The Way To Steal My Heart

The Ellen Show

Two weeks later

Amanda:

I woke up snuggled into Norman's chest. He was still asleep, so I sat up carefully. Suddenly, I was ripped back down. I let out a little squeak of surprise. Norman's eyes were open, and he was smiling. "Ready for today?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"You're coming with me to the Ellen DeGeneres Show." Norman declared, smiling at me.

"What?" I squeaked, surprised.

"Yeah. Why not?" He stated, pulling my down for a kiss. I smiled against his lips.

...

At the Ellen DeGeneres show, I was sitting in the front row of the crowd. Ellen just got done with Andrew Lincoln. Laughing, she stood up from her desk. Facing the crowd, she gestured to Andrew.

"Let's thank Andrew for being here everyone!" Ellen shouted, earning a huge uproar from the audience. Andrew waved as he left the stage. "Now, let's welcome the Sexiest Redneck in Georgia, Norman Reedus!"

The crowd screamed as Norman walked on stage, dressed in a dark blue suit. He smiled and waved at the crowd, scanning the crowd for me. When I caught his eye, he smiled and winked at me. He sat down in one of Ellen's white chairs.

"So, Mister Reedus, how are you tonight?" Ellen asked, sitting back down.

"Well, kinda nervous." Norman stated, squirming a little.

"Why?" Ellen asked. "I thought you were used to these."

"If you don't mind, Ellen, but I'd like my girlfriend to join me up here. She's a huge fan." Norman said, looking directly at me.

"Of course she can! She has an awesome taste in TV show hosts!" Ellen joked, causing a laugh from the audience. "Come on, hon. I wanna see you." She gestured. Carefully, I got up, my face turning bright red. I walked up the steps, quickly siting down next to Norman. He draped his arm over the back of the chair, resting his hand on my shoulder.

"Well, looks like the Sexiest Redneck in Georgia has finally found a good match!" Ellen declared, smiling at me. "What's your name?"

"Amanda Greene." I simply stated, my face heating up from all the eyes and cameras in my face.

"Well Norman, you're a lucky man." Ellen stated. "Now, Amanda, can I ask you a question?" She asked.

"Depends. And no, you can't have him." I added, wrapping my arm around him. The crowd laughed at my comment.

"Ha ha! I won't take him from you, hon." Ellen declared. "No, my question is how did you two meet?"

Before I could answer, Norman cut in. "We met at a Comic Con. She and her friends were huge fans of the show."

"Well I'm a fan of the show. Why am I not your girlfriend?" Ellen asked, earning a laugh from the audience.

"Well, her and her friends wanted autographs. Just like ever other fan. But her friends were so excited to see me, in particular. Then Amanda comes, and she just has this look of absolute disgust on her face." Norman explained. "So she throws her notebook down. I ask her, 'How are you tonight?' And she snaps, 'fine.' So then I tell her she's unique. I told her that she was the first woman I've met who wasn't excited to see me." Ellen gave me a shocked look.

"You didn't like him?" Ellen demanded, her eyes wide. "What was your first thought when you met him in person?"

"My first thought was, 'what an ego.'" I said, blushing as I earned a huge uproar of laughter from the crowd. Even Ellen laughs.

"Ok ok, continue Norman." Ellen said, wiping her eyes.

"So I give her the autograph. The thoughts that we're going through my head were, 'who was this sexy, beautiful girl? Why didn't she like me?' So, being the naturally curious person I am, I gave her my number with the autograph."

"Did you call him?" Ellen asked me.

"I texted him, yes." I said, smiling.

"Good. Hey, you think you could give it to me?" She whispered loudly to me. The crowd laughed, and so did I.

"No. Sorry, but he's taken." I declare, looking up at Norman he smiled and leaned down, kissing me. The whole crowd went "Aww".

"Dang It! Well, can I ask you something else? Something I'm sure everyone will want to know." Ellen asked. I nodded. "Is he big?"

The whole crowd burst out laughing, and my face turned red. Glancing at Norman, he was hiding his face. But I could see the smile under his hand. Facing the crowd, I cleared my throat.

"For all those who are writing fan fictions about Norman or Daryl," I paused. Glancing down at Norman, I smiled. "He ain't that big."

The whole crowd roared, and Ellen couldn't help but laugh with them. Norman looked at me in shock. After Ellen calmed down, she faced me.

"Well, I'm done writing." Ellen declared, taking a stack of papers and throwing it behind her. The crowd laughed, ad Ellen continued. "How could you say that about your boyfriend? You could cushion it a little bit." She stated, smiling hugely.

Before I could say anything, Norman cut in again. "She isn't my girlfriend." The whole studio is shocked into silence, a few murmurs from the audience the only sound. Even Ellen is silent. I feel my heart break.

"Norman, I was kidding." I whispered, feeling tears start to bead in my eyes.

"No, Amanda isn't my girlfriend. I'm not her boyfriend. I don't want to be her boyfriend. And I don't want people to think you're my girlfriend." Norman declared, standing up. A tear fell. It hurt bad enough that he said it at all, but being in front of other people, on live TV, just made it worse. He was breaking up with me. In front of millions of people.

"Norm..." I choke back a sob. Ellen hands me a Kleenex, which I use to dab my eyes with.

"I don't want people to call Amanda my girlfriend." Norman stated. Then he turned towards me. Before I could say anything, he dropped to one knee, and pulled out a black box. "I want them to call her my wife."

Ellen's face turned from a sad, shocked look to a surprised look. That's exactly how I felt.

"Amanda Jessica Greene, will you marry me?" He asked, opening the black velvet box. He revealed a silver band with a big, square aquamarine gemstone. The band was studded with tiny diamonds. He looked up at me expectantly. Carefully, I stood up. New, happy tears forming. Without thinking, I nodded my head like crazy. Norman took my left hand, and slipped the ring on. I noticed the relieved expression on his face. Once he stood up, I threw myself into his arms. The audience clapped and whooped for us. Ellen clapped, smiling.

"Never scare me like that." I warned, before pulling away and planting a kiss on his lips.