Fortunately the shop was quiet, George handled it himself while Fred "showed me around", it hadn't hurt like I expected it to, it was a good sort of pain. It was awkward to say the least, but I didn't regret it, not in the slightest. I had a shower afterwards, and stood under the running water, just content to stay there and feel safe.
Afterwards, I came out of the bathroom and returned to the bedroom, the bed now neatly made, with my bag sitting on top of the dark covers, I smiled and got changed into jeans and a t-shirt before making my way back to where I saw the kitchen earlier on the way up. Fred was sat on one of the chairs around the table, facing away from me.
I coughed to gain his attention and he hastily shoved his hands into his pockets, "Hey Jess," his ears were turning pink, though I wasn't quite sure why. He stood and turned so that he was facing me, "I, um, how are you?"
Moving closer to him, I took his hands and held them between us, "I'm good." I smile up at him, hoping that seeing that I genuinely meant it may calm his sudden nervousness, "Fred, I love you."
"I love you too," he said, though he seemed confused by the sudden statement.
"And," his curiosity growing with that, "I know that we are really young, but, I think I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Did you just propose to me?" he asks, something behind his words that I couldn't place, so I just nod nervously, looking at him. "Oh for fucks sake!" he yelled and started pacing stressfully.
"I'm sorry, I, um-"
"Could you not have waited like ten minutes?"
"Um…"
"Five even," he ran his hands through his hair. Pulling a small box from his pocket, staring down at it like he wished for it to set alight in his hand, "I-"
"Yes."
"Oh please, you get to propose but I don't?" I raised an eyebrow but let him continue. "Jessica Jean Smith, we haven't really known each other properly all that long, but there is something about you that makes me feel safe, and I want to have that feeling for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"
I look at him for a long time before sighing, "Yes." His face lit up and he hugged me, "but I asked first."
"Forever competitive," he said, I heard the smirk lingering in his voice.
"Forever yours."