— CJ —

The rain falls in a soft mist, enough to soak you through if you're in it too long, but I don't mind. The air is warm and the rain almost feels nice against my skin, dampening the seat of my jeans as I sit on the ground. I'll have to change before my dinner with Kat this evening but this is important, so it's worth it.

"I don't normally do this kind of stuff," I mumble truthfully, running my hands through the dewy grass and pulling at the random blades that get caught in my fingers. "My own brother passed away a few years ago. His name is Logan. I don't really feel like he's there when I visit his grave," I admit sheepishly, eyes focused on the words carved into the headstone.

This is the second time I've been in this cemetery. The first was when Kat first took me to meet her dad. This is the second. Staring at the words engraved to honor her father, I push through the awkwardness of talking to someone that can not talk back.

"Kat feels you here though, and that's what really matters." I glance around at the eerily empty cemetery around me and continue, thinking of her dark curls and pretty brown eyes. "Kat's so amazing - she's smart as hell, sweet, beautiful and sexy," I bite my tongue, feeling an unfamiliar heat in my cheeks. "Oops, I'm sorry. She's gorgeous is what I meant to say,"

Even fathers that have died probably don't want to hear about their daughters sex lives.

I inhale the fresh air, smelling the way it does only when rain hits warm pavement, and sigh. "Me? Well. I'm in college now, so that's good. I'm kind of old to be a freshman, but better late than never, right? Kat helped me a lot, getting me back on track, you know."

I feel my brows come together as I stare at the stone, shining brightly from the rain, before glancing up at the sky, mist falling into my eyes. "If you can hear me, then I want you to know how much I love her. She says I make her wild, but the truth is, she keeps me safe. When I drift too far from shore, she's the one who reels me back in. She's like coming home from a long trip and really, I've never felt that way before."

Warmth fills my heart at the thought of coming home to her every night, after a long day at work, and relaxing into her arms the way I do whenever she holds me. Thoughts of adventures together ending with a peaceful night on our front porch, of a lifetime of quieting her fears and anxieties, while encouraging her to be bold, ping around in my brain while I try to find the right words.

"I know you can't really give me your blessing, but I just wanted you to be the first to know." I hesitate, sliding the velvet black box from my jeans pocket and turning it over in my fingers. "I'm going to ask Kat to marry me."

***

"Dinner was tasty," Kat grins, rubbing her stomach to indicate that she's full. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Delicious," I agree, thumping my fingers against my thigh.

Eyeing my jittery hand, Kat asks "CJ, what's wrong with you tonight? You're so jumpy," She tugs at my hand from the passenger seat. It's not the first time she's said something about my nerves and I press my foot to the gas.

"I'm not jumpy," I spare a glance her way before resuming focus on the road. She looks so beautiful tonight - I told her we'd go somewhere nice to celebrate her upcoming graduation. Her dark hair is pulled back from her face, showcasing dark eyes that always reveal what she's thinking, and a pretty red pout. In a tight black dress with thin straps, her body is doing things to me. Man, I can't wait to get home.

But I also can't wait for what's about to happen. The box digs into my thigh in the pocket of my dress pants, ones Dad let me borrow, and I try to stop my fingers from drumming against the steering wheel.

"If you say so," Kat raises her brows at me but I don't answer. Normally, I'm the one calming her down. I smirk and draw lazy circles on the top of her hand with my thumb. Even the most innocent of touches is electrifying with her.

We pull into the abandoned drive-in theatre and I put the car in park. "It's not snowing," Kat notes, but she leans her seat back anyways, the way we did the first time I brought her here. That's one of the things I love about Kat - she remembers the small details. I want to spend every day making more small moments with her, and I hope that's what she wants, too.

After all, she was the one to say it's the little things that amount to the bigger things in life. Who knew that sharing my favorite color with a girl I just met would lead me here?

"The stars are okay, too." I laugh, reclining my seat and turning to stare at her. "Nowhere near as beautiful as you, though." She blushes, like I knew she would, and I lean over to kiss her gently, tasting sweet wine on her breath.

When we pull apart, she turns her face to the sky. We're quiet for awhile before she points to the stars and shows me a constellation. "Well, it's not a real one," she laughs. "I made it up,"

Kissing her hand, I shrug. "I think it's my favorite, anyways."

"You're being quiet," She mumbles, dark eyes full of worry. "Is something wrong?"

My silly, worried girl. How can something be wrong when I'm with her? I reassure her with a smile and step out of the car, walking to her door. I open it and extend a hand, "Dance with me?"

Smiling sweetly, she places a small hand in mine and I pull her close, keeping the music off, just like we did last time. Holding her to my body, we sway side to side, to the rhythm of our hearts, beating like one. Taking a deep breath, I try to calm my nerves. But the truth is, I've never been more nervous in my life. It's crazy how I've also never been more sure of something, either.

"Hey, I know we're young and our relationship has been crazy, but I wouldn't change what we have." I talk into her hair and she nods.

"Me neither," When I look down at her face rested against my chest, I see her eyes are closed and her face is relaxed.

"I love you, and that's real, you know? Sometimes when you know, you know, right?" I feel my pulse quicken and I'm sure Kat must be able to hear it, pressed against my chest the way she is.

Her voice vibrates through me as she answers softly, "Mhm,"

Okay then, I think to myself before spinning her away from me. As she lets loose in a fit of giggles, a sound sweeter than music to my ears, I drop to my knee and remove the delicate box from my pocket. When she finally turns back to face me, her jaw drops.

"CJ?" She barely whispers, a hand flying over her mouth.

"I know people will say we're too young or it's too crazy. But I love you and I don't care how wild it is, as long as it's with you, then I want it forever. Kat Taylor, will you marry me?"

As her eyes fill with tears, I find myself wondering what her answer will be. If I'd asked the girl I met last year, I'd be sure it would be a no. But Kat isn't who she was then, and we've come so far from those strangers who connected over a failing Biochemistry grade.

So, taking a deep breath and staring up at the girl I love, I put all my of trust into how far she's come, and wait for the answer that will make me the happiest guy I know.

~ THE END ~