In The Spotlight

Epilogue- But Not So Easy to Win

During QNA Season 2

Leafy stood behind the counter in the house she loved. She thought it was funny how her family had once called it small, considering it was at least twice as large as her old one bedroom apartment.

Not to mention it was bigger than both of her parents' homes.

She wasn't cooking. She never was very good at that. Just pacing. She was nervous for her upcoming date.

It was a Monday. President's Day. Leafy liked days like this. Both Firey and herself were off. She heard his voice from the living room.

"Hey, Leafs! Look what's on." He snorted. It wasn't great manners. She didn't care.

"I have to get dressed, so make it quick."

"No problemo."

Leafy joined him on the couch, and the commercial break ended. At first she was confused, but then she recognized the podiums, the room, the screen...

The hosts.

"Welcome back to QNA!"

And with that, they sat there laughing for a good five minutes.

Leafy went to the bathroom to put on her clothes. When Leafy had asked, earlier, what to wear, Firey had just said, "Whatever you like, darling." Which, admittedly, was very sweet- she couldn't recall him ever calling her darling before- but it was entirely unhelpful. She ended up just googling the place they had chosen to eat.

That proved to be a good idea. If she had followed Firey's suggestion, she'd have ended up wearing sweats to the fanciest dining establishment in the state of Iowa.

Although that might not be saying much.

Anyway, after not too long, she was riding shotgun to Des Moines. Over the white noise of the tires against the highway, she said "What's the occasion? Why are we going somewhere so nice?" Firey was a chronic saver. It wasn't like him to spend so much on food.

"I'm tired of cooking." He smiled.

"B.S. You never get tired of cooking."

He laughed a little. "You caught me. It's because we've been dating for a year now. It's our anniversary. Almost."

"Oh god. It's not the exact day, though? Right?" Leafy asked, panicking.

"Yeah, no it isn't."

"Okay, good, because I didn't know we were making this a thing. Like I didn't buy a gift." She said. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I wasn't trying to make it a thing.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, a place called Alba, they sat down and ordered aperol spritz's.

They sipped away and got Brussels sprouts, and Leafy ordered scallops.

Right as Firey finished his pasta, there was a brief break in the chatter between them. The air seemed to almost thicken.

"Are you okay?" Leafy asked, noticing how watery Firey's eyes were getting.

He took a breath. "Everything is wonderful."

The music in the restaurant changed to a sweet love song. Her eyes caught on the dancing flame of the candle between them.

"Leafy," Firey began, getting up from his spot. He moved to the other side of the table, where she sat. "We were thrown together by pure happenstance. But I really am the luckiest person on earth, because I don't know who'd I be without you."

Oh no. Oh no, she wasn't prepared for this. She felt herself get teary.

He got down on one knee, confirming her suspicion. "I have loved getting to know you, and being with you more than anything else I've ever done. Leafy Azalea Mathewson, will you marry me?"