Daniel's POV

Three and a half years later.

“Open your textbooks on page 58; today we're going to be learning about market research.” Daniel tells his class.

Daniel heard his business class groan for the fifth time this week, and he internally scoffed. If they don't like business, why did they pick it?

“Stop your groaning and do what I say,” Daniel told them, a bit irritated.

They whined for a few minutes before actually opening their books.

“Ok, can someone tell me the difference between field research and desk research?” He asked the class.

As usual, no one put their hand up except for Linda.

“Anyone besides Linda?” He asked.

“Just pick me,” Linda replied.

“Go on, Linda.”

“Field research is gathering information straight from the marketplace, while desk research is analysing information that has already been gathered,” she answered.

“Yes, well done.” He wrote it on the whiteboard: “Make sure to know the difference between them as we will be having a test at the end of the chapter.”

That seemed to make everyone shut up and listen for the entire duration of class.

**

Daniel checked the time: 9:27 when he was teaching. He swore, time went by so slowly.

He looked up to see if my students were doing the work he provided for them; fortunately, they were, and for the first time in forever, it was quiet.

Then Daniel hears two students snickering. He pretends to not hear them and pushes my nose further into the book he was reading. He doesn't get paid enough to give a fuck.

“Mr. Larusso, Billy, and David aren't doing their work,” Linda complained.

Linda is one of his best students; she always participates and is a straight A student, but sometimes she can be annoying, and an example of that is right now.

“Really?” Daniel asked in faux shock.

“Yeah, they're using their phones.”

“Shut up, you snitch,” Billy growled.

“Yeah, you're a bitch,” sneered David.

“Hey! That language is not tolerated in my classroom. Billy, David, step outside. I'll deal with you later.”

“Whatever,” they murmur, rolling their eyes.

“Wait first, I need your phones.”

“No fair,” David whined.

“Yeah, no fair,” Billy agreed.

“Hand them over.”

They scoffed, gave him their phones, and went outside, with David slamming the door on his way out.

“Class, continue your work; this will only take a few minutes,” Daniel told them as he made his way out.

And you guessed it, the minute he walked out, chaos erupted in the class.

Daniel shook his head. This was going to be a long day.

**

‘Thank God it was finally lunch.’ thought Daniel. He didn't think he could handle anymore classes with his bunch.

He walked into the staffroom and saw basically everyone except for my boyfriend. That's weird because he's normally the first one here.

‘Whatever,’ Daniel thought, maybe he had to go with one of his students or something.

He sat down at the table with the guys, and when they saw him, they immediately went quiet.

“Hi guys!” He greeted them.

“Hi,” they murmured back.

“What were you guys talking about?” Daniel asked them.

“Nothing,” Dutch says at the same time that Bobby blurts out “Deceleration of Independence”, making the others cringe.

“What? You're talking about nothing and the Declaration of Independence? That doesn't even make sense.”

“Really? I didn't know that,” Tommy answered sarcastically, shaking his head.

“What's up with you guys?” Daniel asked.

“Nothing; nothing's up,” Jimmy responded, laughing nervously.

“I'm going to go.”

Daniel made my way towards the girls; maybe they could tell him what was going on.

“Hi”

“Oh, hi Daniel, how have you been?” Ali asked me.

“I've been good,” He replied.

There was an awkward silence for a bit until Daniel decided to speak up.

“Um, do you guys know what's wrong with the guys? They're acting weird.”

“Yeah,” Amanda starts. “It's because-” she goes to say, but Jessica puts a hand over her mouth.

“It's because they're high.”

"Oh really?" Daniel questioned, “They don't seem high.”

“Well, they are, so just ignore them.”

“Um ok”

Daniel sat down at the table and asked, “Another question.”

“Yeah?” Jessica says, waiting for him to continue, her hand still covering Amanda's mouth.

“Where's Johnny? I mean, he's normally the first one here, but he's nowhere to be found. I saw him this morning, so I assume he's still in the school, but I can't find him.”

“I don't know where he is sorry,” Jessica stated.

“Yeah, same; I'm sure he'll pop up somewhere,” Ali said, Amanda nodding her head in agreement.

“Yeah, I'm sure you're right.”

**

It was finally the end of the day, and Daniel was so happy to leave the school, especially because today was his and Johnny's four-year anniversary.

Daniel let his class go out early, so when the bell rang, he made his way towards Johnny's last class. Daniel had to step out of the way as his students were practically running out of the door, but once they were gone, Daniel walked into the classroom.

“Hi,” Daniel cooed, smirking.

“Hey sunshine,” Johnny says, and even after all these years, that nickname still managed to make me swoon.

“Are you ready for our date?” Daniel asks him.

“Yeah, I am,” he says in a soothing voice that gave me chills.

“Let's go,” Daniel beams, taking Johnny by the arm and pulling him towards the exit.

He laughs, “Wait, I need to get something. I'll be a few minutes.”

Daniel was confused, but he nodded nonetheless.

“Ok, I'll be outside.”

A couple of minutes later, Johnny comes out of the school. Daniel tried to see if he had something in his hands or if there was a bump in his pocket, but to his shock, Daniel couldn't see anything.

I shook my head. "Whatever, it's probably not important anyway," I thought.

“Shall we go, sunshine?”

Daniel put his arm through his. “Yes, let's go.”

**

Johnny drove them to Golf n' Stuff first; we got out of the car, and Daniel dragged him to the rides section.

“Let's go on this one,” Daniel would say, and of course Johnny would agree.

He wouldn't admit it, but he was terrified of heights and would scream every time they skyrocketed down.

“You know you don't have to go on the roller coasters?” Daniel told him.

“I know, but I want to ride with you,” he clarified, and Daniel was absolutely smitten.

How'd he become the luckiest man in the world, huh? Thank the heavens for giving him such a great guy that I can call mine and only mine.

Daniel knows what you're thinking. I know our first encounter was, um, quite interesting, but he wouldn't change it for the world if it meant he got the man of his dreams in the end.

Johnny shook Daniel out of my thoughts. “Um, sunshine, are you alright? Did I break you?”

Daniel gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “No, I was just thinking.”

He smirked. “Thinking, huh? Thinking about what?”

Daniel began to blush, and he covered his face in embarrassment. “I was just thinking about all the stuff we can do here.”

“Yeah? Not about us?” Johnny asked, pulling Daniel's hands away from his face.

“Shut up,” Daniel spluttered, smiling.

Then Johnny gave Daniel one of those really precious looks, and he burst, “I was just thinking about us and, y'know, the future and stuff.”

“The future and stuff?*

“Yeah, like where we're going to end up in like five years.”

“Oh, I see,” Johnny said, hands to his chin in a thinking motion.

“Stop making fun of me!” Daniel practically yelled.

“I'm not; chill out, sunshine,” Johnny reassured him.

“Right. Let's go play mini-golf.”

They went over to the mini-golf section and picked their clubs, with Johnny going out of his way to get Daniel the tiniest club ever. Daniel doesn't get what his deal is; they were basically the same height. Johnny was at least two inches taller, and he makes fun of Daniel for it all the time.

They played a couple of rounds, and it ended in a tie. Daniel was not going to lie. He might have cheated maybe once or twice, but it was only because Johnny was so much better at golf than him, which is so weird because a few months ago I was beating him every day. Did he take private golf lessons or something?

“How are you so good at this?” Daniel asked.

“A magician never reveals their secrets.”

“That doesn't even make sense,” Daniel grumbled.

Johnny shakes his head and chuckles while rolling his eyes and scoffing.

They make their way to the photo booth, and like our first “date,” Daniel sits on Johnny's lap. Obviously, it was not as awkward as it was all those years ago, but it was still cute.

In the first picture, they settled on simple smiles; in the second picture, they made their best silly faces; in the third picture, they made a love heart with their fingers; and the last one was of them kissing.

When they got the pictures, they laughed. Daniel gave them to Johnny, and he gave Daniel a confused look.

“I got the pictures last year for our anniversary; it's only fair that you get them this year.”

He gave me a hug and smiled.

“You're the best, y'know that?”

“How can I be the best when you're right here?” Daniel asked, making Johnny laugh again.

“Should we go to the diner now?”

“Of course”

They got back in Johnny's car and sped off.

**

When they reached the diner, Johnny immediately got out of the car and leaped over the other side to open my door.

“Such a gentleman,” Daniel purred. “I'm flattered”

“Only the best for you.”

They entered the diner, and they were seated.

A few minutes later, a waitress came up to them.

“Do you guys know what you want to order?” She asks.

“Yeah, I'll have mac and cheese,” Daniel tells her.

“And I'll have some chips and a hamburger,” Johnny answers.

“Perfect, coming right up,” she states, walking away.

“You always order the same thing,” Daniel says to Johnny.

“Yeah? Because it's good.” 

Daneil rolled his eyes. He guesses Johnny was right.

It takes about twenty-five minutes for their food to come out, and of course it was delicious. They made small talk about their students and school in general, and it was all in all a great time.

Johnny paid for the check as usual, and when they reached the end of their date, Daniel tried to walk to the car, but he was stopped by Johnny.

“There's a beach nearby. Do you want to take a stroll for a few minutes?” he asked Daniel.

“I would love to.”

They went to the beach, Johnny and Daniel hand in hand walking alongside each other.

“I love you so much, you know that, right?” Johnny said.

“Of course I do, and I love you so much too.”

Daniel could feel Johnny looking at him. Daniel turned his face so he could look Johnny in the eye, but Johnny looked away, his eyes focused on the ocean.

“I don't think you know what I mean,” he mumbled.

Daniel was super confused. What was he talking about?

“I don't; can you explain it to me?” Daniel asked him.

“I mean, I threatened you before I had the chance to really get to know you, but I always knew that you would hold a special place in my heart, and of course I was right, Daniel. You have no idea of the effect you have on me; you keep me smiling on days I think it's impossible to and warm on my cold ones. Hell, you even helped me pay for my mom's chemotherapy when she had cancer. You've changed me emotionally and sexually, and the years we've spent together have only strengthened my feelings for you, and I-I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Johnny rambled, tears in his eyes.

“Johnny…”

“Daniel Victor Larusso, I know we've had our ups and downs, but I know I can get through anything with you by my side. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my husband?” Johnny smiles, crying down on one knee with a ring in his hand.

Daniel was crying now too, and he chuckled a little at the call back from the time Johnny asked him to be his boyfriend.

“How did you even afford the ring?” I asked him.

“I saved up, and I'm getting a new job, but that's not important right now.”

“Of course I'll marry you, Johnny,” Daniel tells him, and Johnny slides the ring on his finger. Johnny gets up and pulls Daniel into a hug, lifting him so his feet are off the ground.

Johnny puts Daniel down and gives him a kiss. Daniel could never get used to the feeling of Johnny’s warm, soft lips on his. Johnny bit his lower lip. Daniel gasped and could feel Johnny smile as he slid his tongue into Daniel's mouth.

They pulled away, smiling and crying, Daniel's head on Johnny's chest, just listening to his heartbeat.

“I can't wait to call you my husband, “Daniel Lawrence.” It's got a nice ring to it.”

“How do you know that I won't keep my last name?” Daniel retorted.

“Because Johnny Larusso doesn't sound as good as Daniel Lawrence, and you know it.”

Daneil finally knew what was going to happen to him in five years. He was going to be living his best life doing the job he loves alongside the man he loves and maybe having kids? Scratch that definitely having kids.

Daniel rolled his eyes and laughed, pulling Johnny towards the car. “Come on, we have a wedding to plan.”
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Author's Note!