The Best Man {Nate Ruess Love Story}

Nate's POV.

There we were, me and Ryanne, just sitting under a willow tree, we called "Our Tree", near the lake's bank, the tree's leaves were so long that it can almost touch ground, making a private little room for me and her. We love hanging out under this willow, this is where we share all our secrets and heartbreaks, pain and promises we have told each other throughout our 13 years of friendship. This is our little piece of heaven. Our little secret garden. A place very special for both of us.

It was one lazy afternoon in Glendale, Arizona, the sun was shinning and the birds were chirping and we were just hanging around, talking about our future, like we had any clue of what's really out there for us.

"I can't believe I got into Harvard, I've been dreaming about this day for forever. And now its finally happening." Ryanne gushed, still in disbelief that she's going to her dream college. I smiled.

"Yeah me too. I'm so proud of you Ry." I tell her. Making her smile, showing off her cute dimples, "Thanks Nate, it really means a lot to me." she said giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"But Harvad is at Massachusetts right?" I asked. She nodded in reply, "Yup. Why?"

"Do you realize how far Massachusetts is from Arizona? That's like almost the whole country." I tell her. She pouted. God she's so cute when she pouts.

"Awww... You're gonna miss me aren't you Nate." she teasingly asked. I rolled my eyes, but nodded anyway. "Of course I will Ryanne. You're my best friend. You've always been there since the first day we met. Glendale would not be the same without you." I tell her, making her pout even more. "Why are you already saying these things Nate. We still have 2 full weeks togther, before I have to go." she said. I sighed and nodded. "I know. Its just that thinking about it makes me miss you already." I confessed.

She smiled. "Dont worry Ruess, I'll come every holiday, like on Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year and maybe on Halloweens too." she replied.

"You better Chase, or eles I'll go to Massachusetts and drag your ass right back home." I tell her making her giggle. "You sound just like my dad!" she said in between her laughs. I smiled.

"I bet Riley's been bragging about you to his fellow firefighters already." I said, knowing her father quite well.

Ryanne laughed even harder, nodding her head. "Oh my God. Yes!! All day!! its embarassing!!"

I chuckled. "C'mon Ry, you know your dad's just super proud of you. How about Ann? what did she say?" I said, asking about her mom.

"Yeah well, she called, she's still in L.A. but she said she'd be here as soon as she can." she replied with a shrug. I nodded. "Well, Sam and I are planning to branch out of Nevergonnascore and start a band of our own." I shared, "Really? Good for you." she replied,

"Thanks."

"So I guess you really are gonna persue this whole music thing huh?" she asked, I shurugged. "I have to Ry, its the only thing I'm good at, and its the only thing I really wanna do." I replied. I see her slowly nodding, "Well I'd be your biggest fan. And I know you'll be a great musician." said Ryanne, making me smile. And for a while just stared at her, wondering why I ever let her go. She was mine 3 years ago but somewhere along the way, I messed up and ended up losing her. Every day I wish I can just turn back time and win her back.

"What?!" she asked, cutting me from my deep thoughts, I shook my head, "Nothing. Just thinking." She rolled her eyes. Making me smile. Again.

"Just promise me you won't fall in love with some college douchebag ok." I said, making her burst out in laughter. "What do you mean by that Ruess??"

"You know. College dudes have this certain charm in them, they just give you one little wink and suddenly its love at first sight." I tried explaing, but it only made her laugh even harder. Now its my turn to roll my eyes again.

"Oh Nate. You know I don't believe in ""Love at first sight"" its stupid." she explained.

"Well. I liked you the moment I first saw you." I said.

"13 years ago? Back when we were 5? And besides, you liked me, and like and love are two very different things." said Ryanne.

"Why do you find believing in love so hard?!" I said, throwing my hands up.

"Its easy for you because your parents have a movie-like relationship. I mean, they first met somewhere romantic and then its not exactly love at first sight, but...."

"No. It was love at second sight." I corrected.

"Yeah. And your dad literally bought your mom a flower shop. I mean how crazy is that?!"

I shrugged. "It is pretty crazy."

"I know! and me, my parents are divorced and they practically semi-hate each other. So yeah. Plus, I'm a very busy girl. I have dreams and abmitions I need to fullfil, I got no time for love." Ryanne explained, running out of breath.

"But don't you ever want to get married and have kids and stuff." I asked.

She chuckled. "I don't even like weddings. You're like supposed to dress in uncomfortable stuff and hang out with weird people. I hate weddings.... And as for children, yeah, I like kids, I'd probably have one, or maybe two." Ryanne replied with a shrug. "Wanna be my children's baby daddy?" she jokingly asked, playing with her eyebrows. I couldn't help but slightly laugh.

"You're crazy." I tell her. She laughed. "But seriously Ry, do you really wanna grow old alone?"

She started rolling her big, bright blue eyes. "I won't be alone Nate. I've got you."

"What if I got married and had kids and a family of my own."

"Nah. Even if you did. You can't resist me."

I let out a small chuckle and started shaking my head. Knowing that she's probably right.

"And besides. No man can live with me. I'm lazy and a terrible cook. And I'm selfish and a bitch. No one would wanna make me their wife." Ryanne jokingly said.

"I would. I've been tolerating your selfishness and bitchyness for 13 years now. And we're both lazy and terrible cooks, so we'll have other people to clean up after us and just eat at fast foods and restaurants. Plus since I'd be your kids' baby daddy and we'll practically grow old together, I'd just marry you instead." I tell her.

And for a moment, she just stared at me, with a certain kind of look on her face that I think I've never seen on her before, I think its a certain kind of awe. But I'm not sure. She just looked at me with her perfect blue eyes. "Really Nate? You would really marry me?"

I smiled. "Of course I would Ry."

A smile formed upon Ryanne's beautiful face, "Tell you what. Let's just say, someday, when we're 30, and we're both not yet married or with somebody eles, we'd just meet up and marry each other."

I raised an eyebrow, not really sure about her crazy, little idea. "31, not 30"

"What?! Why?"

"Well. I dont think I'n ready to settle down at 30. Maybe at 31 I would be." I explained. She slightly laughed.

"You're crazy Nathaniel Joseph."

"And you're not Ryanne Abigail?"

She stuck out tongue on me. "Fine. 31." I smiled, feeling satisfied with my little victory. "Deal"

Ryanne took her hand and spat on her palm, before offering it to me. "Ew Ryanne. Are you sure you're even a woman? Most girls would hate this." I said. "Well I'm not most girls. I'm different. Now shut up and shake on it Ruess!" she argued. I rolled my eyes, knowing I wouldn't win this one, so I just spat on my own palm and shook hands with her. Then we wiped our hands on each other's shirt, like we used to, when we were little kids.

"But you do realise how disfunctional our little family would be if we did all the stuff I planned." I said as I leaned my back on the tree's trunk. Ryanne leaned back as well and rested her head on my shoulder, "Yup. But hey, we might not be perfect, but at least we're a family." she said looking at me. I looked at her and smiled before kissing her on her forehead.