Date: January 11

    Frank felt his legs tremble as he walked to his locker. Today he was going to do it. He was going to make his grandmother proud of him for once.

   He had been planning this since the picnic in the park. Frank had realized then just how precious Hazel was to him. If she was ever kidnapped, he would pay a ransom even greater than the one paid for Atahualpa.

   Frank couldn't concentrate on any of his classwork. Mrs. Dodds used her noodle on him and Mr. Blofis asked to talk to in private after class. Frank felt like he had just chugged a can of Diet Coke when the lunch bell finally rang. He opted to use the restroom before eating. As he was washing his hands, Leo approached him.

     "Frank, are you ok?" Leo asked. "You look like you just iguanaed out of a pair of Chinese Handcuffs."

    "I what?" Frank asked. "Of course I'm alright, Leo."

    He dried his hands and left the bathroom. Despite the fact his stomach was churning, he was still looking forward to eating the goldfish he had packed as part of his lunch. He had something even more important packed in his lunchbox, though, and he took it out and placed it in one of his sweaty palms. As he was walking towards a lunch table, Frank collided with someone and the object clattered on the ground.

     "Sorry!" he gasped and his cheeks burned as he realized that someone was none other than Hazel.

        "Frank, you dropped this," Hazel said, handing him a ring. 

         "Oh, umm, that's for you," Frank said.

        He looked at his feet so he wouldn't have to see the pity on her face. He was surprised when he felt arms envelope him. He looked up and saw Hazel smiling up at him.

    "Thank you, Frank," Hazel said.

   "I love you, Hazel," Frank mumbled.

    "And I love you too," she said, squeezing his hand.

***6 years later***

      It had been six years since Frank gave Hazel a promise ring and now he would have another to give her today. He looked in the mirror and adjusted his gold-colored tie. His hair had been carefully combed and he was wearing a nice suit that Percy had helped him pick out.

    "Fai!" his grandmother yelled. "Hurry up! Hazel is waiting for you. Are you going to be late to your own wedding?"

   "No, grandmother," Frank said, picking up the bouquet of flowers he had set down beside him. "I'm coming."

    "Then hurry up!" she said. "Or Hazel might decide you're a clumsy ox and dump you on the altar."

     He crossed the room and followed his grandmother to the chapel. He saw Hazel smiling at him from the altar. His heart race increased and he quickened his pace. Halfway across the room. Frank managed to stumble and he ended up on the ground. Great, he thought, I really am a clumsy ox. The flowers in his hands were crumpled when he stood up.

    He looked across the room at Hazel. She was smiling and when he finally stepped to the altar, Hazel reached over and squeezed his hand. The priest recited the vows and Frank thought of how they had already fulfilled those vows. Hazel had been there for Frank even when he enlisted in the army and he had been there for her when she applied to college to study art. As they kissed, Frank realized this wedding wasn't the end of their romance or even the beginning — it was just an event within an existing line.