Forever

(1)

"Chandler Beckett?"

"Here."

"Dana Carter?"

"Here."

"Abigail Chester."

"Here."

Dana's eyes wandered to the brown haired boy who sat next to her in boredom. She often wondered how a guy as handsome as him has never crossed her field of view until her first day as a senior in Mrs. Garcia's class. The only class where everyone sat in alphabetical order and where she found herself lucky to have such a last name.

Chandler didn't look at her like she looked at him. Matter of fact, she didn't think he looked at her at all. The relationship she built for them in her head was one-sided and she was the one to initiate every interaction. She didn't know how he talked other than when he said his name. She's never heard anyone talk about him. Chandler was Dana's mystery.

When class ended, Dana's thoughts shifted to her friends. They were all she had from day to day. As a trio, they told each other everything and no one judged the other. The only issue was that Dana didn't share her crush with any of the girls. She made sure that she kept any whiff of being swooned out of Jessica's radar.

"I'm actually the ultimate match maker." Dana and Lana turned away from their phones to see Jessica sitting down next to them with her backpack straps loosely in her grip and a cocky smile on her face. "Lacy told me her crush and I told him immediately. Three weeks later, they are exclusive."

Lana chuckled. "What about the other twelve failed relationships you've tried to play Cupid in? Walter still thinks Kayla is the biggest creep." She nudged Dana who snickered at the blow. "But good job on this one."

"In my defense, I didn't tell her to bring him flowers. That was her touch. That really ruined it." She pushed her locs out of her face and proceeded to take a few photos with her phone.

In the middle of Lana showing a funny video, Dana looked over her shoulder just in time to see what she'd been missing. She noticed Chandler laughing with his friends in the courtyard, his brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight. She couldn't help but be drawn to the way he interacted with others, his easygoing nature and infectious smile. As she watched, he playfully nudged one of his friends, and they all burst out laughing. Dana found herself smiling too, feeling a warmth in her chest.

She observed how Chandler's friends looked up to him, seeking his opinion and valuing his thoughts. He listened intently, offering words of encouragement and support. Dana was struck by his empathy and kindness, and the way he made everyone feel seen and heard.

As she continued to watch, Dana noticed the way Chandler's hair stopped slightly at the nape of his neck, and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. She felt a flutter in her chest, and suddenly realized she was holding her breath. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing heart.

Dana didn't mean to stare, but she couldn't help herself. She was captivated by Chandler's effortless charm and the way he made everyone around him feel so at ease. As she turned back to her own friends, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had just witnessed something special – something that made her want to be a part of his world.

"That's so unrealistic which is why it isn't happening." Her eyes snapped to Jessica who was looking back at her. "What do you think about it?"

Dana froze briefly as she tried to gather her thoughts and redirect her mind from what she just finished gazing upon. "I think- what do I think about what?"

Jessica rolled her eyes in annoyance while Lana lifted an eyebrow. "About college, duh. This is our last year to start figuring it out. Once apps open there is no second guessing."

Dana thought about college an insane amount of times over the summer. Probably more than she thought about eating or drinking water. The three girls discussed all going to the same university or ones nearby. They wanted the dorm room life and the college dream. Dana hasn't gave it another thought since she saw Chandler.

"Well, we can do a pros and cons list of our top three and see which one we'd settle on this weekend?" Dana shrugged hoping her idea wouldn't get turned down.

Lana looked at Jessica who agreed soon after then turned to Dana to show she agreed as well. Lana jumped up to her feet and sucked in a large chunk of air through her nose. "The smell of fall on Lincoln High School grounds. Get your last breather in ladies because we will never be here again." Just like that, Jessica started up towards the school with a jump in her step and Lana followed behind her.

Dana looked back over her shoulder to see Chandler's friend group was replaced by a singular girl. One Dana had never seen before. The two seemed like a pair that anyone with eyes couldn't avoid yet she couldn't rememeber their faces from a can of paint. Dana turned her body slightly more towards their presence as she watched them interact with such excitement to be near each other. Chandler wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her closer and whsipered something in her ear. She laughed in the palm of her hand before they took off walking into the direction Jessica and Lana left to.

There was no surprise that a man of his social status would already have his heart belonging to someone else. Dana was too late and by the look of their comfort level, this isn't a new and blooming relationship. She missed the part where Chandler was taken and therefore, he would never notice her.

Dana let out a held in sigh before grabbing her backpack that sat between her feet and lugging it over her shoulder. She heard something drop to the ground but with one glance over, nothing came of it. Jessica and Lana were minutes ahead of her, the lecture Jessica would give already playing in Dana's mind. She trudged across the courtyard and straight to the double yellow doors where students stood and talked.

Aside from her interactions with her close friends, Dana didn't have others she would talk to. She was a social butterfly when needed but kept to herself when overwhelmed. Currently, her raging mind let her know it was time to hide away since her last class of the day consisted of her being free to finish off any book of her choosing.