Let Yourself Fall // sequel to My Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 108.

ETHANS POV:

"Wait, what?" I ask, wanting to make sure I heard correctly.

"You need to propose." he repeats as if it was the most normal and obvious thing in the world.

"Excuse me?" I ask, not knowing what to think of this.

"Well, if what you say is true.. That you want her forever and that you don't want to leave her feeling scared or alone, that you love her.." He trails off.

"But aren't we too young?" I ask.

"You're too young to get married, not to get engaged."

"But how would I get a ring?"

"Why are you thinking of reasons not to?" He asks in a tone that mentally slaps me in the face.

"I can't, I can't do that." I say.

"Ethan," he starts as I brace myself.

"Don't, I wanted to propose somewhere special that would mean a lot. I can't do it here.. Maybe I can next year, I just can't now. I'm fifteen, the promise ring was hard enough. We have that, I need something else." I tell him.

"I dunno, Ethan. What about that box you told me about?" He asks.

The box.

PAISLEYS POV:

I wander downstairs with this thought lingering in the back of my head. I turn sixteen tomorrow. I don't care much for my birthday anymore, it doesn't seem right. Birthdays were always about close family- usually my mum and I, and since I didn't have that there's no point.

Then I realise something. I have a new family. Jai, Chris, Christina, Jye.. Ethan.

Ethan.

Then I also have my cousins. I don't see them much, but Khloe, Anna and I are definitely much closer now. I'm surprised that Anna has adjusted to the idea of Ethan Karpathy, Jai Waetford and Chris Lanzon being in the same room as her, let alone being friends with her and one of them dating her cousin. Maybe I do bring something good. Everyone is sitting on the couch besides Chris and Ethan. The others look up and see me, smiling up at me.

"Hey," Anna calls.

"Morning." I call back, walking over to join them on the couch.

"Chris and Ethan have gone for some reason, they said they would be back in like an hour." Khloe tells me.

"All good."

"Maybe you should go back to bed" Jai laughs.

"Would that be alright?" I ask, realising how tired I really feel.

"Of course, we'll get Ethan to wake you up when he gets home." Anna says.

"Okay, thanks." I reply, yawning again and turning back around.

Once I reach my room, I don't bother changing. I flop on my bed and fall fast asleep.
When I wake up, it's to someone stroking my hair. I try to open my eyes but they feel droopy and heavy, I try to sit up but a sharp pain behind my eyes and nose stops me. My throat feels clogged and I know I'm definitely sick.

"Stay down, I have tea." I hear a voice which I know is Ethan say. He places a mug on the side cupboard and kneels by the side of the bed , resting his arms on the mattress and his chin on his arms.

"Do I look as bad as I feel?" I ask, surprised at how gross my voice sounds.

"Does it make me a bad boyfriend if I say yes..?" He smirks.

"Don't worry, it looks like a twenty four hour thing." he adds, smiling softly, making a warm, comforting feeling spread through me.

"You don't have to stay here with me." I tell him.

"I want to stay here with you." he says, standing up. He takes off his shoes and climbs onto the bed and over me. He wraps an arm over me and holds me tight, tickling my neck with his nose.

"Stop, I'm probably contagious." I tell him, trying not to laugh because I'll start coughing.

"Oh, Paisley. I'd catch a cold from you if it meant you smiling. You should know that." he replies.

Smooth.

"I am 100%, undeniably in love with you." I sigh, snuggling down into the covers.

"I'm 150%." he replies, tightening his arm around me.

"That's not even a possible percentage." I say, slowly starting to drift off again.

"Well aren't you just a Ms Smarty pants then, aren't you? I told you I wouldn't affect your grades, right?" He teases, starting to tickle my stomach.

"No, no, Ethan, stop." I giggle, trying to breathe properly.

"Nope." he says, popping the P and slipping his fingers just under my shirt, tickling my bare stomach.

"Ethan, I can't breathe." I laugh, laying flat on my back, trying to get air into my lungs. He sighs and flops on his back next to me. He grabs my hand which was at my side and squeezes it tight. We lay there, staring at the roof as I'm trying to catch my breath back. I feel so terrible.

"Ethan, I just want to sleep. I want to feel better for tomor... When I wake up." I trail off, not wanting to give him any hints on my birthday.

"Don't fuck with me, I know what tomorrow is." he laughs softly.

"Please.. Please don't do anything." I sigh.

"You know I can't do that." he teases, turning his head towards me, I keep staring at the ceiling.

"Ethan."

"We'll see." Is all he says.

I turn over on my side and slide my legs under the covers again. Ethan tries to stop me but I slap his arm gently away.

"No, I want to sleep." I whine.

"But, baby," he starts.

"Sleep with me, then." I say before he can continue, cringing at what I just said.

"Don't have to ask me twice." he says. I turn my head around to look at him, finding a crazy smirk on his face.

"Fuck off." I laugh, turning back around and snuggling further down.

I feel Ethan doing the same as his arm wraps around me again. In a matter of seconds, I drift off into sleep. I guess I'll find out tomorrow what he has planned for me.