Sequel to Life at the Academy. Final story of Jim and Raphaelle.
When Delbert and Amelia's children are kidnapped, Jim, Raphaelle, and their friends set out to bring them back. But things get complicated when the ransom doesn't consist of gold or w...
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I couldn't believe what was happening. But there he was, down on one knee, holding out an open box with a diamond ring inside.
I involuntarily brought my hand up to cover my mouth. At the moment, I was too shocked to really feel any other emotions.
Jim continued talking.
"I felt something for you the first moment I laid eyes on you, and since then you've changed me for the better. I love you so much, and not only as my girlfriend. You're also my best friend. I want to be with you forever, and I'll always be there for you. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, will you be mine, forever and always?" he asked, beautiful smile lighting up his face.
A single tear of happiness slid down my cheek. I finally recovered just enough to respond. I nodded my head, my hand still covering my mouth, so Jim couldn't see me smiling.
"Really?" he asked, not quite believing me.
I took my hand away from my mouth so he could see my smile.
"Yes! Yes! A hundred times yes!" I exclaimed.
Jim laughed joyously, and I couldn't help but join him. He stood up and lifted me by my waist, spinning me around. When he put me down, he brought my lips to his for a kiss. I was smiling, and I could feel that he was as well. Somehow, this kiss seemed different from all our other kisses. In a way, it felt more real than any of our others. I thought back to our first kiss, and decided that it was even better than that one had been.
When we pulled apart, I rest my forehead against Jim's and closed my eyes, simply enjoying our proximity.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too," Jim said back.
We pulled apart and I looked up into his eyes, unable to get rid of the smile on my face.
"Let's get this ring on your finger," Jim proposed.
He pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it onto the ring finger of my left hand.
"There," he said.
"Jim, this ring is absolutely beautiful!" I exclaimed, admiring it on my finger. "But when did you have time to buy this?"
"Well," he rubbed the back of his neck the way he does when he's embarrassed or nervous, or occasionally admitting something that he had been hiding from me. "Remember when my mom and I were talking before we left to go after Blackmore? I told you she was getting a compass and a telescope for me. Well, that wasn't true. I was telling her that I was planning to propose to you, and she offered to give me her engagement ring," Jim explained.
"So this was your mother's?" I asked, looking at the ring in a new light. I recalled how she had hugged me longer than usual when we'd left and insisted that I be careful. Now her behavior made more sense.
