Asher's POV

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The next few weeks fly by, what with classes, homework, and wrestling lessons with Brandon. Oh, and I can't forget spending time with my girl, or should I say girls? It is weird thinking of them as separate entities, but it also wouldn't feel right to consider them one person. Sometimes it makes me think I'm dating a chick with DID(Dissociative Identity Disorder). Was that joke in poor taste? My bad. In any case, I have been spending time with both of them. Emersyn is always there, but we really only actually hang out on the weekends. Even with all of the training I've done with Brandon, I still haven't beaten her at wrestling. The hussy occasionally gives me false hope, and then *bam* I'm on my back with her pinning me and, more often than not, licking my face.

Anyway, today is the one month anniversary of our relationship and I have been planning on how to celebrate for days. I really want it to be perfect, because tonight... I intend to ask Ivy to marry me. I know we are mates and have already agreed that the mating ceremony will take place at semester's end, but I want her to be mine in a way the rest of the world will understand. My parent's think I'm crazy, but they realize that my mind is made up. So when I asked my mom for the ring that her mother left to me, she handed it over. From what my mom has told me, the ring had belonged to her grandmother. It's a beautiful antique with silver filigree and a white opal. I really hope Ivy doesn't mind that it isn't a diamond.

^^The Ring^^

Last Saturday, when I went to visit, I found Ivy's father and asked him for her hand. I could tell that I surprised him, and he didn't seem to understand the concept until I explained that this is a tradition. I know the gesture is a bit outdated, but I also know how close Ivy is with her dad so I felt that getting his blessing was important. I laughed when he told me that the only person I should be asking for her hand is Ivy, but he gave me his blessing all the same.

All of these thoughts are running through my head as I lay in my bed waiting for a reasonable hour to get up. I've been awake since 4, unable to sleep due to my excited nerves. Ivy is going to say yes. Probably. Hopefully. I mean she is definitely going to say yes, right? Yeah. Definitely. I try to shake off my worry. If I keep this up I will probably end up passing out on her again, and wouldn't that just be embarrassing?

I look across at Brandon's bed and roll my eyes at what I see. Brock is laying on his back with Brandon sprawled almost completely on top of him. Not that he really has anywhere else to go, being as the bed is so small. Even being a TwinXL, Brock's feet are hanging off the edge. He apparently doesn't mind though because this has been their nightly routine for the past couple of weeks. After the insanity of Brock's Big Reveal(yes I have capitalized it, don't judge), the two have been practically inseparable. Brock has even started going to all of Brandon's practices, saying that he doesn't want Brandon's teammates to get any ideas while they are rolling around with his mate.

As soon as I notice the sky starting to lighten I jump out of bed, having already gotten dressed earlier, before grabbing my bag of supplies and dashing out of my dorm. I jog across campus, heading straight for our tree. Once I reach it, I dig through my bag and pull out the battery operated LED fairy lights that I bought specifically for tonight. I start stringing them up, starting at the trunk. I'm beginning to get dizzy from running in circles around the tree before I can finally start on the branches. This is harder than I thought it would be. The branches are a lot higher than I remembered, and being as I have terrible aim, it takes quite a while for me to successfully drape them. I have the fleeting thought that I have no idea how I will get them down. Stepping back to look at my handy work, I find that I'm a bit underwhelmed. I really hope they look better at night.

Checking my watch, I see that I have run out of time. That took a lot longer than I expected. I will have to finish up later. I quickly grab my bag and rush back towards campus, arriving at my first class with only minutes to spare. The morning goes by quickly, and when my last morning class ends, Brandon and I head over to the cafeteria to meet Ivy and Brock for lunch.

When we get there, I see Brock and Ivy are already out on the patio. Their relationship amuses me to no end. She is usually so playful and funny around me, but when Brock comes around her demeanor changes. She is constantly trying to keep him from being ridiculous, but no matter what she does, Brock just can't help himself. I laugh as I watch her seemingly scold him as he stuffs almost an entire hamburger into his mouth. He just grins at her with juices dripping down his chin.

The repulsed look on her face quickly transforms into an adoring smile when she notices me, causing my breath to catch. Ivy never fails to have that effect on me. I return her smile with a quick wave before joining Brandon in the food line. By the time we make it out to the patio, Brock has already cleared his plate. Instead of sitting in a chair like a normal person, Brandon plops down on Brock's lap before digging into his meal.

I place my tray on the table and take my seat next to Ivy. She leans over and places a soft kiss on my lips. As she pulls back, she smiles and says, "Hey baby, how was your morning?"

Her question causes me to think about what I was doing this morning, leading me to thoughts of tonight. This, of course, sends me into a freak out of epic proportions. What if she doesn't like it? What if she thinks we are too young to get married? What if she says no? What if she hates the ring? What if the food is cold and gross by the time she meets me? What if she doesn't come at all? What if she leaves me for some blonde haired Adonis, who she then takes as a mate instead before moving to Canada with their 6 children and cat named Sir Francis Ticklepot that just loves to cuddle with Emersyn and then I never see them again so I will grow old and die alone in my secluded one-room cabin in the woods where no one will find me for weeks and the rats will have eaten my face? I feel a soft touch to my cheek before my eyes focus on Ivy's concerned face.

I snap myself out of that spiral and try to smile reassuringly. "Oh, um, yeah. Sorry, my morning was fine. I just have a lot on my mind." Ivy doesn't quite look convinced, but she lets it go and, with a nod, turns back to her lunch.

When we are done eating we sit back to let our food settle, listening to Brock tell Brandon how amazing he looks in his tight little wrestling uniform, and for now things are back to normal. After a while, I excuse myself to head to class even though it is much too early. Ivy sends me another worried look when I refuse her offer to walk me.

"We are still on for tonight, though, right?" Ivy asks as I stand to leave.

I pull her up and hug her tightly before responding. "Of course, love. Meet me at our tree at 6:30?"

"I'll be there. And Asher?" She pulls back to look into my eyes. "I love you."

I place a soft kiss on her lips and step back. "I love you, too."

I try to get myself together as I walk across campus. I pull my phone out and dial my mom's number.

"Hello?" She answers. Her familiar voice makes me feel a little more in control.

"Hey, mom. Do you have everything ready?" I ask.

"Of course. I'll meet you in the parking lot at 5:30. That girl is going to love this. I need to get back to the kitchen, though. I'll see you later. Bye, baby boy." She rushes out.

I roll my eyes at the endearment. " Bye, Mom. And thanks for doing this." I say just before hanging up.

My last class seems to go on forever, the fact that I arrived 30 minutes early probably didn't help with that. When it is finally over, I practically sprint back to my dorm. Entering my room, I am pleased to see that I'm alone. Usually, Brandon and Brock are in here sucking face right about now. I quickly strip off my clothes before opening my closet and pulling out my outfit for tonight. I'm probably putting too much effort into this, but like I said, I want this to be perfect. I quickly dress and grab the things I need before hurrying back outside and over to the parking lot where I find my mom waiting, picnic basket in hand. I thank her as I take the basket and then head toward Willow Hall.

When I reach the trailhead behind the dorm, I open my bag and pull out the small box of rose petals that I had packed away. As I make my way down the path, I let them float to the forest floor a few at a time. Once I get to the tree, I scatter the remaining few around the tree before dropping my things off to the side. I quickly start setting up by laying out the picnic blanket and putting out plates, utensils, and glasses. I'm really trying to recreate, yet improve on the impromptu picnic that we had a few days after we met. That was the first time that I realized that I was in love with her. Unfortunately, the fireflies have migrated, ergo the lights. I leave the food in the insulated containers and pull out my iPod. I attach my portable speakers before selecting my carefully planned 'Proposal Night' playlist and then turning on the lights.

The sky has just started to darken as 6:30 rolls around, and I look in the direction of the trail just in time to see Ivy come into view. I grab my iPod and hit play. Then I wait for my beautiful mate to reach me. Ok, this is it. I've got this. Oh please let me have this.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Please remember to Comment and Vote.