Emma and Sean pulled up to the church. They both saw their friends outside on the steps forming a small circle of black. Sean stepped out of the driver's side and buttoned his suit jacket. He waited for Emma to come around the front. He put his hand on the small of her back leading her to the church.
When they reached the steps, many hugs and tears were shared. They all headed inside not wanted to have go through this moment. They clung to each other afraid to do it alone.
Just a few days ago there had been many celebrations and tear-filled reunions and goodbyes. None of them had expected to be back so soon, sharing more tears, especially like this. They were all here for the same reason. To say goodbye to her, one final time.
Sean and Emma sat alone on a pew while Manny, J.T., Liberty and Toby were two pews in front of them. Jay and Spinner sat behind them in the last aisle. Alex, Paige, Jimmy and Hazel were across the aisle. Marco and Ashley sat up front in the first row with Craig and Dylan behind them for support.
When the service started Emma shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She was having a hard time with this.
When Marco stood up to talk about his best friend, there wasn't a dry eye in the church
"Eleanor Nash was a great friend. I loved her deeply. She was there for me when no one else was. I remember the last time I saw her. It was just a couple days ago at the Dot. We were all sitting at our usual table, which had grown from three chairs to eighteen over the years. We were discussing our plans for the future. She had asked me if I would walk her down the aisle and give her away if she ever got married. I told her I would but only if she would stand as my best women. We even shook on it. She never broke her promises to me. This was the first time. Then she went on to tell me about how her life was going to be in the future. I never thought that Ellie wouldn't have one." Marco was beginning to break down.
"I never thought that I wouldn't get to walk her down the aisle one day, that she would never fulfill her destiny and find happiness that I had been so lucky to find."
As Marco continued, Emma began to play with her engagement ring she was so scared that she wouldn't either. Tears slowly started to rain down her cheeks.
Sean felt Emma tense up next to him. He followed her gaze down to her finger and realized what she was thinking. He ran his hand across the ring. She locked eyes with him and he shook his head lightly. He squeezed her hand for reassurance. He thought back to the day he gave her that ring.
FLASHBACK
Sean pulled his car into the familiar driveway. He grabbed his cap and gown as well as a small velvet-covered box. He opened the box and looks down at the treasure inside. He had it designed for her. A princess cut diamond trapped between two smaller gems that were two slightly different shades of blue. Their birth stones.
He had remembered when her mom had gotten engaged and Emma showed Manny a picture of the ring in Media Immersion. He had been sitting a few seats over and was listening to their conversation. Emma said she didn't want a huge diamond surrounded by other diamonds. She wanted something more personal that was a symbol of love for the two people engaged, not just something that hundreds of other women could be wearing. She said it could be worth a dollar as long as it meant something.
Five years later he thought of that conversation when he decided to propose. It had taken the Jeweler two months to put together and six months for Sean to pay it off.
Emma had been waiting for him at her house. They had decided to get ready at there and drive over to the school together. Sean closed the box and slipped it into his pocket before knocking on the door. His hands were shaking a little when she opened the door.
Once he saw her, he knew that today was the day he, Sean Cameron, was going to ask Emma Nelson to be his wife. She had pulled him into a kiss and then inside. After twenty minutes of getting dressed and pictures taken they were out the door and on their way to the school.
After the ceremony, he had been trying to get away from the crowd of kids with a last name that began with "C" so he could find Emma when he slammed into to someone. He stumbled a little and reach a hand out to the person he had knocked to the ground.
"I'm so sorry. Here let me help you up." Sean apologized
"One year and you don't recognize me? Well it's nice to see you too, Sean Cameron." The girl teased
"Oh my god, . . . Ellie?" Sean asked
"Yes, in the flesh." Ellie answered
Sean grabbed her in a tight hug, and released her with barely any oxygen left in her lungs.
"What are you doing here!"
"Ashley came in from London so I'm in town to see her and I wanted to see you graduate. I'm so proud of you Sean." She said hugging him again. "I missed you Sean."
"Thanks, I missed you too. I was hoping to run into today. I just thought I would run into you at one of the parties later. But here you are now! I have to tell you something." Sean said "Oh wait, before I forget to ask, what's your address?"
"I have something to tell you too. But first, why do you want my address?" Ellie had asked him
"Well I needed it because" he started to say while digging through his pockets. "Hold on. I have something to write on somewhere. Do you have a pen?"
"Yes, I always carry one." Ellie said after reaching in her purse and pulling one out.
"I guess I'll just write on this" Sean said, pulling his program out of his pocket. When he did, the box came out and crashed to the ground, it bounced and opened.
Ellie bent down and picked it up. She saw the ring and gasped "Is this an engagement ring?"
"Yes it is." Sean said proudly and smiling wide.
"Does this have something to do with what your going to tell me?" Ellie asked
"Actually it does. That's what I was going to ask you about."
"Oh my god Sean! It's beautiful! I'm so surprised. I know we ended badly, but I've done a lot of thinking and I've forgiven you. This is so sudden! I was hoping we could work things out, but I never thought it would be so easy to jump from ex's to being en-" Ellie was speaking so fast
"Friends! So, will you come then?" Sean interrupted excitedly
"Yes! Wait, what? . . . Friends? Come to what?" Ellie asked confused
"To the wedding. I'm asking Emma to marry me tonight. So if she says yes, you have to come to the wedding." Sean said while handing her the program "Here, write down your address so I can make sure to send you an invitation. You'll come won't you El?"
"Of course! Of course I'll come. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Ellie tried to cover her heart breaking. She quickly scribbled down her address. She closed the box and handed both items back to Sean.
"Well, I've got to find Emma, so I catch up with you later. I'll see you at the Dot later with everyone else right?" Sean asked
Ellie nodded "Yeah sure, I'll be there"
"Oh wait. There was something you wanted to tell me right." Sean stopped
"Oh yeah. I just what to talk to you about being friends again. Just to tell you that there are no hard feelings." Ellie lied
"It was so great to see you Ellie. Hopefully when I see you later, I have another reason for us all to celebrate. I'm so nervous." Sean sighed
Ellie wrapped her arms around him once more and whispered
"I'm so happy for you. Don't worry Sean, she'll say yes. What girl would be crazy enough to turn you down? I know I wouldn't be. "
Sean was confused when she said that last part. She pulled away from him slowly, placing a soft kiss on his cheek before turning away.
END FLASHBACK
Thinking back on that moment, he thought he saw tears in her eyes. It wasn't until after she yesterday when Ashley told him that Ellie had come home to try to get back together with Sean, that he connected the dots together. When he replayed their last conversation, he realized she thought he was going to propose to her.
