Sorry it's up late, guys, but here you go! Enjoy!
As I'm walking down the stairs, I hear a knock at the door.
"I've got it!" My mom calls.
"Hey, Zach. How are you? Cammie should be right down." I hear my mom say. I continue walking, past the curve, so they can now see me. Zach looks first- then my mom. He smiles, looking me up and down. He's wearing a dark blue polo shirt with khaki pants, and brown flip-flops.
As for me… I'm wearing a long, sleeveless, flowy dress- it's got blues, greens, oranges and red in it- and my coral colored fit-flops. I've got a light shawl with me in case it gets a little chilly.
Zach gives me his hand I take it. I give my mom a one-armed hug.
"See you later, mom." I tell her.
"Have fun." She says, sending me a little wink. I smile at her and then walk out. She closes the door behind me- and locks it, from the sound of it.
"You look great." Zach says.
"Thanks. You do, too." I reply.
"It's more casual-fancy, I guess. Nothing special." He smiles at me. "But I really hope you don't know where we're going, because you dressed perfectly for it."
"I've got my guesses." I wink at him. He pulls me to him and kisses me lightly.
"Come on." He opens the passenger seat door for me and I slide in.
"That's new." He just shrugs and closes the door, then walks around to the other side. He shuts the door behind him, puts his seat belt on and then starts the car.
"Let's go." He starts driving.
I notice a picnic basket in the back seat.
"What's that basket doing there?" I ask Zach. He smirks.
"Our dinner." He replies.
"Did you make it?"
"I did, actually. My mom helped a bit because… well… there are things I can't really do."
"Except make eggs and sandwiches?"
"Hey!" I laugh. "I can cook. And bake… a bit."
"You see?"
"But I did make most of the stuff in there."
"Don't worry, I believe you." I smile up at him.
"Hope you do."
Zach POV
As we get closer to the beach, I notice Cammie put it all together.
I guess I should've blind-folded her… my bad.
"Hey, Zach?" She asks.
"Yeah?" I glance at her.
"Are we going to the beach?" How do I answer? Yes? No? How the heck did you know? Maybe?
"I can't tell you that. Classified information."
"We're either going to the beach or one of those park things near there. I'm guessing the beach."
"Guess what you want. We're almost there, anyway." I swerve around to a different entrance- the one I asked the people who watch the beach if I could set up. To my luck, they agreed.
I know I asked Cam already, but I want to do it right. I know we're still young, but it's just so I know that no matter what happens, whatever might separate us for however long- even a trip somewhere- that she'll come back to me. I want her to know that no matter what, I'll be there for her. Always.
At the same time, I'm afraid she's going to tell me to ask her in a couple of years. I get it, that she might not want to commit completely yet. We're only 17- we've still got lots of time. But I want her- only her- and nobody else.
Liz said that we're like soul mates. That's gotta count for something, right?
I park the car and get out. I get the picnic basket from the back seat and then make my way to Cammie's side, where she already started opening it.
"Hey, hey. I'm doing that." I say as I open the door the rest of the way. She shakes her head at me and laughs. I just smile sweetly at her.
She's so beautiful.
I take Cam's hand in mine and lead her down the path I made. I had picked all different kinds of flowers earlier, and then sprinkled them around me as I walked. I wanted to have a little fun with the spot we're going to eat in. I brought towels with me to lay down there, but I also set up speakers and my iPod- with a playlist special for tonight- so we can dance. I asked her to bring her camera with her, 'cause I know how much she loves taking pictures of the sunset. I purposely wanted us to leave early- 6:30 ish- so we can watch it from the start to the end. I really hope she enjoys it.
After that… maybe around dessert or something… I'm going to ask her.
I hope she says yes.
I hope it doesn't ruin her night.
Cammie POV
He's nervous.
And excited.
I can see it.
I already love what he did with the flowers. We're still walking down the path, thanks to me- but he probably already figured that I'd take my time admiring all of them. What can I say? I love flowers.
But what's got him all worked up?
He's thinking a little too hard. His shoulders aren't as relaxed as they normally are. His eyes keep wandering off, looking at everything and anything. He's also a little fidgety, and that happens when he wants to ask me something. Usually.
What's he got to be nervous about? It's just us, going on a date. On the beach, might I add. I also really love the beach.
Zach POV
She noticed that I'm nervous. She knows.
I need to calm down, let loose.
'Footloose…'
Now I've turned into Cammie.
We walk slowly toward the open area, and where the trail of flowers ends, Cammie stops. I've got the speakers set up to the right of us, little candles spread out and twinkling, and the most perfect view of the water. I step forward and put the basket down. I take the towels out of it and spread them out, glancing at Cammie through the corner of my eye. When I stand back up, she runs to me and flings her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I hug her back and pull her closer to me.
"This is perfect," she whispers in my ear.
"I'm glad you already like it." I whisper back. We pull away from the hug. "Would you like to sit down? I'm just going to get dinner out."
"Need any help?"
"Even if I did, I'm not going to let you do anything."
"Like opening a car door?" She takes her seat on the towel.
"Yup." First I take out the plates and silverware and set them up. Then I take the food out- I already put them in bowls and on plates, so I just need to unwrap them.
I sit down across from Cammie. "This," I point to the noodles, "is one of the spicy noodles my mom makes. She never gave a name to it, so-"
"Spicy noodles, then." I chuckle.
"Yeah, and I made that completely by myself." She laughs. I point to the chicken, "These are just chicken breasts, really, with a teriyaki and soy-sauce gravy. It's spiced a little. And here," I point to the black bowl, "we've got steamed cauliflower and broccoli with this thing called George Washington, I think. Or his name is just part of it…"
"I know what that is, don't worry. It's really good on green beans, too."
"I've had it like that before, too. Kind of like salt in these little packets."
"Yeah, with the red and yellow on them."
"Exactly."
"Can I know what's for dessert?"
"Nope." I say, popping the P. I take her plate. "What would you like?"
"I'll start off with a bit of everything."
"Sure thing."
Cammie POV
We ate in a comfortable silence, every once in a while one of us being caught looking at the other. The food was amazing- which I told Zach- and he almost glowed with pride.
But I still can't help but wonder what he made for dessert…
My guess is the chocolate cake that we both love, but I'm not sure.
Right now, we're just sitting cuddled up together, watching the sunset. I took a few pictures of the sunset and us already. I plan on taking some of those really cool pictures where the wind is blowing, and there's a person standing by the water, and all they are is a black silhouette against the bright sun. And also a few pictures of Zach and I kissing… but that's something else.
My ears almost perk up at which song is now playing. Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade. I've been obsessed with it lately! Ever since Madame Dabney made us dance to it, I've been hooked…
"Do you want to dance?" Zach asks me, almost whispering his question.
"I'd love to," I reply. I really do want to. This was our most romantic dance from that class. He stands and then extends his hand, which I take, and he pulls me up. We move off the towels and stand on the sand.
'Hold your breath…' This is when we're supposed to stop in one of our poses, and then from there, the chorus comes in. '…because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you,' I lift my leg up and swing myself to the side as Zach follows behind me. '…over again.' He takes my left hand in his and we extend them. 'Don't make me change my mind. I won't live to see another day, I swear it's true,' He rests his right hand on my hip, holding me to him, while our left hands come closer to us. '…because a girl like you is impossible to find- you're impossible to find.' He slowly dips me and then kisses me lightly on the lips. We walk together, to the piano, and then I make it as if I fall and he catches me. He rights me, and we pretend to look like we're fixing each other- making the other whole. 'This is not what I intended.' He lifts me up and when my feet touch the ground, he twirls me around a few times. 'I always swore to you I'd never fall apart. You always thought that I was stronger, I may have failed but I have loved you from the start. Oh! So hold your breathe…'
Third person
'…because tonight will be the night that I will far for you, over again.' They dance together, in complete unison. A new type of love blooms between them, one that covers them and makes them completely unaware of anything but the other; that proves that they'll last for however long that they do, individually.
The passion between them grows as the sun slowly sets, as the candles melt and as the song gently fades. They kiss lightly, not wanting to pull away. They look into each other's eyes, their love kindling within them.
Zach takes Cammie's hand, and they sit back down. He takes out dessert- mini chocolate cake- which he sprinkled powdered sugar on top of. They both finish most of their piece, too anxious to dance again. As they get back up and sway to the remainder of I'll Be (by Edwin McCain), Cammie can't help but notice how Zach has become tense again. He tries to calm himself down by getting lost in the music and in Cammie- but it barely soothes him. When the song ends, he takes the smallest step backwards, and reaches his hand into his pocket. He takes out a small, black box, which he opens. He thinks he should get down on one knee- that's what you're supposed to do, right?- but he knows that he doesn't have to, not with Cammie. As long as they both want this- a future together- it doesn't matter how he proposes.
He opens his mouth, to start the question, but Cammie just shushes him, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You already know I'm yours," she whispers to him, "forever and always. So, yes." She lets out a watery laugh and he smiles widely at her. When he slides the ring on her finger, she takes the time to really look at it. She looks up at him. "You got the infinity ring?"
"Well, I knew you loved it, but I didn't want just the simple one. And I know you don't like the one with all the diamonds in it, 'cause it's a little too much, so I was able to get one in the middle of it. I hope it's still okay. I mean, I just thought that this was the ring you really wanted. One time I overheard you telling your mom about it, and I just thought that, well… that you'd like it. I mean, if you do-" Cammie cuts his blabbing off with a kiss.
"It's perfect, Zach, and so are you. I wouldn't change a thing." He smiles and then kisses her again.
"I love you so much, Cammie."
"I love you, too, Zach."
"I don't know what I'd do without you." He hugs her tightly to him, his arms wrapped around her, protecting her and claiming her as his.
Well, that's that. :-)
I'd just like to add something, because I feel the need to do it. I'm not asking you to feel for him or anything, but this is important to me, so...
7 years ago today, Michael Levin, z"l, was killed in the second Lebanon war. He was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ever since he was little, he wanted to move to Israel and be apart of the army. His grandparents were Holocaust survivors.
After his year in Israel, he decided to move here and join the army. He lived here for 5 years.
I did a project on him in school, and I felt like I needed to say something. He's a role-model of mine, and a very big inspiration. There's a documentary on him- A Hero In Heaven. But I don't think it comes with English subtitles for certain parts of it.
"You can't fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all." Michael Levin, z"l.
I really wish I could've met him.