You're caught between a dream and a movie scene

 "Why do you always get the pretty ones?" Deano remembered his brother asking. Of course, he didn't exactly see it that way. Naturally, he didn't have an answer for him. Not that he had a long history with the female species and it had been a good three years since Mia and even longer since high school with Shelly.

Of course, no one ever believed he was Shelly's boyfriend. She was four years older and everyone said she looked like Avril Lavigne, but he'd been her boyfriend since he was a sophomore in high school. He'd put in long hours as practically her assistant and even played bass for her when she thought she could sing on open mic at the local youth center. She was a troubled girl with parents who went their separate ways. She did like drama, but he didn't really mind. He was always there for her and then she graduated, they said their goodbyes and he repaired electric guitars and rebuilt computers in the meantime when he wasn't eating nor sleeping when they broke up.

Later he ended up with Mia who was his best friend's girlfriend's best friend. They ended up living together. It was a nice start, hanging out. Then she totaled her car when she hit a light pole in a fit of anger. Yes, she had some serious anger issues even with a sunny smile. She ended up in Indiana with her father.

Deano transferred to the University after taking college classes. Hopefully, someday he would be in finance. He still repaired electric guitars, but he'd purged all the computer hard drives by now. The guitars stayed at his brother's. 

He wondered now what Drew would think of Caitlin. But he doubted he would see his brother anytime soon and he thought maybe she just needed some time to get through this panic. He didn't want to let himself fall in love with Caitlin. Only it was easy to do. Especially, when she wanted to cuddle at every turn.

At times, he thought he might be living somebody else's life. But he wasn't dreaming. No, he would wake up and she was smiling. He'd smile right back and see how another day went.

He loved her laugh. But she could be so silly and yet he didn't mind. It was the here and now and this was precious time.