The Girl Next Door

Chapter 37

Dove's pov:

Ivy brought me home around 6 pm. I can't wait for my anniversary surprise. What is he going to do?

As I was finishing that thought River came into my room and told me to get in the car.

"Where are we going?" I said as she blindfolded me

"You'll see," She said

"River I don't feel safe."

"Well that's not my problem, now is it?"

"Who's driving? It better not be you."

"Don't worry about who's driving, all you need to know is that they have a license and are able to drive."

I sit in the car with a blindfold on my face. Am I seriously getting kidnaped by my sister?

After about 15 minutes the car stopped and River walked me to the middle of wherever I was and took off the blind fold.

Oh. My. God.

Standing in front of me was my beloved boyfriend holding a rose standing in front of a campsite similar to the one from our first date.

"Happy anniversary! Do you like i-" I interrupted him with a kiss

"I love you so much."

"I love you." He said "I wanted to recreate our first date and guess what,"

"What?"

"There's a 90% chance of rain tonight."

"Wait really?" I asked

"Yeah, which is perfect."

"How did you even do all this?"

"Hm? I had Lucas, River and Avery help me set up today at 12 and had Ivy take you out and distract you, then I had Avery drive you here but had River get you out of the house so you wouldn't catch on."He explained

"Were you Jordan?"

"Yep"

"Wow."

"Also I hope you don't mind, I didn't get you anything."

"Shit I left my gift at home." I said disappointed

"No you didn't, and before you ask why I haven't left already, here" River said handing me the bag my gift was in

"Oh, thank you River" I said

"Okay I'm leaving now."

"Here you go," I say giving him the gift

He opens it and just looks at the flowers, he seemed confused so I decided to clear it up for him.

"Remember when I disappeared for 10 minutes on our first date?" I asked

"Yeah, you scared the shit out of me,"

"Well these are the flowers I picked at this park on our first date when I had disappeared. I knew from that moment that I needed something to remember that day."

"Babe, are you serious? This is the best, most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me." He said leaning down and to kiss me

"I love you," I whispered in his ear

"I love you," He replied

After I gave him the gift we ate some snacks and told stories.

"I remember on my move here I saw you on a run and I literally fell in love with you but I told myself I didn't because I was with Brody." Asher said

"Really? I remember when I came to your house with my mom on the first day you moved I saw you and thought you were cute. Then when your mom invited us for dinner I got excited and when I walked in for dinner and saw Brody and found out you were with him my heart literally sank." I told him

We told stories for another hour until it was about 1 am then we went to sleep. I was woken up by Asher at around 4 am though. It was raining.

We started running through the rain like we did on our first date and shared a passionate kiss.

Moments later Asher got a phone call.

He answered and started talking to whoever was on the whone walking away from me. What was he hiding? Who was calling him at 4 am?

Narrators pov:

Asher got a call at 4 am but who could it be? Lucas. Asher had originally had a surprise for Dove.

Asher's pov:

"Do you want me to bring it now?" Lucas said

"Yeah, it's the perfect time." I replied

"Where do I bring it?"

"My place, no one's home"

Narrators pov:

What could he possibly be talking about? Dove was immensely confused.

Asher went back to Dove after he had finished texting Lucas. Dove had decided to let go of who he was calling and decided to trust him.

"Remember what we did now?" Asher said

"We went to your place,"

"So let's go,"

They walked home in the rain but when they got to his doorstep Lucas was standing there.

"Lucas? What are you doing here?" Dove asked

Lucas ignored, instead he pulled what looked like a small 2 by 2 box and handed it to Asher.

Asher grabbed the box and turned around holding the box behind him.

"Dove Starling, you are the most beautiful, considerate, and kind human I have ever met. You have helped me so much over this past year. You have reminded me what happiness feels like. You have reminded me of my worth. You have picked up my broken pieces and put them together." Asher said now slowly kneeling down and going on one knee. "I love you and I want to keep loving you for the rest of my life. Dove Starling, will you marry me?"

Dove was speechless. She just stood there.

"YES YES YES YES!" She screamed out of nowhere

She leaned into Asher and they shared a long kiss and they lived happily ever after.

Now that's how every love story ends but it's too cliche for me. Here's what really happened.

Rewind

Dove's pov:

Moments later Asher got a phone call.

Asher's pov:

I was running in the rain with Dove until I got a phone call. It was from Avery.

"Asher," Avery said, I could hear her trying not to sob

"Avery what's wrong?"

"Mom and dad are gone."

"What? What do you mean?"

"They got into a car accident on the drive back from the business trip."

"They aren't supposed to be in their way back until tomorrow though," I said trying to make sense of the situation

"Their work ended early." Avery said and she just bursted out sobbing.

"I'll be home soon, give me an hour."

My parents are gone. I can't believe it. This doesn't feel real.

As I was processing the information I started to cry. Dove came running to my rescue.

"Babe whats wrong? Who was that?" She said

"It was Avery. My parents are gone." I started to sob "Avery is home alone, we have to go home."

Dove stopped me and gave me a long hug. Then we went home.

Narrator's pov:

His life changed forever in a second but not the way we all thought it would.