Blindfold (Book One)

26. Sparkle

Jim's POV

Amelie and I walk towards the table where her mom and my mom are sitting down. I can't help but notice the confusion showing on their expressions, as they see us walking together, holding hands. I can see that they look at each other from the corner of their eyes, and then back to us, as we finally arrive at the table. I pull the chair for Amelie to sit down, and after she politely thanks me, I take a seat beside her.

There is silence for a moment, as we just stare at each other, the undefined chatter from the tables around the restaurant being the only thing that sounds on the walls of this room.

"What's going on?" asks my mom, a little suspiciously.

I turn to look at Amelie, and she smiles, making me smile, too. I offer her my hand, and she takes it, not leaving my eyes.

I can feel our mothers' confused stares looking at us, urgently waiting for some kind of explanation...answer, but at the same time, giving us the time we need.

We move our eyes back to them, still wearing smiles, our hands still tightly locked with one another, and I finally start. "Mothers," I say, turning my eyes to each one of them. "We really missed you." I stop for a moment, as I find the words to speak. They throw me a 'please continue' look, and I finally proceed, making them get closer to me, listening to each word better. "But...there is another reason why we're here."

I turn to Amelie, and we smile at each other once again. As I turn back to look at our mothers' eyes, I see that my mom is smiling. Yeah, she's probably expecting what is coming next, knowing me...she knows that I don't wear this smile unless something really good is happening, and seeing me here, looking at Amelie, I know she knows.

"Something happened on the trip," continues Amelie. "And..." She stops and looks at me, as if she wanted me to say what's next.

"We came here to tell you," I continue. "That after all these years of friendship, fun, trust, laughter, CRAZINESS as you must most probably know..." They laugh, and nod. Yeah, of course they know. Last minute sleepover plans, throwing each other to the pool, balloon fights, breaking the neighbor's window while we tried playing American Football, breaking an arm because I was trying to teach Amelie how to do a one-handed cartwheel, destroying a new Game Boy...yes a NEW Game Boy, because we wanted to see what was inside, etc, etc, etc. "Amelie and I..." I continue. "Are now a couple."

I finish the sentence, and a huge, wide smile grows on each of our mothers' faces. They turn to look at each other excitedly, and then back to us.

"My sweeties!!!!!" starts Amelie's mom, standing up to hug us. "You have no idea how HAPPY I am for you two!!!!"

"Yes!!!!" continues my mom, hugging us, too. "I can't believe that what we always dreamed about is now happening," she finishes, obvious excitement showing in her voice.

"Dreamed about?" asks Amelie, confused, and taking a seat again.

"Well we never told any of you two, but...Judy and I would always talk about how much we wanted you to be together," says Liza.

"Wow," I say in surprise. "You talked about that?"

"We still talk," says my mom. "We just really think you two were born to be together."

Amelie and I turn to look at each other with a smile. I let go of her hand and put my arm around her, bringing her closer.

"Well..." I start. "Dreams do come true. Both of you know what an insane amount of time I dreamed about this, even getting to think that it would never become a reality, and...look at us now."