Hey everyone. Sorry for abandoning this... I finished it a long time ago, I just never got around to putting it up here. I'll try and get it all up this week, but no promises. :) Thanks for all your support. :D

These Are The Days
Chapter 5: Just Perfect

There was an awkward silence as Buddy and Dana passed through the doors of the movie theater, Dana still holding on to Buddy's arm.

Man, I really blew it, huh? Buddy asked himself. He knew that he shouldn't have made that big of a deal about Lindsey; he had his own date to worry about without causing any problems for her. It's not like she doesn't give me any trouble, though, he thought wretchedly. Buddy sighed and turned his attention to Dana. "Want anything?"

"Um… I guess I'll have a Diet Coke and a small popcorn with no butter," she replied.

Buddy nodded. "Okay." As they stood in line, he caught Dana's gaze, which showed… concern? "What is it?"

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

He nodded. "Yeah… I just don't want to see Lindsey doing that to herself. She really is a decent person inside – I've seen her act like a normal human being before," Buddy added, at the skeptical look Dana was giving him. "I know she seems really mean and rude, but she's had a lot to go through in her thirteen short years."

"I believe you," Dana replied. "That doesn't mean that I believe her. That shouldn't be an excuse for her to act the way she does."

Buddy sighed again. "I know. But she's my sister, and I care what happens to her."

"That's perfectly natural," Dana said, nodding. They had reached the front of the line, and so Buddy put in their order of a small diet Coke, a small popcorn, and a small Pepsi. "That comes to $9.50," the attendant said cheerfully, and Buddy stared at her for just a second. Ten dollars for just that? He looked in his wallet, and thankfully, he had just enough to cover it. Handing his ten dollar bill over, he sighed at the two measly quarters he got in exchange. Man, going to the movies is a ripoff. But… at least she's here with me.

He handed Dana her drink and her popcorn, and they went to find a seat. They sat there, Buddy not knowing what to say to Dana. Okay, this is really weird…

"So…" Dana began, taking a sip of her soda. "Um… so, do you think there are any more gigs coming up?"

Buddy nodded. "Yeah… I hope so, anyway. Car hasn't told me anything specific, but apparently there's a Battle of the Bands coming up sometime this summer. Maybe we'll be able to compete at that."

"You think we'd be good enough for it, though?" Dana thought aloud. "I mean, we've only had about seven practices since we've formed."

Buddy smiled reassuringly at her. "Dana, you're the one everyone looks at. You did awesome last weekend. I'd say we have a decent shot."

He saw Dana blush and she said, "Well… you're kind of biased."

Instantly, his cheeks matched hers. "I can't help that. You're beautiful." And on impulse, he took her hand and kissed it.

What the heck are you doing, Barrett? his mind screamed at him. But deep down, Buddy knew that he was just doing what felt right. He looked back up at Dana and saw her blushing profusely – but she was beaming.

"Thank you… I guess," she whispered. Buddy just smiled at her and said, "You're welcome."

Wow, she's so pretty when she smiles like that.

After that, conversation became easier and faster. Buddy learned about Dana's love for music, and she, in turn, learned about how Buddy loved to draw. They talked about other little things until the lights went down and the movie began.

The previews were okay, but he kept getting distracted by Dana next to him. Should I hold her hand? Put my arm around her? He decided to wait and see, and settled in to watch the movie.

About thirty minutes later, Dana leaned over and whispered, "Hey… I hate to sound piggy, but… I don't know, maybe it's this popcorn. I just got really thirsty all of a sudden. Do you think it'd be okay if I got up and got another drink really quick?"

"Did you want some of mine?" Buddy offered. "I still have some."

Dana shook her head quickly. "Nah, it's okay. I don't think I could drink it anyway, it's not diet."

Buddy nodded. "Oh yeah. I forgot." He smiled sheepishly. "I hate being insensitive about stuff like that." Way to go, forgetting her diabetes like that.

"It's okay. I'll get another one," Dana whispered back. She prepared to exit as quietly as she could, but Buddy stopped her. "Let me," he offered, putting his hand on top of hers. "What did you want?"

"Just water, if that's okay." Dana noticed where Buddy's hand was, and she blushed. "Are you sure about this?" She gave him a worried look.

Buddy nodded, quickly withdrawing his hand from hers after noticing the flush on her cheeks. "Don't worry about it." And on impulse, yet again, he kissed her cheek quickly before he left to get her water. The sight of Dana's grin put a bounce in his step as he went.

When he returned, however (his wallet now drained of all the change he had), his happiness was replaced with a feeling of dread. Dana was nowhere to be found, and there were two people occupying his and Dana's seats. Panicked, but not wanting to make a scene, it was then that he noticed that Dana's purse was resting on the side of the seat, along with Buddy's drink. Sighing, he picked up the items and stood up resignedly, scanning the theater for two empty seats that they could sit in. Unfortunately, many people had the same idea that they had had and the only empty seats were at the very front, where you had to strain your neck to see.

This sucks, Buddy thought, irritably. Dana probably left because she thought I was being such a bad date. He made his way to the exit, still clutching Dana's pink purse (which people were now starting to stare at him for) and leaned against the wall, his eyes seeing the movie but his mind not comprehending, and absently taking sips of his drink. It was then that he noticed how funny it tasted. He shook it, wondering if the ice melting had made it taste weird. But there was still a good amount of ice in it. He took another sip, and then realized, in horror, that the reason his soda tasted so weird was because… it was diet. Which means…

Buddy raced down the stairs, turned the corner, and ran right smack into another person and consequently spilled soda all over her. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," he began to say, until he realized the person he had run into – his very own date. He looked at her helplessly and sank to the floor, head in his hands. "Oh, Dana, I am so sorry."

Dana, confused, in all her sticky clothes, sat down on the floor next to him. "It's okay. What were you doing?"

"I was going to look for you," was the muffled reply, as Buddy still refused to look at her.

"Oh." Dana looked down, apparently ashamed. "I… I really had to go use the restroom, and it couldn't wait until you came back."

Buddy said nothing, just kept his head in his hands, shaking it and occasionally muttering "why me?" Dana felt the tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I… I should have guessed that you didn't like me as much as I like you."

Buddy snapped his head back in alarm. "What? No – that's not what I meant, Dana," he began to say, but she had already started to run back towards the exit. "Dana, wait!"

"SHHHHH!" was the response he got from all the moviegoers, and with a sheepish wave of his hand to signify 'sorry,' Buddy raced after her. Good going, Barrett. You've just broken the most beautiful heart ever.

He found her at one of the few tables in the lobby, her head resting on her hands just like he had been a few seconds ago. He walked up to her cautiously and asked, "Dana?"

She looked up at him and then back down at the table, wiping her eyes bitterly. "What?"

"Oh, please don't cry." He knelt to be at eye level with her. "I'm so sorry, Dana. I didn't mean to offend you at all. I just… people took our seats, and then I spilled my soda all over you…" he trailed off, not knowing what to do to make her feel better, when he remembered the most important thing. "Dana!"

"What?" she asked again, this time more irritably.

"I… I gave you the wrong soda," Buddy said in a panic. "I had the diet soda and didn't realize it until now. You just got a ton of sugar in your bloodstream. Are… are you going to be okay?"

Dana's face went pale, and her eyes widened, but then Buddy noticed a strange emotion flicker across her face – relief? She smiled, and the hand that had wrenched at Buddy's heart released. "No wonder I'm feeling the way I am. I was worried that I had eaten something earlier that was making me feel like this."

"Feel like what – are you okay?" Buddy asked with increasing concern.

"Not really… I'm just really thirsty and… have to go to the bathroom a lot." Dana blushed, embarrassed, and looked to the ground. "I hate having diabetes," she mumbled.

"Hey, it's okay," Buddy said, getting up and pulling a chair up next to Dana. "You shouldn't be ashamed. It was my fault, anyway, for giving you the wrong soda. And here." He handed her the water bottle he had purchased. "If you're thirsty, drink this."

Dana smiled. "Thank you." She took the water bottle, and her purse, which Buddy was setting on the table, and drank some water. After that, she said, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For making us lose our seats, and making you spend all that money for a movie that we're not even going to be able to watch, between having no seats and me having to run to the ladies' room every ten minutes."

Buddy took his finger and lifted Dana's chin so she was looking at him. "Hey. It is not your fault that you have diabetes. Besides, it's my fault that I triggered your symptoms in the first place. So don't be even a bit sorry."

He was about to say more, but he got lost looking into her deep brilliant azure eyes. They just kind of sat there, staring at each other for a minute, when Buddy said, "Hey, stand up."

"Huh?" Dana said, blinking.

"Stand up." Buddy smiled reassuringly at her. It's time to prove to her that I do really like her. A lot. More than anyone I've ever liked before.

"Uh… okay," she complied, getting up out of her chair. Once she was completely removed from it, he closed the space between them and wrapped her in a big hug. "I never said I didn't like you," he whispered in her ear, while stroking her long, cascading blonde hair. "In fact, I like you a lot. Just like I said last weekend. I was wondering if you would like to be my girlfriend."

There, you did it. Even though Buddy's heart was racing (and he was sure Dana could feel it too), there was just something about that statement that made him giddy with happiness. He heard Dana's gasp of surprise and pulled away just enough to see her face. She was grinning like crazy. Buddy looked at her expectantly and she nodded vigorously. "Yes!" she squeaked out. "I mean… yes," she repeated, in a more civilized voice. "I would love to be your girlfriend, Buddy."

Buddy grinned and hugged her tight again, and then kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," Dana said, letting go of him, but holding on to his hands. She took the initiative to intertwine her fingers with his, and they both smiled. "I like that," Buddy told her.

Dana nodded. "Me too." Just then, she quickly let go and took another quick sip – actually, it was more like a gulp – of water, then set it down and raced away. "I'll be back, I promise!" she called over her shoulder. Buddy understood and gave her a thumbs up, then made sure she understood that he would be moving all their stuff outside – he didn't want to stay in the stuffy lobby any more. As he sat on a bench outside, a cool summer breeze blew through the trees behind him, and the moon was shining gently upon Stoneybrook, framed with millions of stars in the darkening sky. Hmm, maybe I'll take Dana stargazing someday, Buddy mused, as he studied the night sky. And as he looked upon it, he thought that the sparkling stars were just like his life right now – perfect, absolutely perfect.