The One That Got Away.

Chapter 13: Surprises.

I waited on the doorstep for about 5 minutes before I noticed that there was yet, another blue letter on the doormat. Without hesitating, I opened it.

"The door is unlocked, so no need to knock. I want you to go upstairs, and then go into my room. Then, I want you to open up the closet door, in there you'll find a surprise. After you find the surprise, I want you to sit on my bed, and wait. I'll be up shortly."

My curiosity got the best of me, so I opened the door and did exactly what Eric said. 

When I opened the closet door, I was shocked at what I found. There was a tiny little kitten! Attached to it's color was a note.

"Thought that your cat could use a friend. :) 

Love Eric."

What the heck is going on? Is he trying to tell me something? Did I forget that it was my birthday again? Oh God, is it his birthday?!

I sat down on the bed. I waited, and waited, and waited. I got super tired of waiting, (literally) so I ended up falling asleep.

When I woke up, I nearly wet myself I was so frightened.

"Jesus Eric you scared the crap out of me!" I yelled.

"Well it's nice seeing you too Avery," Said Eric laughing at me.

"It's not funny!"

"It is very funny. So, what did you think of my little set up?" Asked Eric.

"I loved it! But what the heck is it for???" I asked.

Eric grabbed my hand.

"Come downstairs." He said.

"Eric just tell meee!" I pleaded.

"Come downstairsss!" He demanded, ignoring my plead.

I followed Eric down the stairs and was really confused with our surroundings.

"Why is it so dark down here?" I asked.

The lights flickered on.

"SURPRISE!!!" Yelled a group of people. 

There was Eric's mom, his grandparents, my dad, and my grandparents. I was sure that it wasn't my birthday considering that Eric would've said happy birthday to me when I was in his room. 

Eric sat me down in a chair and stood in front of me, handing me a box.

"Don't open it yet." Said Eric.

He got down on his left knee, and was holding a small blue fuzzy box in his hands.

Oh God oh God oh God oh God

Think about it... Our closest family is here, he did all these special things for me without me knowing why, and here he is on his LEFT knee! OH MY GOSH IS HE PROPOSING?!

"Eric, Eric please stand up Eric you're not proposing Eric please please please stand up Eric no" I started panicking. 

"Avery, calm down just listen for a second okay?" Said Eric.

I was breathing really heavily, and trying not to freak out.

"Avery, I know I've told you this a million times, but I am madly in love with you. I have been since we were kids. Those years that you were gone were Hell for me. I had nobody to turn to, to talk to, to laugh with. You were the only person that I wanted to spend time with, and you'll always be the only person that I'll ever want to spend time with. I don't know that we'll be together for the rest of our lives, and I don't know that we won't. But all I know now is that you're the only girl that I love."

I couldn't help it. I started bursting into tears. But I covered my mouth so that I wouldn't be too loud so that he could finish he speech.

"You saved my life Avery. If you never made those boys leave me alone in 3rd grade, then we never would've became friends. And for all I know I probably wouldn't ever have any friends. So Avery, no this is not a proposal."

I sighed in relief. 

"This is a promise. A promise that with the time that we're together, we will be loyal to each other. No cheating, no flirting with other people. Promise that we'll always be honest with each other. Whether it's bad, good, or something we're ashamed of. Promise that we'll always stick to each others side. Avery, do you promise?" Asked Eric opening the box. 

"Eric of course I promise!" I held out my left hand.

When I actually got a good look at the ring, I almost lost full control of myself. It was a ring that we made when we were kids. 

It was back in 4th grade, when we were 10.

"Um, excuse me, Mrs. Johnson, could Eric and I have a few wads of your string?" I asked shyly.

"Of course sweetie. Take all of it if you want." 

I didn't hesitate. 

I took all of Mrs. Johnson's string and then skipped back to my desk.

"What's that?" Eric asked.

"It's something for after school." I said with a smile.

When the day ended, Eric and I raced all the way to the treehouse. When we got there, I pulled the wads of string out of my backpack and laid them down on the ground.

"So are you going to tell me what these are for?" Eric asked.

"We're going to make friendship rings!" I said.

"Why?"

"Because, that way we'll always have a little piece of each other wherever we go." I said.

"Okay" Said Eric.

We wrapped a bunch of string around our fingers to measure the size, and then we started braiding the string. When we were finished, we gave each other the rings that we made.

"Never lose these okay?" I said.

"Okay," Responded Eric.

I don't remember how I lost mine, but I'm glad that Eric had it.

"Eric, how on Earth did you find this?" I yelled

"You left it in the treasure chest before you went away. I still have mine on. See?" Eric showed me his left hand.

That was the best day of my life. I know I say that a lot, but it was.