Here's To Hoping (One Direction)

Epilogue

Epilogue

Three Years Later

            “Audrey! C’mon before we’re late! You know how Jessica gets when we aren’t on time.” Niall yells from his spot on the couch. I roll my eyes as I put on the rest of my jewelry. When I’m done, I glance into the mirror. I take in my simple yellow strapless sun dress. I had just bought it the other day with Jess. When I saw it on the rack, I knew I had to have it.

            I stare at my reflection as I smooth down my dress. The sunlight streaming in from the window catches on the ring that is on my left hand and causes a strip of light to shine on the wall. Looking down at the ring, I smile at the memory.

            Only a month ago, Niall had proposed. He had come over that night so we could watch movies and just hang out on the couch like usual. I could tell that he had been nervous all night though. He was tripping over himself like he had the very first time we met. We were sitting on the couch when he pulled out a small black box.

            “What’s that?” I had asked him. I thought I had known, but I wasn’t sure.

            “You know I love you, right? You’re my whole world and I’d do anything for you no matter what. I’m always here when you need something.” He said to me. “But you see there’s also something I need from you. I need for you to be by my side for the rest of our lives. I need for you to be the one I have a family with, to grow old with. I need for you to be my wife, which is if you want to.”

            “Niall, are you asking what I think you’re asking..?” Butterflies erupted in my stomach. He got off the couch and kneeled in front of me. He opened the box and held it up to my face. I looked down at the ring and saw it was absolutely amazing; it was simple yet brilliant. The lone diamond was perched on top of a slender sliver band and shined like nothing I had ever seen before.

            “Audrey Shanklin, will you marry me?” He asked me.

            It took me a moment, but I was finally able to speak. “Yes, of course I will!”

            A huge grin broke out on his face as he took in my words. Grabbing my left hand, he slipped the ring on my finger. Once it was on, I tackled him to the ground and kissed him. He had just made me the happiest girl in the world.

            Still smiling about the memory, I hear Niall walk into our bedroom we now share. He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my middle. He sits his chin on my shoulder and looks at our reflection.

            “You look beautiful.” He tells me.

            “Thank you.” I smile. I turn around in his arms and look him in the eyes. Giving him a quick peck, I break free. “I guess I’m ready.”

            “Finally!” He says. I roll my eyes as I grab my shoes and put my feet in them. “Now come on, ‘Arry’s already texted me three times asking where we are.”

            “Fine, fine. I don’t know what the rush is anyway. It’s only dinner.” I say as I follow him out the front door of our apartment. After I graduated from APSU back in Nashville, I moved out to L.A. to be with Jess and the guys.

            When we get to the white Jeep Wrangler that Niall bought me for my twenty-third birthday, he opens my door and then hops into the driver’s side. I glance at the clock on my dash and see that we’re ten minutes late. Whoops.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

            Fifteen minutes later, we pull into Harry and Jessica’s driveway. Niall parks the Jeep and we walk in. I hear laughing, so I grab Niall’s hand and pull in the direction of the noise. On our way to the living room, I look at the photo’s hanging in the hall. There are pictures of the boys, a few of Jess and me from high school and college, and a group photo of all of us after the guys found out their third album went triple-platinum. In the very middle of all the frames is Harry and Jessica’s wedding day photo. Neither of them was looking at the camera, instead they were staring at each other. Both of them were glowing with excitement. I still couldn’t believe that was only five months ago.