Stole My Heart 💕

26 - Be my girlfriend

The auditorium stood still, its silence a heavy presence as Nick prepared for what was to be the most vulnerable moment of his life. He had always been the confident senior, the one with the easy smile and quick wit, but now, as he stood at the center of the stage, a different kind of tension gripped him. This was no longer about being the charming, untouchable guy he had once been. This was about putting his heart on the line for the one person who had managed to break down the walls he'd carefully built up over the years—Candice.

The note he had left on her desk earlier that day was simple, yet it carried everything he wanted to say: "Come to the Auditorium." He didn't know how she'd react, but he had to take this chance. He couldn't let their story end on the unresolved, painful note it had been left on after their last encounter. He had changed, and he was ready to show her that.

He had spoken to Blake, of course—Nick knew that the friendship Candice shared with him meant everything. Blake had been hesitant, protective of Candice, but after some careful words, Nick had convinced him. His message to Blake was clear: he wouldn't hurt her again. Not if he could help it.

As he adjusted the microphone, Nick tried to calm his racing heart, hoping that the song he had chosen would speak louder than words. It wasn't like him to put himself out there like this, but for Candice, he was willing to face every ounce of discomfort. Every ounce of fear. The auditorium was empty, save for him, but the air felt thick with anticipation. He could hear the echo of his own breath and the thundering beat of his pulse. The minutes seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Then, the door creaked open.

Candice stepped inside, her presence lighting up the room despite the dim lighting. Her eyes scanned the space, and when they landed on him, Nick's heart nearly stopped. It felt like time had frozen. For a brief, breathless moment, it was just the two of them, the tension between them palpable. His voice faltered as he began to sing, the weight of unspoken emotions spilling out with every word.

"When you talk
Without knowing, I look at you
When you brightly smile, I start to smile too
When you're walking, I'm walking behind you
When you shyly sing, I'm humming along too"

The song was a confession—an open letter to her soul. He sang with every fiber of his being, each word carrying the weight of all his feelings for her. The words were raw, unfiltered, and full of the love and regret he could no longer keep hidden.

"I didn't know I'd be like this
That you'd become my everything
Your happiness, your sadness
I didn't know everything about you would be mine."

As the final verse reached its climax, Nick poured every last drop of vulnerability into it.

"I like you, I love you
You are my everything
Will you accept my heart?"

The room fell into a heavy, aching silence when the song ended. Nick didn't know if he had said enough. He didn't know if she would even consider his plea. His legs felt unsteady as he stepped down from the stage, his eyes never leaving hers. He moved toward her, and when he finally stood in front of her, his heart raced painfully against his ribcage.

"Candice," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You mean everything to me. I know I've made mistakes, but I'll spend every day making it up to you if you'll let me."

His hand reached for hers, trembling with the weight of his hopes and fears. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, with a hesitant yet determined motion, he gently led her up to the stage, the place where he had just bared his soul.

Dropping to one knee, Nick opened a small box he had kept hidden in his pocket, revealing a simple, delicate ring. His heart thudded in his chest as he looked up at her, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside him. "Candice, my baby doll... You're the light in my life, the reason I smile, the reason I wake up every morning. I don't want to spend another day without you knowing how much you mean to me. Will you be my girlfriend?"