"How about we go skating?" My best friend asked, as we discussed ideas for Christmas Eve. 

"Theres a outdoor ice rink in Bentonville square, its a little smaller than where we usually go, but it'll be fun." 

"Thats a great idea! We can get hot chocolate and dress all cute and winter-y!" I gushed, loving the idea of a cute little cliche Christmas Eve. 

My suspicions about him proposing grew as Christmas Eve got closer and closer. He and my family did quite a good job of throwing me off though, pretending they were going to town in the opposite direction, and asking us to pick up milk since it was cheaper where we were going. 

All the way there, I desperately tried to gain details and hints of when he'd propose, but he never gave it away. Although I did miss how nervous he was, and thought nothing of his overreaction to accidentally driving the wrong way, and getting there late. 

Once we arrived, I looked around, thinking maybe I'd catch a glimpse of my family, but to no avail. We skated for a while, before they finally announced that they were closing, and for everyone to exit the rink. I started to skate towards the exit when he grabbed my hand. 

"Wait. Lets go around just a few more times." He told me. 

"But what if we get in trouble?" I asked, worried. 

"It'll be fine." he reassured me, pulling me along. The rink cleared, and soon we were the only ones on the ice. 

"We should really go.." I said, embarrassed we were still out there. People had stopped and were staring, wondering why we weren't leaving. 

Suddenly I caught a glimpse of my mom in the crowd, holding her phone up. I giggled, realizing my suspicions were correct. I then spotted his cousin, hiding behind  a huge Christmas tree with her camera. 

Reality hit me that after everything, this was actually happening. 

"You're catching on, aren't you?" He smiled, pulling me to the middle of the rink. 

"A little bit." I laughed. 

I was shaking as he stopped me and looked into my eyes. 

"You're my best friend you know?" He asked me. 

"Yes." I replied grinning. 

"And I love you so much." He spoke. 

"I love you too." I whispered. 

"I love you so much, I'm about to ruin my knee on this ice. But thats ok. It'll be worth it." He said, slowing going down on one knee. 

It being 60 degrees on Christmas Eve had caused the ice to melt bit, leaving puddles of water all over the rink. He didn't seem to mind though, as he looked up at me and opened the little silver box. 

"Will you marry me?" He smiled. 

"Yes!" I answered, shaking my head. 

The crowd cheered and I hugged him tightly, fighting back tears. My lifelong childhood friend, who had become my best friend, then my boyfriend, was now my fiancé. 

We'd grown up together, him being the boy my parents always teased me I liked when I was little, and joked I'd someday marry. 

He'd been my most loyal friend through my two year illness when I lost my ability to walk, and the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. 

We stayed true to our promise of always being best friends, even after I broke up with him freshman year. He was the only person I knew I could always count on and trust no matter what. 

The one who's family always threw a Christmas party every year and all us kids would go sit outside and talk all night long about middle school and gossip. The one who scared me while we sat there talking and teased that I'd tried to sit in his lap. 

The one who on the 4th of July in 6th grade had spent who knows how long collecting two handfuls of creek snails to dump in my hair in front of my boyfriend at that time. 

He'd always been there. My first real high school boyfriend, who at 14 told me he wanted to marry me someday, resulting in me getting scared and dumping him. My first kiss. The boy who helped me to overcome my extreme anxiety and depression. The boy who helped me get a job and make new friends, and get over my anxiety of driving my car. 

He's done so much for me all of my life, and I can't wait to spend the rest of mine with him.