"What do you want me to do, put on a blindfold or something? I'm not gonna look, I promise!" I yelled at Carter, ten feet behind him.

         "I believe you. Just keep your eyes shut until I tell you to open them! This won't be any fun if it's not a surprise," he yelled back. I rolled my eyes underneath my hands, but I stayed put. I knew Carter had something special planned for us today, and I didn't want to ruin it. Actually, I think he's had it planned for longer than today. He's been acting kind of mysterious all weekend- I keep wondering if there's some kind of hidden meaning behind this whole trip. But, if there is, I have no idea what, so I guess I'll just have to enjoy it as it comes.

         "Okay, I'm ready!" I turned around and opened my eyes.

         "Oh my gosh!" I gasped as I ran up to him. "This is gorgeous!" All at once I found myself surrounded by the most beautiful scenery in the entire world. On the ground was an elegant tablecloth, spread out like a picnic blanket. Suddenly I realized something.

         "This is the place you showed me from the window, isn't it?" I asked.

         "Yeah, it is," he said softly.

         "You're pretty good at this, you know," I told him.

         "At what?"

         "At this." I gestured all around me. "The picnic, the food, the place…the guy," I paused, "it's all perfect."

         "It should be. You deserve it," he replied. We both sat there for a moment, just taking it all in.

         "So, how many other girls have you done this with?" I asked teasingly.

         "Oh, yeah, I've brought a ton of girls up here before," he said sarcastically. "Actually, you're the first."

         "Really?"

         "Well, yeah. I mean, we weren't actually allowed to bring girls up here when we were kids, but we all did anyway. It's just that this was my 'special place' and I never really wanted to share it with anyone…except you." He smiled warmly at me, and I just looked at him for a second.

         "Carter, is there some particular reason you're doing all this?"

* * *

         This was it. This was the big moment- the whole reason I'd planned this trip. I could not mess this up. What if I messed this up? Okay, Carter, calm down, and take a deep breath, I told myself. Everything's going to be okay.

         "Well, yeah, just a little reason. Okay, maybe a big one." I sat there for a few moments, trying to collect my thoughts.

         "So, are you gonna tell me what the reason is, or am I gonna have to guess?" Abby asked jokingly. Don't miss your opportunity, Carter.

         "Abby," I began slowly, "I've been in love with you since the day I met you. I didn't realize it then, but I was. For two years, I waited and waited for the right moment to tell you that I wanted to be with you. That day, something inside me told me that if I didn't go for it then, I would never have gotten to be with you, and if that had happened, I don't know what I would have done. Every day that I get to spend with you, every time I'm near you, all I want to do is tell you that I love you, and how lucky I am to have you as my girlfriend."

         "I'm lucky to have you too, Carter," she replied warmly.

         "Wait, let me finish," I said, taking her hands in mine. "What I'm trying to say is, I've been getting that feeling again, that 'I need to go for it' feeling. Abby, I have never wanted to be with someone as much as I want to be with you. I cannot imagine ever being without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." I paused, then took a small box out of my pocket. "Abby, will you marry me?"

         "Oh my gosh," she gasped. "Carter, I…" She looked up into my eyes, pleading with her to say yes the same way I'd said yes to her that day over a year ago. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you!" She threw her arms around me, and we kissed for what seemed like forever. Then, all of a sudden, this loud beeping sound started up.

         "I think that's me," Abby said.

         "Actually, it's me too," I replied curiously. "It's County." Abby got out her cell phone and quickly called them. After a few harried moments of conversation, she hung up and looked at me soberly.

         "That was Weaver. She said we need to get to the ER- now."