I SWEAR (continued)
Page 3

Chapter 8

Dan opened the studio door for me and we stepped outside into the dark night.

"Do you feel that?" I asked, stretching out my hand.

"Oh no! Rain!" Dan cried. Just then we heard thunder boom ominously. We both paused, realizing a storm was approaching. Dan grabbed my wrist, "its just drizzling now, maybe if we run fast enough we can make it home before it starts to pour."

Dan took off, running down the sidewalk and pulling me behind him. We made it a block before the rain intensified into a full on downpour. My hair was soaked and my drenched clothes clung to my body. Dan kept pulling me on, running at full speed for home.

"You’re crazy!" I exclaimed, raindrops dripping down my face. Dan just laughed and kept running.

"C’mon, we’re almost there!" he shouted.

We finally stopped in front of our houses. Soaking wet, we stood there trying to catch our breath. Dan took both of my hands and gazed intently into my eyes. Neither of us breathed a word but I knew exactly what he was thinking.

Dan swept his hand gently across my cheek and leaned in towards me. Our lips met and we shared an intense, lingering kiss. I felt as if the world was spinning around me, but Dan and I were in slow motion. Rain was pouring down on us but we were unaware of everything but eachother.

Dan held me in his arms, "I love you Aleyna" he said gently, as if the words would break me.

"I love you too," I replied softly. The words echoed in my mind. I realized I was falling in love with Danny, and an uncomfortable knot formed in my stomach. Dan didn’t seem to notice the tears welling up in my eyes.

"Good night babe" Dan whispered sweetly.

"Good night" I replied. I walked into the house, confused about my feelings for Danny. My heart felt torn in half. Part of me loved Danny and knew that being with him felt right, but another part of me was scared of starting another relationship so soon.

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Chapter 9

The next morning, we were backstage at the venue, almost ready to perform. I could hear the crowd roaring and I felt the knot in my stomach tighten.

"Nervous babe?" Dan guessed. "C’mere!" he gave me a soothing shoulder rub, "don’t worry, you’re gonna do great, trust me!"

I wasn’t nervous about performing, I was worried about my relationship with Dan. Everything was moving so fast and I didn’t know how I felt anymore.

"Five minutes until show time, everyone take their places!" the manager called.

Dan and I wished each other good luck, then walked off to our separate sides of the stage.

As soon as the music started and I ran out on stage, the butterflies in my stomach went away. I felt the energy of the lights and the songs, and I danced every routine flawlessly. The show was amazing, it couldn’t have gone better. But as soon as I walked off the stage and saw Dan, my heart felt torn again.

Dan greeted me with a huge hug, lifting me up off my feet into his arms. "You were amazing Leyna."

"You too, I’m so proud of you Danny!" I smiled at him halfheartedly. He didn’t seem to notice anything was wrong.

"C’mon, the van is leaving," he urged. We walked outside and got into the van. I was silent the entire way home, thinking about my relationship with Danny. He had only come back into my life a few days ago, and I was already falling in love with him. My feelings for him scared me, I was afraid of being hurt again. It was all so sudden and I didn’t know how to deal with the emotions I was feeling. I stared out the window, blinking back tears.

When we got back to our houses, Dan helped me out of the car, "can we talk?" he asked.

"Sure," I said, relieved. I led Dan up to my front porch and we sat down on the wicker porch swing.

"Aleyna, listen. I’ve got great news. The dancer you were filling in for has mono, and she’s not going to be able to come back in time for our tour. We leave for New York tomorrow morning, and we’re gonna be on the road all summer. I want you to become a permanent dancer, and come with us on our tour. But even more important than that," Dan took both my hands in his, "Aleyna, I want you to be my girlfriend."

Dan gazed into my eyes, searching them for a reply. "I can’t Danny, I’m sorry," I managed, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"What do you mean you can’t?" Dan asked, confused.

"I can’t go on tour with you….and I can’t be your girlfriend either," I said softly. It broke my heart to say those words, I wanted so badly to say yes. I just couldn’t, I was too scared that Dan would break my heart the way that Jim had.

Dan questioned me with his eyes, and it was too much for me to handle. I knew if I stayed there a second longer I wouldn’t be able to leave Dan, so I went in the house crying, leaving Dan on my front porch, broken and confused.

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Chapter 10

 

"Aleyna, you have to get out of bed sometime!" Maria pleaded with me. "C’mon, its can’t be that bad! Just tell me what happened!"

I had spent the entire night crying in bed, my heart broken. It was the next morning and I still hadn’t been able to bring myself to tell Maria what had happened. I lifted my head slowly off the tear drenched pillow and faced my friend.

"It is that bad, you don’t understand. I love him so much, but I’m just so scared to commit to him. He asked me to go on tour with him, to be his girlfriend, and I turned him down. I don’t know why, I’m just afraid of loving him and getting hurt. Its all happening so fast."

"Aww Leyna, do you really think Dan would hurt you?" Maria asked, wiping away the tear that was rolling down my cheek.

"I don’t know, I’m just scared and confused I guess. I don’t know what to do right now." I admitted.

"Well do you love Dan?"

"Yeah, of course I love him."

"Well then just listen to your heart, Leyna, it’ll tell you whats right for you," Maria said gently.

I knew what I had to do.

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Chapter 11

 

I boarded the plane to New York, nervous and anxious. I was still unsure that being with Dan was the right decision for me, and I was worried that he wouldn’t want me back after the way I had treated him. I hadn’t slept much the night before because I was so upset, but I couldn’t fall asleep on the plane, I was too anxious. I finally arrived in New York.

"Ok great, its 6PM now so if I hurry I can make it to the guys show at 8" I thought to myself as I walked through the airport. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw a familiar figure on line to board a plane.

"Dan?!?" I called, running over to meet him.

"Aleyna!" Dan cried, shocked to see me, "what are you doing here?"

"I made the wrong decision Danny, I was scared and everything was moving so quickly…" I said hurriedly, "but I know what I want now. I want to be with you, I want you to be my boyfriend. I love you Danny. I flew up from Orlando to see you and now I’m here! But what are you doing here?"

Dan laughed, "I couldn’t stand to be apart from you Leyna. Our plane arrived here this morning and all I could think about was you. I told the guys I had to miss the show, and they understood. I was just about to board a plane back to Orlando to see you baby, you caught me just in time."

"So wait, let me get this straight," I said, breathless, "I left Orlando for New York to see you and you were just about to leave your show in New York to come to Orlando to see me."

"Yup, you got that right!" Dan smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too Danny." All the doubts I had about starting a relationship with Danny disappeared at that moment. I knew he was the one for me, and the fact that he’d leave his show in New York just to see me confirmed my feelings. "I’m so sorry about the way I acted Danny, its just so soon after my breakup with Jim and I didn’t want my heart to get broken again."

"Its ok baby, I understand." Dan scooped me up in his arms and gave me an intense kiss, and I felt my heart beat excitedly.

"Well c’mon Danny! We’d better get going if you’re gonna get to the show on time!" I giggled. We took a taxi to the venue and got there just in time for the show. We met up with the guys backstage.

"Dan, you’re here!" Jacob cried, surprised, "And Aleyna! Wow, glad you could make it!"

Dan grabbed my hand, "everyone, this is my girlfriend Aleyna," Dan winked at me. The boys exchanged knowing glances, "and even better, she’s going to be joining us on tour this summer as a dancer!"

I kissed Danny on the cheek. "Well I better go change into my dance costume, the show starts in a few minutes. I went off to the dressing room and changed. The other dancers were happy to see me and glad that I would be on tour with them. The five of us watched the guys from backstage as they began their show.

"Hello New York!" Ashley called into the microphone. The crowd of teenage girls roared. The guys introduced themselves and Dan went last.

"Hey there everyone! I’m Dan the man! Before we start our show tonight, I’ve got a little something special I’d like to do. But first, I need to ask a special lady to come out on stage. He walked over to the back of the stage and motioned for me to come out, "Aleyna is one of our dancers, but even more important, she’s my girlfriend. And I’d like to dedicate this song to her."

I felt my heart melt as Dan led me to the center of the stage and sat me down on a tall stool. He held my hand and knelt down in front of me, and the music started. Dan gazed dreamily into my eyes and at that moment, I didn’t just feel that being with him was right, I knew it was right.

Dan sang sweetly to me, "I see the questions in your eyes. I know what’s weighing on your mind. You can be sure I know my part. ‘Cause I stand beside you through the years. You’ll only cry those happy tears. And though I make mistakes, I’ll never break your heart. And I swear, by the moon and the stars in the skies, I’ll be there. And I swear, like the shadow thats by your side, I’ll be there…"

Dan sang "I Swear" to me as tears rolled down my cheeks. He was so sweet and caring, and I knew we were meant to be together. All the doubt I had about our relationship melted away as I stared into Dan’s eyes. He finished the song and the audience cheered loudly. I hopped off the stool and Dan kissed me gently.

"I love you Aleyna," Dan said sincerely.

"I love you too Danny" I held him in my arms, and felt the warmth of his body against mine. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, and it seemed like our bodies fit together perfectly. Dan wrapped his arms around me and I knew he’d never let me go.

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