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�Constant Change� Chapter 13: Still The One The next morning Dan was standing with his usual crowd when Ashley spotted him. He took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together. This was his chance to make Valerie�s fairy tale come true. Ashley tapped Dan on the shoulder. Dan turned around, realizing who it was, he clenched his fist. �Ashley?� Dan growled. �Chill Dan,� Ashley put his hands up in defeat. �I need to talk to you about Valerie.� Instantly, Dan�s grip loosened and his face melted. Valerie�s name hit him like a ton of bricks. He felt so bad for the way he had treated her. He decided to hear Ashley out. �Okay, let�s talk,� Dan said stepping away from his group. �Dan, I was wrong to pursue Valerie in the way I did. She was so hurt after you told her about the girlfriend though,� Ashley tried to explain. �Yeah, about that,� Dan interrupted him. �I broke up with that girlfriend.� Ashley stepped back a bit. �You what?� �Valerie had been the sweetest girl since I met her. I realized that I needed her in my life,� Dan wouldn�t look Ashley in the eye. �Do you think Valerie would ever be my girlfriend after what I did to her?� Ashley realized why Dan wouldn�t look at him. He had tears in his eyes. �Dan, Valerie still has a place in her heart for you. I think she needs you as much as you need her. Please, do me a favor and make up with her.� Dan looked Ashley straight in the eye. He stood there a few second before giving Ashley a huge hug. �Thanks Ashley. I�m going to go find her.� Ashley watched Dan walk off in search of Valerie. He sighed. He knew what he had done was right but he still felt so bad. He really liked Valerie but was happy that she would finally find happiness. Even if he wasn�t the one to bring it to her. ~*~ Valerie stood at her locker pretending to be busy with her books. She didn�t have anyone to hang out with this morning. She tried to keep herself busy until the bell rang for class to begin. �Valerie!� she heard someone call to her. She turned and saw Dan jogging down the hall to her. A wave of emotions swept over her. She was still hurt by him but she really liked him still. She wondered if Ashley had talked to him yet that morning. She waited for him to come up to her. He took a second to catch his breath before he spoke. Valerie played with a string on the sweatshirt she was wearing. She realized what sweatshirt it was. It was the one Dan had given her. �How appropriate,� she thought bitterly. �Valerie,� Dan said her name again. �Dan,� Valerie replied dryly. �I�m sorry,� Dan offered. �That�s good,� Valerie said. �Because you really hurt me.� �I broke up with Natalie,� Dan told her. �Oh,� Valerie shifted uncomfortably. �So?� �So, I want you to be my girlfriend,� Dan replied. �I realized that I need you in my life. That�s why I told you I had a girlfriend before it went too far.� �You want me to be your girlfriend?� Valerie asked not believing his words. �Yes, I really do,� Dan said reaching for her hands. Valerie placed her hands in Dan�s. He pulled her close to him. �Okay,� Valerie told him. �I will.� Dan hugged her. �Thanks for being so understanding.� �Hey, I forgave Ashley didn�t I?� Valerie laughed. �Dan, you just totally made my day.� �I�m glad,� Dan said. �Because you made my day the moment you walked into this school.� Valerie smiled. She knew that this was what was meant to happen to her. All the emotions both Ashley and Dan had put her through had made this happy ending a reality for her. It was fate the way her life had taken so many turns and ended up on the right course through it all. She wanted to put this moment in a box and keep it with her for all eternity. Valerie stepped back from the hug she was still sharing with Dan. She looked him straight in the eye. His eyes were glowing. He had a goofy smile permanently plastered on his face. �Dan,� Valerie paused not sure how to word the feelings she was going through. �Thank you.� Dan understood exactly what her simple �thank you� meant. �You�re welcome,� he replied. And with two simple phrases that are so commonly used, Dan and Valerie began the happiest day either of them could ever hope to live. The world was perfect. And nothing could break this perfect moment. ~*~
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