"𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧?"

it was the Monday after prom and Dakota and Shawn were still "sneaking" around.

sure they had told their friends that they had kissed and were taking things slowly but they haven't exactly made their relationship "official".

Dakota hasn't even told her father. She wants to be in an official relationship with Shawn before she tells him.

Dakota was walking out of her math class when Shawn pulled her aside into the nearest janitor's closet.

Shawn closed the door and kissed her. "well hello to you too." Dakota smiled

"so I was thinking." Shawn said. "it's time I take you out on our first date."

Dakota's eyes widened. of course, she wanted to go on a date with Shawn. but she also wanted to tease him.

"you haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend and you're asking me out on a date?" Dakota asked.

she sighed. "look Shawn I don't wanna be one of your two-week girls."

"I don't want that either. I'm just not used to having a girlfriend. the first one I had...well, you know." Dakota nodded. "I know. but you know I would never do that to you."

Shawn sighed. "you're really gonna make me ask aren't you?" Dakota smirked, waiting for Shawn to ask her.

"Jesus." Shawn let out a small chuckle.

"Dakota Turner. would you be my girlfriend?" Dakota smiled. "yes."

she pulled him into a kiss and the bell rang. "I have to get to class." Dakota opened the door and Shawn followed her out.

"wait, about that date. what do you think?" Dakota turned around and looked at Shawn patiently waiting for an answer.

"pick me up at eight," she said then walked to her next class.
__

"he asked you to be his girlfriend?" Topanga asked. Dakota nodded.

she invited Topanga over to help her pick out an outfit for tonight. she needed advice.

"Okay what about this?" she showed Topanga the outfit.

"why not just go with something more casual," Topanga asked. Dakota groaned. "cause I don't know where he's taking me."

"It's Shawn." Topanga had a point. Shawn wasn't a fancy guy. Dakota was alright with that though. Just being with Shawn made her happy.

"you're probably just gonna end up at Chubbies," Topanga said.

Dakota sighed and looked for comfy clothes in her closet.

she grabbed jeans and a baby tee and then threw a black zip-up over it.

"perfect," Topanga said.

a knock came on Dakota's door. "come in." her dad walked into the room.

"what are you getting ready for?" her dad asked. "I have a date tonight," Dakota answered.

"a date?" her dad asked. "with who?"

the doorbell rang. "he's here." she turned to Topanga. "you got this." she walked Dakota out of the room.

"I'm still confused about who you're going on a date with." Johnathan followed the girls.

Dakota stopped at the front door and sighed. She opened it revealing Shawn and Cory standing there. Shawn was holding a bouquet of flowers.

his lips parted while liking her up and down. a smile formed on his lips.

"you look beautiful." Dakota blushed.

"Shawn?" Jonathan is walked over.

Shawn's eyes widened.

"Dad. this is my date." Dakota said.

Johnathan scanned Dakota then Shawn. "Hunter. come here," he said.

"don't be mean," Dakota whispered to her dad.

Shawn walked over away from the group. he was nervous to talk to Dakota's dad.

Shawn waited for Jonathan to start talking. Johnathan finally sighed. "have her back at a decent time."

"what? no interrogating?" Shawn asked. Johnathan shook his head.

"You're a good kid Hunter. I know you'll treat her good." Shawn smiled. knowing Johnathan thought Shawn was good for Dakota made him happy.

"Are you done interrogating my boyfriend?" Dakota asked.

Shawn smirked. Dakota calling him her boyfriend drove him crazy. he loved how it sounded coming out of her mouth.

"I wasn't interrogating him. I was telling him that... I'm glad it's him." Shawn smiled at Johnathan. "thanks, John."

"Are you ready?" Dakota nodded. "you kids have fun. don't get too crazy." Cory laughed.

"what are you? eighty?" Dakota said before walking out the door.

Shawn closed the door. "where are you taking me?" Dakota asked. "you'll see." Shawn intertwined his hand with Dakotas.

Dakota smiled. the feeling of his hand in hers brought warmth to her heart.
__

Shawn and Dakota walked into Chubbies and stood by the front table.

"Chubbies? Topanga said you were gonna bring me here." Dakota laughed. "oh, we're not eating here. we're just grabbing food." Shawn said.

"Oh," Dakota said.

"order for Shawn," he said to the guy at the front. the guy gave Shawn a bag full of boxes.

"Follow me," Shawn said.

Dakota followed him out of Chubbies and across the street. "where are you taking me?" Dakota asked.

"it's a surprise," Shawn said. "I hate surprises," Dakota said. "I know," Shawn smirked.

Dakota groaned. Shawn brought her over to the park across the street. the light poles shined across the park so people could see.

Shawn led Dakota to a spot by the water fountain. there was a blanket down on the ground and a big sign that said:

"RESERVED FOR MY BIG DATE DON'T TOUCH."

Dakota laughed reading the sign. Shawn was such a dork.

"come on, sit." Shawn and Dakota sat down across from each other.

Shawn pulled two boxes out from the bag. "here." he handed Dakota a box. She opened it and saw a burger and fries.

she opened the top bun to make sure there were no pickles. She hates pickles.

"There are no pickles. I made sure. I remember you telling me that pickles make you gag." Shawn said.

Dakota's eyes lit up. "you remembered that?" Shawn nodded. "I remember everything about you."

Dakota felt butterflies in her stomach. how did she hate this man?

"thank you. for this." she pointed to her food. Shawn smiled and nodded.

after Dakota and Shawn ate their food they lay on the blanket looking up at the night sky.

Dakota was laying on Shawn's chest and he was playing with her hair.

"can we just stay like this forever?" Dakota asked. "anything you want babe."

"this night was perfect." Dakota said. "really?" Shawn sat up. "cause it wasn't a lot and I know a girl like you probably wanted something else-"

Dakota cut Shawn off with a kiss. "it was perfect. I don't need anything fancy for it to be perfect. just being with you makes it perfect."

Shawn smiled and kissed Dakota. "I love you."

Dakota was taken aback by surprise. Shawn's face got hot. he thought he did something wrong.

but Dakota just smiled and hugged him. "I love you too."

"I'm sorry I didn't see it before." Dakota said. "all that matters is that you're here now. in my arms." Shawn said.

Dakota and Shawn spent the night looking up at the stars in each other's arms.

it was the perfect night. it was the night Dakota would forever remember.

she's been in the darkness for too long.

Shawn brought her into the daylight.

END OF CHAPTER