When we got back from the cemetery, the sun had already set and the sky was filled with a million bright stars. I forgot just how beautiful the stars were. Walking around the grounds of Anthabask, it felt as if the sky was much different; it appeared colder in its inky state and the stars were dim against the blackness. In Minnesota, the sky seemed more midnight blue in color and the stars were bright white specks of light against the calming background. Things just seemed different in Minnesota; maybe it was because everything I loved was here, rooted in one small area of existence.

Seth's van pulled up to the house, just as the Carters were headed out of the front door to catch a late night movie.

"We are going to go see a movie at the Cineplex, you guys in or out?" Tim said, as Miriam loaded her purse, more than likely filled with a ton of snacks, into the front seat. Miriam always took an extremely large purse to the movies, because she hated paying the exorbitant prices they charged for candy and drinks.

"I'm out, I need a shower and then I'm headed to bed," Seth responded, as he brushed his hand against mine, while walking in the direction of the house.

"Yeah, I think after today, I need some downtime." I was emotionally drained from being at the cemetery and all the emotions that had followed. I needed some space from the heartbreak and all the talking that would surely happen if I tagged along and spent the evening eating dinner and seeing a movie with the Carters.

"I'm in!" Kimmy yelped, as she jumped out of the van and headed towards the SUV. She turned around before climbing in and added, "If you're tired of Seth, I've got a stash of chocolates with pistachios in my desk and my DVD collection has expanded. Help yourself!" Kimmy knew my weakness was old black and white horror movies and milk chocolate bars with pistachios. If the world ever ran out of those yummy dark indulgences, then I would would probably shrivel up and waste away. I also hadn't had good chocolate since I left Minnesota.

I stood in the doorway, while I watched the SUV head down the snow lined dirt road, its tires causing the snow to kick up a tad. When I stepped into the house, the faint scent of Miriam's warm apple pie scented candles caused a wave of calm to descend over me. It finally felt like I was home, where I belonged. I heard Seth shuffle up the stairs and then the sound of his bedroom door closing, alerted me that he was going to give me some much needed space. Eventually, he would find his way into Kimmy's room and we would cuddle up and watch an old movie together, but for now, I had some chocolate bar reconnaissance to complete. 

I headed up the stairs, flinging off my blue hoodie and my combat boots, while I searched the drawers of the desk for Kimmy's stash of chocolatey goodness. She was so disorganized! Everything was thrown into the drawers in a haphazard manner and for a second, I cringed at the prospect of having to dig through such a mess.

My fingers prodded to the back of the one drawer and they slid over the plastic surface of something. I found myself grasping onto the hard plastic and pulling it out. My plan was to just place it on the desk and go back to searching for the elusive yumminess that was evading me; however, when my eyes came to rest on the front cover of the object, that was in fact a CD, I froze. Across the front, in graffiti-like font was the name of my band and the title of the debut record we had recorded a little over a month ago.

EXTINCT DINOSAURS WITH TINY HANDS

Sock Puppets of Destruction

The cover art was amazing; it was something beyond my imagination. It was truly a Seth Carter original piece of art. I had been exposed to his graffiti art quite frequently in all the time I had known him and had spent countless hours in his room, which was his own private studio for displaying his craft. However, the piece of art in front of me was beyond anything that I had seen from him before. It was gritty and challenged the viewer to really look beyond the initial piece to see the underlying meaning. 

The picture before me was a beautiful girl with an intricately detailed face and expressive eyes. She was wringing a beating heart in her perfect hands, while she clenched it to her throat, as the tears streamed down her pink cheeks. In the reflection of her eyes, was a scene that consisted of a large T-Rex dinosaur wrestling with a giant sock puppet, as the world around them burned to the ground. It was Seth's version of what he would probably call The Sockcalypse. For a moment, I just looked at her face and wondered if she was grieving for the destruction of the world or the possibility that the dinosaur she was so attached to, could possibly meet his end at the hands of the disastrous sock puppet.

It was a picture perfect scene of internal conflict, paired with external pain. My eyes caught her flame red hair that swept and curled like flames sparking to the sky; scratch that, her hair was the exact flames that were causing the world to burn around her. It was painfully beautiful and I rubbed my thumb over the case, turning it over in my hand and viewing the song titles on the back; songs that I knew by heart.

One song caught my attention though. Sitting at the bottom of the playlist was a single song, labelled as a Bonus Track. It was entitled Simple Questions- Seth Carter Acoustic. My brain begged me to just put the CD back into the drawer, however, the curiosity that my heart was currently filled with demanded that I open the case and slip the CD into the nearby stereo.

My heart won out that round, as I liberated the CD from the case and pressed the button, opening the drawer on the stereo. I placed it gently in the disk slot, keyed in the track number, and sat on the end of Kimmy's bed, waiting for it to begin. My hands found their way into my lap and pressed firmly against one another in anticipation.

Seth's secret would finally be revealed.

The song was slow and unlike anything we had recorded or played before. Our band never did original slow numbers, we found it to be too cheesy and not in line of the nature of our other songs. If we played a slow song at a gig, it was always a cover of something. This however, was an original slow song. You could hear the acoustic guitar begin to strum chords and soon Seth's deep, somewhat raspy, but undeniably sexy voice began to sing.

"Without you, my walls come crashing in

My life is nothing without you within

Without you, all my ships start to sink

I lose the battle, before I can even blink."

It was a love song. Seth didn't write long songs though; except for the Jasmine and Honey song, and that was more of a declaration of our relationship, than a love song. His voice was smooth and I thought back to all of the times he would sing to me and how my heart would race when the words left his lips.

"Just a yes, would turn it all around

Just a yes, would bring the world down

Just a yes, would finally complete my life

Just a yes, and then you could be my wife."

Holy crap on a cracker! It wasn't a love song per say, it was a proposal! A proposal of marriage, by one undeniably sexy rock star, bass god with the magic fingers and the mesmerizing green eyes. It was a proposal of marriage, from the one and only, Seth Brenden Carter.

"Without you, my world falls apart

All of the sadness simply invades my heart

Without you, life never makes any sense

If you were to leave then I'd surely be a mess."    

"Just a yes, and I'd give you my heart

Just a yes, and we'd never be apart

Just a yes, and I'd give you my life.

Just say yes, say yes that you'll be my wife."

I wasn't sure what I was feeling at that moment. Was I happy, confused, or a mixture of both? There was no doubt that I had pictured my life with Seth post high school, sitting in a seedy London bar in between sets, sipping on an ice cold bottle of beer. I had pictured us playing our hearts out on some small poorly lit stage, before packing our gear and heading back to some really overpriced and small flat. I didn't need fancy, as long as I had Seth. All I wanted was a life full of love and music. My brain swirled with all these thoughts as the song began its conclusion.

"Just a yes would complete me

It would turn it all around

Just a yes would bring down the stars

Simple questions, asked from afar

Simple questions, from my heart."

It was the perfect proposal. It was everything that I had ever wanted from someone who loved me. It wasn't a fancy, extravagant dinner with rose petals and nervous declarations of life long love. It was simple from the heart words, written out of desperation; desperate for the need to be tied for a lifetime to the only person they loved. It was 100% Seth Carter, no bullshit, feelings; and it was all for me.

The song ended and I found myself whipping open the door to Kimmy's room and walking barefoot down the hall towards Seth's. I hesitated when I went to knock, opting to just push open the door and face the boy who held my heart in his calloused, yet extremely talented hands. 

The door flung open and standing in the middle of the room, with his bare back to me was Seth. His hair was dripping wet from his shower and he was pulling the waistband of his fitted black sweatpants up his hips. He jumped slightly, from the sound of the door hitting the wall and looked over his shoulder at me and smirked. He turned to face me and his face fell flat when he looked at me. I figured that my expression was unreadable, because frankly, I wasn't entirely sure what I made of the revelation that I had just become privy to.

"Talia? Is something wrong?" he asked, as he made his way over towards me. I put up my hand to halt him and just looked up into those green pools, feeling my heart melt slightly at their gaze.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me, Seth?"

His expression was one of confusion, until he saw the CD case in my hand. I heard him release the breath that he was holding in his lungs, as he went to sit on the edge of his bed. His hand fisted his wavy mohawk, which was still dripping water from its inky black strands.

"Let me explain-" I cut him off, when I stomped over and placed my hand hand up to his lips. His face raised to look into my eyes and I saw pain in his. It was the faint hint of pain, from the thought that maybe he would lose me because of the song.

I cupped his face with my hands and leaned down, my lips only a few inches from his. I could feel his warm, sweet breath on my red lips and for a second I could almost taste his fear.

"Yes, Seth."

His eyes flickered and got wide at those two simple words. He went to open his lips to say something, but instead he leaned in and forcefully pressed them against mine. My mouth parted and he slipped his tongue in and wrapped it around mine. I could feel the drops of water on my forehead as I straddled his lap and just kissed him passionately. When he broke the kiss and pulled away slightly he said, "Are you sure? You weren't meant to hear that till after graduation."

"I've never been surer in my whole life. You're my family, Seth and I love you with everything I am."

He placed me on the bed and got up, rummaging through his desk drawer. He pulled out a small box and walked over to me, getting down on his knees and taking my hand. " I know I gave you a promise ring, so, I didn't plan on doing the whole engagement ring thing. Plus, I know diamond rings aren't your thing, so I got you this." He opened the box and in it was a single eighteen karat white gold earring, with a red garnet and a pavé diamond setting. I didn't wear much jewelry; except my nose ring, Seth's promise ring, a single cheap white stud in my cartilage, and a pair of my mom's small canary yellow studs, which were the two other piercings underneath my helix piercing. 

I pulled out the cheap white stud and placed Seth's garnet and diamond stud in its place. He smiled when he saw it and that smile caused my heart to beat faster than it had ever beaten before. He cupped my face with his strong hands and leaned in to pepper my lips with light kisses. 

"I love you, Picks. You're it for me, always." His kiss was like fire on my lips and I felt myself falling back onto the bed as he laid over me, gently stroking my face with his hand as we kissed passionately. My hands ran up the length of his bare skin, feeling his muscles tense under my fingertips, the feel of his skin sending shivers down my spine. I would never get tired of the way Seth made me feel or the fact that when he kissed me, my heart felt like it was ready to burst out of my chest. I finally knew exactly how my mother felt about Killian, because I couldn't imagine my life without my inked up, heart of gold, rocker boy.

"Seth?" 

"Yeah, babe?" His eyes were a piercing green and I could see the wave of desire in them. I knew that at that moment, if I wanted to hand in my V-card for processing, it wouldn't be denied. But, did I want that? In the back of my mind, I always knew that Seth would be the guy who I'd give my virginity to, but I never imagined that it would possibly happen after accepting his proposal or quickly before his parents came home.

"When do you think your parents will be home?"

"Probably a few hours." He stared into my eyes and I saw all his love for me, paired with unspoken lust. I felt my hands trail the bare skin of his side, settling into the waistband of his sweats. I willed myself to just make a move, I wanted Seth and I knew that I wanted to spend my life with him. Just pull the trigger, Talia!

I was sure that Seth felt my hesitation, because he cupped my face and brushed his lips over mine, before he spoke, "Talia, I think we should wait. It's going to happen between us, I mean you're going to be my forever, but I'd rather your first time not be rushed in between my folks getting home. Let me give you the night you deserve, when the time is perfect."

He slammed his lips down onto mine and I felt my heart both speed up and relax at the same time. Seth's kisses were euphoric and I was addicted to his every touch. He wasn't the kind of guy to push for things, he allowed his easy going nature to always dictate where our relationship went. At that moment, amidst the feelings of lust he had and the excitement of the proposal being accepted, it was the perfect moment for him to push for more; but, he respected me and as such, he wanted to wait until I was ready. I knew that at that moment that choosing Seth was the right choice.

"Seth, do you mind if we wait to tell your family?" I asked, as I drew small circles on the skin of his bare chest. 

"Yeah, I don't mind waiting to tell everyone. I actually didn't plan on it coming out the way it did, but I'm glad it happened. I do need to ask and I don't want you to think I'm pushing, but what's going to happen when you go back to school?"

"I'm not sure I understand the question," I looked up at him and saw a worried expression on his face. Did he think that once I got back to Anthabask and the Reevers that I would change my mind about wanting to marry him?

"Well, the last time we were together, you said you loved Damian too. I guess, I need to know if you're in this 100% or should we hold off deciding about a life together till after graduation?"

I cupped his strong face in my hands and scooted up to look him in the eyes. I knew he was feeling the same insecurities that he had felt that night in NYC when I declared my love for two people. I knew, because I had felt the same insecurities every single time a girl placed their hands on his arm or leaned in to whisper in his ear. I always felt like Seth was out of my league when it came to a relationship and seeing him around other girls only fueled those feelings. I wasn't insecure by nature, but when it came to Seth and the hold he had over me, I was a hot mess, dripping with self-doubt.

"I don't want to hold off deciding. I wouldn't have said yes, if I had any doubts. I haven't spoken to either boy in almost a month and frankly, whatever Paxton and Damian Reever choose to do with their life isn't my concern!" I found my voice raising at Seth, my grip had tightened on his face and I was angry. Not at him per say, but at the thought that I had allowed myself to be placed in this mess. I had allowed myself to get swept away in some kind of sick and twisted love square that only seemed to cause me more internal pain. Aside from my own pain, it caused Seth pain.

I found myself getting up and heading to the door, my hand was on the knob, when I felt his grip on me. "Talia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to piss you off, I just needed to know. I can't be one place away from you and know that I feel the way that I do, the way I always have and then think about you being held by someone who's not me. It killed me for months and then NYC happened and when I had to leave you again, it just-" he didn't finish the sentence, he just stepped back and slumped down on the edge of the bed, his face in his large hands.

I looked back at him and saw the defeat. It was the same defeat that plagued him after my revelations about being torn between two people. I suddenly felt a wave of guilt that teamed up with a bubbling up of nausea in the pit of my stomach. It was an instantaneous sickening feeling that I had been the one responsible for the defeat that Seth felt. I never wanted him to feel the way he did in NYC and seeing him now, in exactly the same place, made me hate myself.

Had my mother not died, I would have never left Minnesota. I would have never met the Reevers and been a pawn in their sick game of myths and signs. I would have never left Seth. Once again, I felt the anger at her for leaving and sending my life into an instant downward spiral. I knew it wasn't fair to blame her, but blaming myself only made the bile rise even more.

I turned towards Seth and simply said, "I'm sorry for everything. I should have never left."

I snatched my hoodie and coat off the railing of the stairs, as I thrust my feet into my discarded combat boots and found myself running down the stairs and out into the bitterly cold night.

I ran down the snow covered dirt road as fast as fast as my feet could propel me. I just ran for what seemed like forever, the frost in the wind biting at my bare skin, ripping and tearing at every single nerve ending that existed below the surface. My body propelled me in a direction that it was all too familiar with, a direction that I knew by heart. It propelled me towards her.

The feel of the small pebbles under my feet, mixed with the snow caused a crunching sound that had a wet nature to it. I found my hand reaching for that single spare key that had always been hidden underneath the faulty board in the deck. I twisted it in the lock and the door opened, the scent of dust and stale air instantly filled my nostrils.

My feet propelled me down the long hallway and into her blue bedroom, where all her furniture was covered up by dusty white sheets. The door creaked open and I looked down at the cold tiles, in the same bathroom, where my heart had shattered into a million pieces.

I sat down on the spot where my life had changed in an instant, and I cried.

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A/N: Hey Guys!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please vote and comment, I love to interact with the readers.

Talia found the CD with the secret song on it! I didn't expect it to be a proposal. Thoughts?

Also, theories on what Talia is going to do when she finally goes back to school? How will Damian and Paxton react to the fact that she's decided to marry Seth?

<3 Amina

Check me out on my Twitter for story updates and randomness  @amina_leeds