Aria's Story

~ Chapter 25 ~

**Flashback**

The months and days I have been with Hunter have been the best and he means more to me than anything else in the world. If I had a flower for every time I think of him, I could walk forever in my garden. He's the kind of guy who makes sure you're okay and who shows you how much he loves you in every way possible. Words cannot explain how much he really means to me. He's literally my world and I do not know who I would be without him by my side. I want to wake up with him by my side every morning, telling me good morning and kissing me on the forehead, and then cooking us a nice breakfast where we eat together while talking our hearts off. I want to know he's mine and always will be mine. I want to know he'll always be my dork and I want to know that I will always be his princess. I want us to last forever. He means that much to me. I need him in my life.

Hunter took me out to eat for our anniversary and he surprised me with a bunch load of my favorite chocolates and my favorite kind of flowers. He handed me them with a big smile on his face as he reached down and kissed me on the lips, telling me he loves me afterwards. The restaurant we're at is the same restaurant we went to when we first met and when I realized I had fallen for him. I told him that, too, and he said that was why he brought me here.

After that long, and beautiful dinner we had that was filled with savory foods and fresh palatable smoothies, we went back into his car and headed onto the highway where he brought me to the place where we went not too long ago. The random side part of the highway, a little out of town, where you could clearly see the trees growing more and more each time we come. This is the place we first kissed and first agreed to date. This was our place.

"Aria," Hunter says to me as he reaches his hands over towards me and puts his hands on my cheeks in a sort of embrace, "You are my princess and I love you so very much," He leans in and gives me a sweet and gentle kiss. I kiss him back with as much compassion as I can, "I brought you here for a reason and I'm going to show you the reason in just a minute."

He suddenly pulls away from me and pulls out a single piece of paper from his jacket pocket. He looks at me with a smile that literally makes my heart melt and he starts reading off of the paper, "I met you a while back ago and you instantly took my heart. Without meaning to, I fell for you and it was like I couldn't get you out of my head. After many and many long years, I finally got the courage to ask you out. And now we're together," He steps closer to me and I can feel his warmth on me, "You will always have me by your side, on your darkest and your brightest days, and I will never, ever leave you. You are mine and I never want to lose you."

I knew he had more to say but I step on his feet and reach up and kiss him on the lips, putting my hands immediately around his shoulders. He smiles down at me and spins me around, making me squeal in happiness. "I love you too, my wonderful dork."

Hunter lets me go and he starts drawing something into the sand near us. When he finishes, I look at the words and start to read it, "Will you please go to prom with me, my princess?"

My eyes widen as everything starts to go in slow motion. I start to jump and down before running and giving him a huge hug while screaming, "Yes!" After I finishing hugging him, I reach up and put my lips to his in pure excitement. He grins at me while picking me up and putting me in his arms while looking into my eyes. I look back at him and I give him a huge smile.

**Flashback Ends**

There were three words that stuck with me throughout that whole night and I can still remember it so clearly:

You are mine.