♘ Be Brave ♘

XCVI

A week goes by after I buy the rings. I keep them in my pocket the entire time, but can't seem to find enough courage to ask Matthew to let me visit Cassandra again. I start sweating every time I think about it. What if she doesn't say yes? What if she rejects me? I clench my fists. I need to try. I can't give up. Not yet.

I take a deep breath and decide to talk to Matthew. I head to the training room, and find him there. Surprise, surprise. Does he ever stop working out? He glances up when he hears me come in and smiles.

"Hey, son." Son. It still feels like it was yesterday when he told me that he was my father. "Hi. I wanted to ask you if you could do me a favor." He nods eagerly. "Sure, what do you need?" His readiness to help me is so genuine that I'm starting to feel guilty. Again.

"I need to tell you something." He looks at me expectantly, and I fight the urge to run out of there. "I... Um... I'm going to propose to Cassandra." Matthew's eyes widen. "What?" I look away. "I'm going to ask her to be my wife."

Matthew beams. "That's great, son!" Wow, I'm glad I got that over with. "Can I go to Amity? Today?" Matthew frowns. "You're proposing today?" I nod. "Yeah. I figure the sooner the better... why?" He looks away. "It's nothing. I just... I just wish I'd gotten the opportunity to propose to your mother like this. I wish she hadn't been taken away from me. I wish I hadn't been such a coward."

I frown. "You were never a coward. I get that now, Cowards are people like Marcus, whose only goal in life is to make others miserable. It wasn't your fault. None of this was." Matthew's eyes are shining with tears, and he smiles. "I'm so happy for you. What do you need me to do?"

Oh. Right. "Uh, I don't really have anything planned... I only have "propose to Cassandra" on my to-do list right now." Matthew chuckles. "Well... when do you plan to have the actual ceremony?" I groan. Who knew weddings were so complicated? "I just want to get the proposal over with first." He shrugs.

"Okay. Do you want to take Lauren and Zeke with you?" I shake my head. "No. I want to do this on my own." I give him what I hope looks like an apologetic smile and he sighs. "I understand. Go."

I grin. "Thanks... Dad." He beams. "You're welcome. Now, go before I change my mind!" I don't need to be told twice. I jog out of there and head to the train tracks, fighting the urge to run all the way to Amity and forgo the train altogether.

Once I hear it approaching me, I prepare to jump, and I throw myself inside just in time. Calm down! I check my pocket. Good. The rings are still inside. I jump off about an hour later, and stand in front of the greenhouse. This is it. I enter the compound, not even bothering to greet the receptionist this time.

The Amity-born members gasp when they see me, but no one stands in my way. The path to the hospital ward is practically ingrained in my mind by now, so I am able to get there in no time.

"Irene?" She turns to look at me. Her eyes are bloodshot and I know she's aware that her sister is dead. "Are you... are you okay?" She shrugs. "I'll be fine." She smiles, but the gesture seems forced. "You want to see her, don't you?" I nod.

"Yeah. I... need to tell her something." She points outside. "She's in her treehouse. I have to warn you, though-" I run off, not bothering to listen to her. I'm panting by the time I get up the ladder, but I don't care.

"Cassie!" I grin, but when she comes into view, I cannot believe what I'm seeing. She looks so... gaunt, so thin. I fight off the tears burning behind my eyes as I realize what's happening. The treatment is destroying her! A bandana is wrapped around her head, and most of her once beautiful, long hair is gone.

She smiles when she sees me. "Four!" I embrace her, not wanting to hurt her. "Hey." I grin, and she kisses my cheek. "I missed you." I take her hand. "I missed you too. These past few days, I realized that... well... I just can't live without you. And I knew I had to ask you this question."

She frowns. "What question?" I get down on one knee, and she gasps. "Cassandra Reyes, will you marry me?