Chapter 43 - The Proposal
A few weeks later, Taylor was eating breakfast alone as Dalton and Ella were at work, and Finn was still sleeping. Suddenly, he walked into the apartment and dropped a bunch of brochures in front of Taylor.
"Help me, please! I have no idea what I'm doing!" He said. She looked at one of the brochures. It was a ring brochure. She immediately knew what Finn was going to do.
"OH MY GOD!" She squealed, happily. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Well, calm down! She has to say yes first."
"Of course she's gonna say yes. You've been dating for a year, you practically live together. And she loves you so much. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown when she thought you were missing, and then when you were 'cheating'."
Finn looked down. "I still feel kinda bad about that."
Taylor laughed. "Don't worry. I'm sure she forgives you."
"Well, could you help me pick out a ring?"
She beamed. "Sure, let's go now!"
"Thank you so much. I really have no idea what I'm doing and I need a girl's advice."
"No problem. What's family for?" Taylor replied. Finn smiled and they left the building moments later. They drove all around town, stopping at every jewelry store. Finn wasn't satisfied with any of them. Finally, they made it to the last store, and they got out of the car.
"Finn, we've seen like 1000 rings so far and you haven't been happy with any of them."
"Well, I'm only gonna do this once. I need to make it perfect."
Taylor nodded and understood. "What about this one?" She pointed to one. Finn shook his head.
"Ok, what about this one? I know Ella would love this one" She asked and picked up another. Finn raised an eyebrow and looked at it.
"Actually, you might be onto something there. Yeah, this ring's the one." He said. Taylor gave him a hug. They went over to the salesperson to discuss prices. He smiled at them.
"Hello. Congratulations. You too are gonna have a great life together." Finn and Taylor laughed and shook their heads.
"We're not dating. We're brother and sister. The ring is for my girlfriend." Finn explained. The salesperson nodded.
"Well, congratulations to you and your girlfriend." Finn thanked him and they negotiated prices for the ring. Ten minutes later, he had the ring in the box. Him and Taylor climbed back in the car. Taylor seemed to be just as excited as he was.
"So when are you gonna do it? Did you ask her dad?" She asked.
"Ummm… I didn't ask her dad for permission, per say cause it's not the 15 century. But I did tell him what I planned to do, and I asked for his blessing."
"What did he say?" She asked.
"He was really happy for us. Am I the only person who's worried she's gonna say no?" Finn said, laughing nervously. Taylor rolled her eyes.
"Yes, you are. Of course she's gonna say yes!"
Finn smiled.
"So when and where are you gonna do this?" She asked again.
"Ummm… I think I know what I'm gonna do, but I'm not sure yet. I think I'm gonna do it 2 weeks from now."
"Oh, you're gonna do it during…" She said, and Finn nodded.
A week earlier
Finn and Dalton were playing video games when their phones rang at the same time. They looked at each other, confused. They walked over to their phones and checked the Caller ID. Louis was facetiming both of them. Finn answered the phone.
"Hey Louis, how's it going?" Finn asked.
"Pretty good, how are you?"
"Great. Is everything OK?"
"Yeah, is Dalton around as well? Can I speak to both of you?"
Dalton walked over and sat in the frame next to Finn. Louis smiled at them. They were probably the most talented singers he had ever mentored. And they had built a really strong bromance through the X Factor.
"Hey Louis, what's going on?" Dalton asked.
"Well, you know how you two were the top 2 finalists in the X Factor last year?" He started. Finn rolled his eyes.
"I seem to vaguely recall it." Finn remarked and Dalton and Louis chuckled. Louis continued.
"Well, we need you two back this year as part of the celebrity duets in the finals. We'll be bringing you two, and also Ella Henderson to sing with the current finalists. Do you remember her? Blonde hair? Medium height? Finn, you eliminated her in the showdown."
Finn and Dalton looked at each other and laughed.
"What?" Louis asked, seeing the guys' expressions.
"No, it's just Ella lives right across the hall from us, and me and her have been dating for the past year. So, yeah, we do remember her." Finn explained. Louis nodded.
"Yeah so her mentor will be calling her soon. Oh, Finn, as the two highest-earning X Factor contestants from last year, you and Ella also have to sing a duet together during the time that people are voting. OK, I gotta go mentor. I have the groups this year. It's not as fun to mentor them as it was you guys. There's so many people!"
"Well, what can we say? Finn and I are perfect in every possible way." Dalton laughed and Louis rolled his eyes.
"See you guys soon!" He said.
"See ya Louis," Finn replied and hung up the phone
Back to the Present
Finn and Ella spent the next two weeks working on their duet. A week before the X Factor finals, the three of them were called to the studio to start rehearsing with their respective acts. They got out of the car and walked into the building.
"Wow, this place brings back so many memories!" Dalton exclaimed. "Finn, remember when we flung water balloons out of the hotel room window and tried to hit the neighbouring buildings."
Finn laughed. "Hey, they should be thanking us for that! It's not everyday that you get a free window wash!"
Ella rolled her eyes at the two guys. "You two are so immature." She shook her head at them. They chuckled. They finally made it to the auditorium, where Nicole, Louis, Tulisa and Simon were waiting for them, along with the final 3 acts. There were one girl, one guy, and one boy band group left in the competition.
"Hey guys! Wow, I'm feeling de ja vue!" Tulisa exclaimed as she first hugged her mentee - Ella - and then hugged the two guys as well. They greeted the other 3 judges. Louis was overjoyed to see them again.
"So, let's begin!" Simon announced. "As you all know, each act has to perform two songs in the final. One of which is a duet with one of these singer-songwriters. Finn, as the winner of last year's competition, you get to choose who you're gonna work with. You can work with Celine (the girl), Josh (the guy), or District3 (the group)."
Finn thought for a moment. "Ummm I choose District3."
The boy band jumped up and bro hugged Finn, and the judges were surprised. They thought that he would surely pick one of the soloists. After all, to date, a group had never won the competition.
"OK. Dalton, as runner up, make your pick." Simon continued.
"I'll take Josh." He said and walked over to the guy. Ella then walked over to Celine, as by process of elimination, she would be working with her.
"OK you all know how it works. Take any of the recording studios and start rehearsing!"
Finn and the group walked to the nearest studio, and sat down on the stools.
"So, do you guys have any ideas? Like your mentor, I can't give you a song, or force you against a song. You gotta pick for yourselves."
They nodded. Jamie, one of the singers, raised his hand. Finn looked at him and laughed.
"This isn't school! You don't have to raise your hand, man."
They all laughed and Jamie blushed. "I had an idea. Why don't we sing Love Story by Taylor Swift. I have an idea on how we can make it into a group cover."
The other guys nodded in agreement and Finn smiled. "OK, let's do it!" Finn said. "I'm actually really excited for this and I really want you guys to win. We need a group winner!"
They all cheered and they spent the next week hard at work on their final single. It reminded Finn so much of his experience last year, and it brought back so many good memories. However, the only problem was that there were so many rehearsals and practises that he didn't get much of a chance to see Ella or Dalton. He hadn't yet told Dalton about his plan to propose yet, and he really wanted to. Finally, he saw Dalton walking back to his car after rehearsal, and he cornered him.
"Hey man, how's it going?" Dalton asked. Finn smiled and took out the ring box and opened it. Dalton's eyes widened when he saw the ring.
"Finn, wow. That's huge. You're gonna ask Ella…" his voice trailed off. Finn nodded.
"She's gonna love it!" Dalton exclaimed.
"I hope so." Finn sighed.
A week later, it was finally the day of Finn's performance with the group, his duet with Ella, and, most importantly, his proposal. Him and District3 were the first to perform, so they were waiting backstage, along with Ella, Dalton, Celine and Josh. They were all really excited, but the group were a bit nervous. Finn looked at them.
"Guys, we got this. We're gonna go out and you're gonna win this competition. And even if you don't, I will bet you an arm and a leg that you will get a record deal, and you will be selling more albums than anyone in the final."
They nodded, and the host announced them moments later.
"Good luck," Ella whispered as he walked past. He smiled at her as he walked on stage and faced the judges. He almost laughed at how much this moment resembled last year. They took their places in front of the mics and the music started to play. The guys swallowed their nerves and began to sing.
[Jamie]
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air
[Adam and Peter]
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did I know
[Jamie]
I was Romeo, I was throwing pebbles
Your daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
You were crying on the staircase
Begging me please don't go
[Finn]
And I said…
[All]
Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run"
I'll be the prince and you'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby just say yes
(Finn looked sideways and saw Ella smiling at him. He winked at her and smiled, and she beamed back at him)
[Finn]
I get tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town
[Adam and Peter]
I will save you, you've been feeling so alone
I've been waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head?
I don't know what to think
I knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said
[All]
"Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone
I love you and, that's all I really know
I talked to you dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby just say.
[Finn]
Ye-s
Oooooooh
Ye-e-s
(When they were approaching the final line, they put their arms around each other and looked directly at the camera)
[All]
We were both young when I first saw you
At the end of the song, the guys were overcome with emotion. Finn stepped back and clapped for the three guys, but he was quickly pulled into their group hug. They walked off stage a few moments later, and Dalton and Josh performed next. They were undeniably good, but the final act - Ella and Celine - were better. Finn felt that it would be either the group, or Celine who would win. Finn and Ella walked on stage a few moments later for their duet performance. As they walked on, the crowd cheered loudly. The crowd remembered them from last year, and knew how talented the two of them were. However, they had never heard Finn and Ella duet. They took their places on the stage and smiled at each other. The music started and they began singing.
*Sing Beneath your Beautiful by Emile Sande - Dalton Harris X Factor Version.*
At the end of the song, Finn and Ella were an inch apart, and they kissed quickly. The crowd were all on their feet. Both singers never disappointed the audience and this was no exception. When the crowd had finally died down, Louis started asking them questions.
"So, guys, what did you guys think about this crop of competitors?" He asked.
"Well, they're all amazing. Every single finalist had the talent to win the competition." Ella said and Finn nodded.
"Yeah," Finn said. "I'm just glad I competed last year and not this year, because I know I wouldn't be winning if I competed this year."
The judges laughed. "So what is it like to be back?" Simon asked.
"Well, it brings back so many amazing memories. Like me, Finn and Dalton were walking through the studio the other day and we were reminiscing about all of the great times we had in that very studio. And now, a new batch of competitors got to make their own memories." Ella answered him.
"What about you, Finn?" Nicole asked.
"Ummm… I mean all I can say is that this stage and this competition changed my life, in so many ways. First of all, obviously, it started my singing career. But it did so much more than just that. The competition helped pull me out of the depression I was feeling during the early stages of the competition. But, most importantly, I met the love of my life through the X Factor. So I felt that it was only right that it be on this stage that I do what I'm about to do."
Finn turned to Ella and took a deep breath. She looked at him, confused. He then got on one knee and took out the ring from his back pocket. Realisation etched onto her face and the audience screamed in approval.
"Ella, you're the most amazing person I've ever met. You're kind, you're funny, you're beautiful, and I'd be the luckiest person on earth if I got to marry you, have kids with you, and grow old with you. So, with that being said, Ella Henderson, will you marry me?"
There was a short silence, and you could hear a pin drop in the sold-out arena. Then, Ella screamed…
"Yes, YES I WILL MARRY YOU FINN HUDSON!"
I feel like I'm just gonna end the series here. I've been running out of ideas. Review or PM me if you want me to continue the series, and feel free to give me suggestions or ideas. Don't forget to R/R my other stories as well