How Long?

HELLO!!! Welcome to a new story that I'm extremely excited for! I've had this in mind since working in The Wolf & The Sheep. I wanted to do a very cute summer romance whirlwind type of love story. It's cute and innocent with obviously some drama. It's completely set in another "universe" where everyone is normal. I'm also very excited to announce that my friend and great artist Danielle (Spantosicus_ on X) will be doing artwork for every chapter or close to it! I wanted to desperately bring the story to life and Danielle was just the person. So please be patient as chapters can be delayed due to personal life, writing, and art making.

I originally wrote this story 10+ years ago for another fandom on a different site and it has stuck in my head and heart. I obviously changed a lot and added a lot more than the original story. If you're a big fan of The Notebook, Dirty Dancing, Hannah Montana the movie, and more then you might enjoy this as well! Also I'm posting these chapters from my phone until I'm able to get a laptop since it went to shit. So if the formatting seems off or if you can't see the images, please refer to my X page.

Thank you all so much and I you guys enjoy! ❤️

PS: My friend and coworker told me that I needed to put a warning for fluff just because I haven't written it in such a long time. So... WARNING: Fluff content that's a bit dusty since I haven't written it in so long.

Told you I'd incorporate it, Hannah.

-.-.-.-
June 3rd, 1973

Newt, Texas

Song recommendation: "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zVihY55AQIrpalyy2WXL6?si=iByYgFCDR621rAOSXuA7FQ&utm_source=copy-link&pi=7hRjEMU0TyOQK

How Long?

-.-.-.-

The car gently shook against the rocky roads as my fingertips scraped against my cassette player. The sun was shining brightly and almost blinding me as I glared ahead at the fields and trees that surrounded us. This is so fucking stupid. I shouldn't have to tag along for some type of redneck themed family vacation. Who wants to stay on a farm with nothing to do their entire summer?! I was supposed to be having my graduation party with my friends but mama immediately told me to pack my bag only to drive me out to the middle of nowhere! I sighed deeply as I could feel my face grow hotter from not just the blaring sun but my anger and frustration as well. I already had my entire summer planned out. We would have all of our graduation parties, obviously get blackout drunk a lot, and overall I would try to get back together with Danny. I sighed a bit at the thought of him. Part of me deeply missed him and just wanted to try and work things out like we had planned. Danny and I met a few years ago when he moved here with his adopted parents and we immediately hit it off. He was forced to grow up at a young age due to his hard life and I could deeply relate. He seemed like the boy of my dreams as he was very sweet and gentle with me. We were glued to the hip almost at all times — never seen one without the other.

But that changed halfway through our relationship. He wanted to become a mechanic and started to stress over it all including finding a decent college that would give him a scholarship. He began to work extra hard studying for school, including studying in his free time about different vehicles, and even working a bit at a car shop that barely paid him. Danny even learned about boats and other types of vehicles that weren't cars for a better chance. Over time, he stopped showing up for me. From canceling our dates, telling me I was too needy, and not being considerate enough of his lifelong goals. At first, I was very understanding and tried to even help him. But he started to act colder towards me and acted as if I was nothing but a burdening distraction for him. What started off as a passionate realization became a rude awakening that I was now unwanted. I told him politely that he has become too hyperfocused in his goals to the point that I feel like my wants and needs are not being met. I told him that it's okay if he deeply wants something but he shouldn't stress about it as much, it'll only hurt more than help him. That if he truly loves me, I would appreciate it if he showed it a bit more like I've tried by being there for him. Danny blew up on me, saying I was being inconsiderate and not supportive. He said very hurtful and hateful things that I knew stemmed from the stress and pressure he was facing. I knew he probably didn't genuinely mean it but that didn't make it hurt any less. Needless to say, the conversation turned into a huge argument between the both of us which resulted in me breaking up with him. That was in February, right before Valentine's Day, and now it's early June. Since then, Danny had realized how badly he was hyperfixating on his future. He was constantly stressed out, losing more friendships, his grades started to slip, and he had fallen into a deep depression. He started to work on himself more which included managing his stress as well as trying to tell his parents to not be so harsh on him. Danny admitted that the reason why he stressed so much is because he didn't have much growing up as he was mainly an orphan. He was so used to not having much and whatever he did have was taken away from him. From clothes, toys, opportunities, and thinking a foster family was his going to be his actual family before being ripped away from them as well. Now his adopted father is pressuring him to go to college and move out as soon as he can. So, Danny decided to be a mechanic, as it was the only thing he absolutely knew he was certain to be good at doing. The pressure had been weighing Danny down which is why he got tunnel vision and became distant from me. I listened to him and told him that if he continues to make good changes then we'd be on good terms again. Danny promised that he'd change and try to do better for not just himself but our potential relationship again.