The Game Changer

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Tanya Summers

"You look beautiful," he told me, sounding shy. He was always shy and quiet.

The stars were bright and the lights made the garden look breathtakingly beautiful.

"Thanks," I replied. I felt my cheeks burning, the pace of my breathing increasing by the second. He had a fishing pole cast into the fountain. It was absurd and I couldn't help but laugh. Ian, one way or another, knew how to make me laugh.

"What are you doing, Ian?" I asked, still laughing.

"Fishing," he said nonchalantly. "Join me?" He held the fishing pole with one hand, his other reached for me.

"Okay," I said. I took his hand and let him pull me closer. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I rested my head on his chest and hugged him around his waist.

"Fountain fishing, huh," I said. "This is something new. Definitely a memorable anniversary."

"Glad you think that," he said. He leaned in and gave me a kiss. "Happy anniversary, Tanya."

"Happy anniversary, baby," I replied.

"You mean the world to me, Tanya Summers," he said. He took my hand and handed me the pole. I took it and held it firmly. He wrapped his hand around mine.

"Why don't you check out what we caught?" he whispered. I smiled and went along with it. There weren't any fish in the fountain - just coins. I reeled it in, and found something shining at the end of the line. It was a ring.

Ian took the ring in one smooth move and knelt down.

"I love you, Tanya Elise Summers. I know we're young. I know this isn't what most almost-nineteen year olds would do. But I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Tanya, will you marry me?"

I couldn't believe it. He was asking me to marry him. He was right, though. We were both turning nineteen later this year. We should be worrying about college or whose party to attend to. But here he was, down on one knee, asking me to be his wife.

"Ian, no," I said, barely whispering.

"Oh," was all he said. He couldn't look at me. As he was about to stand up, the corners of my mouth started to tug upwards. I lunged at him and hugged him. We fell on the grass, on our sides and facing each other. "You should've seen the look on your face, Ian! Of course I'll marry you!" My arms were still around his neck, so I pulled him closer and kissed him.

"I love you, Christian Radke."

That was how he proposed to me. The memory vanished and all I could see was now. At the exact time and place in the present, he was here. At our place. Kissing another girl. I stood there, my feet planted.

I saw Rissey and she saw me. She quickly got down from the fountain, forcing Ian to release her. She had a shocked look on her face, like she was embarrassed that I caught them kissing. Ian, however, looked a bit annoyed that I had interrupted them.

"Oh my god," I said, embarrassed. "I'm so sorry. Pretend I wasn't here."

They continued to stare at me, Ian's arms wrapped around Rissey's waist and her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Don't stop on my account," I blurted out when they didn't say anything. I was still embarrassed and I wish I could fly away.

"We won't," Ian scoffed. He pulled Rissey close and kissed her again. She pulled away and whispered something about me being there and it being rude.