A/N: Hey, guys. Thanks for all the great reviews,
I appreciate it. Well, this is the last chapter, I do believe. Sorry for
the long wait. I was out of town for a while and then school took up most
of my time. But anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Living in the Moment
Chapter Six
Star Light, Star Bright
Love. Romance. Candy. Flowers. Kisses. Great things happen on Valentine's Day. Not just the pretty little gifts that you receive from your lover or your secret admirer. It's the perfect time to get engaged. Lucy and Kevin did, exactly four years ago. Babies are born. Sam and David's birthday was here again. But the best things happen when you are spending time alone with your boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife. It's not about the candy. It's about the love.
The house was quiet, as it rarely is. Sam and David had their party three hours ago. The house had been alive then. Ten little eight year olds running around screaming and laughing happily. Annie and Eric had quite a time trying to get the spilled soda out of the carpet and finding all the paper Dixie cups that were spread across the house. But that was over now.
Lucy and Kevin had gone out earlier, to dinner and some romantic spot afterward. Those are the two most romantic people that you will ever meet. Besides Annie and Eric. They love each other truly. No secrets, no lies. Nothing but the cold hard truth that said they would be together forever.
Annie and Eric were going to hang around the house until Ruthie had left and the twins had gone to bed. Then they would sneak up to their own room and do God knows what. One might not even want to know, but there would be little muffled sounds that escaped from the small space beneath the door that would give it away.
Ruthie sat at her vanity table, smoothing the creases out of her red dress that Lucy had given to her. This little, red dress was a lucky one. Lucy had worn it out on her romantic date with Jeremy years before Kevin ever happened. Ruthie hoped that her date with Peter would be just as good.
The reflection that stared back at her was unfamiliar. Ruthie wasn't one to be very dressy. Black mascara curled her long lashes, cherry red lip gloss made her lips shine. Her milk chocolate brown tresses, shiny and straight, had been kept down, curled at the tips.
Ruthie sighed, wondering if all this was necessary. She decided that it was, and that Peter was worth it. He had proved himself to her, but they still had quite a few things to work out before they went off to college next year. Their relationship wasn't as strong as Lucy and Kevin's but it was close. After this date, it could be better.
Satisfied with her appearance, Ruthie smiled slightly and stood from the small, padded bench. Her red jacket that she had bought on her own to go with the dress, was lying on the bed, waiting for her. She reached down and picked up the delicate piece of clothing that completed her outfit, and slipped it on, pulling it over her shoulders.
The doorbell gave it's call.
Ruthie's heart beat quickened. She smiled, seeing Peter in her mind. Turning on her heels, Ruthie made her way down to greet Peter, flicking off the light to her room as she went.
Peter was already inside, standing in the foyer, talking with Annie and Eric. As Ruthie appeared at the stairs landing, he stopped and watched, smiling up at her.
Ruthie flashed him her own smile and began to make her way to him. Each step she took, she couldn't help but think, "This is like a fairy tale." She felt like Cinderella, beautiful and graceful, going to her Prince Charming.
"You look beautiful, Ruthie," Peter had took her hands and kissed them.
Ruthie blushed slightly. "Thank you. You don't look too shabby yourself."
Peter was wearing black slacks and a black blazer over a white shirt. "Thanks."
"Have a good time," Annie told them, kissing Ruthie's cheek.
The two adolescents both nodded, smiles on their faces a mile wide. Annie and Eric left the room, leaving Ruthie and Peter to begin their date.
Peter interlaced his fingers
with Ruthie's and opened and closed the door for her. Tonight was going
to be a good one.
Dinner was absolutely wonderful. The food was great, the music was perfect and soft. No old boyfriends, either. Of course, Ruthie only had one old boyfriend, Jake.
"Are you sure you can afford this?" Ruthie asked playfully.
Peter raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you saying that I'm poor?"
Ruthie chuckled. "No. I love you, Peter."
"I love you, too," Peter replied
softly, gazing at her. At that moment, the rest of the world seemed to
fall away. Everything was perfect. There was no war, no killing, no racism.
Nothing. Just Ruthie and Peter. Joy, love, and happiness.
As they were leaving the restaurant, Peter had told Ruthie that he had another surprise for her.
"Really, Peter, the dinner was lovely. I don't think anything else could make this night more perfect," Ruthie told him, but she was wrong.
They had pulled into a nice, quite, little clearing, a cliff that overlooked the town. They were the only ones there. Peter had made Ruthie close her eyes.
"Okay," Peter said as he found the perfect spot. "Open your eyes."
Ruthie's eyes opened slowly and what they saw was amazing. "Wow," she said, her voice almost a whisper.
Peter smiled, glad that Ruthie liked his idea. "I thought we could watch the stars together."
Ruthie turned to him, jaw dropped, and said, "This is gorgeous, Peter."
Peter kissed her lightly on the lips before heading around to the trunk of his car. He pulled out a blue blanket and spread it over the dirt ground.
Ruthie sat down on it, Peter by her side. She put her hand behind his neck, pulling him toward her, and they shared a passionate kiss.
"I love you," Ruthie whispered, pulling away from Peter.
She laid back on the blanket at watched the stars. They were so much clearer up here than in the city. There weren't any street lamps to hide their shine. As Peter lay next to her, she knew that he was the one for her. All her doubt melted away. Only her loved remained. She had made the right choice.
As Peter gazed at the stars,
he noticed that this was better than sex any day. He didn't need to be
active with Ruthie for her to be his. She loved him, he knew. Their relationship
was going to last a very long time. He couldn't wait to be married to her
and to have a family together, but now....Now, they were just living in
the moment.
A/N: I hoped you like the story! I am very happy with this final chapter. Please REVIEW and tell me what you think!
Au revoir,
Carrie