Strangest Stranger

6

Here I am sitting in front of the fireplace again. Also, I'm waiting for Sherlock to get done in the kitchen with whatever he's doing, so we can finish this bored game. He comes in from the kitchen, holding a tray, and sets it on the floor next to him as he sits down. I say, "Um...it's your turn, Sherley."

He hands me a cup of hot tea, saying, "Oh, I don't want to play this game anymore."

"Another in mind, I'm guessing?"

He nods after taking a sip of his own tea. Before I drink mine, I ask, "Wait...you didn't put a surprise in here, like an eyeball or something?"

"No, that was one time, and an accident!"

"So what are you wanting to play?"

"I looked up this game a while ago, I think it's called 'Truth or Dare'."

Okay, that's an old game. I used to play that all the time in elementary school, and at a lake activity a few years ago. "Okay, I'll go first. Truth or Dare?" I say, eyeballing him as I take a sip of tea.

"Truth."

"Now you know that means you actually have to tell the truth, right?"

"For you, I'm an open book."

"Okay...truth...do you really love me or are you just toying with my emotions?"

He looks me right in the eyes, and says, "I do love you. More than I love what I do."

"Wow.........you know I'm only twenty, right?"

He says, sounding so much like a teenager, "Ah, don't care."

I'm a bit startled by his answer, but I regain composure when he says, "My turn. Truth or dare?"

I say, wondering what he's come up with, "....dare."

"I dare you...to marry me."

My whole being freezes up. What did he say? I ask, a little confused, "What?"

He repeats, smirking, "I dare you to marry me."

I relax a little, then say, "You know, that's not really how you" but he takes something out of his pocket, lays it on the table between us, saying, "I'm asking for your hand in marriage, Alliana, you act like it was never going to happen."

"Because I thought I had my hopes too high. And by the way, my nickname is Ally. I'm surprised you didn't get that yet."

"I think I'll let you sleep on it."

He picks the object up off the table, but I blurt, "Can I see that?"

He says, "Of course." then hands it to me. He says, "Goodnight, Ally." He kisses my hair, then goes into his room, shutting the door. I hear a loud sigh, and giggle.

I stare at the ring he handed to me. It's so beautiful. "Like you." he would've said. There's one single diamond on the ring. I lay on the guest bed, watching the moonlight bounce off the lonely diamond, making it glitter and shine into my eyes. It kind of reminds me of Sherlock. He's lonely, but inside he's a real golden nugget and a beautiful one, too! Do I really want to do this? Could I really marry Sherlock? I know my answer. I pull my damp clothes off, and put on my pajamas.

I grab the ring off the bed, and quietly slip out into the hallway. I knock softly on Sherlock's bedroom door, then slowly open it. I whisper, "Sherlock?"

He answers, barely audible, "Hmm?"

"Can I stay in here...with you?"

There's silence, then he whispers, "I guess."

I go around to the other side of the bed, and crawl in with him. The blankets are soft and warm. After a few minutes of silence, I say, just so he can hear me, "Yes."

He asks, same level of softness, "Yes...what?"

"You're Sherlock Holmes, you figure it out."

"I can't make deductions in the dark, and honestly, I could barely ever read you because when I try, all I get are question marks and a fuzzy head, so now you know that you literally make me crazy."

"Okay...I'll marry you, Sherlock."

"Really...there's still one thing that I haven't heard you say yet."

"And what's that?"

His hand caresses my cheek, and I feel his thumb under my eye as he does. I say, "You're a genius?"

He chuckles, then says, "Um no, try again."

I don't really have to think. I whisper, "I love you Sherlock Holmes."