I've successfully not told Mom about the ring for a week and a half.

It's hard to keep a secret from her- especially one like this.

But, within the next week, Mom will know. Hopefully.

"Calliope, are you sure you're not coming?" Mom asked for the hundredth time.

I watched as Callie kissed Mom.

Awkward.

"You should have fun with your friends, Ari."

Mom looked up at her. She totally wasn't buying it.

I tried not to laugh.

Teddy and April were taking Mom out so Callie could plan the engagement. She asked me to help, which was why I knew. She insisted on me being involved.

"You're my friend, too!" Mom laughed.

Callie giggled, "That's cute. But, you're gonna have a blast with Teddy and April."

Mom nodded, "Of course I will. But I'd also have a blast with you."

"You're being gross." I said.

Mom rolled her eyes. "You think everything is gross." She said with a laugh.

I just shrugged.

Then, Callie looked out the window. "Look! There they are!! Go, go! Have fun!" Callie said quickly.

Way to make her suspicious.

Mom kissed Callie again. They kiss a lot. If you can't tell. "I love you," Mom told her.

"I love you too!"

Then Mom came to me, hugging me and kissing my head. "Behave! I love you. Text me if you need me."

"I will, I will." I smiled. "I love you too. Have fun!"

Mom squeezed my shoulder, and with one last suspicious look toward Callie, she left.

"And you say you're worried I'll be the one to spoil the surprise." I said to Callie, laughing.

"What?!"

"You just made it so obvious something was up! You've been obvious all day!"

"I have not!"

"She was totally suspicious."

Callie shook her head in amusement. "We need to get planning."

"Ok, ok."

"I've been thinking about it. I just kinda wanna make sure my ideas make sense. I think it's all doable. If I get some help from Aria it could happen super soon."

"What like tomorrow?"

She laughed. "Ok not that soon. Maybe next week. I'm thinking next Saturday."

"Oh cool." I nodded.

She sat down next to me at the island, opening her laptop.

I watched as Callie pulled something up, then suddenly there were pictures of flowers and a bunch of writing on the screen.

"Okay. So... I'm thinking outside. Outside is just prettier."

"Is it gonna rain, though?" I cut her off.

"Crap. Let's see." Callie pulled up the weather app, "Thank god. You scared me." She laughed.

"Sorry! At least it's not gonna rain!"

She nodded. "Outside." She said.

"I think that's nice! Where, though?"

"There's this park type thing across the street from where I used to live. With like a Gazebo and everything. It's not too far. And I've seen people use it for proposals before," Callie laughed. "I can show you a picture hold on."

I watched her search up the name of the park. "Yeah. It's pretty!" I said after she clicked on a photo.

"Right? I'm thinking before sunset so it's cooler outside. And some flowers! Of course." She gestured to the flowers on the first document she pulled up.

I nodded a little. Pretty.

"Ok here's the thing. Do you think she would want people there? Like... her friends, my family?"

"Hm." I took a second to think about it. "I don't think she would mind."

"Yeah. I wasn't sure." Callie said thoughtfully.

I didn't really know. Mom definitely wouldn't care that much. She would be happy no matter what. She's always been like that.

"You know what? Maybe not. I think just you, obviously. And then Aria will take pictures." Callie said after some time. She looked at me. "What do you think?"

"I mean... it's your engagement."

Callie sighed, "I want you to be a part of it."

"This is you and Mom, though. It's nice of you to include me. But, I don't want you to base all your decisions off me." It was a lot of pressure. Plus, this was their thing. I felt bad.

She bit her lip. "Just you and Aria." She said quietly. I watched her scroll down the page. "I do need you to be a part of getting there."

I nodded, "What do I need to do?" I asked. It wasn't that I didn't want to be involved. I just didn't want control. I felt like it wasn't my place.

Callie smiled again, "There's an ice cream shop near this park. So," She laughed. "You ask if we can go get ice cream."

I giggled, "Easy enough."

"And I'm going to try and recommend this place quick. If she disagrees, just try to persuade her?"

"Duh."

"Because Aria will be there setting up a little bit before. Like putting the flowers. So it'll be all pretty. Would it be super obvious if I just said we should go look at the flowers?"

"Hm."

"Wait! Or I could just park on the other side. So then we have to walk through that part of the park to get to the ice cream shop."

"I think that's better."

Callie nodded. "I don't know how I'll get her onto the Gazebo. I'll have to wing it. But once she's up there, boom, proposal."

"So we're not getting ice cream?" I asked, half joking.

Callie shook her head in amusement, laughing, "Maybe we can get ice cream after."

I giggled, "Okay."

She just laughed more.

"I think this is cute. Simple and sweet. Mom will love it."

"You think?" Callie's eyes got big with excitement.

"Yeah, I do." I glanced at my phone.

Isa: You're coming tomorrow, right?

"Is that your Mom?" Callie laughed.

I shook my head. "Nope. Surprisingly. It's Isa."

Liv: Duh! See you :)

I was going to Isa's house tomorrow. I couldn't wait.

Isa: Can't wait :)

I looked back up at Callie. "Mom will probably cry. I hope you know that."

"I think I'll cry, too." Callie admitted.

"Emotional" I laughed.

Callie just smiled.