Day 3; Weather.
(Stan / Kyle)
"It's cold."
"It's been cold."
"It's colder. Hold my hand."
We continued to Stark's pond in silence, except for a few intervals of speech. Stan held my hand, as I told him to. He's been pretty good at listening to me today, or better than usual. It's less than what I'm wanting, but it's a start. I guess.
He can't keep his eyes off of the sky. It's irritating. I want him to not be able to keep his eyes off of me. He been giving Mother Nature so much attention today. Where's my attention.
"Stan. You're staring."
"At the sky." he laughed. "Would you rather me stare at you?"
"Don't be stupid." Yes. I would much rather you stare at me than the stupid definite sky that's always there and is always going to be there. I'm not always going to be here, Stan. Not always.
His view changed from the sky to the ground. He was paying more attention to the gravel under his feet than to me. His expression was stained with content. What the hell is so good about the ground.
He pulled me to the bench that constantly watches the pond, and waited until I sat to wrap his arms around me.
"I love you, Kyle."
"Do you."
He looked down at me, and I avoided his eyes. I'm expecting too much. I shouldn't base something like this on past experiences, but he's always done something significant. Always. It's tradition at this point. So far, we're more than halfway through the day, and he hasn't done anything significant. Not yet. I'm still waiting.
"I do. Of course." He said staring at me. "Are you ready?"
"For what." I snapped. For some proper affection? Some acceptable acknowledgement? I've been ready. I've been ready all day.
"For your anniversary gift."
I looked up to his smile. He searched his pocket and pulled out a gift box. Inside was a ring carved with the date.
Oct. 3 ∞
"It's not much, I know, but you can think of it as an engagement ring. If you want to. If you don't, that's fine too. I just want you forever, if that's okay."
I couldn't move my view from his face as he slipped the ring onto my index finger. I couldn't stop tears from trailing under my eyes. I couldn't do anything in that moment.
But I could yell. I can always yell.
"Stan, you're so stupid!"
"Try saying that five times fast."
I grabbed onto him and he held me.
"Especially while you're crying so hard."
Somehow I fought the tears and the constant lock in my voice to speak, and I hope he understood me.
"Don't ever do this to me again. It's too much emotions. I can't handle it all at once."
He held me and I held him tighter. I felt a circle of happiness flowing through me. When my crying wasn't so severe, he moved my face to his. We kissed, and I suddenly appreciated the sky and the ground and the pond, but mostly I appreciated Stan for knowing that I won't be the only significant thing in his life. There will be things that contribute to moments like this, and I'll always be grateful for them.
I sighed and leaned onto Stan. We stared out onto the pond.
"So... nice weather we're having, huh?"
