What could go wrong?

Coming To An End

I dropped the little demon off and came home, texting HK to come back to my house after the date. When she did, she was a bundle of anger. "KATHRYN YOU IMBECILE!!!" She slammed my front door. "You should be thanking me." I said from the couch, looking up from my book. "YOU THREW ME COMPLETELY OFF GUARD YOU SON OF A NUTCRACKER! YOU IDIOT!! YOU JERK!! YOU... I'M RUNNING OUT OF CLEAN THINGS TO CALL YOU!!!" She chucked a pillow at me. "Hey hey hey!! Will you just tell me how it went?" She sat down, still furious. "IT WAS....... ugh I really hate you. It was beautiful and terrific and adventurous." I broke into a smile. "I knew it." She punched my arm. "Don't rub it in."

Graduation was coming up. It was almost the end of senior year, we were all about to go our separate ways. HK was going to Auburn on a softball scholarship, Riane to to North Georgia with me, River was deciding to take up his family business, and Jake... was going to UGA. It was going to be hard, but we were willing to try. For each other.

"I love you." I said to him as people walked up to get their high school diplomas. "I love you too." His fingers tightened around mine. "Promise?" I raised one eyebrow. He rolled his eyes. "Always." I bit my lip. He put his mouth next to ear. "It will work out. I promise. We can do it. Long distance isn't as hard as people make it out to be." I put my head on his shoulder. "I hope you're right."

The thing is, Jake wasn't necessarily right. It was very hard. I was in medical school, studying to be a registered nurse. Everyone knows how time consuming medical school is. Jake was getting his business degree, and we barely saw each other. We were losing each other.

But not everything was terrible. When we saw each other, we made the most out of every moment, and each moment felt like magic. Like it always did. We couldn't seem to stop saying I love you.

One weekend, one of the special weekends when we could be together, he took us back to our hometown. It was sophomore year of college. "I miss being a simple college student. We took our time for granted. We could spend all the time in the world together, now it's all over." We were walking down the sidewalk, the old one I used to walk home on. His thumb caressed mine, our hands intertwined. "You just have to accept that life changes as we grow up. It happens to everyone." I sighed. "I know."

We continued to walk down the street. Someone had put rose petals everywhere. "Where did all these come from?" I asked, blissfully innocent. Jake shrugged. "Dunno. Hey what's that?" He asked, pulling me to a sign. It was about the size of a poster board, put into the ground with a plain wooden stake. On it, it read, "The many things I love about you." I put my hand to my mouth, using my other hand to clutch Jake's. "Oh Jake, I..." "Shush. Let's keep walking." I complied, mostly because it felt like my heart might pop. We kept walking my old usual route to my house. The signs kept going. "Your amazing smile." "Your beautiful laugh." "Your gorgeous eyes." "Your long hair." "Your astounding kindness." "Your hilarious sense of humor." "Your bravery." "Your courage." We were nearing my house, and made it to the end of the street. My house. One last sign that read, "To summarize, I love..." I was already crying as Jake knelt down and said, "You."

He had let go of me, so I was trembling and crying and was a big hot mess. But I didn't care. "Katie, we are high school sweet hearts. I first thought of you romantically on this street. We nearly had our first kiss here. I thought this would be an ideal spot." I rolled my eyes. "Good pick." He narrowed his eyes. "Shush! I have a whole speech planned!" I laughed through all the tears. "I'm sorry I'm sorry. Please, continue." He cleared his throat. "As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, we love each other very much. And I can't go another day without making me yours, and you mine. So, Ms. Kathryn..." He pulled out a small velvet box. "If you will do me the honors of..." "YES!!" I cried, nearly tackling him as we hugged. "You didn't let me finish my question! I could've asked you to merely help me with some chores." I pulled away and punched his arm. "You dork! Fine, finish the question." I was on my knees with him. He scoffed. "It's not the same if you're not standing." I sighed, standing back up. I was smiling, not caring about how he felt this needed to be perfect. He cleared his throat again. "Will do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I grinned from ear to ear. "Yes Mr. Jake. I certainly will." And, like in most romantic movies, we made out in the street.

The wedding was beautiful. After we graduated of course. He looked handsome as ever and even teared up when he first saw me. It wasn't very big, family and friends. HK, Riane, and River were there too. Everyone thought it was beautiful, and my life didn't end there. It seemed to just be getting started.