So I got on one knee- "Clare, will you marry me?" I asked her, as her face blushed.

"I-I-I-I need you to wake up!"I felt my heart sink a little bit at her confusing answer. Is that supposed to be some sort of Christian language?

"What? You were supposed to say yes!"

"No! Wake up, wake up, man, this is the third time you're gonna be late for class!"

"GAHH!" I arose so briefly, causing me to fling up and- "OWWW!" hit myself on my bed. And THIS is the reason why I wanted the top bunk! Ok- not the best morning start. I looked over at my alarm clock at the side of my bed. Adam looked at me, pulling up his pants- laughing at me. Hah. "Ok, mock me if you must, but next time you decide to do that to me, you should put on some pants!" Sarcasm has yet to leave me in my college days. Hah.

"Ok, ok! Just hurry up- Clare's been bugging me about getting you to meet her before class today! Does she know what you're plan-"

"No! No she doesn't, and she CAN'T because I didn't tell her, and YOU didn't tell her, did you?"

"No, no, I didn't! Relax, relax!"

"Whatever, I GUESS I'll believe you, even though I probably shouldn't!"

His phone began ringing, at 7:00? "It's her, hurry! Hurry up!" Adam rushed me, throwing me a pair of pants and a shirt.

"Have you ever heard of a shower, because I have to go use it!"

"Ok, then HURRY. UP! Before she kills me! I'm kinda afraid of her right now!" It sounds like Adam's hiding something. Don't tell me that it's about- No, he probably forgot… but CLARE on the other hand… Oh no.

"Ok, Adam, it's lunch, and I still haven't met up with Clare yet, any ideas?"

"No- not really."

"HAPPY- I'm so happy today!" Someone- I'm guessing Clare- grabbed my shoulders and greeted us with a more than pleasurable tone. I turned around as she wrapped her arm around my neck.

"Hey? Why so happy today?" A guy can only care so much about why his girlfriend is so… peppy! She's so happy, I think it's a bit unhealthy. Hah.

"I just went over to the store to get some supplies for the- PROJECT! Project that I have to do, and I got it all last minute, even though I had to get them yesterday!" She smiled- biting her lip. She has something planned- doesn't she. Hmm, maybe her PROJECT!

"Ok, Clare, you're SUCH the rebel." I leaned in closer to her face. And so the charm leads the way.

"That's why I'm with you- to do stupid things that I will regret for the rest of my life." She followed along with MY plan.

"I hope I'm IN that whole 'rest of your life' plan." And closer…

"HEY! YEAH! I'm still here! Mr. Third wheel back here!" Plan exterminated for the sake of Adam's sanity. Hah.

"Hmm, maybe you won't be so 'Mr. Third' wheel if you go talk to that 'Daisy' girl that you keep on eyeing out."

"Umm- her name is ROSE! And I have!"

"What, 'Hey, could you get my pencil?'?"

"NO! I asked her for the homework too!" Oh, Adam.

I rolled my eyes as Clare grabbed my hand under the table- keeping it a secret from Adam. She looked at me smiling. "Adam! Hmm… why don't you just tell her that she has pretty eyes!" I looked at Clare, recognizing that that's what I said to her. She blinked her eyes as I had a really big urge to just kiss her- but Adam was there, so I had to resist.

"Ok- whatever. I'm just gonna go up and talk to her- confidently." He got up, and brought his tray with him. "Grow confidence- grow confidence- grow confidence!" I heard him mutter to himself. I could see his arms shaking, but I think he'll be ok!

"What do you think he's gonna do?" Clare whispered, facing me. I grabbed onto her neck.

"Well, he's obviously not gonna see this-" I pulled her in close to me to steal one short kiss on the lips from her. Aww, she's blushing. How… what's the correct word for this? Adorable.

She smiled, and we both looked ahead to see what Adam was doing. He was sitting- talking to the girl. Ok, she's smiling, I can't see his face, but he must be talking. I wonder what they're talking about..? He pulled out a comic book, is that a classic China Town Saga? I haven't seen that in YEARS! But WOW! She's into comic books! Hmm, perhaps Adam won't be so "Mr. Third Wheel" anymore. I'm happy for him! He turned around to look back at us, then motioned his hand telling us to stop looking at him, but shot us a thumbs up. Hah.

It was a bit silent, because there wasn't much to talk about. I just kept looking at Clare smiling- which tells me that she has something up. Ugh, she probably got me something for my birthday, but I wonder what it is. Wait- no I don't, I don't want a present! "Um- Clare? Yeah, why do you keep smiling?"

"Why? Is it illegal to smile or something?"

"No, I'm just wondering."

"Ok, are you doing anything tonight?"

I shook my head, "Nah, I don't think so."

"Ok, then meet me at the fountain and we can go out somewhere."

"Like?"

"Like a surprise- you'll see when we're there!"

"Don't tell me that this is for my-"

"Happy Birthday!" She quickly interrupted me with those two words that I was hoping she had forgotten… Dammit. I rolled my eyes, implying that it's not THAT happy! "Stop rolling your eyes." She rolled her eyes, what the heck?

"Hypocri-" She grabbed my neck to quickly pull me closer to kiss me. Hmm- logical. I can't disagree with this kind of interruption!

"Get a room you two!" I heard from behind me. I quickly released seeing Drew and a few of his friends. Drew took a seat over while Clare began blushing- Hah. "Hey, where's Adam?"

"Uh- " I pointed over to Adam and the girl, they don't look half bad together!

"Working out his 'man skills' eh? I hope he's winning her over, because if not, he'll end up with those nachos ALL over his face. Like last time. Ok, Catch you around later, hopefully not interrupting anything." Drew raised his eyebrows, and walked away. Yeah, I certainly hope he doesn't interrupt anything again either.

Here I go. Hmm, I'll sit over at the fountain- JUST like she said, and just toss a few coins in until she gets here. "Hey, Birthday boy!" Clare stopped me from tossing in another coin.

"Um- Yeah, don't EVER call me that again."

"Whatever, come on, drama queen- let's go."

I sighed. Reason one- she called me drama queen- HAH. Reason two- She has something planned for my birthday, and I know it. She covered my eyes with her hands as I sighed again- but she interrupted by 'playfully' licking my lip. "Was that supposed to be some kind of apology? Because I forgive you." I smirked.

"No," She took her hands off and went behind me. "But come on, walk, we have some stuff to do."

Ok, from the noises that I heard, we went into a building, up an elevator, and she made me walk up a flight of stairs. Is this the dorm building? She took her hands off my eyes revealing my dorm door. REALLY? "So I went into a building, up and elevator AND stairs with my eyes SHUT to come back to my dorm room?"

"Relax, just open the door!"

"Whatever." I opened the door to see the most lame, yet sweet party that I've ever had in my lifetime.

"SURPRISE!" The trio of people yelled out, shocking me that three people could yell so loud. I had a feeling this was coming... but I smiled anyways so they would be happy that I'm happy. Awe, they care about me!

"Is this the BEST you guys can do?" I said in sarcasm- of course. Adam's jaw ropped, as Drew gave him a 'what the heck' look. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clare shrug. "I'm joking, I'm joking, Adam, you can prop your jaw back up!"

"Come on, open your present, birthday boy." Clare whispered into my ear. Hah. For course Adam rolled his eyes.

"Here, it's from both of us." Adam handed me the gift, wrapped in a bag. Hmm, let's see what's in the card! 'Hey. I'm pretty bad at writing cards, so just read all the pretty, poetic, pre-written stuff. From, Adam and Drew. Eli, have an epic birthday.' HAH. That card made me laugh.

"Thanks, guys, I like the message!" Adam and Drew nodded, as I reached my hand into thte bag to see the CLASSIC EDITION BATMAN COMIN #4? "CLASSIC. EDITION. BATMAN? How did you find this?" Oh- wait. I have to be 'manly' for Clare. I cleared my throat, "I mean- uh. HOW DID YOU FIND IT?" Ehh, I guess I just can't keep my cool!

Adam shrugged, "I found one in the back of the store today- the owner let me have two- I guess he had 6 of the 30 copies." Woah- who knew you could get that stuff. All I get is a 15% discount.

Drew looked over at Clare, "What geeks." HAH. I saw Clare nodding her head, but I don't care! This is an amazing moment! The writer himself signed it! I'm touching the same book as a comic book god! I feel so special!

"Ok, ok, ok. Enough with that- it's MY turn!" HAH. I guess Clare hated the fact that I loved Adam's gift. She handed me the present. I shook the well wrapped box- Hmm, it's rattling! Ok, enough of this waiting- what is it? So, I opened the box- woah. I haven't- since- where'd she- you can't find this ANYWHERE- I didn't even get the first one from a store!

"Well? Do you like it?" I guess I should spare everyone the suspense and confusion, and just tell you. A few years ago, I lost my metal guitar pick necklace- the one that my mom made me. And I guess Clare gave me one- inscribed and all- almost exactly the same… 'To my knight in gothic armor, Eli Goldsworthy.' Wow. She must've really worked hard! "Flip it over!" of course- I'd like to know what it says! 'With Love, Clare.' My heart just skipped a few beats as we quickly took each other into a tight hug.

"How did you- how did you find this? Did you make it?"

"Of course I did! But I got someone else to do the inscribing…"

"It's amazing- I love it."

"I love you." Lean in, Eli, lean in!

"I love you t-"

"IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, WAIT UNTIL WE GET OUT!" Oh, Adam- quite the sense of humor. As always- I released, sparing him and Drew, once again. Except I don't think Drew minds it. Adam sighed, hah, "Thank you!"

Clare sighed, "I'll call you later tonight- ok?"

"Thank you." I whispered in her ear as she pecked my cheek. I've never been so happy to receive ANYTHING like that at all! It's so great how we're so different, but we settle, like yin and yang- that sorta thing.

"Dude, you got it in the bag." Drew patted me on the back.

"What do you mean?" Adam left the room

"If you propose to her- she'll definitely say yes- I mean, it's obvious."

"Who told- Dammit Adam."

"Uhh- I gotta go, happy birthday, man."

So, I sat on my bed in an empty room- holding Clare's present in my hands. Just thinking about the future, the past, the present. It's so insane how time just flew by like that. Like I was sent through a time machine or something. Out with the old, in with the new, they always say.