"So what time are you leaving?" Joey asked as Dani packed the rest of her clothes into the suitcase, pushing down hard on the overstuffed luggage, trying to zip it shut.

    "Around three." She sighed.

    "It's a long drive.  Why don't you just fly to New York."

    "Because I like to drive, and it isn't that long.  Fourteen hours or so." She said still struggling with the zipper.

    "That's long enough Dani." He sighed, pushing her aside and  zipping the suitcase shut.  "So why New York anyway?

    "I already told you all of this Joey, my friend AJ got a part in some off-broadway show, I promised I'd go up and see him."  Dani lifted the heavy suitcase from her bed and walked to set it by the door, Joey following her every step.

    "Where's Brian?"  he asked quietly.

    "At work."

    "You're not gonna wait for him to come home?"

    "No, we decided it would be easier this way."

    "I don't think it makes it any easier."  Joey said snidely.

Dani walked back into her room, ignoring Joey's comment, surveying everything around her, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything.  She was so excited for AJ, he was finally getting what he wanted in life, and when he called to tell her about the part he got, she didn't know who was more excited him or herself.  The pride she felt for him, knowing he was finally doing what he loved, was overwhelming, and after everything he went through, first with Maria, then with Chrissy, AJ deserved for  things to go his way for once.

    "Hey Dan?" Joey yelled, snapping her back to reality.  She glanced at her watch, it was almost time to go.

    "Yeah."

    "I think your ride is here."

    "But..." She sputtered as she came out of her room.  "I haven't even called the cab yet."

    "Do you really think he'd let you take a cab Dani?"

    "Then who-" She stopped as she peered out the front window, Brian's car sat in the driveway, he was nowhere to be seen.  "I was supposed to meet him at the school."

    "I guess Brian had other plans."

    "Did you know about this?" She asked peering with cynical eyes towards Joey.

    "I didn't know a thing.  I swear."

    "So where is he?  I don't see him in the car.  Did he come in?"

    "No, I just looked outside and the car was there.  Maybe he just dropped it off so you wouldn't have to take a cab?" Joey proposed.

    "How could he do that?  He had class all day, that's the whole reason I was meeting him at the school in the first place."

    "Dani, I don't know.  Why don't you stop asking questions and just go see if he's waiting in the car."

    "I just told you he isn't in the car!" She whined.

    "Go anyway." He commanded, pushing her towards the door.

    "Fine." She conceeded, giving Joey a quick hug before going to the door.  "I'll see you in a week."

    "Have a safe trip."

    "We will."

    "Hey!" He yelled before she could leave.  "Have I told you lately?" A big smug grin on his face.

    "No, not in the last week or so." Dani replied with a hint of sarcasm, pulling on her coat.

    "It's about time you two got it together!" He stated triumphantly.

    "Yeah, yeah." She said with a roll of her eyes.  "It's been almost four months, are you ever gonna stop the 'I was right and you were wrong' speeches?"

    "Doubt it.  But after I get all the presents you buy for me in New York, maybe I'll think about it."

    "Funny Joey."  Dani said pulling open the door, turning around, coming face to face with Brian, a cheeky grin mirroring the one she was giving from the moment she saw him.

    "I thought you had class." She said setting down the heavy suitcase as they stood in the open doorway, a spring breeze blowing inside, an onslaught of emotion and shivers passing over her.

    "I cut out early." Brian shrugged, still smiling at her with an ever-present grin, deep lines dimpled in at the corners of his mouth.

    "You're the teacher!"

    "Exactly, I have all the power!" He exclaimed.  "Besides, it's spring break, the kids wanted to leave early and frankly I'd rather be with you than twenty hyper teenagers. Are you all packed?"

    "Yeah, just have to put the bags in the car."

    "Here." He said motioning for her to set them down.  "I'll get your stuff, and you carry these." From behind his back Brian unveiled a bouquet of big yellow dandelions, handing them to her with a quick wink of his eye.    Dani was virtually speechless, her breath had caught in her throat, and the ball it was stuck behind threatened to make her cry.

    "Brian, where did you get these?  It's only March, these things don't bloom for at least another month or two."

    "Do you like them?" Brian said with a grin.

    "I love them." She sighed,

    "Do you mean that?"

    "They're the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen." She smiled, as tears began welling in her eyes.  He caught one with his thumb as it trickled from her eye and held his hand on her cheek, leaning in to kiss her softly on the lips.

    "Ready to go?"

    "Definitly." She replied as he picked up her luggage and carried it to the car.  She sat in the passenger seat and smiled, staring down at the bright yellow bouquet she held, Brian stuffing her luggage in the trunk with his own.  Dani's breath was still caught in her throat over the memory.  Over the sentiment.  Over everything dandelions represented to her now.  Changed feelings, changed everything.  I can't believe he remembered that night, she thought, the warmth of happiness spreading through her body.   Dani's gaze fell on something amidst the flowers, something out of place in the bright yellow blanket of dandelions.   With returning tears in her eyes she pulled out  the single daisy he had hidden in the bouquet, all of it's petals gone but one, and what little breath he hadn't already taken away was quickly stolen from her lungs.  She turned with an overwhelmed smile as he got into the car, holding the single-petaled daisy in her hand.  He didn't say a word when he noticed she had found his hidden message, he just gave her a quick smile and leaned over to give her one last kiss before they pulled from the driveway.

    He loves me, she thought to herself with another smile, as she pulled the lone petal from the stem and let it flutter off of her finger and out the window.

Lyrics Taken From:
"I will Survive" Sky
Written by: antoine/james/john acosta
© 1998 EMI