Mr.Brightside

Chapter 7

Clara

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of my childhood bedroom, casting a warm glow over the familiar surroundings. I had always loved this room-its walls covered with posters of my teenage idols, the shelves filled with books I'd read and reread, the cozy quilt my grandmother had made for me. But today, it felt different. It felt like a place from another life, one that I was finally ready to leave behind.

As I lay there next to Jack, I felt a mixture of emotions. Nostalgia, yes, but also a deep sense of peace. Everything was coming together-our plans, our future-and it filled me with a quiet joy. I turned to look at Jack, still sleeping peacefully beside me, his face relaxed and content. My heart swelled with love for him, and I gently brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, savoring the simplicity of the moment.

Morning Conversations

Jack stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he smiled up at me. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning," I replied, leaning down to kiss him. "How did you sleep?"

"Better than ever," he said, stretching lazily. "I think it's this bed. It's like sleeping on a cloud."

I laughed softly. "It's the quilt. My grandma made it. It's like a hug, even when you're sleeping."

He nodded, still half-asleep, and pulled me closer. "I could get used to this."

"So could I," I whispered, resting my head on his chest. "But we should probably get up. We still have to tell your parents, remember?"

"Right," Jack said, his eyes opening fully now as he remembered our plans for the day. "I hope they're as excited as your parents were."

"They will be," I assured him, though a small knot of nervousness tightened in my stomach. His parents had always been kind to me, but there was always a different kind of pressure when it came to winning over your future in-laws.

A Visit to Jack's Parents

After breakfast with my parents-where my mom fussed over us and my dad offered Jack more coffee than he could handle-we packed up and headed to Jack's hometown. The drive was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts as the scenery changed from rolling hills to suburban streets.

Jack's parents lived in a charming house on a quiet cul-de-sac, the kind of place where every lawn was perfectly manicured and every neighbor waved as you drove by. As we pulled into the driveway, I felt a familiar flutter of nerves in my stomach.

"Hey," Jack said, squeezing my hand as he parked the car. "They're going to be thrilled, okay? You have nothing to worry about."

"I know," I said, smiling at him despite the butterflies. "I just want everything to go perfectly."

"It will," he promised, leaning over to kiss me before we stepped out of the car. "Come on, let's go make some more happy news."

We walked up the front steps, hand in hand, and Jack rang the doorbell. His mom opened the door almost immediately, her face lighting up when she saw us.

"Jack! Clara!" she exclaimed, pulling us both into a warm hug. "It's so good to see you!"

"You too, Mrs. Reed," I said, returning her hug.

"Please, Clara, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Diane?" she chided gently, giving me a playful smile. "You're practically family."

Jack and I exchanged a glance, and I couldn't help but smile at the perfect timing of her words.

"Well," Jack said, his voice full of excitement as he took my hand and led me into the living room. "About that..."

We sat down on the couch, and Jack's dad joined us, curious about the announcement. Jack didn't waste any time, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone to show them pictures of the ring and the venue we'd chosen.

"We're engaged," he said simply, the pride and happiness in his voice unmistakable.

For a moment, there was silence as Diane and Mr. Reed took in the news. Then, just as I was starting to worry that they might not be as excited as we hoped, Diane let out a joyful laugh.

"Oh, Jack! Clara! This is wonderful!" she exclaimed, pulling us both into another hug. "I'm so happy for you two!"

"Congratulations," Mr. Reed said, smiling warmly as he shook Jack's hand and then mine. "You've made a great choice, son. Clara, welcome to the family-officially this time."

My heart swelled with relief and happiness as we spent the next few hours talking about our plans, showing them more pictures, and discussing the wedding. Diane immediately started offering suggestions-some of which were actually pretty good-and Mr. Reed gave Jack a few tips on surviving the wedding planning process.

A Quiet Moment

Later that evening, after we had dinner with Jack's parents and shared more stories and laughter, Jack and I took a walk through his old neighborhood. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the quiet streets, and the air was filled with the sounds of crickets and the distant hum of lawnmowers.

As we walked, hand in hand, I felt a deep sense of contentment. Everything was falling into place, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for how smoothly everything had gone so far.

"Jack," I said quietly as we walked. "I'm really happy. I know we've had our challenges, but this-us, our future-I wouldn't trade it for anything."

He stopped walking and turned to face me, his eyes full of love and warmth. "Neither would I, Clara. You're my everything, and I can't wait to start this new chapter with you."

I smiled, feeling tears prickling at the corners of my eyes as he pulled me into his arms. We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other, letting the world fall away.

As the stars began to twinkle above us, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. We had each other, and that was all we needed.

This was the beginning of our forever, and I was ready for every moment of it.

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