Roller Coaster

Forever And Ever And Ever

Natalie's POV

It's been four months since he popped the question, well, more like whispered the question in my ear.

Since then, I had finished my freshman year of college and Ian wrapped up his junior hockey career and moved in with my brother and a couple of the other hockey players in a house not far off campus. 

We hadn't told anyone about our engagement yet, we said we'd wait until the time was right to let everyone know. Right now, I was afraid of the ridicule we would get, afraid of the people who wouldn't approve of getting engaged at nineteen years old. As weird as our town could be, most of the people with big mouths were exactly the kind of people to point their fingers and sneer about teenagers thinking they're ready to get married. And as much as my parents loved Ian, I didn't know how they would feel about an engagement after us being together a year and a half after we started dating. 

"You do know that Eddie and Shelby know every single time you spend the night here, right?" I laughed one Friday night as we sat on my futon and watched TV in my dorm.

"Yea, yea," he laughed, "They know there's no funny business going on, they don't have anything to be worried about."

"Prepare to get grilled tomorrow morning," I laughed.

"I'll sneak in at like eight, there's no way they'll be up," he replied.

"Good point," I said, "Gosh I hate the dorms."

"It gets way too hot in this place," he replied, taking his hat off and waving it like a fan.

"There were a few ads for apartments out, but I didn't know of anyone else who wanted to room together. There was no way I was going to room with Eddie and Shelby, fifteen years was more than enough," I remarked.

"They just want what's best for you," he replied, "and I am thoroughly offended that you didn't want to room with me."

  "I don't know Ian," I sighed, "I mean, I don't even know how my family's going to take us getting engaged, let alone moving in together. I don't know."

"I understand," he said, leaning his head on mine, which was now on his shoulder.

"I love you to death Ian but I don't know if I could put up with you twenty-four seven," I teased.

"I'm slightly offended once again," he remarked.

"I'm kidding you moron," I laughed, kissing his cheek.

"I know," he replied, kissing me in return.

"Shouldn't the Jimmy John's guy be here by now?" I remarked, checking the time on my phone.

"It's not like it's far away," he said.

"Exactly," I grumbled.

"You do know there's a Jimmy John's car outside the dorm right?" he asked, peering out the window behind us.

"Oh yea, I forgot to tell him what room I'm in," I remarked.

"I swear you have the attention span of a goldfish sometimes," he laughed as I grabbed my wallet and walked downstairs.

<<<

"How long do you think we're going to keep this a secret?" Ian asked the next day as we sat in the skate shop at work.

"What?" I asked.

"You know, the whole engagement thing," he replied.

"I don't know," I sighed, "Christmas?"