The Proposal

Chapter 6: The Backwards Proposal

            

10-27-2018

Dear Journal,

            Okay, I've locked myself in the janitors closet to cry, write, and review what just happened. One thing seems evident; I didn't do such a good job at trying to get rid of Fred. Lauren and him aren't really that similar, I guess. I was sitting at the cafeteria seats during what was supposed to be second period, math. There were a few other people sitting in the cafeteria talking, but no one near me. I was reading a book I had found in the library; one I had read when I was six years old. It was about a princess who slept on top of 12 mattresses and still felt the little pea beneath them all. All of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder and assumed it was Elijah, I said, "Are you done making benches take root?" Now Fred had no clue what that meant and I decided to lie and say Margaret had told me some joke and I had thought it was her who had come up behind me. I didn't really want to tell Fred that Elijah and I had been out under the stars last night. He was acting strange, quiet and slightly irritated with all my talking, so I shut up. That's when he got down on one knee and proposed and at the exact same moment, Elijah came in the cafeteria and stopped in his tracks. Margaret was on his heel and she kept talking, not seeming to notice the fact that the boys were both frozen, I was freaking out, and the world seemed to have stopped moving except for her. She came up to me and said, "Emily, stars aren't tears! But what Elijah told me about what happened last night that was so sweet! Benches taking root, come on! Emily..." Then she noticed Fred and her mouth turned into a big O. She began to back away, but the damage was done and I was stuck in a hole approximately a million feet deep. Fred and Elijah were still rooted in their spots, and I was looking to anyone for help. Margaret, who is normally the first person to save anyone's butt, was so shocked at what she had just done that she wasn't very capable of any help. Elijah finally capable of movement walked over to us to congratulate me. That's when Fred thought I had said yes, and began to put the ring on my finger. I was left to make a decision, throw it off and hope Elijah DOES like me, or say yes to this dude who doesn't ever seem to get a hint! Margaret jumped in at that moment and said, "Emily, you write to many silly stories!" That really helps me; the damage is already done, making up that nonsense isn't really helping! I stood up and pulled off the ring, shook my head and said in pretty much my harshest tone; "I'm not ready to make a decision for any wedding right now!" I began to walk away and that's when I heard Fred say something that made me freeze, and turn around so slowly. "Man, your so lucky. She's already chosen you. You just have to ask her." I don't know what I was expecting to do, or see, but somehow I wished I hadn't turned around. The way they looked at me seemed to say it all, make a discussion: Fred or Elijah. I ended up looking them both in the eye and then turning on my heel and running. But as I ran I knew I had looked at Elijah for a millisecond longer and with a lot more longing, and anyone who was watching me had seen it. Yet, I have a feeling if I would pick Fred, Elijah would find a wife no matter what. If I pick Elijah though, Fred likely won't find a wife or he'll end up picking Lauren. But after today I know that marriage won't last.

Sincerely,

Emily Thompson