No Letting Go [Completed]

Thirty-Five

It's been a few weeks since the shooting incident and I haven't heard much from Quinton. Maybe that's because a few days after what happened, they found him, and the gun he used...he's now sitting behind bars somewhere in New York.

It's been tough on Riley. I had to put my feelings aside for her. She looks at me as the strongest guy she knows, and she can't see me show my feelings and breakdown. However when she's not around, I do tend to have moments, but that's it.

She was taken off life support a couple days ago, and finally moved to a room. We're just waiting for her to wake up, which I hope is soon. It's my off day and I'm about to pick Riley up from school, then we're gonna go to the mall to get a special gift that I got for the day that she wakes up.

All has made me realize that I need her, not just want, but need. I'm done with being a "little boy" as she would call me, and be a man. I didn't think I'd have to grow up so quickly at 22, but that's what a kid, and being in love will do to you. But who says we have to grow up that much. I still wanna enjoy life...but I wanna enjoy life with Aaliyah on my arm.

After leaving the mall, we stop by Starbucks, then go to the hospital.

"Hey ladies." I say to the women sitting at the desk that's right across from Aaliyah's room.

"Heyyyy!" They all say in unison. "Hey Riley." One of them says.

"Hi." She says with a smile

"I have caramel frappachinos for everyone"

"Thanks Kap."

"No problem at all. Thank you. For everything that you do....enjoy."

We go to the room, and Aaliyah's still laying there asleep. I sigh before giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Do you have homework?"

"No. You just have to read to me. Like always."

"Wanna do it now?" She nods and takes a book out her backpack and she sits in my lap while I read to her.

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{Aaliyah's POV}

Slowly opening my eyes, I look around. For a second, I though I lost my vision because everything was blurry, but after a few blinks, it got clear, and I realized I'm in a hospital room. Once I gain full consciousness, I feel pain on my side and I groan.

"Aaliyah...." I hear Colin's voice. "Hey, she's up." I hear...and soon I hear the nurse come in. They start talking to me and I really can't answer...my throat is dry and sore, and they know it because they give me some water, which helps.

Colin is also right there by me. "Heeey." He says with a smile, and I smile back at him.

"Riley...where's Riley?" He picks her up and sits her on my bed.

"Hi mommy."

"Hey baby girl." I cup her cheek in my hand. "How long have I been out."

"A few weeks. I'm glad your back." He steps back and lets the nurse and doctor assess me. A few hours later, I'm sitting up being able to talk like normal and everything.

"So where'd all the flowers come from?"

"The family...my teammates...and even some of your family on your mom's side....a side that I've never met."

"It's a long story." He nods. "So what's been happening?"

"Football. Currently 2-0."

"And your little girlfriend."

"Broke it off with her the day after we got you transported to the bay.

"What about Riley, and school?" I say looking over at her. She's sound asleep.

"Doing well. She's got the smarts from her daddy."

"Please. I was smarter than you."

"Yeah, in history...but you couldn't touch me in math though."

"I'll give you that. Which is why I wasn't surprised when I found out you got a degree in business." He laughs.

"Yeah.."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Never leaving my side. The nurse told me y'all were here every single day."

"That's because I love you. I'm in love with you. And seeing how everything transpired hurt me. I didn't know what to do if I lost you. It also made me realize some things."

"Like?"

"Like how I want you...and only you. I was afraid to commit because I really didn't wanna grow up. I'll admit that. I didn't want my life to slow down...but it has to...to a certain extent. I wanted to enjoy all the fame and the fortune without responsibility. I can still enjoy it, but I want to enjoy it with you by my side. I want everyone to say that we're relationship goals." I smile. "I don't know if I'll be ready to get married as soon as you'd like, but I am willing to promise." He reaches into his pocket and hands me a velvet box.

"What's this?"

"Open it." I open the box and it's a ring. A promise ring. It's beautiful.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say much....just promise me forever..."

A tear escapes my eye.

"Baby don't cry."

"Sorry...just for the first time in a while, I can truly say I'm happy...despite the bullet wound in my side." We both laugh.

"You're a soldier. For a second, I thought I was gonna lose you...but you kept fighting."

"I had to...for Riley."

"Just Riley?" He says then smirks.

"Maybe you too." He smiles.

"So what do you say to this whole promise ring thing. I mean, I bought it for you. It cost a fortune...I'm in love with you...I know you're in love with me. We have a kid...we were made for each other." I sit there and let him ramble just to see how long he could go. It was cute.

"Colin."

"Huh?" He says looking up at me.

"Shut up." I smile. He looks down and laughs to himself. "Soooo do I have to put it on, or are you going to?"

He takes the ring out the box and with his left hand, he slides it on my right ring finger.

"This promise ring has a key on it....where's the lock?"

"I have it." He says raising his right hand.

"I love you, Colin Rand Kaepernick."

"And I love you Aaliyah Nicole Andrews. Always."

"And forever." He leans and gives me a kiss.

I'm excited for this. Colin has always been my one true love, no matter how much I wanna deny it, he is. Hell he was the one I allow to take my virginity back then, and from that moment on, I knew there was no turning back. I'm just anxious to see how this goes.