Earth (Complete)

Twenty nine

Jeremy picked me up at seven on the dot, looking as sharp as ever. He smiled at me, greeted my mother and we were off.

Tonight's the night, mom squeaked, I just know he'll ask you, darling.

We drove all the way to the park, the streetlights gleaming in their innocent yellow covers, the black and silver pathways sparkling like diamonds beneath them. We strolled around, light conversation passing between us. I dared not ask about NASA, or what happened in the meeting. And not once had he brought it up.

No, our conversation consisted of small, lighthearted compliments, accompanied by sweet innocent smiles and handholding. We swayed under the moonlight like we were in some cheesy French film. For a while, I'd managed to escape to a foreign world, a world I hadn't known existed before and I felt strangely safe.

There was no worry about being caught. We didn't have to hide. The little people around smiled and greeted us both by name, all of which I didn't recognize, or had any recollection of ever seeing before in my life. But they all knew me. Jeremy as well. And he wasn't smug about it. He didn't boast. He greeted each one with a simple, 'Good evening.' and a little smile as well.

I only returned back to reality when we stopped in front of the humongous fountain and he turned to me. "I was going to wait until tomorrow to give you your birthday present. But I just couldn't wait any longer."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little white box, held it in my hand as he got down on one knee before me and presented me with the most beautiful diamond ring I've ever seen. "Jane Rose Fuller, I promise to protect you, care for you, and love you with all of myself. Will you do me the honor... of being mine forever?"

~~~~

'running late.

be there in a few.'

I closed the message and sat on my bed, waiting in anticipation for Dylan, my knee bobbing up and down on the spot as anxiety ate away at my soul. Why was he taking so long? I began pacing, my nerves becoming too much for me to handle. And just when I was about to drive myself insane with the silence –

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Rushing over to my window, I opened it up and in climbed Dylan, an unfamiliar backpack slung over his shoulder. He let out a heavy breath and smiled, "Hey beautiful." Leaning in, he gave me a kiss me on my lips. "You ready to go?"

I nodded, the anxiety slipping away slowly. "Just need to get money." I scurried out the room and into my mother's. She was out with Cavil, no doubt, and father, I've come to realize doesn't go to work every day either, but spends his off days in the local bar down the road, which was probably where he was at the moment.

I opened up my mother's sock drawer. She usually kept some money hidden there. I scratched around. Nothing. Moving onto the next drawer, I pushed around her underwear and found a couple $100 bills beneath a black lace panty. Funny, looks like mother and I had a lot more in common than I thought. I doubt she's modeling them for dad though.

I grabbed the money and left the room. Sure, I was stealing from my mother. But I didn't say I was a saint, and she definitely wasn't one either. Plus, I needed money for where we were going, apparently. Dylan didn't say. It was a birthday surprise. I hurried back into my room but found it to be empty. Did he leave?

I called his name, but it didn't come from outside, it came from further inside the house. I found him in the kitchen, just standing there in the middle like he didn't know how he got there, as if he was sleepwalking. He shifted his bag further up his shoulder as if he'd just slung it off and I frowned at him.