Another chapter! There is still probably another 10 chapters until I get to the actual movie! That's so exciting! Happy reading! xx
A huge thanks to islandgirl884 for following/favouriting this story! Your support means a lot and the chapter is dedicated to you!
To islandgirl884: The breakfast scene was inspired by them, I thought it was so cute and couldn't wait to have them do something like that in my story! Especially with Danny's sobered up father! Keep reading!
To hwillson: That was always the plan! Secrets are never secrets in a small town right!? Have fun reading!
August 8th, 1938
It was still hot even though it was nearing 7:30 at night. The sun was setting and Danny and I were sitting in the back of his knew pickup in one of the abandoned paddocks of an abandoned farm house. We watched the sun set in silence and I sighed contently. We may never get another chance to be like this when I leave for college.
"I feel like we've been robbed," I told Danny.
"Of what?" he asked turning to look at me.
"Time together. I mean in a few weeks I go to college," I told Danny. We hadn't really spoken of my leaving yet but I felt as if we had too. He didn't respond for a long while.
"We both knew it would come," Danny whispered to me, as if saying it aloud would make it come faster.
"I know, but I wish we just had more time," I paused, "We haven't even been on a real date," I joked.
"Hey, it's not my fault Abbie and Matt, Ethan and Lindy and poor, lonely Rafe insist we always go out together," Danny replied.
"Maybe we'll have to do it secretly," I schemed.
"Maybe," he said placing a kiss to the side of my head. "Anyway, these last weeks are the weeks I am entitled to have."
"Sorry?" I asked confused.
"Well you're leaving, and whenever a girl leaves, her sweetheart always has a chance to show her why she has to stay," he said smirking.
"Really now?" I asked him raising an eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure I have more to offer than Sarah Lawrence," Danny joked.
"You can offer me more than a successful writing career and a chance to travel the world?" I asked sarcastically.
"That's what you want to do?" Danny asked seriously.
"I've always liked to write, both articles and novels alike," I told him, "the traveling is purely from my curious nature."
"We then, maybe one day you can write about us and how we traveled the world," Danny told me.
"You'd come with me?" I asked him surprised.
"I'd do anything for my girl," he said smiling.
"You're such a Romeo aren't you?" I said pushing up off the tray and facing him.
"And this Romeo better get to your parents house before we're late for dinner."
"I'm sure they won't mind," I sighed as Danny jumped off the back and waited for me to get off too.
"My father will. He won't forgive me for leaving him alone with the in-laws," Danny joked. He held out his hands and I took them, gracefully jumping off the tray and into his arms.
"Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself mister?" I asked him laughing as she spun me around.
"I thought it was inevitable," he replied. He put me down and I smiled at him. I felt like my face was being stretched. I was so happy. He then kissed me and I couldn't help but kiss him back.
August 11th, 1938
"That was a good movie," I said leaning into Danny as we left the cinemas. Other couples and groups of friends left too. I waved to some girls from school I knew and walked to Danny's car down the road.
"It was a good first date I think," Danny said laughing.
"The best."
"What do you think about getting some ice-cream?" he asked as he opened the car door for me.
"Danny it's 10:30 at night," I said when he got into the drivers seat.
"I thought you didn't have a curfew," he smirked.
"Yeah, well, maybe I lied," I told him. He only laughed as he drove out of his parking spot.
"It'll be fine Char, we'll be in and out of the diner before you can even say curfew," he told me.
"Oh boy, you're going to die today if we aren't," I said. My accent becoming more prominent. It only made him smile.
When we reached the diner, we hurried in. Danny led me to the back booth and we took and seat and got our order straight away.
"One banana split please," Danny said as he grinned the the waiter.
"Will only be a second," Mary, the waiter told us. She walked off, her sass evident as she swung her hips.
"See, what did I tell you. Fast," Danny told me. I rolled my eyes.
"See Abbie, I told you that was them," Matthew said as he walked up to us. He slid into the booth next to Danny. So much for our private date.
"What do you want?" I asked him.
"Just wanted to see the other lovebirds," Abbie said rolling her eyes at me as she slid in. "He loves you guys too much."
"Here come the others," Matthew said as he waved to Ethan and Lindy. They too joined us.
"Banana split," Mary said walking over to the booth. She slid it over to Danny and I, but it was intercepted by Matthew.
"Hey," I groaned, "that's ours."
"Oh sorry," Matthew said halfway through a mouthful of our desert.
"Don't worry about it," Danny said smirking. He grabbed my hand across the table. "It was nice while it lasted," he told me. It was nice, just me and him, going out.
"So where's Rafe?" Ethan asked from the other end of the table.
"Probably with a girl. What was her name?" Abbie said trying to remember.
"Kelly?" Matthew asked.
"No, Kelly was last month," Danny pointed out.
"Anna?" I chipped in.
"That's the one," Abbie said laughing. Rafe was notorious when it came to dates and girls. Every girl in the town had been out with him by now. The door to the diner opened and in walked Rafe, as if he could here us talking about him.
"Here they are," he told his date. "Everyone meet Anna."
"Hey," the table said.
"So what are y'all doing tonight?" Rafe asked looking at us all expectantly.
"Some of us have a curfew," I said icking Danny under the table.
"Ow," he moaned.
"Forget about the curfew, we're all out together they won't mind," Matthew said.
"Right, well then you guys can join us down at the lake," Rafe smiled as he turned to his date who nodded happily.
"The lake?" Abbie spat out. "What are we gonna do there?" she asked.
"Swim," Ethan said shaking his head. He knew this was a bad idea.
"So y'all in?" Rafe asked.
"Why not," Lindy piped up. Ethan looked at her surprised. Matthew nodded and Abbie complied. I could only stare at Danny.
"And I suppose you want to go," I asked him.
"Up to you Char," he said smirking.
"Alright, let's go."
"Who is driving?" Abbie asked.
"I saw Danny's truck, we can all go in that," Rafe said smiling. Everyone agreed and got up off their seats and left the diner.
"Bye Mary," I said to the waitress and we paid her.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she said smiling cheekily. She was a kind hearted old lady, she.
"You'd do everything," I told her laughing.
"Exactly," she winked.
"I refuse to go in, it's freezing!" Abbie called out. The boys had stripped down to their boxers and dived into the lake already. The girls stood at the edge, teetering and shivering in their undergarments.
"I think for the sake of propriety would should all just go home," Lindy pointed out.
"Yeah, I second that," I said dipping my toe in and then taking it back out with haste.
"I don't know how my Mama would feel if she saw us," Anna called out to Rafe.
"Our parents drank during the prohibition! This is harmless!" Rafe called out. He swam up to the shore and walked over to Anna. He picked her up and walked her back into the lake.
"Rafe no! Do not!" she called out laughing.
"Sorry," he called out. He dropped her into the water and she shrieked. Abbie burst into laughter as did I. Lindy stood their shocked.
"Rafe McCawley!" Anna yelled as she emerged from the depths of the lake, "you're gonna get it." She began to chase him around. That's when Ethan dragged Lindy in and Matthew pleaded with Abbie to go with him. Danny just came out and stood beside me.
"Still cold?" he asked. He was glistening with water under the moonlight and his hair was plastered to his face. I smiled at the sight of him when I turned to reply.
"A little," I admitted.
"You can just ease your way in," Danny told me.
"Only if you carry me in, I don't like the bottom of the lake at night. The mud just freaks me out," I told him. He chuckled and bent down so I could jump on his back. He walked in slowly until we were both halfway submerged in water. I was suddenly grateful for his six foot build.
"Ready?" he asked me.
"For what?" I asked confused.
"The great plunge," he said. Then before I could reply he dropped down into the water taking me with him. I kicked underneath as my body was submerged in what felt like the Antarctic Ocean. He left go of me and I swam up to the surface.
"Danny!" I screamed as I shivered.
"What?" he asked laughing.
"You said we'd go in slowly," I said banding his bare chest.
"We did, until I couldn't go anymore."
"Boy, if my parents don't kill you tonight, I sure will," I ground out. I punched him hard and he laughed at my attempt. "Stop laughing."
He grabbed my arms and wrapped them around his neck. He pulled me closer to him and picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist.
"Better?" he asked.
"It will do," I said shivering. He hugged me and I rested against him. He walked us out of the lake and sat me down on the warm sand. He wrapped his jacket around me and brushed the hair our of my face.
"Let's get you warm," he said pulling me into his embrace and rubbed his hands up and down my back.
"We wouldn't have this problem if you didn't drop me in the water," I pointed out.
"Where's the fun in that?" Danny asked smiling.
"Gosh I hate you," I whispered although jokingly. Danny was quiet for a while as he continued to warm me up. We watched the others play in the water, having battles on top of shoulder or swimming races.
"Char?" Danny finally spoke up.
"Mmmm?" I asked.
"You can hate me, but, I love you you know," he said facing me. I looked up to see him looking down at me. He said it. IT.
"I love you back."
August 15th, 1938
"So where are we off to this time in your plan to get me to stay here?" I asked him as I got into his car. It was two o'clock in the afternoon, the sun was high and people were out and about.
"The state line," Danny said as we passed the sign that said how far away it was.
"The state line? Danny we'll be driving four hours," I pointed out.
"Don't worry, we'll be there and back soon," he told me.
"Well why are we going then?" I asked him.
"I just need to show you something." So we drove, for hours, taking stops for food and water at the little gas stations. When we finally reached the line between Tennessee and Alabama I was feeling very car sick.
"We're here," Danny nudged me from my sick position.
"Thank god," I muttered as I got out. I stared around us, there was hardly anything here but forest and trees. "I don't see what you have to show me."
"That," Danny pointed up to the sign. WELCOME TO ALABAMA it read. He walked over to me and positioned me in the middle of the road a few metres past the line.
"What are you doing?" I asked confused.
"Stay here and don't move," he told me. He walked back and leant back on his truck.
"Danny?" I asked smiling. What was he doing.
"From where you are, you cannot touch me, kiss me, and I wouldn't be able to hear you if you didn't shout."
"So?" I asked him shouting.
"When you leave for New York, that's how it will be every day you are away from me, only you won't be able to see me or talk unless you are prepared to make a call that'll cost a fortune," he said.
"Oh," I said. It hit me, he was honestly, truly trying to get me to stay.
"But, if you're here," Danny paused as he walked up to me and dragged me back across the line. "You can touch, kiss, see and speak to me anytime you feel like, no cost required."
"Danny," I breathed out. Before I could continued he'd pulled me towards him, kissing me feverishly. He moved us back into the car, opening the door and siting me inside the truck. He began to take my cardigan off. I ran my fingers through his hair. God, I loved him so much. I wanted to give him everything.
He started on the buttons on my blouse and began to move his lips across my throat. I leant back letting him have more access. I suddenly then remember where I was, what I was doing, how unmarried I was.
"Danny," I said as I pulled away from him.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked.
"Danny I want to do this," I said pausing. I was ready to continue, but he cut me off.
"Me too," he said smiling.
"But not like this, not now."
"You're right," he breathed out. He stepped back and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. "If this ever happens, I want it to be right."
"I do too," I told him. I pulled him closer and ran my hands along his arms. "We just can't afford to be reckless," I laughed.
"I'm sorry," he said starting to do up the buttons he'd undone minutes ago.
"Don't be, I didn't exactly tell you to slow down right away," I laughed softly. I straightened out his hair and fixed his crumpled shirt.
"Let's make a pact," Danny said as he reached into the car and pulled my cardigan onto my body.
"Yes?" I asked him. He smoothed down my hair and looked my in the eyes cupping my face.
"We'll do this right, we'll be happily married and no matter where we are we'll always come back to one another," he said.
"I like that," I whispered. He let go of my face and held out his pinky.
"Pinky promise," I said linking my own with his.
When we arrived home it was practically midnight. Danny pulled the car up outside my house and we saw so many others cars.
"Dinner party?" he asked me.
"No, I don't know what's going on." I looked at him worriedly and we both got out of the car and ran up to the fronts steps. I pushed the door opened.
"Mama, Dad!?" I called out.
"Charlotte, there you are," my mother called out.
"Where have you been?" my dad asked as I walked into the living room. The McCawleys and Danny's dad where sitting there, with the town sheriff.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"We've been searching for you two, that's what," Danny's dad smirked.
"I'm sorry, we went to the next town over, I took her dancing," Danny said quickly. He'd just saved both our bacon.
"Danny, son, I appreciate you going out with my daughter, but please let us know next time. We were worried to death about both of you," my dad said.
"I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again."
"You'll get your punishment when we get home," Danny's dad said clapping him on the soldier. Danny nodded. "Let's go son."
"Charlotte, you better go make tea for all these worried people," my mother warned.
"Yes mama," I said.
"I'll see you soon," Danny said kissing me on the cheek.
"Bye," I said. The Walker's left and I went to the kitchen to make tea. I was filling up the kettle when there was a tap on the window. I moved the curtain away to see Danny. I put the kettle down and lifted the window up.
"What are you doing?" I whispered.
"My dad's not going to punish me, so I'll pick you up tomorrow for the group date," he said rolling his eyes at the last bit."
"Well, I'll call and tell you if I can't go," I laughed.
"Alright Char," he said smirking. I leant forward and kissed him. "Night." He let go of the window and jogged back to his car. I shut the window and smiled as I continued to fill the kettle. I was intoxicated with Danny.