One more chapter after this, and then... The Secret is over. Well... the secrets are already out, but I'm just adding fluffiness to the story.
Kim
Six years.
Six years.
Six years.
Six years.
Jack and I have been dating for six years.
Happily, I have to tell you. We haven't had such a heavy fight or an abrupt falling-out, like from the beginning of senior year.
We all went to the same college, (even Jerry - would you have believe?) and we stayed close friends.
Then I got a job as a news reporter for the local TV station. I was mildly famous, and everyone knew I had a boyfriend who could kill you with his bare hands in ten seconds, so no one bothered me. I'm in Jack's debt.
Jack's took over the Bobby Wasabi Dojo in Rudy's rapidly aging place, and now, the Black Dragons Dojo is closed and owned by Jack himself. Jack has girls who fawn over him, but one look from me sets them in their places. I smirk to myself.
Jerry and Grace are now married, and own a popular dance studio here in Seaford. Grace is also expecting their first child, and they want me and Jack to be his or her godparents. I'm so excited!
Eddie and Kelsey are married and both are in the acting business. Eddie is also an amazing comedian and singer, so he and Kelsey are living the almost-impossible part of the American Dream: Hollywood. Kelsey has been in so many movies that fans send her piles and piles of fan mail. Unfortunately, they live in Hollywood, and we don't have a chance to visit often, but they visit us, and it makes up for everything.
Mandy finally found the love of her life in a guy named Brian, and they're been happily married for two years now. Brian is a game designer, and Mandy works at Falafel Phil, working the same position as her sister. Falafel Phil is now a clean, positive, five-star restaurant, what Beth had hoped for.
As for me? I'm still unmarried, even though I'm among the oldest of the gang. I don't know why Jack's hesitating. If he asked me now, I'd marry him in a heartbeat. We're even living in the same house. No, not sleeping together, but... in the same house.
Speaking of which...
"Hey Jack!" I called from my place on the sofa, watching TV.
"Are you ever going to get off that couch?" Jack teased.
"No," I shot back.
"Well, you have to, because I'm taking you somewhere." And with that, he throws me over his shoulder and carries me out to the car kicking and screaming.
"I'm not going out like this!" I screeched. I'm wearing blue skinny jeans, a crinkled white T-shirt, and flip flops. Not really presentable in my opinion.
"You look beautiful, as always," Jack compliments softly as he places a grumpy me in the passenger seat.
"Doesn't count," I grumble when he gets in on the other side.
"So it doesn't count when I compliment you? You'll be the death of me, Kim," Jack mock groans as he clasps his hands over his heart.
I laugh and retort, "Just drive."
Jack winks and says, "At your service, ma'am."
Fifteen minutes later, we're in the woods. Not the woods where Milton went LARPing so many years ago, a different place, filled with wonderful-smelling pine trees and innumerable trails. Jack leads me down on of them, and I stumble after him until I see a glow.
"Wha-" My question is cut short when I see the beautiful picnic table set with my favorite foods, like steak, salad, and red velvet cake. Two glasses of bubbly rest on a deep red tablecloth, and a radio sits on a nearby log, playing soft, romantic songs.
"You love it?" Jack holds his breath.
My eyes are tearing up, and I can't breathe, so I just stand on my tip toes and kiss him. It quickly becomes passionate, Jack immediately taking control and finally, we break apart.
"Let's enjoy this food," I breathe.
We've finished eating, and Jack quietly packs the empty plates into a nearby picnic basket when "The A Team" comes on. I immediately think of Beth, and the day Jack sang it for me at her funeral.
"Don't think of the past," Jack interrupts me thoughts, sitting next to me and wiping my tears away.
"Okay," I whisper, my voice hoarse.
"I want... I want to think of the future, though," Jack starts. My breathing begins to hitch in my throat. "Kim, I love you more than anything. More than life itself. I want to be with you forever, and ever, and ever. I made a mistake that day six years ago, and I regret it, regret hurting you and saying I wasn't in love with you. But this... is more than teenage love. It's true love. So... I ask you," Jack slides off the bench and onto one knee. He opens a black velvet box, and in it, is a diamond ring that is light and beautifully simple. "Kimberly Crawford... will you marry me?"
I start crying, and, knowing I'm killing him with suspense, I nod. He finally stands up and kisses me with a passion I haven't felt before. I quickly reciprocate, feeling him slide the ring on my left ring finger. We finally break away, and he rests his forehead on mine. I breathe in his scent, intoxicating me and making my head spin.
"I love you," I tell him, still blushing.
"And I love you," Jack responds immediately.
That night, I lay on my bed, not sleeping, just staring. I lift my left hand, and see the ring shining in the moonlight. It's beautiful, really: soft yet tough, sweet yet strong, girly and yet tomboyish. I'm just full of paradoxes no one but my friends bother to decipher. But Jack not only deciphered it; he showed me his own set of paradoxes, which took time to decipher myself, but I love him enough to decipher them and love him irrationally for it.
I love him.
He loves me.
We're never going to leave each other.
Mind you, I still have one more chapter left, so don't worry about this being the last chapter. Hope you liked it. I sure did. Writing all those romantic scenes... ;)
~squirmyorchid~