lol I'm crying as I write this
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The Finale Part 3/3
Aria
From the minute I stepped off stage, I felt exhilarated. My face was flushed and my heart was pounding. I knew immediately that performing was for me. Something just sparked inside of me.
I haven't been this happy or excited in ages. I could barely keep still when I took my seat back in the theater. And then it didn't stop there. When our sound team one twice, I was ecstatic. And then I won for best editing and it was one of the most memorable moments of my life, following of course Queen's performance from earlier. I nearly shit myself as I walked up on stage to accept my Oscar. My Oscar.
And then of course when Rami won? I cried. An actual tear streamed down my face. He deserves this so much and his speech was beautiful. Not even because ehe mentioned me in it, but because he mentioned Lucy and he choked up a little. This was a well deserved gift. So well deserved that as soon as I saw him after the ceremony concluded, I tackled him him so hard I think it finally straightened out his bow tie.
I think we all cried tonight. Ben shed a couple tears and it warmed my heart to see everyone so soft.
"It was a well deserved night," Brian tells me when I see him. I had just come into the Vanity Fair Oscar party after loads of pictures. My cheeks hurt from smiling.
I walk into Brian's outstretched arms and give him a hug, followed by Roger.
"I just wish we won best picture," I tell the two of them. "But quite frankly, I think we've already won,"
I glance over to where I see Ben, Joe, Rami, Allen, Gwilym and Lucy all huddled in a group together, laughing over something. God it's been a crazy ride. But I'm glad these wonderful people were there through it all.
"Are you going to keep in touch with them?" Roger asks me. I peel my eyes away from the group and look back at Rog.
I smile. "Yeah. I don't picture my life without them," I say honestly.
Of course part of me fears that the lot of us will lose contact. It's a rational fear to have. But at the same time I have a gut instinct that it'll be hard for us to drop contact. I mean we talk nearly every day. I don't plan on losing them. Not without a fight anyways.
"Good," Roger laughs. "I like this bunch,"
"They're good kids," Brian agrees.
That they are.
"Did Rufus, Luke and Jimmy leave?" I ask.
"They're somewhere," Brian laughs. "I don't think they left but they're milling about,"
I'll find them eventually. They couldn't have gone far if they didn't leave the building.
Graham and Jim come up to Roger and I. Both of them outstretch their hands to me.
"Aria, it's been an absolute pleasure," Graham tells me. "Everything you were rewarded was well earned. Bohemian Rhapsody became everything we could have imagined and more. It was beautifully done,"
"You did an amazing job. Especially with the whole Bryan issue," Jim says to me, leaning in at the last part.
"That was a nightmare and I have a suspicion it's not over," Graham laughs darkly.
"Thank you," I tell the both of them. "And I sure as hell hope it's over. That whole thing with him and my ex was maddening. I can't go through it again,"
"After I severed ties with him, things seemed to die down," Brian adds. I forgot that that incident happened. Brian felt guilty for days. He sounded like he was crying on the phone when he called me. I felt awful for him really.
"I've just been avoiding any talk about it," I answer honestly.
"It's a smart move during awards season," Graham says. "But I know the fans have a lot of questions. It can't hurt to address it to a degree now,"
"I'll think about it," I tell them. They all smile at me. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to spend a couple of moments with those goons over there before we part ways,"
"Of course," Graham says. "Listen we'll stay in touch. I want to hear all about your future endeavors and everything else,"
"Me too. I'll even offer you a couple of tips," Jim says with a wink, in regards to his management.
I grin. "I'll definitely keep you all in the loop,"
Before I leave I can't help but give all four men a hug. The handshakes were professional, but I would consider us all friends now.
I smile and wave at them all as I walk over to the rest of the Bohemian Rhapsody cast. They all clap when they notice me arriving so I do a little bow.
"We have two winners right here!" Allen exclaims.
"Aria singlehandedly won because of that one scene where we're performing We Are The Champions at Live Aid and the line 'no time for losers' plays, the scene cuts to Ray Foster," Joe says.
I giggle. "It was a nice touch wasn't it?" I ask.
"Oscar worthy," Gwilym says.
"Oooo! We need a picture!" Lucy yells.
I smile as she frantically runs around to find someone to take our group photo. Rami and I stand in the middle with our Oscars, everyone else leaning over to grasp them. The person Lucy asked takes a couple photos, only one winding up being serious.
Rami and I then take a couple, and then Ben and I, and then Lucy and I. I already took some with Brian and Roger before, as well as Graham and Jim. Even Mike Myers was in a couple. We got the whole crew in on it. I can't wait to look back on these.
"Do you want to go to the rooftop?" Lucy asks the lot of us. "I heard the view is amazing," she beams.
We all agree and slowly make our way to the stairs which leads us to the roof. It looks setup, but I'm surprised to see no one up here. But Lucy was right. The view is beautiful. You can see all of California from up here it looks like.
"This is amazing," I say. I walk along the perimeter to take it all in, setting my Oscar down next to Rami's on one of the tables. Ben follows me and we both come to a halt when I find a spot I'm fixated on.
"How'd Lucy know this was up here?" I ask Ben.
"I think she went exploring with Rami when Joe and I went out," Ben replies.
"Where'd you go?"
"7/11,"
I laugh. "Are you serious?
"I'm so serious," Ben tells me. Only him and Joe would go to 7/11 immediately after the Oscars.
We stand looking out for a couple of minutes. Everyone else stands kind of off to the side, admiring from a different view point.
"You know," Ben says. "I was scared of you when we first met,"
I roll my eyes. "Oh hush," I tell him with a laugh.
"But I've learned you're not scary at all. You're incredibly talented and humble, and you make me feel like the happiest person on Earth,"
"That's cute," I tell Ben. My cheeks flush as I turn to face him. "You make me so happy,"
Ben takes both of my hands in his. "You know, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. And I've found that I don't want to date you anymore,"
I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. My heart sinks but Ben continues.
"I don't want to date you because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know we haven't been dating for years and years but you're it for me, Ari. I don't want anyone else but you,"
My heart goes from sinking to flipping when the words come out of Ben's lips. He let's go of my hands and reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out a small box and gets down on one knee in front of me.
My eyes fill with tears. This isn't real. This night isn't real.
"I fell completely and utterly in love with you Aria. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Ben continues. I hold a hand up to my chest as Ben opens the box revealing a beautiful ring. It's got a big diamond int he center, and is surrounded by smaller ones on a silver band. "Will you marry me?"
My mind goes a mile a minute. I notice everyone else staring at us, some of them filming. I'm so overwhelmed with everything that I can barely speak.
"Yes," I breathe. "I'll marry you,"
Ben grins and stands up as everyone else cheers and runs over to us. Ben slips the ring on my ring finger on my left hand and then kisses me. It's not a long kiss, but it's the most passionate we've had.
For the first time in ages, I'm crying real tears of joy. Everyone else hugs me and suddenly there's no one else in this world except me and these wonderful humans in front of me.
"Did you know?" I ask them, dabbing my eyes with my fingers.
Everyone nods.
"I was with Ben when he bought the ring," Joe says.
"I got your ring size," Lucy tells me. So that's why she wanted to borrow one of my rings.
"It's our relationship too," Rami tells me. "We've been there from the beginning,"
I smile. "Good. And you'll continue to be there," I sniffle. I lean into Ben, who wraps an arms around my waist. He kisses my temple.
"We'll always be here," Allen tells me.
"You can't get rid of us," Gwilym says.
My heart swells. This group right here is everything to me. They're my best friends and I know we'll keep in contact. Gwil's right. I can't get rid of them.
I glance at the man in the white jacket next to me. He smiles and kisses my forehead. His eyes also water slightly like he had gotten emotional.
Not only did I find my best friends, but I found the love of my life.