Growing up in an a broken home has made 17 year old Elizabeth Scott tough as nails. When she moves to a new school she doesn't expect anything exciting and just wants to get her diploma and go to college to make something of her life. But what happe...
"It's so good to see you again!" I run over and hug Natalia tight. We call, text and facetime, but there's something different about finally being with them. College took up so much of our time that we only saw each other on holidays which were rare occasions. Today all of our families are gathered together. Ryan's, Natalia's and Tristan's.
Speaking of family, my father has been put in for life for what he's done. He sends me letters every now and again, but I can never bring myself to answer them. I just really want to move on from what happened and leave the past in the past. It's still hard, though. Every time I pass the center of town I remember what happened.
"You too, Liz!" She squeezes me just as tight and Ryan and Tristan hug each other as well. Yes. The two couples are still together. I couldn't be happier for Ryan and Natalia. They went to universities not far from each other, so they could see each other often. They were happy throughout college.
The boys come over to us and Tristan puts his arm around me and I smile up at him. We are together as well, but it wasn't always smooth sailing for us. After the first two years of college we started having problems. Not seeing each other on a regular basis really took a toll on our relationship. Along with our rigorous schedules we barely had time to talk to each other and when we did it was limited so we decided to take a break for a while. Almost a year, and that year I was heartbroken. But then one day out of nowhere he showed up at my dorm room one day and pleaded with me to be together again and of course I said yes. As much as I wanted to wear him out, I missed him as much as he missed me.
Tristan squeezes my shoulder and whispers, "Take a walk with me." I give him a weird look but follow him anyways. He leads me into the woods behind the Anderson's house and I'm getting more curious by the second. He hasn't said anything, but he looks nervous which is making me antsy. He finally stops and turns to face me with a serious look in his eyes. "Elizabeth, the first time I saw you in psychology class 6 years ago I had no idea that my world was going to be turned upside down." I cover my mouth, tears forming in my eyes. "You were, and are the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. You had that sassy mouth that I couldn't get enough of, and were wise beyond your years." He gets down on one knee and all of a sudden everything becomes very real. "I know we're still young, but I want to let the world know you're mine. I love you so damn much Elizabeth." He takes a black box out of his pocket and opens it up. I gasp. Inside is a beautiful diamond ring.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I look down at him with tears flowing out of my eyes. "Elizabeth Taylor Scott, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?" he asks.
I freeze up. Say something you idiot! I shout at myself. "Y-yes. Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" Tristan is up on his feet in milliseconds and I'm in his arms, kissing him as if it's the last time I will. We part and he puts the ring on my finger and I admire it. I go back in for another kiss. "I love you" I utter.
"I love you more." he whispers back before I suddenly hear cheers coming from the trees. Everyone begins to come out of hiding with huge smiles on their faces and comes running over. All the women come over to me demanding to see the ring while the men go over to Tristan congratulating him.
The rest of the night was magical and I couldn't stop looking at the ring or the man who gave it to me. I feel so blessed. Who knew the boy that annoyed me to no end all those years ago would now be the one to make me the happiest girl alive? Not only am I going to be marrying my first love, but also the man who has given me everything back and more than I could have ever asked for. I don't need a crystal ball to tell me if our future is bright. I can already see it glowing in the distance.
___________________________
Tristan
"Dude it's been forever!" Ryan exclaims patting my back.
"I know. Things have been crazy." I look over at Elizabeth and I'm more than grateful that we're still together even after we split for a while. Even when we were on the break all I could think about was her. No other girl caught my attention and I was a moping mess most of the time when I wasn't studying or training. I couldn't take it anymore, and I decided it didn't matter if we didn't talk all the time. We're both busy and I could deal with that. What I couldn't deal with is that she is technically single out at university, possibly being swept up by some other guy. I begged her to take me back. Not one of my proudest moments, but I was desperate. I couldn't function correctly without her and thankfully she felt the same.
"You ready?" Ryan asks me pulling me from my thoughts.
I take a deep breath and touched my coat pocket feeling the box that lays inside. I've planned this engagement out and I couldn't be more nervous. I thought asking her to date me was nerve wracking, but this is a whole other ball game. Marriage is permanent in my mind, and a big step to take for a couple so young, but our break a few years ago had made me realize that I need her in my life. I need her to be mine.
"Yeah." I say and we walk over to the girls who are reuniting. I wrap my arm around Elizabeth and say, "Take a walk with me." She complies, but not without one of her signature confused looks. I grin slightly, the only thing suppressing it is the lump of nerves getting bigger and bigger in my gut as we get closer. When we get there I stop. I face her and take in her perfection. The beauty that took away my breath all those years ago.
I had no idea what I was going to say. I had thought about it a lot, wracking my brain for ideas on what to say in this moment, but nothing came. But now that the time has come, everything came pouring out. In this moment, I know exactly what to say. I never break eye contact with her as I tell her how much I mean to her. I see tears in her eyes, but that doesn't stop me from going down in my knee and taking out the box with the ring that Natalia and my mother had helped me pick out. It's beautiful and simple, just like my girl. I take a deep breath before asking the big question. "Elizabeth Taylor Scott, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?" She looks at me with wide, teary eyes and I hold my breath.
The silence is killing me until she stutters out a yes and I'm on my feet as fast as I can and kiss her with all I have. I feel on top of the world right now. I break away just long enough to put the ring on her finger before she kisses me again. " I love you." she whispers and I swear I will never tire of hearing those words.
"I love you more." I say back before everyone starts to come out from their hiding places. The girls run over to Elizabeth and the guys come over to me.
"I'm proud of you, son." My dad says and I smile.
I couldn't keep the stupid grin off my face for the next few hours. I love the look of my ring on her finger. She's all mine now. For real. Forever.
