|Missing Love|

4) Alden's Surprise

*Alden's P.O.V*

"Hey, do you got a minute?" I asked Shelby as I walked up to her as she was working at the blacksmith area.

"Umm... I'm working here and then helping Maggie with something. Why?"

I stayed quiet for a minute but then talked. "I wanted to talk to you about something important."

"Can it wait until I'm done working? Please?" She asked.

I sighed, but nodded. "Yeah, of course."

When she went back to work, I walked over to where a bench was and then sat down.

Lately the past few weeks, I've been thinking about our future and I really wanted to go into the next step in what we have.

But lately I've been trying to talk to her about it and she'll be busy.

Yeah, we'll have alone time at night but sometimes it wouldn't be the perfect moment.

So now I'm wondering is there an actual perfect moment?

Probably not. Maybe I should talk about it with her even when she is busy.

I saw Maggie walked over to her and then I see Lydia walking towards me.

"What's wrong?" She asked me.

"Life." I simply answered.

She nodded before sitting next to me. "What's really on your mind?"

"My future with Shelby."

"You guys aren't fighting, are you?"

I shook my head. "No, we're not fighting. I just want to be able to talk to her about something important. I've been thinking about it lately and I wanna see what she thinks."

"Then just see what she thinks." Lydia shrugged. "I know it's important but once you tell her what's on your mind, she'll stop what she's doing to listen to you."

"And how could I do that?" I wondered.

Lydia smiled lightly. "Just say it out loud. We're in the middle of a messed up world. It's the little things that mean something. Something that people know that it's important."

"Just say it out loud?" I asked and she nodded.

"You're Alden. You work hard and you are a good guy and Shelby knows that. She's in love with you. Do what you have to do."

"How cheesy would it be if I did it right now?" I asked.

Lydia pointed in Shelby's direction. "Go for it."

I looked towards where Shelby was standing and I thought why not.

I could do this.

Then I stood up from the bench that I was sitting on and then looked towards Lydia. "You're right. I can do this. I'm ready. Thanks for the advice, Lydia."

"You got this, Alden." Lydia clapped.

I walked towards where Shelby was standing with Maggie and then I just went for it.

"I wanna take our relationship to the next level." I said.

Shelby looked at me. "What are you talking about?"

"We've had each other for pretty much a year now and I can't just sit back and wait for something like this happen. Especially since it's important."

Shelby looked to be confused with what I'm trying to say.

And now I really have to say what's on my mind.

I stepped closer to her. "Will you marry me?"

"What?" She asked.

I smiled and then grabbed her left hand. "I thought I wasn't going to find love again after Enid died. Then you showed me hope, warmth, and love. You made me feel happy again. Now I want that happiness for the rest of my life. I love you and I want forever with you."

Then after I said that, I got down on my knee and then pulled out the ring that was in my pocket.

I was on a run with Aaron and while we were trying to find some supplies, I stumbled upon a ring in a drawer.

The ring had dirt on it so when we came back to hilltop, I cleaned the dirt off of it and then I fixed it up at the blacksmith station.

And now the ring that I found looks like a different ring.

And it was perfect. Perfect for Shelby.

"So will you please marry me?" I asked again.

Shelby was still shocked by what was happening but I can tell that she was happy.

She had a smile on her face.

"Yes." She nodded, still smiling.

With a smile on my own face, I placed the ring on her left ring finger and then stood up.

"I love you." I said to her before I kissed her softly.

Shelby kissed me back just as softly and then she wrapped her arms around my neck. I brought her close to me just the kiss was deepening.

After a few more seconds, we pulled away from the kiss.

"I love you too."

"Congratulations you guys." Maggie said.

"Thank you." Shelby smiled and I nodded along.

Maggie gave us both a hug and then she was acting all excitedly.

"We have a wedding to plan." Maggie shouted.

"See what you did." Shelby jokingly said and that made me laugh.

"I'm fine with what I did if it means I spend the rest of my life with you."

"Forever?" She asked.

I nodded. "Forever."

Shelby and I watched on as Maggie was telling people at hilltop the great news and we both were having smiles on our faces.

It's true, Shelby and I are forever.

Forever with my favorite person.

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Hey guys, here's another short story.

I tried to work on this whenever I had time and again, I've just been caught up in either school or binge watching Netflix.

I tried to work on this when I was binge watching Netflix.

But Alden proposed to Shelby in this short story.

It's not a romantic proposal.

But I think that's what I was aiming for. Just let the proposal be cheesy and something that can speak Shelby and Alden.

Could Alden maybe have put candles and roses? Probably but is Shelby into that stuff? I don't know.

For some reason, I like the fact that it was just a cheesy proposal where he can speak from his heart while she's in the middle of something and again, they're in a zombie apocalypse so I thought it was perfect.

Things have been rough for me lately but I'm trying my best to get through it.

I have some ideas for the next few short stories.

Just wanted to let you guys know that.

But happy Tuesday and I hope you all are ready for the next short story.