom. This time everyone only had good things to say.

"He loves her!"

"They're so cute together."

"I wish that was me..."

Were people jealous? I mean, I was jealous when he was with Bailey. Maybe this is what it's like.

The boys were still in town today, it was their last day, and Marie wanted us to spend time with them. She had stuff to do for college, so it would be a while before she was able to see them again.

We went to Marie's house that afternoon to use her pool. Her mom let us invite over the boys. Her and I were sitting at the edge of the pool with our feet in.

"I can't believe you're going to go to college in California." I frown at her.

She gives me a hug. "I won't forget about you, don't worry. What about you? You never told me anything about where you're going."

"I'm going to New York."

"Have you told Daniel yet?"

I shook my head. "It's going to be rough."

Daniel and Jack walk into the yard with towels over their shoulders.

"Hey, ladies." Daniel says, smiling as always.

"Hey." I say, watching them walk over to us.

He sits next to me and kisses my cheek.

I got a little upset thinking about the future. Things seemed easy now, but they weren't always going to be.

Jack decided he was going to jump into the pool and splash the rest of us.

"Rude!" I yell, laughing.

"You're cute when you laugh." Daniel says, making me blush.

Marie finally makes her way into the pool and grabs the beach ball. "You guys want to join or are you going to suck face?" She asks, laughing.

Daniel and I look at each other, and we join them in the pool.

We spend a while just tossing the ball around in the pool, just enjoying each other's company. These are the moments I'm going to miss.