"I love you too, Dominic."
God...he couldn't get enough of hearing that, even after all of these years. Standing at Crystal's doorstep, ready for a night out with friends...Dominic couldn't help but picture her as some sort of angel in his presence, an angel there to make everything bright for him. He took her arm and led her down the driveway to his car, the night sky lit up by the moon and the many stars in its company.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?"
She sighed softly, looking over to him with a smile that he couldn't help but return tenfold. She'd matured so much since they were younger...the both of them had. At 19 years old, the two had gone through life together since childhood alongside their friends, and they'd done so hand-in-hand for the most part.
Everyone had always known Dominic had a thing for Crystal back then, but no one knew that they'd still be together now. It was, in a way, one of life's pleasant surprises.
Little did either know, however, of the impending 'surprise' that life would throw at them that night...and how 'unpleasant' it would truly be. Opening the door for Crystal, making his way around to his own...there was simply no way that Dominic could have predicted the crash to come in the late hours of that night.
The key was turned and the car doors shut, and it was here that the prelude to an unknown future kicked on over the radio.
"Take a look at me, I'm yesterday's hero...yesterday's hero, that's all I be."
Bay City Rollers, "Yesterday's Hero".
"Crystal, do you want me to be yesterday's hero?"
Laughter was of course to be had by the two, as Dominic pulled the car out of the driveway and they began their drive down the road. Crystal shook her head, lightly slapping Dominic on the arm and giving him an amused glance.
"You're corny, you know that?"
"Corny, but obviously funny enough to make you laugh."
"That's because you're so stupid it's funny."
"Hey! I'm not stupid."
Their friends often made jokes about how the two never seemed to grow out of their 'arguing stage'...it was as though that was what they were destined to do: bicker like a married couple. "Maybe when they do marry, they'll stop arguing" is what Chris often joked...and to be honest, that very well could have been the case.
"But hey, why would you want to be yesterday's hero anyway? Why not just a hero?"
"Don't look too much into it honey, it was just a 'corny' joke of mine."
"I know, but still. Work with me here."
"Okay then...why not just be a hero when I could be your hero?"
"But you'll always be my hero!"
"Now who's the corny one?"
Yet despite how obvious it was that the two were merely 'clowning around', there was still the obvious fact that a part of what they said was serious. Crystal truly did look to Dominic as though he were her hero and, in her eyes, she believed he always would be one.
The traffic light ahead of them turned yellow, bringing Dominic to slow the car down to a stop just as the light then turned red. There was a brief moment of silence between the two, Crystal humming the tune to the song as Dominic drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. However, when the song hit it's chorus once again...the silence was broken.
"So...could you make a promise to me?"
"Sure thing, what is it?"
"That you'll always be a hero?"
Silence, then laughter.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me...come on Crystal, I've said some corny things before but..."
"Come on, work with me here already!"
"Alright! Alright..."
The light turned green and the brake was lifted, as Dominic turned his attention back to the road and flashed a brief smile towards Crystal, chuckling lightly at the scenario he was being put into.