Journey Home

Chapter Thirty-Three

When I wake up I feel something on my face. It's a sticky note and I peel it off.

Dear Zoey,
It's my turn to leave you a note! Anyways, I want you to meet me at a specific place (my mother will give you the address) at 2:00 the place is about half and hour away.

See ya then, Austin.

"We are very note loving and violent people." I say with a sigh, pulling myself off the bed. I stare at the old dirty clock hanging on the wall, it reads 1:24.

"Jeez, I slept in," I mumble, but hurry and get ready.

Once I'm done, I go down to her office and get the location. Once I have it, I run out the door and jump in the car.

I'll admit that I was a little worried on the drive, but the speeding was purely for my own pleasure.

"I wonder what this is about?" I mumble to myself since this is sorta random. Then my mind trails off to last night, how could Nancy ydo something like this?

"Whatever" I say turning left down a random road following the directions. I slow to a stop in front of the house marked on the directions.

I look and see a random car-probably Austin's-parked in the driveway of the house. The house was beautiful, it was two stories and had lots of land surrounding it.

"Oh man," I breathe quietly. Living at the ugly old orphanage, I had always loved beautiful houses. This one was lovely.

"Austin!" I yell, searching for him. He comes around the side of the house. He looks nice, but nervous and fidgety. "What are you doing here?" I demand.

"Can I show you this house, Zoey?" he asks instead of answering. "It's nice, isn't it?" His hand jumps to his pocket and he fiddles with something in it. "Like- I mean...it's nice like someone I know..." He says still fiddling with whatever's in his pocket.

"Austin are you ok?" I ask him, starting to get a little nervous myself.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Perfect, in fact," he says,smiling nervously and honestly I start to get a little suspicious.

"Austin, did you steal this house?" I ask him and he looks at me like I'm crazy.

"No, I did not steal the house," he says, rolling his eyes and loosing some of his nervousness and replacing it with annoyance.

LThen what did you-" I start, but he interrupts me.

"Zoey, I'm not a thief anymore," he says. He takes my hand before I can react and starts pulling me into the house, his face lit up enthusiastically.

I don't let go.

I don't hear most of his chatter, but he goes on and on about the house, practically yanking my arm out of my socket. I roll my eyes to myself but can't help but smile.

"Slow down there," I finally wince, letting go.

He just stares at me blankly.

"Austin, this is a great house but this is kinda random. I mean, is this all you wanted or is there something else?" I say,tilting my head to the side and putting hands on my hips.

"Yeah, there was one other thing," he says, rubbing the back of his neck which he doesn't do often - or ever for that matter.

"Austin, you seem a little on edge," I say, putting my hand on his shoulder, starting to get worried now.

"Sorry," he mumbles, grabbing something from his pocket, a little...box? He peeks inside while I back up slowly, worrying about his sanity.

"No, no, wait!" he cries. But instead of chasing after me, he drops to the floor. A little idea gnaws at my mind when I see that he's down on one knee.

"Zoey," he said quietly. "I haven't known you for very long, but I know that you changed my life. I can't live without you so..." Blushing furiously, he pulls notecards out and consults them.

"I have a question to ask," he says and I'm starting to realize what's happening. "Will you marry me?" He asks and I just stand there blank as a slate. He stands up and waves a hand in front of my face.

I snap back and totally lose it. "We've only been together for like three weeks!" I yell, throwing my hands in the air and I can see Austin start to look a little sad.

"So is that a no?" he asks, looking at the floor, and I smile.

Biting his lip and looking dejected - not seeing my smile - he walks out, looking like a dog with his tail between his legs. 

Then I'm on top of him, shrieking and hugging him and (maybe) tearing up a little. "No!" I say emphatically, hugging him.

Startled, he twists around and holds me tightly, kissing the top of my head and both of us are just happy.

Austin lets go first, going to pick up the ring. Gently, he slips it onto my finger. "I love you, Zoey," he says,smiling and I look at the ring and suppress a laugh.

"Lovely ring, how'd you know I loved plastic?" I say, making him roll his eyes.

"Oh stop it, Zoey! I got it from a gas station," he says but I know he didn't pay a penny for it.

"Oh yeah and would that be the gas station that we met at, Mister Cheap," I say, socking him in the arm and laughing.

"Ow," he says, and I roll my eyes. "That did not hurt, you baby," I say but then a thought comes to me.

"Wait...this house... Austin?"

He rubs the back of his neck. "I bought this house for you, yeah. Us." He flashes a smile. "Mister Cheap over here sold the mansion."

I laugh and throw my arms around him again. "You're gonna bruise me," he warns, laughing.

"You really are a baby!" I mock.

"No degrading of the future husband now, silly," he says, kissing my forehead.

"You do that fine yourself."

"What?" he says in a grandiose manner. "The future Mrs. Noble is mistaken."

"That's me!" I cry proudly.

"You are weird," he says, smirking and I smirk back.

"I learned from the best," I say, smiling and walking outside, Austin following me. "I'll be back," I say, getting in the car.

"And where are you going?" he says, smiling and I roll my eyes.

"Getting my dog, thank you." I lift my dog out of the car, cradling him against my chest.

Austin looks at the dog slightly suspiciously. "Oh."

I laugh and cuddle the dog. "Isn't he cute?"

The dog growls.

Austin looks annoyed, but he comes over and pets the dog gingerly. The dog licks his face.

"His name is Carl," I say suddenly. "After...you know."

Austin doesn't look at me, he just continues petting the newly named dog. The dog looks satisfied, practically smiling up at Austin.

Finally Austin says:

"I knew there was a reason I picked you, Zoey."