Of Diamond Rings and Three Letter Words - Part 3
Chad/Taylor - Fifth Time's A Charm?
'Hey Tay…'
'Yes Chad?'
'You wanna get married?'
Taylor looked over at her boyfriend sprawled on the couch. He was clutching a bowl of popcorn and staring at lycra-clad Angelina Jolie in the throes of a martial arts fight that he claimed he found sexy. His eyes flickered over to her briefly and then went back to the screen. She stared at him, her brow furrowed. You wanna get married? Then Taylor screwed up her face at him and burst out into peals of laughter.
'See?' she chuckled, 'This is why I keep you round. You always know how to make me laugh,'
She pushed herself up from the couch and kissed his forehead, 'You really are quite amusing. You wanna get married? As if someone proposes like that?'
Taylor walked from the lounge room still laughing, and disappeared into their bedroom.
Chad straightened up in the couch, pausing the DVD.
'Yeah…who proposes like that?' he called out after her laughing uncomfortably, 'Just like that? Ha ha ha…'
Once his girlfriend was out of sight he ran a hand over his face wearily, 'So…I guess that's a no?' he muttered.
He sighed heavily and slumped again letting Tomb Raider start up. Oh well…another time.
The next morning he tried again. Propped up on his bed he watched Taylor intently. Last night he'd asked her to marry him. He'd never really considered marriage until a late night three weeks ago after they'd gone out to dinner and he'd almost broken a waiter's nose for looking for Taylor's top. And now it was all he could think about. He was plagued constantly with the thoughts of sliding a ring on Taylor's finger and having her proclaiming to spend the rest of her life with him. He had to ask her.
Taylor had the bathroom door open and she was clad in her high waisted skirt, stockings and a bra, swinging her hips seductively. Her shirt was hung meticulously on a coat hanger on their bedroom door, waiting to be donned and she had a toothbrush in her mouth while she attempted to fix her hair.
She stared at her own appearance, frowning, far too busy to concern herself with her silent boyfriend's whereabouts or thoughts.
This was part of their routine now Chad mused. The crazy earlier mornings where she flew around the room preparing herself for work while he stretched out on the bed and watched her. Occasionally he made breakfast for her but by now he knew not to interrupt her routine or he couldn't guarantee the placement of his manhood by the end of the day.
She tugged on a lock of brown hair that was being exceptionally difficult and not going into the complicated hairstyle she was attempting. She growled at it and Chad laughed. He could never ever tell her this but sometimes she was ridiculously adorable. Now was a perfect time to ask her.
'Taylor?' he took a deep breath, 'Taylor, will marry me?'
Taylor swayed her hips sexily never taking her eyes off the reflection of her hair. She raised one arm above her head and moved in a rhythmic beat, ignoring him completely.
'Taylor?' he tried again, 'Taylor?'
She shifted another piece of hair, tucking it behind her ear, revealing a white set of earphones tucked in her ears neatly, blasting her with music.
He cursed under his breath and screwed up his face. This could not be happening to him again!
Taylor turned to him, tugging the earbuds out of her ears frowning, 'Chad, did you say something?'
He rolled his eyes, sighing, 'Nah. Didn't say a word…'
After his second, tragic attempt at proposing, Chad decided that if this was going to work he was going to have to be completely serious about it. And serious started with a ring.
So he left practice early and found himself wandering aimlessly around the mall. He stopped and browsed in jewellery stores knowing that he was way out of his depth. He headed toward the counter with the rings and peered down hopefully. Maybe one would just…jump out at him. Large assortments of sparkly diamonds twinkled back up at him, and his stomach twinged. This was a mammoth decision. Taylor might just kill him if he got it wrong.
'Hi, can I help you sir?'
A perky sales assistant appeared out of nowhere, a bright, sunny smile plastered all over her face.
'Uh…' Chad started, shoving his hands in his pockets, 'I'd like to buy an…engagement ring,'
Just when Chad thought it was impossible the girl's smile widened, 'Oh. That's so sweet,' she simpered, 'What kind of stone were looking at? Diamond? Sapphire? Emerald? Ruby?'
'Diamond,' Chad interjected before the girl could emit the names of any more stones to stuff his already crowded brain.
'Beautiful. A classic. What metal? Gold? Rose gold? White gold? Platinum?'
He glanced down at the glass cabinet. A display of pretty silver rings with diamonds adorning them caught his eye. He had only one thing to do, go with his gut.
'Uh…that one,' Chad said, jamming his finger in the direction of the rings.
The sales girl smiled sweetly, 'Platinum? Lovely. Now what cut for the diamond? Princess? Pear? Cushion? Round? Emerald? Heart? Baguette? Marquise?'
The girl finished firing off foreign terms and Chad fell into a dumbfounded silence.
She continued to stare brightly at him and Chad blinked owlishly back at her.
'Uh…uh…' Chad stumbled, 'I'll uh, get back to you,'
Chad fled the jewellery store, chased out with a, 'Have a nice day sir!' from the girl behind the counter.
Ten minutes later and he was slumped over a coffee at Starbucks. This was definitely not part of the plan. He just assumed that he'd be able to go into the jewellery store, and point at a ring and walk out twenty minutes later with a diamond to propose with. He had not expected rapid-fire questions and massive choices to make. What if he got the wrong one? And what the hell was a Princess Cut?
He needed a girl's perspective. Now. He knew his girlfriend well enough to know that if she didn't like the ring she wouldn't hesitate in saying no. That could not happen…again.
He looked around the busy food court. It was midday and the middle of a school term so the only women he had to choose from were carrying shrieking babies. Thanks but no thanks.
Who was he left with?
Chad, suddenly struck by inspiration whipped out his cell phone. Why didn't he think of her before? If there was one person who knew what Taylor would like it would be her best friend.
He tapped in Gabriella's number his hands suddenly jumping with anticipation. Problem solved.
He pressed the phone against his ear, impatiently drumming his fingers on the tabletop. It rang almost eight times before it was picked up.
'H-h-hello,' Gabriella panted.
'Gabi?' Chad frowned, 'Are you okay?'
'Yeah,' she replied, still gasping for air, 'I'm…I'm great. What's up?'
'Are you sure you're okay? Have you been working out or something? You shouldn't push yourself too…'
'Chad,' she snapped, 'What do you want?'
'Um…' Chad replied, taken aback by her snippy tone, 'I need a favour…'
'Is it a long favour?' Gabriella questioned and he swore he could see her narrowing her eyes halfway across the country.
'Sort of…but it's really important,'
'Ok,' Gabriella said, 'Then hang on…ten, twenty minutes tops. I…have something to finish. I'll call you back,'
'Finishing those push-ups? I'm telling you, don't go too hard at the gym. You could do some serious dam-…'
'Chad, I'm in the middle of sex right now. And you're interrupting. Now leave me alone,'
Gabriella disconnected the call and Chad leant back in his chair, stunned to silence. He always had had the worst timing. Typical.
Twenty-five minutes later and his phone burst to life. Agitated and well and truly wound up as soon as the opening bars of Clocks started playing he pounced on it.
'Ok,' Gabriella announced, her voice sweet and innocent as if he hadn't called while she was naked, 'What's up?'
Chad whistled, '25 minutes? Congratulate Troy for me, will you?'
'I'm ignoring that,' Gabriella told him, 'Now seriously. What did you want again?'
Chad took a deep breath, 'I want to propose to Taylor,'
'AH!' Gabi shrieked on the other end, 'That's so exciting!'
'Yes. No. Yes. No…not at the moment it's not,'
'Oh,' Gabriella's voice tapered off, 'What's the matter?'
'Well…aside from the fact that she's ignored my first two proposals, I can't figure out which ring to buy,'
'She's ignored…?'
'Don't worry about that. Can you help me with the ring?'
'Sure…' Gabriella said hesitantly, 'I've got the afternoon off work. I've got time,'
'Great,'
'…Chad? So…what were you thinking for the ring? Gold? White gold? A Diamond?'
'Oh no, not you too!' Chad groaned, 'I have no idea what the hell you're saying when you do that,'
Gabriella chuckled, 'Ok. How about you go to the jewellery store and take photos of the rings you were thinking of. Once I get them I'll call you with the verdict,'
'Ok,' Chad said slowly, 'But you're not going to have sex with Troy again while I'm in the store will you? I really need you right now!'
Gabriella laughed again, 'No. You don't have to worry about that. Troy's gone for a meeting with his agent,'
Chad mocked a sigh in relief, 'I'll send the photos over in a minute,'
With that, Chad hung up and downed the remainder of his third coffee. He scooped up his cell phone, and trotted off toward the jewellery store. Operation Mrs Taylor Danforth officially in action.
As he burst back into the jewellery store, the sales assistant appeared again. Didn't the woman ever go on a break?
'Hi!' she greeted cheerily, 'You're back. How can I help you?'
'I'd like to look at your range of platinum diamond rings,' Chad said hesitantly.
Once the words were out of his mouth, he smiled. Damn. That sounded almost smart.
'Sure thing,' the girl said, her china blue eyes widening excitably, 'I'll go get some for you,'
Moments later the girl reappeared clutching a tray of sparkling jewellery. She placed it down in front of him and stepped back with a wide smile.
He pulled out his cell phone, 'Do you mind…I have a friend who lives on the other side of the country. She's helping me pick the ring,'
'Sure,' the girl replied, 'It's no problem,'
Carefully, one by one Chad photographed each ring in the assortment he'd been given and emailed them to Gabi.
Moments after they were done, his phone burst to life.
'Hi Gabi,' he said instantly.
'Hey Chad. I just got the photos,' Gabriella replied, 'These are beautiful,'
'Ok…so which one do you think is the best?'
'Hmm…'
Chad heard clacking in the background and he knew she was on her laptop, looking at the pictures.
'It's tough,' she sighed, 'I don't like the heart cuts. I think Taylor would hate that,'
Chad nodded affirmatively and gestured to the salesgirl to remove the rejected items.
'Ok…what else? Any other thoughts?'
Gabriella laughed, 'Chad. Calm down. I'm getting there. Now, I really like the Emerald Cut but they're a little too bulky for Taylor. She's waving that hand around all day every day when she talks so you need something a little more compact,'
'Ok…' Chad said slowly, 'No Emerald cut,'
He heard more clacking and Gabi's sharp intake of breath.
'What?'
'Oh…Chad,' Gabriella sighed, 'It's…it's perfect,'
'Which one? Which one?' he demanded, 'Which one's perfect?'
'Chad, it's a cushion cut. It's so beautiful. Taylor will love it,'
Chad looked to the salesgirl, 'A cushion cut? Where's the ring with the cushion cut?'
The salesgirl removed the other rings, leaving him with three remaining pieces of jewellery.
'Which cushion cut is it? They all look the same to me,' Chad said, distress clear in his voice.
Gabriella harrumphed at him on the other end, 'Can you put me onto a salesgirl?'
Chad complied quickly and the perky girl behind the counter lit up, 'Hi. Now what were you thinking for your friend?'
The pair of women chattered the salesgirl uttering a lot of, 'Uhu' and 'Of course,'
Finally she handed the phone back to him and plucked out the ring in the middle.
Chad stared down at it and held the phone back up to his ear, 'Gabi. It's beautiful…but are you sure?'
Gabriella sighed dreamily, 'If it's picture is accurate then…yes. It's perfect,'
Chad heard the rumblings of a male voice on other end and Gabriella's soft greeting in reply and he knew he'd lost his helpful source.
'Ok. Thanks for all your help Gabs. I'll talk to you later. Say hi to Troy for me,'
'Sure,'
Chad hung up the phone and with a sudden elation swelling in his chest he handed over his credit card.
Step one of Operation Mrs Taylor Danforth complete.
Now he had a perfect plan. He was going to take her out to a romantic, candle-lit restaurant and he was going to get down on one knee. He had a speech that he'd try to remember otherwise he hoped that he'd be able to stutter out the words, 'Marry' and 'Me' in the correct order.
He had a plan. Maybe that could excuse the way he was floating around the locker room cheerily. He'd gone for a work out with his personal trainer and now he going to get dressed in his carefully chosen outfit before he went on his way to the restaurant to make last minute confirmations with the rest of the staff. After that he was headed back to his apartment to pick up the ring. And then…D-Day.
'Hey Danforth. You joining us for practice some time today?'
His coach's voice was cutting as it echoed across the empty locker room.
'What?' Chad questioned, turning around.
'Practice? Team? Now?' his coach replied obnoxiously.
'But…we don't have practice. I have to…I have things…'
'Danforth. I don't want to hear it. We're playing now and if you want to see the court in the next six months you'll be there,'
Chad groaned, yanking his practice gear out of his locker.
'I'll be there in a minute,' he grumbled.
'Crap. Crap. Crap. I'm late,'
Chad hopped around on one leg yanking his pants up over his hips. He tied up the belt and reached for his shirt.
His teammates began to laugh, watching him running around hysterically.
'What's up Danforth? Feet on fire?' one of the guys jeered as Chad buttoned his shirt up wrong.
'Aarrghh,' he screamed, 'Crap. Going to be late!'
He finally managed to tie his shoelaces with shaking hands and ten minutes late to meet Taylor at the restaurant, bounded out of the room, still cursing.
Twenty minutes later he pulled up outside the restaurant. He glanced at his watch. It was official. Taylor was going to kill him.
'Hi…baby…' he said hesitantly, plastering an overly happy and fake grin on his face.
His girlfriend met him with pursed lips and a stern glare. He grimaced and bent down to kiss her cheek.
'Sorry I'm late…the coach called a practice that he hadn't told me about…I…'
Taylor harrumphed at him and he shrunk back in his seat, 'Have you ordered?' he asked weakly.
She shook her head tightly and he groaned. This may be a long night.
After about an hour she relaxed, and began to offer him a small smile. As the waiters brought dessert for them Taylor even laughed. Now was his moment. His heart began to thud noisily and carefully he lowered himself onto the ground. In the process he knocked half of his cutlery off the table and Taylor looked at him in alarm.
He searched his jacket pockets; patting them, panic driving his every move. Where was it? Why were his pockets empty? Where was the ring?
Home.
He groaned loudly and closed his eyes. Home. That's where the ring was. Sitting in the drawer in his nightstand kept safely for the moment he wanted to propose. Which was now. Except the ring was in the apartment and he was here in the restaurant.
'Are you okay Chad?' Taylor asked, frowning, her eyes wide.
'Uh…' he choked out, 'Yeah…just…dropped my fork,'
'Oh well let me get the waiter to bring you another one,'
Every limb still shaking, Chad got back up onto his seat. He'd screwed it up. Again.
All he wanted was to propose to this girl. He wanted to put the ring on her finger and stop all the other prying eyes in the street. He wanted it and he wanted it now. Did other guys have to go through all of this just to get them to say yes?
'Here hon, here's another fork,' Taylor said, placing a hand on his arm softly, 'Are you sure you're okay?'
Chad gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. This was getting ridiculous.
'Man, if I keep going like this she's never gonna say yes,' Chad whined into the phone that night after they'd returned home from the restaurant.
His best friend was sniggering amusedly on the other end, 'Dude. You forgot the ring,'
'Oh yeah?' Chad replied snidely, 'If you're so great, why haven't you proposed to Gabi yet?'
That sobered Troy up immediately, 'I…uh…uh…well, you know, maybe you just need to seriously concentrate. Just, plan something and uh…'
Chad smirked at the sudden subject change, but the smile soon faded when his failure was brought to light again and he flopped down on his bed in resignation.
'What do I do man? My life is over!'
'No. First, stop spending time with Sharpay. The whole drama queen thing is freaking me out bit. Secondly, maybe you should just abandon that plan. Just…learn some self control first. You don't wanna propose to her while she's naked or anything,'
'You proposed once to Gabi while she was naked didn't you?'
'No!' he cried defensively, 'No I did not...I may have thought about it though. But I didn't say anything,'
Chad groaned, 'This is getting me nowhere!'
'Gabi. I need serious help,'
Taylor paced the length of her study agitatedly. Her hands ran through her once-well groomed curls and she clutched the phone tightly.
'What's up Tay?' her best friends voice replied over the line.
'I think Chad's going to propose,'
Gabriella was silent on the other end before she finally said, 'And…is this a bad thing?'
'No,' Taylor replied, 'No, it's a wonderful thing but…it's huge,'
'Yeah,' Gabriella breathed, 'It is huge. Hey why are you so certain he's going to propose anyway?'
'Gabi, he was down on his knees tonight in the restaurant. But then…I think he chickened out. I don't know. And then the other day we were watching Tomb Raider and he just asked me, 'Do you wanna get married?' just like that…just…casual,'
'Tomb Raider?' Gabriella said, causing Taylor to envisage her screwing up her nose.
'Yeah. Tomb Raider,'
'Really? Not in the bit…'
'Where she's in lycra? And prancing around swinging her backside everywhere? Yeah. That bit,'
'Oh…ew.'
'Yeah. What if that's what marriage with Chad looks like? God, he'll probably spend the birth of his kids watching porn or something,'
'Porn?' Gabriella giggled, 'Tay are you sure you're not…'
'Ok. I'm being dramatic,' Taylor huffed, 'There may be no porn but still…you know what I mean. What do I do if he actually ever gets the question out?'
'You love him right?' Gabriella confirmed, 'Then just…just say yes,'
'Gabi. That's easy for you to say. You have Bolton. He's all…smooth,'
Gabriella snorted, 'Yeah. Silky smooth. Look, you just have to do what you feel is right at the time,'
'Right at the time…' Taylor trailed off, '…yeah. At the time,'
He was officially sick of waiting. Done. Over it. 100%.
She'd waltzed out that morning airy and bright, completely and utterly careless. She had a job that she loved doing, and she had a life that she loved leading. She didn't have a serious case of failure.
The night before had been a complete disaster; he was the first to admit it. But he was Chad Danforth and he wasn't giving up without a fight. Troy suggested that he just went with the flow and didn't formulate any plans. Yeah…that was likely.
He tried to consider his next opportunity. What romantic situation could he place them in? Was the Caribbean too far away?
And then it struck him. He didn't want to wait for a boat to come and pick them up for a trip to the Caribbean. He didn't want to wait for a Troy Bolton-esque romantic situation to occur for him. As a child he never could wait more than five minutes for something he wanted and some things never changed.
Suddenly struck with inspiration Chad leapt up from his bed. He had to do it now!
He shoved his feet into a pair of shoes he could only pray matched the rest of his clothes, grabbed the ring from his drawer, reefed his coat from the hook and bounded out the door. He was going to do this!
Ten minutes later and he was bustling through the lobby of the law firm Taylor worked at.
'I'm looking for Taylor McKessie?' Chad asked the receptionist hesitantly.
'Of course. She's in her office at the moment,'
'Oh…good,'
Chad followed the rabbit warren of hallways until he finally unearthed her office. He rapped his hand on the door, and took a deep breath. His perfectly planned speech looped over and over again in his mind and his heart began to thud against his ribcage furiously.
'Come in,' Taylor's voice sang.
Chad leant down on the handle, cracking the door open slowly.
'Uh…hey Tay,'
His girlfriend spun around upon his hearing his voice and frowned, clearly puzzled by his presence.
'Chad?' she said, 'What…what are you doing here?'
Chad's tongue suddenly felt thick and cottony in his mouth. He couldn't believe he was doing this…
'Uh…' he started awkwardly, 'I…uh…'
'Chad are you okay?'
He held his hand up to stop Taylor's concerned advance and blinked a few times. He could do this. He could.
Gracelessly, Chad fell onto his knees fumbling in his pocket for the box he knew was there.
Finally he located it and thrust it at her. Taylor stumbled back from him, wide eyed.
'What are you doing Chad?' she asked in a high, shrill voice he rarely heard her use.
'Marry me,' he blurted rapidly.
'Chad…' she said warningly.
'No,' he attempted again, taking a deep breath, 'Marry Me,'
Taylor shook her head, 'Chad. No. Come on…'
She rolled her eyes and took a step away from him, closer to her office door.
'Chad, be serious. Get off your knees already,'
She swung open her office door and stalked out into the hallway. Chad, dumbstruck by her rejection stared after her.
No. This was not the way it worked. He'd been dating her since their junior year. This was not what happened when he proposed.
'Taylor!'
He leapt up off the ground and chased after her. Taylor sped up, teetering dangerously in her six-inch heels attempting to flee his long stride.
'Taylor! Slow down!'
His girlfriend didn't even look back as she hurried into the lobby clutching a folder of papers tighter to her chest.
'Taylor!'
He finally caught up with her, snaking his hand around the crook of her elbow, forcing her to come to a stumbly halt. He spun her around and cocked his head to stare at her earnestly.
'Tay. Seriously. What are you doing? Why won't you say yes?' he asked softly.
Taylor folded her arms across her chest and pursed her lips challengingly. Chad cocked his eyebrows at her in reply and in the middle of the busy lobby got down on one knee, causing twitters to erupt from the people around them.
'Chad,' she began condescendingly, before he could get a single word out, 'Why on earth would you want to marry me? Besides, what the hell do we know about marriage?'
Chad smiled at her, 'Nothing. Not a thing,'
'See!' Taylor said triumphantly, 'We know…'
'I'm not done,' Chad interrupted, 'We know nothing about marriage… at the moment. But you…I do know everything about you. I know that you…you love cookies and cream ice cream and that it'll drive you to eat every last bite even when I beg you to save me some… I know that…you have a secret, crazy passion for Gossip Girl no matter how much you try to keep it closeted and could possibly die if you missed an episode,'
Soft snigger began at the curious staff surrounding them and Taylor blushed looking around embarrassedly.
'Chad,' she hissed, 'Be quiet,'
'I know that you talk in your sleep, and that you sometimes wonder what would have happened to your life if you'd never met Gabi. I know…that you have a sister who you would lay your life down for and I know that you're fiercely loyal and passionate when it comes to all your friends. And Tay, I know that you love me and I know that you want to marry me. So…marriage? No. We don't know anything about it at all. But I learnt all of this about you and who's to say that we can't learn as we go?'
Taylor stared him, her eyes round, left speechless for the first time in her life. Chad grinned at her, and bit back a laugh, 'So how 'bout it McKessie? Reckon you could spend the rest of your life with me?'
Taylor blinked and he pulled the velvet box from his pocket once more. All her colleagues, gathered in the lobby sighed collectively and Taylor bit her lip silently.
'Come on Tay,' he encouraged gently.
'Chad…' she said finally, 'Yes. Oh…god. Of course yes,'
The room burst out into loud, congratulatory applause, and Chad slipped the ring on her finger, beaming from ear to ear. She said yes. She finally said yes.
She kissed him soundly, looping her arms around his neck, 'I love you,' she murmured, 'No matter how many times it took for you to get it out,'
'Well…' he conceded, chuckling, 'I knew it would take something big to get you to say yes,'
'Thank god you didn't screw it up,' Taylor smiled.
Chad looked away from her, a faint blush staining his cheeks. They were happy right now. Those stories were better for later…
He hugged her tightly, surrendering completely to the happiness building in his chest. Operation Mrs Taylor Danforth complete!
3 down, 1 to go! Review please, it makes my day!
