A/N: Can you believe that this is chapter 12 already? I know that people were surprised by the ending, but I promise it will be worth. Grab your cup of hot chocolate, because it is a cold night in Llanview.

Chapter 12

Starr jumped. "Cole, what happened to the lights?"

"I think the power went out. Starr, where's the power box?"

"You're asking me?"

"Yeah…I think it is in the basement."

"Let's just light the candles, and when Markko and Langston get back down here, he can go down there with me."

Starr began to light all the candles in the house. "Cole, you have to admit that it is kind of romantic."

Cole kissed his girlfriend, who he could tell was scared

--

Langston looked at Markko in shock. "What did you just say?"

"Langston, I love you. Will you marry me?"

"That's what I thought you said."

"Langston, when I see my future all I see is you, all I want is you."

"I feel the same way. But, Markko, I won't even be sixteen until next month, and you just turned sixteen last summer. We are too young. "

"Babe, I am not saying let's get married next week. I don't think that Child Services will even clear you for it until you are eighteen. I am saying, I want to marry when we are eighteen or even later, whenever we feel like the time is right to go from being engaged to married. Most people that are our age do the whole promise ring thing, but I don't want to promise to ask you, I want to ask you now. What do you say?"

"Markko, I need time to think about it. Don't be mad."

"I understand, but you are not saying no?

"I am definitely not saying no. I just have not said yes yet." She went to hand him back the beautiful ring that he offered her in exchange for her response to his marriage proposal.

"No, keep it. That way when you are ready, you can just put it on, and I will know that you want to be my wife."

Langston leaned over and kissed Markko. By the time they were done with their bath, there was water all over the floor. He stopped and laughed at that. He stood up and lifted her in the air and carried her to the bed. They then proceeded to make love for a good part of the hour. After taking a short nap, Langston woke up Markko. "Markko."

"Yeah."

"The power's out."

"When did that happen?"

"I think I vaguely remember it happening when you were proposing."

"I should probably go see if Cole needs my help."

Markko got dressed. "Babe, you coming?"

"Yeah. Go ahead, and just tell Starr that I will be down in a few minutes."

"Ok." Langston wrapped herself in the sheet, and walked over to Markko. "Markko, I love you. Just remember, I just need some time to think about it."

He pulled her into a lingering kiss. He lifted her up around his waist. The sheet fell to the ground. He walked back toward the bed, and she lifted his shirt off. There was a knock. It was Cole. "Markko, can you give me a hand with this?"

Markko put his shirt back on and opened the door. "Yeah. Let's go."

They walked back down the stairs. "Markko, where is Langston?"

"She will be down in a few minutes."

The guys walked into the kitchen and went down the stairs to the basement. Both Cole and Markko were a little spooked. "Cole, have I mentioned that I really do not like scary movies? This is every scary movies worst scene."

"Markko, we are guys…we can do this."

"So, I asked Langston to marry me."

Cole was really wondering what she said. "What did she say?"

"Well, she didn't say no. She is thinking about it."

--

Langston came downstairs after getting dressed. Starr was sitting in the living room by candlelight. "Langston, I am glad you are here. It has been freaky in here."

"Well, it is going to get freakier…"

"Why?"

"Markko proposed. "

"He did what? You two are too young to get married."

"We know that. He just wants to get engaged. He said that we could get married after we are eighteen, or whenever we are ready."

"What did you say?"

"I am thinking about it. I do love him. He means so much to me. Starr's cell phone rang. "Hello."

"Starr, it is Clint Buchanan. Are you all holding up okay?"

"Yeah."

They are trying to get the power back on, but it may be a day or two if the storm doesn't lighten up."

"We are okay."

"Call my cell phone is you are not okay. Not that I can get there, but do it anyway if you can."

"Thanks, Mr. Buchanan."

While Starr was on the phone, Langston thought back to so many great times with Markko. She remembered the night that they were all playing strip poker outside by the pool. Not long after Cole had to strip, Markko was whispering in her ear. She still remembered what he told her.

Flashback

Langston noticed that Markko was standing close to her. She had really been enjoying spending so much time with him, though she hated to admit it. They had not even kissed since he dropped her off the night of the prom. He finally whispered in her ear, "I want to kiss you so bad right now."

Langston smiled against him and whispered, "Let's go be alone, somewhere."

Flashback Ends

Langston had to smile at that memory. She remembered that night so well. They had so much fun that night. It was the first time that she felt something so deep for him. "Starr, what am I thinking?"

"That's what I have been sit here wondering."

"Hold on, Starr. I will be right back." Langston did not over think this decision, and just finally made what she thinks was the right one. She went upstairs and reached in her bedside drawer. She pulled out the black velvet box, and pulled out the beautiful ring that Markko had picked out just for her. She tried it on, and it was a perfect fit. She knew that she had to ask him how he knew what her ring size was. She left the room and went back downstairs. "Langston, what did you go get?"

"I just realized that I was missing something that was here all along. She reached out her hand and showed Starr.

"Lang, it is so beautiful. Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Sure does. Don't say anything. I want to wait until he notices. That is how I want him to know that I am going to marry him."

They both stopped talking when they heard Cole and Markko getting ready to walk in the room. Cole gave them a progress report. "Well, no luck. We even went outside and it is still coming down. The neighbor next door works for the Electric Department, and he said that it will be at least the morning before it is back on, and that's only if the snow lightens up."

Starr sighed, "Thanks for trying. What should we do now?"

Markko piped up, "We could play strip poker again."

Langston grimaced, "I really don't want to see Cole naked, no matter what."

Cole snapped back, "What makes you think that I would want to see you naked, either?"

Markko smirked, "Yes, you would. She is beautiful." He grabbed her and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck. He pulled away, feeling something on her hand. He looked down and even though the room was so dim he saw it, "Babe, does this mean what I think it means?"

Not caring who was in the room, Langston smiled. "Yes, Markko, I will marry you."

Markko smiled, and pulled his fiancé' in to a hot, searing kiss. He pushed her back on to the carpet. They had made out on the floor many times before. He deepened the kiss and his tongue eagerly sought out hers. Cole cleared his throat. Markko could not help himself. He wanted to announce it to the world. "I know you guys just heard it, but Langston has agreed to marry me."

Markko swung Langston around in his arms. He picked her up and carried her off the couch into a passionate lip lock. Starr said finally, "We are all glad you two are getting married, but get a room already."

Langston had Markko put her down. "Starr, I promised that we would all hang out tonight. Me and Markko have time to do our thing later. What do you want to do now?"

Markko piped up, "We could play hide and seek."

Starr objected, "Markko, we are not five years old."

Cole had an idea. "No, we are not five years old, but this house is completely dark, which means the whole house is fair-game."

Langston loved that idea. "Yeah, it could get really interesting."

Starr gave in next, "Yeah, but Markko and Langston, this is not an excuse for you two to go off and have sex somewhere."

Markko was hesitant, "I know it was my idea, but I don't know if it was the best idea, after all."

Cole teased, "Why, you scared Markko?"

"It's not that. It's just that…it is a lame idea."

After a game of elimination by rock-paper-sisters, Markko was picked to be it. He counted to 100. He began the journey up the stairs. He searched in Langston's room. He found Cole in Starr's bathroom. He later found Starr. They both went to sit on the couch. He looked in tons of rooms. He could not find Langston anywhere. He was starting to get worried. He turned a corner, when she jumped up behind him and he screamed as loud as he could. "You freaking scared me."

"I can tell."

They went down the stairs. Cole looked at them. "What was that noise a minute ago? It sounded like a blood-curdling scream."

Langston had to laugh at that. "That Cole would be my fiancée."

Markko gave her a joking smack on the shoulder. "Shut up. I do like the sound of you calling me your fiancée."

Starr sighed, as she was already bored. It was getting late. That is for sure. "What do you guys want to do now?"

Markko knew that his idea would get girly, but it did definitely sound like a good idea. "Ok, you all want to make the night more interesting? How about a game of no-holds barred Truth or Dare?"

Langston looked at Markko. "You sure? That does sound kind of lame."

"It won't be."

Starr interjected her two sense as usual. "There has to be one rule: Langston, you and Markko can not dare the other to go have sex with you."

Markko smiled. "Ooh. I never thought of that one."

Langston and Cole were in. Finally, Starr gave in. "What else do we have to do, anyway that we can all do together? Since it was your idea, Markko, you get to be in the hot seat first."

"Okay."

"I'll ask you. Markko, truth or dare?"

Truth. Hit me with your best shot."

"How many girls have you kissed, Markko?"

"Three. Starr, you want to do this we will. Starr, how many guys have you kissed?"

"Two."

Cole butted in. "Hey, that's no fair. It can not be her turn again, already."

Markko laughed that off, "Alright, Thornhart, then you take a turn, you big baby."

"Markko, truth or dare."

"Truth"

"Geez man. Name the three girls you kissed."

"I'll take the dare after all."

"Baby that is so against the rules. I promise I wont get mad at you."

"You say that now. Fine, Jocelyn Hubert, Langston Wilde, and he coughed the next name, Britney Jennings."

Starr spit out her soda. "Did he just say what I think he said?"

Cole was completely flabbergasted. "You kissed Britney?"

"You have no room to talk, man. With me, it was a one-time thing; you went out with the bitch and took her to prom."

Langston stood up out of Markko's lap. He felt it. He knew it well. She was pissed. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but it is really late. I am going to bed."

Markko followed her to the foot of the stairs. "Langston."

"Markko, I am tired. I am going to sleep."

He watched her going up the stairs. He knew that he should follow her. But, he also knew that he should leave her alone. Starr ran up after her. Markko sat on the floor next to the couch. He looked at the floor next to him. That was the spot where he and Langston had spent so many nights kissing. Cole looked at him. "I am sorry if that caused any crap."

"Me and Langston will make it through it. We always do."

"Dude, why did you kiss Britney?"

"It was at a party. It was freshman year. She had sneaked in as an eighth grader, and she was pretty hot that night. My guys set it up. By the end of the night, I realized what a bitch she was."

--

Starr followed Langston up to her room. "Langston, I am sorry. I should not have stirred all that up. That was so wrong of me to do."

"I just really thought that all of the secrets were out. Now, I find out that he has kissed Britney."

"Langston, he wasn't trying to hurt you. Just listen to his side of the story."

"Starr," Langston started to cry, "How can I marry him if I can not trust him to tell me everything about his life?"

"Langston, you two will have a chance to figure all that out. That is why it is great that you two are waiting a while before you get married. Don't cry."

"Maybe you are right." Langston hugged Starr. There was a knock at her bedroom door. Markko appeared in the doorway.

"Can I come in?"

Langston nodded, without looking at him. She did not want him to know how bad he had hurt her with this whole thing with Britney. "You can."

Starr shut the door, giving them privacy. She really found it funny that at the start of the night, she was so angry at Markko. Now, she was rooting for he and Langston to work things out. She really could not understand why he would have kissed Britney, though.

Langston walked over to the closet, and took her shirt and shorts off. She left her underwear on, and put a tank top on. "You know, Markko. You don't have to sleep in your jeans."

"Am I sleeping in here?"

"If you want to, you can. I am not shutting you out."

He removed his jeans and shirt, but left his boxers on. She crawled into bed, and got under the covers. She lay with her back to him. Great, he thought. This is going to be a long night. He wondered if she would let him put his arm around her. She did, and relaxed in his embrace. He put his hand over hers. That was a good sign. She was still wearing her engagement ring.

--

Starr and Cole were in her room, making the bed. They had already changed for bed. "Cole, I really hope the power is back on in the morning."

Starr walked over to the window. The snow was still coming down heavily. She wondered when it would lighten up. "Cole, there has to be two feet of snow out there by now."

"You think that Markko and Langston will be okay?"

"Yeah, she is just upset."

"Starr, honestly, what the hell was he thinking?"

"Cole, I am not trying to open old wounds, but you did it too."

"Starr, I know, but I was honest with you about it."

--

When Markko snuggled closer to Langston, he could hear her whimpers. He rolled her over towards him. "Babe, why are you crying?"

She tried to dry her eyes. "I'm not. Markko, why did you lie to me about kissing Britney?"

Why did Markko lie to Langston? Will Langston forgive Markko or will Britney still be able to destroy people's life? How much worse can the blizzard actually get? Stay tuned for Chapter 13 of Would Life Ever be the Same.