Its senior year and Marissa and Danny couldn't have been happier. They spend almost every second together. Mondays Danny and Marissa will pick Melisa and James up in his 99' red mustang. Tuesdays are bowling nights. Wednesdays they watch a movie after dinner with their parents. Thursdays are study nights since most tests are on Fridays and of course Fridays are sleepovers with James and Melisa. Of course the girls will have their own room to sleep in. Every now and than the four take a weekend and go down to visit South Gate, their home no matter what how far they were. You can say that they are the perfect couple. They never fought or disagreed. They laughed and played and they respected each others choices. That is until…..
"How can you make a decision like that without telling me?" Danny screamed.
"You're not married to me Danny. I don't have to tell you about something like this."
"I know we are not but we had it planned. We were going to Berkley together, get a house together in South Gate, get married and have kids. How can you mess it all up for a stupid scholarship to Harvard? Its way to far away." at this point Marissa was disappointed. He knew how much that scholarship meant to her. It was everything she ever worked for, ever dreamed for.
"A stupid scholarship?" her voice broke as a tear rolled down her cheek so softly and tender. "That scholarship can change my life for the better. I can do what my father and I have spoken about for the longest. That stupid scholarship is everything to me. How can you expect me to throw it all away?"
"I have not once heard you speak about Harvard. Why now?" Danny was confused and hurt. His love was going to a school that he can't ever get into. He didn't want to loose her. They were going to be far apart and from there everything will change. She will find some handsome guy in pre-law and she will forget all about him. He spent years trying to find her just have a few years to rip them apart again.
"I didn't think I was going to get in. It has been a year since I sent in a letter. They haven't gotten back to me until now and I'm going to take it." That just broke both hearts apart. Marissa didn't want to leave him. She loved him, more than anything but she also loved her father. She has wanted to follow in his footsteps since a baby. He was her hero, her inspiration. She use to get his brief case and coat and walked around the loft in New York City pretending to be walking in the busy side walks going to the offices.
"It's Harvard or me. Choose your pick." He couldn't believe he was saying that but it came out of his mouth without going through his brain first. He looked into her rich chocolate tear filled eyes with no emotion in his. He had to be strong.
Issa walked up to him and kissed his cheek slightly closing her eyes not believing the words she was about to whisper into his ears "I'm sorry. I leave the day after graduation next week." She pulled away not making any eye contact and walked out of his room walking past Melisa and rushed out the house without a single word.
Melisa walked in "Why was Issa crying?"
Danny didn't face his little sister. He didn't want her to see him in the worst pain "Leave Mel. Just leave." He harshly said walking over to his balcony looking down at his backyard thinking, what has he done? He just lost the love of his life over something stupid.
Graduation Day…
"And now for our valedictorian Miss Marissa Julie Montez." The sound of hands colliding roared through the football stadium. She stood there holding onto the podium proud.
"Well we made it!" the graduating classes scram and clapped happy. "4 years ago we roamed this school scared, but we made it. We went through a lot of obstacles. Many people ask, what is high school all about? What do we really learn from a high school experience? I learned a lot. I learned who I am, who my brother really is. Which by the way, is a total dork just how I thought but I guess somehow Melisa, found a cool version of him." She made air quotes when saying 'cool' which caused everyone to chuckle. "I also learned who people I thought I knew are." She looked over to Danny with hurt and disappointment in her eyes. "We are all just the same. We want success and to follow our dreams. Dreams we have longed for since a baby. We all have inspiration to reach those dreams." She looked up straight ahead. "Let us all make our dreams come true. That's another thing I learned here in East High. Reach for the stars, reach for your dreams and don't let anyone. No one get in the way of those dreams. Today we walk out of this field as graduates. High school graduates. We can say now that we accomplished something that many haven't. We have roads ahead of us that will in some way change the world. So let's do it wildcats. Let's change the world one step at a time but never forget where you came from, what made you who you are today. We are wildcats and we will claw our way to the top. Because we made it! WE GRADUATED!"
The whole graduating class through their caps in the air screaming, couples hugging and kissing, girls crying, guys messing around, and Marissa and Danny just stood there looking at each other. Taking the last look of their life at each other, they lost each other once again. Marissa threw her cap on the ground after sticking something in it. She walked towards the exit and disappeared from his sight. Danny walked over to the red cap and read the note that had been taped in.
I really do love you. I know we have never said it before but I do. I love you Daniel Alexander Bolton. It's a shame I never got to say it face to face.
Xoxoxx Marissa
5 years later….
22 year old Marissa graduated from Harvard as a lawyer along side her best friend Decklan Scott and her boyfriend of 3 years Tyler James. Marissa and Tyler have an apartment in mid Cambridge, Massachusetts for 2 years and everything has been going great for them. She can say she has loved this guy from the first time they met. She was walking Harvard not knowing where she was going until she knew where she had ended up, the ground. She crashed into Tyler while fussing through her papers. Since that day on she has loved Tyler Nathan James.
Even though she loves him not one day passes by when she doesn't think of Danny. How can anyone forget their first love? Their first kiss, the first time they ever gave their heart to anyone.
"Come on just one bite!" Tyler reached for the banana nut muffin in her hand. For the past 5 minutes Tyler has been chasing Issa around the living room.
"NO! This is my muffin! Get away muffin stealer!" she laughed trying to get passed him but failed as he grabbed her by the waist and dropped her on the couch sitting on top of her.
"Now give me the muffin or you shall be tortured!" he brought his hands up and Marissa knew exactly as to where this was going.
"TAKE IT! TAKE THE MUFFIN!" she shoved the muffin in his face scared "Just get your big fat fluffy heavy butt off of me."
Tyler laughed getting off her but sitting at the end of the couch placing her legs on his lap taking a bite of the muffin he successfully got. "You know you like it." He said winking down at her.
"Oh but of course." She giggled looking at him, then smiled "I love you Tyler Nathan James." She said with such heart but one thing went through her head as those words escaped her mouth. Daniel Alexander Bolton. She too said I love you to him 5 years ago that very day. She wondered will this love last, and is this feeling mutual.
"I love you too Marissa Julie Montez." She smiled big at him sitting up placing her hand on his cheek kissing him passionately. He dropped his muffin and gripped on her waist pushing her down gently onto the couch not breaking the kiss. In her head she thought that maybe, just maybe this will be the one she marries and spends eternity with.
With Danny…
"I am still in love with her." 23 year old Daniel dropped his head into his hands. "Why didn't I chase after her saying I love you too?"
Melisa Kaley Bolton now 22 and engaged to 23 year old James Brian Montez looked at her broken down older brother "Danny it's been 5 years. I know you love her and I loved her too but its time to move on. She would have come back if –"
She was cut off by a man with a two o'clock aftershave "If I wouldn't have messed it up."
"No if she truly loved you, but who knows there is still a chance. After all it dose take 5 years to graduate from Law school. Now come on. You need to go out and have fun." Melisa smiled. "Look my wedding is only two weeks away and I need my brother to be there at my rehearsal dinner next Friday." She stood up and was about to walked down the hall to exit his house but looked back with a disgusted face "Now take a shower. You stink worse than you normally do."
Danny laughed and smiled at his little sister "Bye Mel. Love you." Melisa blew a kiss over to him before walking out. Danny got up and went over to the photo album filled of Marissa and him when they were in high school. Each picture something was unique. It was either the way they posed or where they where out. Something that always caught his eye was her smile. She had the most amazing smile. A type of smile that will shine in the dark, the type that can just make everything around you go away and make you feel like everything in life is perfect. She was perfect.
There was a knock on his door that interrupted his thoughts. "Knock, Knock." Said the blond, haired beauty.
"Jessica." Danny said smiling walking up to her hugging her tight. "I missed you." He pulled back a bit to look at her, "How have you been? How's the music going?" Jessica Marie Evens moved to Los Angeles to purse her singing dream.
"It's still going. How have you been?" she asked lying down on his bed.
"Not the same. I miss her, Jess."
"Well I'm sure she missed you. I spoke to her not long ago. She wants to come down soon." Danny's face lit up. She was coming back. This was his time. His time to pronounce his love to her; tell her how much he loves her.
"Really? When? What time?"
"Calm down Romeo. I don't know yet. She just said she might come." She watched as he started pacing. "Plus her brother is getting married how can she not come."
"I need to start working out, plan something special for her." He paused and sniffed his underarm. "I need to shower." He walked into his bedroom restroom and slammed the door.
"Eh, whatever." Jessica shrugged and went to sleep on his bed.
Back with Marissa Thursday…
"Tyler, do you want to come with me?"
"Are you sure? I mean I don't want to intrude."
"I'm positive. I want you there beside me." She sat down on his lap wrapping her arm around him. "Let's just not announce that we are together. I don't want to mention anything until maybe the day after the wedding. I don't want any drama to happen."
"What could happen?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Oh you don't know Jessica and some other people."
She smiled up at her, his girlfriend. "I won't say a word." He pecked her lips "I love you MJ."
"I love you too Ty."
With the gang at James' house.
"Still can't believe you are going to marry my little sister." Danny said putting his arm around Melisa.
"Well believe it because you are going to be my best man."
"True that. Who's the maid of honor, Mel?"
"You'll see at the rehearsal dinner." Melisa smirked looking up at her older brother.
"Mel can I see you in the kitchen?" Andy said already standing up.
"Sure." Melisa excused herself and followed Andrea Nicole McKessie into the kitchen. "What's up, A?"
"Are you sure she is coming?" said Jessica whom was already waiting.
"Yes. Why would she miss her own brother's wedding? She's bringing one of her Harvard friends." Melisa said leaning against the kitchen counter.
"When is her plane landing?" Andy asked pouring her a glass of wine.
"Tuesday night."
"Sleepover at my house!" Jessica and Melisa laughed at Andy raising her glass in the air.
"You crazy, girl. You know that?" Jessica said laughing.
"Of course I do. It's a perk when you are me." She walked out proudly with her head held high.
Tuesday at the airport
"Where is she?" asked James trying to look over heads to find his little sister.
"Calm down, baby. She's fine." Melisa placed her hand on her future husbands shoulder to calm him down.
"She has never been on a plane without me."
"Really?" she cocked her head to the side shocked a bit.
"Yes." After a few seconds "There she is. Marissa!"
Marissa Montez looked up and smiled at the sight of her brother's face. James let go of Mel's hand and ran towards his little sister. She jumped in his with a huge smile planted on her face.
"I missed you dufos."
James pulled apart from the hug and cupped her face, "God I missed your annoying insults." He kissed her forehead and took her bags from her escorting her over to his fiancé.
"Melisa!" Marissa yelled hugging her.
"How are you?"
"I'm good and you Miss Bride to be?"
"Happy." She said looking over at her fiancé but snapped her head back to Marissa. "So where's your friend?"
Marissa looked around 'till she spotted him, "There he is. Tyler, over here!" she called out to him.
Tyler walked over there with confidence and a smile "Hell I'm Tyler Nathan James" he popped his hands out after placing the suitcases on the ground.
James took his hand giving it a respectful grip and shake. "Hello, I'm James Brian Montez. Marissa's older brother."
"I've heard a lot about you."
"Good things I hope." James said looking over at Marissa.
"Just awesome things, no worries bro." She playfully hit his right shoulder.
"Okay that just makes me worry." He said picking up her bags and started walking to the cars.
"Mari you will be coming with me for the night and Tyler will go with James." Melisa said closing the trunk of her Range Rover after James set the bags in there.
"Okay." Marissa kissed Tyler in the cheek. "I'll text you later. Have fun."
"Okay, be safe." He smiled at Marissa hoping into James' car and drove off.
"Ready to go?" Issa turned to her future sister and nodded.
With the guys…..
"Hey Danny, what are you doing here man?" James said opening the back door of his ford truck.
"Nothing man, just finally getting out of that house of mine."
"James handed Tyler one of his bags, "Danny this is Tyler. Tyler this is Danny my best man."
Daniel and Tyler did the most dangerous thing they could do without knowing it.
Danny shook hands with the man that now has the love of his love of his shook hands with his girlfriends first.
They both didn't know that this meeting was just the beginning of a war.
The war for Marissa Julie Montez's heart.
A/N: Wow I can't believe that I'm continuing this but I am, but it almost depends on the responce I get from you guys. In fact I love this first episode, probably one of my best written one. Well I hope you enjoy it. For those that don't know what is going on you should see the first season on you tube just search "Once Loved" it'll be under msattitude96.