Where We Are

Chapter Two

As Sasha pulled up to her drive she realised it was the last place she wanted to be. Her boyfriend Aiden's Mercedes was already parked in front of their garage, and that had only reminded her of the fight they had just the night before.

Flashback to the previous night

Sasha walked upto the big red door of the house she shared with her longterm boyfriend Aiden. They had met three years previously through one of Sasha's childhood friends Sophia, on a double-date both parties were forced to attend. Even though both were reluctant to go, they ended up having a great time, discovering they shared similar interests. Aiden was five years older than Sasha, but Sasha had never cared, since her mother and father had always told her to love without worrying for a person's age or gender. 

She entered the house she had come to call home, to the smell of her favourite dinner, parmesan chicken. Aiden had obviously gone to her favourite restaurant, The Nice Guy, and gotten takeout. Smiling at the sweet gesture, Sasha made her way to the kitchen, hanging her coat on the bottom of the stairs on her way. As she walked into the kitchen, instead of being met with Aiden, she was met with a trail of rose petals leading out to their patio. Intrigued, Sasha followed the petals until she was greeted to a table set for two, with her beloved parmesan chicken and a bemused Aiden, grinning ear to ear. 

"What is all this?" Questioned Sasha.

"What do you mean?" Aiden replied nonchalantly.

"All of this, the rose petals, the candles, my favourite dinner. Did I forget an anniversary or something?" Sasha conjectured.

"No you didn't forget anything. I just wanted us to have a nice dinner. Now sit, wouldn't want my lovely cooking to go cold." Aiden responded with a cheeky wink. Both of them knowing what he'd said was a lie.

They talked, they laughed. Well, he talked, she laughed. Aiden had always liked the flow of conversation to revolve around himself, but because of all the effort he had put in tonight, Sasha had decided to let it slide. 

As they reached a lull in conversation, Aiden cleared his throat, implying he wanted to say something. 

"Sasha, ever since I met you I knew you were special. By the end of our first date I knew that I loved you, and that I wanted us to be in each other's lives forever. So, with that in mind..." He got out of his seat and kneeled in front of Sasha, revealing a gorgeous diamond ring from inside a small box that he held with both hands. "Sasha Pieterse, will you do me the incredible honour of becoming my wife?"

Sasha froze. 

Sure she cared deeply for Aiden. But, she had never fully convinced herself that she loved him. There was an invariable element of doubt in her mind that maybe he wasn't the one for her. Sasha always thought that love isn't something you force upon yourself, that it is something that happens naturally when you look into your partner's eyes; and at this moment all she saw in Aiden's eyes was hope, slowly diminishing with every second that she allowed to pass.

"Sash?"

"I need time to think Aiden." A flash of hurt wiped across his face, but as soon as it appeared it was replaced with anger.

"What do you mean 'I need time to think'? Think about what? If you love me? If you want to marry me? If you even want to be with me anymore?" He snapped.

Sasha was taken aback.

"I don't know, this is all so sudden." She said timidly.

"Sudden. We've been together for three years Sash. We live together. What did you think was going to happen?" Aiden said this time with a softer tone of voice.

"I don't know." Sasha knew she needed to leave the situation so she walked back to kitchen, with Aiden calling after her. She picked up her coat that was left hanging on the bottom of the stairs and grabbed her car keys.

"Where are you going?" Aiden uttered, knowing he wouldn't like the answer.

"Out."

"Why?"

"Because, I NEED TIME TO THINK!" Sasha shouted, probably in a harsher tone than meant, but by the time she thought to apologise, she was already halfway down their street in her Range Rover.

Flashback Over

Sasha got out of her car, which had also acted as her bed last night, and anxiously shuffled towards her front door. She took a deep breath for composure, and walked into the house.

"Aiden? Hello? Aiden?" Sasha was confused as to why there was no answer, when Aiden's car was parked in the driveway. She continued to the kitchen, where she found a note and a small box on the side of the counter.

Sasha

I know I didn't show it last night, but I understand why you might feel like I'm rushing into marriage. It's only fair that you asked for time to decide if this is what you want, and even though this isn't how I expected things to go, I'd rather you make the right decision than a rash decision. I've decided to visit my brother in New York for a couple of weeks while you make up your mind about us. I took a taxi to the airport, so my car is still in the drive. I think we will both benefit from this little bit of space. I've also left you the ring. If you're wearing it when I return i'll know we're going to be okay, and if not, well, I don't need to say it. I just hope you know that I love you, and i really hope we can work this out.

Forever yours,

Aiden

Sasha didn't know quite how to feel at Aiden's letter. All she knew, was that she felt an extreme sense of relief that he wasn't here when she got home. With all the exhaustion from work, she didn't think she would cope with anymore stress. She opened the ring box and admired the gem within it. It really was a beautiful ring. But, was she the girl to wear it. Sasha wearily took a seat at her kitchen table with a million thoughts running through her head. Though the one coming to the forefront of her mind at that moment was,

"I really wish I'd finished the parmesan chicken."