AVRIL'S CASE -BOOK 2

Chapter Twelve

"With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not."

― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants.

Danny held his breath as he waited for Tyler to give the answer to the question he asked. Ever since he confessed his feelings to Cassie, he tried to suppress those feelings in order not to ruin their magnificent friendship, although it was not an easy task. He was with Cassie almost every day, they were the only ones in their group of friends that were in the same university, and so it felt to him like life wanted to punish him by letting him have feelings that he could never act on. He knew that even if a day came when Cassie and Tyler were no longer together, he still would not be able to act on those feelings because he can't betray Tyler. Also, even if he wanted to betray Tyler and go after Cassie, it still would not be a possible task because his love was unrequited. He felt like he was cursed; cursed with a love that he could never have.

"Yes,'' he said, and then sucked in his lips. "I'm going to ask Cassie to marry me," he let out a breath that he did not realize he had been holding in.

Danny felt uncomfortable with the conversation he was having with Tyler, and that discomfort was evident in his facial expression. He couldn't help it no matter how hard he tried. Tyler noticed the look on his face and asked, "You think it's a bad idea, bro?"

Danny shook his head and tried to make his facial expression as normal as he possibly could "It's a great idea," his voice cracked. He swallowed hard. ''It just came as a shock to me, but I'm happy for you guys...you and Cassie will make a great couple, and have beautiful kids, and-"

"Woah, slow down bro," Tyler laughed and then he shut the ring case and placed it back in his pocket "I'm not asking her to marry me anytime soon," he said.

Danny looked furrowed his eyebrows and pushed his head back "When are you gonna ask her to marry you, then? Next month?"

"No," he shook his head "In six years."

Danny thought to himself then I still have some time, but he shook the ridiculous thought away before he could go any further with it. "You're joking, right?" he chuckled and then he folded his arms under his chest. "You're going to propose to Cassie in six years, yet you've already bought the ring?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Tyler nodded "Six years from now I want to ask Cassie to marry me, and I want her to know that as long as six years ago, I've always known she was the one. I've always been sure. There has been no doubt in my mind that I'll want to spend the rest of my life with her. And if she doesn't like this ring when the time comes, I'll get her a new one, I just want her to know that I've always been sure about us," he spoke with so much passion in his tone and so much promise in each word he uttered.

He did not bother asking Tyler why he specifically wanted to propose in six years, because he had heard Cassie say a few times that she wanted to be at least twenty-six before she got married, and twenty-nine when she gave birth to her first child - a boy.

"Wow," Danny blew out some air. "And how did you know for sure that she was the one?"

"My sister just got engaged, and she kept on gushing about how from the first day she met her fiancé, she just knew that he was the one. She says that there was this feeling of assurance whenever she looked at him. She says she always felt safe in his presence," he explained. "That's how I feel whenever I'm with Cassie. I feel at peace and I know she feels the same way. It feels permanent, it feels right," he explained.

Danny did not say anything, but he was impressed by the way Tyler spoke about Cassie. Danny loved Cassie and wanted her to be happy. He knew that Tyler made her happy and that he would always do whatever he can to make her the happiest person on earth. He was genuinely happy for them, his heart sunk a bit because the way Tyler said he felt about Cassie was the exact same way he felt about her, but still he was happy because he knew that Cassie would be one lucky girl. She was a very difficult person, but despite that fact, she was loved. She had a wonderful army of friends around her.