Every New Beginning... (Chris Evans AU)

100

*Unedited- don't hate me... I think you're gonna love me though ;) 

Opal POV

  Laura grabs my arm, pulling me closer to the stage where I see Spencer pick up the microphone for his turn at karaoke. Some how I've managed to not step foot on the stage tonight, just able to enjoy this time surrounded by those I love.

  I feel a bit more at ease since being in Chris' presence tonight. It certainly feels different than it has the last two days. Maybe I really was overreacting. Or, maybe he's just trying to enjoy the little bit of time we have left together. 

  Standing in place, listening to Spencer sing a beautiful song to his bride to be, is causing my feet to scream bloody murder from my heels. Rather than waiting for me to break one of them, I pull them off of my feet, grasping them together in one hand. 

  "It's so sweet of him to sing this to you," I tell my friend, leaning in closer to her ear so she can hear me more clearly. Laura looks back at me, smiles and gives a little nod, never saying anything. 

  He sings the last line and we all applaud him. It's really precious that he would do something like that, proclaiming before everyone how much he doesn't want to change who Laura is, but just wants to change her name. 

  I start to glance around, realizing that Chris must've gotten caught up with another officer in conversation. "Have you seen Chris?" I question  my friend, letting go of her arm, turning in the opposite direction from her. 

  I feel my heels slip right out of my hand as I witness Chris down on one knee just a couple feet in front of me. I inhale deeply, covering my mouth with my other hand, and take another step towards him. My emotional state having already been on the brink of a breakdown can't handle this and my eyes begin filling already.

  Chris, smiling sweetly, reaches up, taking my left hand in his own. "Opal, nine moths ago our story started. Right over there," he points over to the barstool he occupied while I sang that night, "you gave me a very short answer to an innocent question. I asked you for your number and you said no. In fact, you continuously said no even through the following two weeks as Spencer tried to get it for me from Laura." The crowd laughs as I toss a glance over to Laura who stands beside Rae and Lily, each clasping each other's hands. "But, the universe or fate, or really amazing karma, brought us together again. I finally," he emphasizes the word finally, causing me to roll my eyes, "wore you down and left Jacksonville with your phone number. But what you may not realize is even though I left with your number, my heart stayed behind at Magnolia." My chest shudders, taking a breath at his admission. "I love every part of you that I've been lucky enough to see. I know that I will love every part of you for the rest of my life." His smile widens, reaching his eyes. "You make loving you easy, Ope. And I want to do it forever."

  I feel the tears falling against my cheeks now.

  He pulls the blue velvet box out of his jacket pocket. The same box I found months ago in his closet, assuming he had previously been engaged. That familiar sense of relief filling my chest, I watch him open it, holding it out in front of me. "Will you, Opal Lillian Lucas, continue to be my whole world? Wake up beside me, daily? Take care of each other when we're both too stubborn to do it ourselves?" I can't help but giggle, knowing how incredibly stubborn we both are. "Let me love you, every bit of you, for the rest of my life. Ope, will you marry me?"

  Most of my life has been spent being unworthy of love. It's what happens when both of your parents decide at the age of four they want nothing more to do with you. It's what happens when men take what they want from you and leave you wondering why you weren't good enough to keep them interested.