Arthur POV:
I can't believe I'm going to propose. I'll meet her for dinner at six o'clock, and then we'll go for a romantic walk on the beach.
I hope she says yes… No, she will.
I get dressed in a brown shirt and a leather vest. The same clothes I wore when me and Alex first met. I reach for my comb, but decide not to comb my hair.
I go into the kitchen, and grab the picnic basket I prepared for dinner. I leave the house, closing the door behind me.
I walk towards her favorite tree and spread the blanket on the grass. I open the basket and take out the salade. Greek. Her favorite. Next, I take out two chicken breasts and put them on a plate. I leave the brownies in the basket for later, and open a bottle of sparkling water. We have both agreed we will never drink, after seeing what it does to Mother Goose and Merlin.
I check my watch. 5:55. I wait patiently for her to arrive.
6:02. Maybe she's not coming?
No. She's just late.
6:09. I don't know…
Then, I see her. My heart stops. She is beautiful. In her sparkling green gown that goes all the way down to her ankles. Tied around her waist is a white ribbon that wraps around her stomach with a bow at the front. Her hair has one braid that circles from one side to the other. The end rests on her shoulder. She's wearing a necklace that is simply a golden ring. I know that around the edges of the ring are the words 'I love you' because she has showed it to me before. Her father gave it to her before he died and she always wears it around her neck to remember him.
When she sees me, she smiles, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
"Alex… you look, amazing". She does. She really does.
She sits down next to me. "Thanks. Tris really can do hair." she says
"It's beautiful. Are you hungry? Shall we eat?"
"Yes thank you. This looks delicious."
"Well, don't be fooled by the looks. You know for sure that I'm not the best cook. You've tasted my stew", I say.
She laughs. I put some salade on a plate for her, and pour two glasses of sparkling water.
"Cheers", I say, raising my glass.
Once we've eaten all the salade, she takes a piece of chicken from the plate. We talk about Connor, and Bob and Charlotte, Mother Goose and Merlin, and then about Katniss.
"I really miss her. I hope Four gets her out of there soon", she says.
"Don't worry Alex, I've known Four for a long time, and when somebody wants something that he can help with, he helps. He'll get her", I say.
By the time we are done our conversation, she's already finished her chicken and eaten four brownies. Four! One of the things that I love about her is that when she has food, she eats it. All of it. And fast.
I pack up the food,and tuck the the basket under a bush.
She grabs my arm, and pulls me towards the beach. We run together, laughing. She kicks off her shoes and pulls up her dress, while walking into the water so she's about ankle deep. I do the same, and roll up my pant ends.
We walk along the shore line, talking, laughing, getting our feet wet. When we get tired, we lye down in the sand and talk some more.
After about an hour, we sit up.
This is it, I think. Now or never.
I get down on one knee and pull out the ring. "Alex, when we first met", I say. "I knew you were the one. That someday we'd fall in love. When you left, I thought I'd never see you again. But then I did. I love you Alex. and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else".
I can see tears glistening in her eyes.
"Alex Bailey, will you marry me?", I hold my breath.
"Yes. Yes!!" I smile at her. "Arthur, I will marry you".
I press my lips to hers and smile.
