This is Tragic Komic and I was listening to it partway throw the chapter. I follow this band because the lead guitarist/backup singer is my honourary brother. He was my brother's high school best friend. He is the one at the beginning of the video with the light blue guitar.
LPOV
"Well, I was thinking even though Patrice and I are both going to Boston for college I wanted her to know how serious I am about her. She is so worried about us not lasting. I overheard her the other day telling Lois that after everything that has happened to me I won't make a long commitment." I look over at Shelly "Ok, Lee what do you have in mind." I could tell that she was overthinking things. "Well, I know we are not ready for the type of commitment that you and Noah have but I was thinking of something a little different. I read somewhere about a promise ring." She smiled at me "you want to get Patrice a promise ring so she knows your serious." "Yes, do you think she will be ok with that?" "Yes, but why not just propose? What makes you think you are not ready?" "Well unlike you and Noah we have not known each other for very long. Plus we have only been dating for a few months. I think it is still too soon for us to be at that stage."
"Ok is there something more?" "Not really. I just know that I have to let her know and accept I love her and have moved past Rachel and all those other girls that used me to get to Noah. I want her to know that she is it for me." She smiled "well let's go get your girl her promise ring. One thing though do you know her ring size." I smirked, "well I kind of let her try on the friendship ring I gave you and it is a perfect fit." She smiled "do you know what you are going to do to ask her to be pre-engaged." "Yep, I am taking her out to eat at Hayashi Steak house with the gang." I watched her snap her head at me "really Lee." "Yes, I want you all there." "Ok. Let's do this."
Once we arrived at the mall I watched Shelly pick up her phone and listened in on her call. "Hey, Lois what are you guys up to today." "Oh, look do me a big favor and try to get Patrice to do something else today. I am at the mall with Lee and he is trying to get a surprise for her and the last thing he needs is for her to ruin the surprise." "Thank your Lois." When she hung up I watched her smirk "Ok, now that is taken care of." "What they were coming here?" "Yep, I thought I heard them mention going shopping." The two of us walked to the jewelry store and started looking at the rings. Shelly giggled "Lee these are engagement rings." "Oh, there is a difference." "Yes, silly. Come here." She led me over to another case with rings. The little place card in front of them read PROMISE RINGS. "OK since you want to prove to Patrice that you love her and as of right now don't see yourself with anyone else but her I suggest these on the left." "What are the ones on the right?" The salesman replies "purity rings. They are a promise a young girl makes to remain pure for her husband."
I nod and sigh "I don't know which one." "Well how about that one with the aquamarine stone." "Cool isn't that her birthstone." "Yep, and with diamonds around the stone it will let her know you didn't just buy her a birthstone ring." "Thanks, Shelly I don't know what I would do without you." "What size do you need sir?" He looks at me "so, what size is your ring?" I chuckle "lucky for you the other day we were all talking about ring size and I typed them into my phone. Patrice and Lois didn't know their sizes so we went and had them sized." "Why on earth?" "You know how our moms are." I watched her pull out her phone and scan down "OK she is a size seven. Good thing my mom started the ring talk because that bestie ring you bought me is a seven and a half." "Oh, I thought it was supposed to slide easily." "Lee, it is supposed to slide on and off easily but slide off the finger so she has to constantly push it back in place." I watch her hold up her hand and show me her engagement ring. "See the ring Noah bought me doesn't move." She shook her finger around and it didn't move much. She then placed to fingers on it and slid it off. "See it stays in place but comes off very easily." The jeweler looked at her ring "would you like me to clean it for you?" We glanced at him "don't worry I will do it right here where you can watch me."
He pulled out his stuff placed the ring on the mat and pulled out his cleaning supplies. He picked it up and started cleaning it and then gasped "I made this ring." We looked at each other "really you made that ring." "Yes, for a nice young man. He said he was asking his childhood sweetheart to marry him. He also told me that finally, his little brother gave him his blessing since she was his best friend." I watched Shelly get a goofy grin on her face. He looked at her and smiled "I take it that would be you." She nodded as he whipped it clean and handed it back to her. She slid the ring on as he said "I am glad you told him yes. I thought he was going to pass out. He kept saying I hope she says yes. Everyone says she will." We chuckled "well I am glad he didn't pass out." "Now listen miss, since it is obvious that your fiancee didn't tell you but I offer a lifetime of cleaning and maintenance on all the rings I sell." "Really, that is so nice."
"Well, I mainly do it since I know there are some scoundrels out there that would replace the diamond in that ring with a fake. I want to make sure that doesn't happen so I offer that service. Now, the maintenance only includes tightening the brackets or replacing them. If you lose the diamond or need it resized I would have to charge you." We both nod "good to know." We walk to the register and once he charges me and hands me back my receipt and the ring he looks at Shelly. "Uhm, Miss. when you and your fiancee decide to start a family once your fingers start bloating I recommend not wearing your rings. I would hate to see that ring be cut if it gets stuck on your finger. Let your fiancee know I can make a cheap knockoff for when that time comes." I laugh "Oh, you will be waiting a while, Sir. My brother and bestie here plan on waiting till she is in her last year of law school so that is seven years from now."
"Well, that is fine. All it proves is that they are getting married because they love each other. As for you young man." I look at him "Yes, Sir." "Don't give your brother a hard time believe me he would never hurt her because not only would he hurt her but you as well. Before you ask how I know well see I married my sister's best friend." We both started laughing as we headed out "now that was awesome." I watched Shelly hold up her ring and flick her hand around "dang it shines just as bright as the day Noah put it on my finger." "Yes, it does. I guess we are coming here once in a while to get it professionally cleaned." "Your better believe it, look how gorgeous Noah's ring looks on my finger." "I can't believe that my bro told that man about how I didn't want you two together." "I know, he must have been really nervous." "What do you mean?" "I have noticed that when Noah is really nervous about stuff he tends to ramble." "Only when it concerns you Shells."
We laughed and ran out to the car and headed straight to the arcade. I reminded Shelly to make sure to text Lois to let her know that it was all clear at the mall so if they wanted they could go shopping they could. Shelly and I made our way to the DDR game and started up with our round and as usual, did our routine. Unfortunately, we did not make the leader board and Shelly glanced at me "what gives Lee?" "Just nervous. When do you think I should plan to ask her." "I would say soon. If you are freaking out this much right now the longer you wait the more anxious you will become and she will get suspicious." "Ok. Oh, if you need to go ahead and tell Noah." "Lee you should tell him he is your brother." "Yeah, but he is not going to want to leave your side since he leaves on Sunday." "True but just tell him you need a few minutes of bro time." "I guess."
"OK, now let's do this right dude." "Fine." We swiped our cards again and this time we kicked some major ass. We danced around and I couldn't help but smile down at my bestie. "Shells do you think we will be able to have bestie day for the rest of our lives." She looked at me cuddling into my arms "well your bro said yes and as of right now since Patrice is your girl and she has said yes I don't see a problem." "Too true. You know Shells I never thought I would find a girl that truly understood that to me you are more like my sister than just a girl. Especially after everything Rachel put me through." "I know Lee." We made our way over to the cafe and ordered our usual and sat down. "Shells are you sure about me living with you guys when we get to Boston." "Yes, I am as a matter of fact the rents are looking into renting us an apartment and making sure to get the whole floor so that everyone going to Boston can stay with us. Plus if there are extra apartments they can stay in them. The other option they are looking at is renting us a house." "Yeah, but I really don't need to hear you and my bro being gross." I watched her laugh "Lee calm down you forgot that my mom and yours made our dad's promise to soundproof all bedrooms."
I sighed "good because when the time comes for you two to start practicing for a family I so don't want to hear it." I laughed "well right back at ya." I smirked, "well the good thing is by the time you two really get heavy into practicing for your family I should be back here hopefully with a job and married trying to start my own or already well on my way." She laughed "do you know how many you want?" "Nah, but I don't think I am as bad as my bro with the damn football team." I noticed that we were finished and smiled at her "we should go before Noah has a cow." "Yeah, let's go."
Once we made it home my bro grabbed Shelly and pulled her into a kiss that caused me to roll my eyes. Once he came up for breath I looked at him "uhm, Noah can we talk." He glared at me "bro you had my girl with you all day and now you want to talk to me nope." I look at Shelly and she smiled "go it won't be long I swear." He groans "fine, let's go, Lee." I follow him into his room and made sure to close the door behind him. "So, what is going on?" I took a deep breath and pull out the ring "I got this for Patrice." I showed him the ring "I am going to give her this to let her know that someday I will replace it with an engagement ring. I know we are not ready yet for that step but that is what I want in the future." Noah smiled at me and hugged me "congratulations bro. So, how are you going to do it?" "Well I want everyone there because unlike Shelly she doesn't mind a crowd and I want everyone I love and she loves to be there." He smiled at me "go tell mom and Mary they will help you." "Thanks, bro." We fist-bumped and I ran downstairs in search of our moms as Shelly ran to Noah. Damn, I am so happy for them.