The story will now proceed in Blake's point of view.

~*~

"Happy nineteenth birthday, Lucy!," I whisper-shouted, sitting beside Lucy's bed early in the morning

She slowly opened her eyes. Her face glistened in the sunlight as if it were a ray of the sun itself.

"Thank you so much, Blake," she said, her face breaking into the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen.

Then, she looked up at the watch, and made a face. "It's just 4:15am, I'm off to sleep".

She dropped herself to bed and pulled the covers up to her face.

"No, you can't sleep anymore, there's something I need to show you," I said.

Lucy peeked at me from the covers with a smile.
"Birthday present?"

I laughed. "Yes indeed"

"Okay, let me change," she grinned, throwing the covers and getting out of bed.

"No! There's no time for that," I said, holding her hand and dragging her outside the door.

I sat down in our Porsche as Lucy sat beside me and strapped herself.

She turned to me and said, "Let's go !".

~*~

We reached the place in about fifteen minutes.

The sky was still dark, the typical scene of dawn, with small birds flying across the orange yellow sky , through the white clouds, to their nests and from their nests. We could hear their soft chirping on the lush green trees on this pleasant April morning. The breeze blew gently, making Lucy's hair fly gently.

She stood beside me , looking at the sky in awe. "It's looking beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I replied. I looked at the watch. 12 seconds.

"Lucy?"

"Yes?"

"Close your eyes"

"What?"

"Close your eyes."

She gently closed her eyes. I stared at her, looking at her beautiful face which was the only thing I needed to stay alive. She was like the reason for my existence. Lucy Goodwin .

"Okay, now open,"I whispered to her.

She opened her eyes, and looked up at the sky.

As the sun rose, balloons were released, of pink, blue, violet and green. A banner attached to the balloons slid down and said, "HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY, LUCY".

Lucy, smiled, her eyes filled with ecstasy. They seemed to twinkle brighter than the stars. She had grown up to be a radiant woman, progmatic and natural. She turned to me.

"This is so beautiful. Thank you so much, Blake"

Her arms spread around me, wrapping me in their embrace.

I fished out a small box from my pocket and presented it to her. She looked at it, her magnificent smile never vanquishing from her face. Then she took the ring which was contained in the box and slipped it through her finger. She held it close to her chest.

"Thank you," she said in a whisper as if incapable of holding so much happiness. The ring had a tiny initial "L" embedded in it.

I kissed her gently on her forehead.

She looked up at me and smiled, "I love that".

"I know," I whispered.

She looked at me with eyes which were brighter than the sun, brighter than anything I'd ever seen.

~*~

I left Lucy at home that afternoon.

Kristine,Eros and I had planned a dinner for her.

I turned the car and drove to Kristine's place.

~*~

I had worn a white shirt that night. It was her favourite colour on me and today I wanted it all to be special for her. Even if it were the littlest of things.

I picked her up at seven thirty and as she came out of the house, I heard Mrs.Goodwin say, "Bring her back by nine, please?"

Lucy sighed, shaking her head. I laughed.

She had worn a black dress, a smile and elegance. If I were ever asked who was the most beautiful lady I have seen, I would name her. Not because she was beautiful externally , but because she was unparalleled from inside out. And, that was one thing I loved about her. She was natural, unrepeatable.

I opened the car and Lucy sat on the passenger's seat. I too, sat down and looked at her.

"Lets go," she said, like always , and I pushed the accelerator.

~*~

As soon as we entered the restaurant, Kristine and Eros came towards us.

Kristine hugged Lucy. "Happy birthday , Lucy!,"she said, handing her a wrapped gift. Eros did the same.

"Thank you!", she said, and we went to our table.

I pulled the chair for Lucy to sit on. Kristin e chuckled. "Look whose being a gentleman now", she said, teasingly. Lucy looked at her and said, "kristinee"

She laughed. "Will you ever stop that?", she said. "Nah. It's so much fun", Kristine said, laughing even harder. Her laughter was contagious, and we all laughed until our stomachs pained. just like old times.

"Lucy, you're growing old", Kristine said.

"Yeah, whatever", Lucy said. Kristine and Lucy kept laughing and joking as usual. I looked at Lucy, and smiled. Her eyes, her beautiful smile, her warm face. I adored her more , every moment I spent with her.

"Blake, stop staring at her", Eros whispered. I snapped back, embarrassed. He laughed.

Our food arrived. We had ordered Indian. Lucy's favorite. She smiled and said, "Indian!"

"Blake's idea". Kristine informed. "Hey, remember the farewell?", she said.

"yeah", Eros, Lucy and I said in unison, recollecting the moment.

"Lucy was crying so much... ", she began.

"Yeah, and I had a hard time wiping her tears", I said with a laugh. Lucy punched me playfully, laughing.

The evening went on like this, laughing, talking and enjoying. Soon, it was time to leave and we bid each other farewell.

We sat down in my car and headed home.

On the way, we passed to the street we had a prom night on. Lucy looked and it and smiled.

"That was one day , I can never forget", she said and looked at me, possibly seeing the thirteen-year-old Blake in me.

I can never forget it too, Lucy. I thought.

~*~

We got out of the car and as I was about to leave, Lucy said, " Blake?"

"Yes?"

"Mind sitting here for a while?", she said, gesturing towards the bench.

"No problem", I said, and sat down. She sat down close to me and looked up at the starry sky.

"Thanks for everything you did for me, today", she began. "You make it all beautiful, I don't know what I'd do without you, Blake".

I looked at her affectionately. "It's nothing you know".

nothing compared to what you do to me.

~*~

Soo.. they've grown up. :P

I hope you liked it!

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