The Contract

Dani's P.O.V.
I woke up to the sweet smell of warm pancakes. "Mmm." I hummed to myself. I drug myself out of bed and up the stairs. I was greeted with smiles by David and Luke, "Good morning." I replied.
"Morning." They said in sync, before giving each other a glance.
"Dani!" Rae excited.
"Yes?"
"Mom wants to know everything." Mom?
"Everything?"
"About you and Luke darling." Ma smiled.
There's some cliche story that I had to give whenever asked about this, but this is my mom.
"Well, for starters... I fainted." Ma had a small chuckle, "Then Luke kindly helped me wake up and the rest is history."
Luke smiled over at me, yet I could tell he wasn't too happy it wasn't the response I was supposed to give.
"Come and get it." David smiled. Or is it Dad now?
After breakfast I went to shower, but Luke held the door.
"Can I help you Hemmings?"
"I want you to take me through a day in the life here."
"Didn't we do that last night?"
"Not quite." he smiled, then closed the door before I could say anything else.
****
"Alright, Luke, so where to?" I asked buckling up.
"Your schools." he smiled.
"Seriously? I hated them when I went there." I grunted.
"Please?" He pouted giving me the puppy dog frown.
"Fine. Elementary first." I replied, then started the car.
After a VERY short drive up a hill, we were there.
"Here. Eiber. K-6 and probably the only time I remotely liked school... Well, starting 3rd grade. I cried and puked the first years."
"It's so cute." he smiled, "what else?"
"I was in the 3 Little Pigs play in first grade in that room over there." I replied, pointing to the small gymnasium, "I hated the music program sctrictly for the teacher in this room over here." pointing to my small music room. "I won every jop rope for heart, I was in choir, band, and the dance club. The bus drop was my worst nightmare in April of my 6th grade year when my mom dropped me off for Outdoor Lab. I had really bad seperation anxiety and I thought my life was over. And there, in the cafeteria I had my continuation to middle school." I spoke, pointing again to the center of the building. "I met Rae here in 3rd grade and now we're sisters, so that's cool." I chuckled, so did Luke.
"On to the next one?" I asked.
"Recess first." He smiled, popping out of the car.
Luke was the biggest little kid I have ever seen. We playedd all over the monkey bars, the swings, and the slides.
"Alright," I gasped out of breath, "On to the next one."
Luke quickly agreed.
"Creighton. The best and worst 2 years of my life. This one I can't exactly point everything out, so here goes nothing... In 7th grade I 'fell in love' with this kid in my english class, that lasted 6 months before he broke my heart. I continued band here, went to 2 Sea Camps, dated that first kids best friend for 3 months after he made his rounds between Rae and I's friends... Hmmm."
"Pause... What's a Sea Camp?"
"Right... Instead of 5 days of school you go to San Diego and it's the middle school version of marine biology."
"Wow, to think I just had to walk outside and it was like the same thing." Luke smirked.
"Keep making fun and I'll end this tour." I threatened.
"Fine..." he chuckled.
"My first dance was here in the gym and cafeteria, last day of 8th grade. Honestly... A lot happened here. I fell in love with American history, I met amazing people I'd eventually lose touch with, I got out of my shell here, just to be shoved back in on occassion. I also realzied here, I wanted to live. I used to literally try to cut my life away, and after everything here, I realized nothing this small was worth dying over." As I started to tear up, Luke grabbed my hand.
"Maybe we should just head home." He spoke.
"No," I chocked back the tears, "One more." I smiled.
I drove closer to the house and finally pulled up to my high school.
"Home of the Tigers." I grunted.
"And what's the story here?" he smiled.
"Hmm. Hold on, I may be able to get us in."
"How?"
"Don't you know David's occupation?"
"No?" he questioned.
"Then follow me." I smiled, getting out of the car.
I walked up to the door and all of my anxiety built up in my chest.
"Wait- will I have to take off my disguise?" Luke asked reffering to his infamous jean hat.
"Probably." I sighed.
"I don't know."
"We can go then."
"No... Let's go, maybe I'm not that noticable." he half smiled.
"What are you here for?" The security gaurd asked.
"Hi Bill, just visiting my step dad."
"Dani! Good to see you. Who's this fella?"
"This is Luke. My boyfriend."
"Does David know?"
"Yes," I chuckled, "They had breakfast together this morning."
"It's his off period, but he should be in his room if not the lounge." Bill stated.
"Thank you!"
"Lose the hat, Luke!" he threw in before we got too far.
I walked with a quick pace, pulling Luke behind me.
"So this is the drama/band hall. I spent my entire Freshman and Sophomore years here. The stage and auditorium is to your left, I performed in an improv show with a group of amazing people that either made it or became burn outs. My band career was over at this point for lack of passion." As the hall ended I caught my breath, "This is the gym and East Atrium OR the jock side. Didn't care to spend much time here." Cutting through the atrium I practically had Luke jogging to each and every classroom that meant something to me.
"What happened here?" he asked as we stepped behind a classroom door and staircase.
"Here is where I found out my high school sweetheart cheated on me with a girl I completely hated. I knew it was over here, but I didn't let go for another 6 or so months."
As we finished the inside I took him back out the West Atrium, "And this is the west. For all the outcasts of any kind. All spring flings were held here, opposed to Homecomings and winterfests in the east."
We exited and I could breathe again as I walked towards the football field. "And here, I spent endless hours of scrimmage games, off periods, and even got asked to a homecoming here. Now I think you've seen it all." I sighed, letting it all sink in.
"I love y- it."
"What?"
"I love it."
"You love me?"
"I love you." Luke smiled.
"I love you too."

Notes