It’s 1984, At a small restaurant, the warm hum of quiet conversations and the clinking of silverware filled the air. Daniel sat across from his mom, their dinner nearly finished as they talked about how things had been going since the move. It had been a whirlwind—new places, new people, and a few… less-than-pleasant encounters. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, his mom asked:

“So… is there anyone special?”

His heart skipped, his mind immediately landing on you.

You were one of the first people he’d met since arriving in California—one of the only people who was nice to him. And though he hadn’t exactly put a label on it yet, he knew. He liked you. Maybe a crush, maybe something deeper than that.

His smile gave him away before he could even think of a response. It wasn’t just any smile—it was a mix of shyness, amusement, and something undeniably fond. A subtle, knowing grin that tried to suppress a bigger, goofier one but failed. His lips curled just slightly, his eyes softened, The slight smirk and soft expression in his eyes show that he was pleasantly embarrassed—like he’s thinking about someone special, you, and enjoying the moment without fully giving it away..

“They’re cute?”

Lucille asked, her voice gentle, but intrigued.

“No, not cute!—I mean, they’re beyond cute…”

The words tumbled out before he could stop them, A server called for his mom’s attention, reminding her she needed to leave soon. She sighed, offering him a loving smile before squeezing his shoulder.

“Be safe on your ride home, okay? Love you.”

“Love you too, Ma.”

And just like that, she was gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts—and his food.

He poked at his plate, barely paying attention as his mind drifted back to you.

“Smile… they’ve got an excellent smile. They’re really smart… their grades are insane…”

He mumbled to himself, barely noticing the words leaving his lips.

“They’re definitely somethin’ else. They’re sweet… sweet to me, for sure…”

He was on a roll now..