Danny stared silently at me and it took all my power to not grab hold of him and cry on him. He'd gotten taller and his bright, but dull emerald eyes kept looking, piercing into mine. After what felt like eternity but was probably ten or more minutes, his grip on my shoulder tightened a bit and then he pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around me. I immediately hugged him, and my tears fell down quickly, my body shaking, and I was sobbing. He hugged me tighter and moved his hands up and down my back in a soothing way that only he could do.
After a while, he spoke but quietly, soothingly, softly, and firm all at the same time. "I'll forgive you, but you have to promise to never leave me…"
I hugged him tighter for my response, and I could practically feel him smile. He lifted up my head and smiled a bit. I smiled too while he wiped away my tears. "I promise, Danny. I just don't want them hating me…" I said trailing off and looking down. Danny kneeled down smirking cutely and said, "Thanks to all the girls that have been trying to date me since you left, they've wanted you back and to stay with me, practically… forever," he said with his cheeks blushing lightly. My face turned into one of shock-ness and happiness. "Really?" I exclaimed as a smile formed on my lips. He nodded his head quickly and hugged me. "Yeah, I couldn't believe it either." He told me and, even though I couldn't see it, I knew his face was of something more now. It was the face of a happy man.
We'd called Sam and Chris to tell them we were fine, and things were much better between us. We told them that we weren't going to go back to school and were going to hang out around. We stayed in the woods and sat down on a branch. When it was around eight, I leaned my head on his shoulder, and he put his arms around me. I started humming to my favorite song, and started to sing parts of it after Danny said he wanted to listen to "my beautiful voice". I smiled and did that.
You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"
He smiled at me and kisses my forehead.
I was right there beside him all summer long
An' then the time we woke up to find that summer'd gone
We both remembered all the summers that had gone by then, and he pulled me closer and onto his lap.
But when you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest
I remembered that on our first date, we'd somehow ended up dancing in the park under the rain with one of his songs.
I hope you think of me
He kissed my cheek and hugged me closer, whispering, "I always do..." I stayed silent for a while and then sang the next words softly.
September saw a month of tears,
An' thankin' God that you weren't here,
To see me like that
He frowned and kissed me, making me smile. I knew both of us weren't going to like September since that's the month I'd left two years ago. I smiled to what I sang next.
But in a box beneath my bed,
Is a letter that you never read,
From a summer back
I looked up at him since the next part was pretty true, and I'd prove it later.
And I'm back for the first time since then,
I'm standin' on your street,
An' there's a letter left on your doorstep,
An' the first thing that you'll read:
Is: "When you think: Tim McGraw,
"I hope you think my favorite song"
Some day you'll turn your radio on,
I hope it takes you back to that place
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
I hope you think of me…
I moved my body and hugged him closely, putting my head on his shoulder.
"I'll always think of you, Cathy…" I heard him say as he hugged me close.