HI PEOPLE! This is a story for a contest in The Ultimate RENThead forum. Wish me luck guys!

I own nothing. The Almighty Larson owns it all.

I lay on the bed staring at the engagement ring on my finger. I've been waiting for the man of my dreams for a long time and on the night of December 24, 1989 I finally found him. Thomas B. Collins, the love of my life. At home with him I feel loved. On the streets with him I feel protected. And above all, I feel like she could trust him no matter what.

I sigh and think about him. Out of all the things he's done for me giving me this ring has gotta be the sweetest. I get up to head to the livingroom, hear Collins' voice and stop in the hallway.

"Really? You'd do all that for me?" I hear him say. He must be on the phone. "Wow . . . that's just amazing. You are amazing." Amazing? I've never heard him call anyone amazing but me. "Candle-lit? Aren't we romantic?" He laughs for a moment then lowers his voice. "All right. Now, remember Angel can't find out about this." My mouth drops open. Who the hell can he be talking to? "Okay. See you soon." Oh. My. God. Is he cheating on me?

I force myself to smile and walk into the livingroom and sit down next to Collins. "Hi darling," I say, giving him a quick kiss.

"Hey baby," he replies.

"Anything new?" He pauses for a minute.

"Uh . . . nope," he finally says.

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Anything you wanna talk about?"

"Uh uh."

"You sure there aren't any happenings you wanna talk about? Stories from work you wanna share? Phone conversations you'd like to discuss?"

"No. Everything's just . . . the same." We sit in silence for a minute before Collins looks at the clock and then at his watch.

"You late for something?" I ask.

"Actually yes," he says. "I gotta head in to work for a meeting and possibly do some paper work." He stands up and I grab his arm. There's no way he's getting away from me that easily.

"Honey, do you have to go now?"

"If I wanna keep my job, I'm goin' have to, Ang."

"But, can't you just call in sick so we can spend some time together?"

"I could, but times are too hard right now. Plus if I get fired, we can kiss breakfast, lunch, and dinner goodbye."

"Ever since you proposed you've been acting so . . . distant. Please stay."

"Baby, I gotta go."

"Can't we talk for a few minutes?"

"I'd love too, but I can't." He gives me a kiss on the cheek and picks up a book off the coffee table. "See ya later."

"But–" Before I can finish, Collins blows me a kiss, leaves the apartment, and shuts the door behind him.

That was the first chapter. Hope ya liked it!