Chapter Three: From This Moment On
Sixteen-year-old Tootie Masterson, who was in the schoolyard, waiting for the bell to ring, was casually rocking back and forth on the swing while her boyfriend, Timmy Turner, secretly (his back turned to Tootie) showed something to his friends, A.J. Goodram, his girlfriend, Veronica Vanden, Chester McBadbat, Sanjay Rogers (his Indian name had been changed, due to his step-dad) and Elmer Knowles.
"Dude, that baby is so sweet," Chester breathed.
"It's beautiful," Veronica added, her eyes glowing and her hand clutching A.J.'s.
"That is one big diamond!" A.J. exclaimed. "Wherever did you get it?"
"Um, Internet?" Timmy replied, glancing at the pink and green woodpeckers in the nearby tree.
"Cool," all three said in awe.
"So," Timmy said, "everybody ready?"
There was a unanimous nod from the crowd (including the pink and green woodpeckers) and Timmy, snapping the case shut, turned to his girlfriend.
"Tootie," he said casually, "I have a present for you."
"Oh, really?" Tootie asked. "What is it?"
Getting down on one knee, Timmy presenting the little red case and Tootie's heart skipped several beats.
Oh my God! she thought. Could this mean what I think it means?
Every eye turned to watch the scene in front of them. Trixie Tang, stood by her "boyfriends", Tad Taylor and Chad Chorley, widened her eyes in horror.
Oh my God! she thought. I don't believe what I'm seeing! He can't! He just can't!
"Tootie," Timmy said, opening the case and presenting the extraordinarily shiny diamond, "when we leave high school, will you marry me?"
For a moment, total silence reigned. No one breathed a word as the question buzzed around Tootie's head. Eventually, though, the information processed.
"YES!" she screamed, jumping off the swing and bounding around, punching the air with her fists. "YES! YES! YES! I LOVE YOU!"
Tackling him to the ground, and smothering him with kisses so suffocating he couldn't breathe, she started to cry. Tears ran down her cheeks as she squeezed and kissed her beloved.
From this moment, life has begun
From this moment, you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on
"Okay, okay," Timmy tried to say, struggling to breathe. "I love you too."
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" Tootie cried out. "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED! WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!"
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the whole school started to clap. The clapping got louder and louder, coupled with cheering and whistling, almost drowning out the sound of Tootie's cries of joy. There was, of course, one person who wasn't clapping... Trixie. Everyone else, including Tad and Chad, who were doing about one clap to every five of Cosmo's claps (Wanda was crying into a handkerchief she'd poofed up), were causing as much racket as possible.
From this moment, I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love, I'd give my last breath
From this moment on
"Come on, guys," Trixie said to Tad and Chad, sticking her nose in the air and stalking off, her "boyfriends" following her.
"Will we be together forever, Timmy?" Tootie asked, finally letting go and allowing him to breathe. He relished the delicious breath of fresh air.
"Of course we will," he replied, kissing her full on the lips and stroking her jet-black, silky-smooth hair. "I love you and I always will."
"Through rain and snow?" Tootie asked, kissing him back and stroking his chocolate-brown locks. "Through sleet and hail?"
"All that and more," he replied, smirking.
All right, break it up before I puke!" Chester complained.
Giggling madly, Veronica gave her boyfriend's hand a gentle squeeze, which he gladly returned, kissing her on the lips and fiddling with her blonde ponytail.
"Ew!" Chester remarked, recoiling. "I said break it up, people!"
"You're just jealous because you don't have a girlfriend," A.J. teased.
"Am not!" Chester argued.
"Are too," A.J. said, laughing.
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(Two years later)
"You look... amazing!" eighteen-year-old Veronica Vanden cried out as she helped the future Tootie Turner into her spectacular white wedding dress.
I give my hand to you with all my heart
I can't wait to live my life with you, I can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you
"Thanks," Tootie replied, grinning. "You didn't have to spend your money on this dress, though."
"I wanted to," Veronica replied. "You're my best friend."
"I could've easily bought a cheaper dress," Tootie muttered, blushing.
"No way!" Veronica replied. "I already told you that wasn't good enough!"
"But-" Tootie started, but was cut off.
"Nope," Veronica said, "you deserve the best. You're marrying your true love and, since my parents own a mansion, I have enough money to get you the best wedding dress that money can buy."
"But it cost forty thousand dollars!" Tootie whispered frantically.
"So?" Veronica asked casually.
"So?" Tootie repeated, unable to believe her ears. "So?"
"That's what I said," Veronica replied, laughing.
"I need to pay you back as soon as possible," Tootie said, shaking her head.
"No you don't," Veronica replied coolly, "because I won't take it. Money's no object in the Vanden family. I really couldn't give a toss."
"Bloody hell, Veronica," Tootie breathed, causing Veronica to raise her eyebrows.
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(Meanwhile, elsewhere)
"Nice tux, dude," Chester said.
"I agree," A.J. remarked. "Where did you ever get such an expensive tuxedo?"
"Uh," Timmy began, his eyes darting to the windowsill, where pink and green flies were perched. (Jorgen had agreed to let them stay for the wedding.)
"Let me guess," Chester piped up, "Internet?"
"Yeah," Timmy replied, smirking.
"Man, what I wouldn't give to have the Internet in my trailer," Chester said, drifting off into a trance.
"One more slight adjustment," A.J. said, picking up a pink rose and attaching it to Timmy's handsome black tuxedo. "There we go! Perfect!"
As Timmy made to leave the room, he heard a distant cry of "Good luck!" from the flies, the pink one crying her eyes out and the green one sticking up a thumb.
From this moment, as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on
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(At the alter)
"I DO!" Tootie screamed, gripping hold of Timmy's waist and squealing.
"You may kiss the bride," the vicar finally said.
Locking lips like they never locked lips before, Tootie Masterson became what she had always wanted to be... Tootie Turner.
You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you
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(Later, outside)
"Throw your bouquet!" Timmy cried out.
Tootie turned round and, trying her best to aim it in Veronica's direction, she threw it as hard as she could. Turning back round, she noticed, after all the squealing and squabbling, that Veronica did catch it, but, catching her off-guard, Timmy grabbed her wrist, spun her round and lip-locked with her.
"I love you so much," Tootie whispered. "I've never loved anyone else in my life."
"I love you too," Timmy whispered, caressing her cheek. "I want our love to keep getting stronger and for us to grow old together."
"Me too," Tootie replied, also in a whisper, "but what about kids? Do you want to have any in the future?"
"You bet I do," Timmy whispered. "It won't matter whether we have a girl, a boy or, even better, twins, as long as have kids."
From this moment, as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment
"Timmy! Tootie!" Mr. Turner called out. (Mrs. Turner was too busy crying like Wanda, who was disguised as a pink butterfly beside Cosmo, disguised as a green butterfly.) "Smile for the camera!"
"I can't believe it!" Mrs. Turner cried. "My baby is finally married!"
"Mine too!" Mrs. Masterson cried out, hugging Mrs. Turner while Mr. Masterson stood by Mr. Turner. (Tootie's icky older sister, Vicky, hadn't shown up.)
Posing together, Timmy in his handsome black tuxedo and Tootie in her beautiful white wedding dress, they really did make the perfect couple.
I will love you, as long as I live
From this moment on