in which a boy boredly calls a random number at 11:11pm every night, not expecting to meet a sarcastic girl just a year older than him.
✎ The Rose Awards winner - short story ✎
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Dec, if you do not stop." Jo groaned. Declan continued with the poking of his fiancé's cheek, a cheesy grin on his face.
Jo pushed him away with a small smile as Lila and Cal approached them hand in hand.
Four years had passed since the day that Cal had asked Lila to be his girlfriend. They were now weeks away from their college graduation, and they were still going strong.
Jo had gone to college a state away after high school, but transferred to Lila's college when she started to miss home. Declan coincidentally also went to Lila's college and Lila and Cal set their plan to set them up together in action. Cal decided not to go to college, and instead opened his own calligraphy business where he makes invitations, cards, and more. Business is better than expected, and he has more than enough to pay rent and a few bills for the apartment that Lila and him share.
Cal rolled his eyes at the bickering couple.
"Come on, you two are getting married tomorrow. I don't know about you two, but I'd actually like to enjoy the last few hours of you two not being all lovey dovey on each other." Lila said.
Jo linked her arm in Lila's and dragged her off down the boardwalk, leaving the boys to talk behind them as they followed.
"Here." Declan said, pulling the black velvet box out of the pocket of his board shorts.
Lila had been insistent on leaving the hotel at six in the morning to watch the sunrise on the beach, and she had dragged him out of the room before he could get the chance to grab the ring. Declan had been nice enough to grab it for Cal.
"Thanks. I have no idea how you even freaking did this with Jo. I'm so fucking nervous." Cal said, opening the box to get a look at the gorgeous diamond engagement ring before shutting it and stuffing it carefully in his pocket.
"It is scary, not gonna lie." Declan said.
"Gee, thanks for soothing my nerves." Cal sarcastically said.
"But, if you want to spend the rest of your life with Lila, you have to do it."
Cal nodded. "Good. Is everything in place?" Cal asked.
Declan nodded. "Everything is set. Once Jo itches her back I will make an excuse for Jo and I to leave again, and then you will take Lila to the gazebo."
Cal nodded and took a deep, shaky breath. Two minutes later, just after stepping onto the sand of the beach, Jo itched the small of her back.
"Hey, babe?" Declan called.
Jo turned around with a small secretive smile. "Yeah?"
"Did you get the sunscreen and stuff from the room?" Declan asked.
Jo's face dropped. "Shit, I forgot it. I know how easily you burn." Jo said. "I'll go get it."
"I'll go with you, I know that you'll somehow either lose the key or get lost on your way there." Declan said. "We'll be right back. We'll catch up with you guys." He called as he and Jo walked the opposite direction back towards the resort.
"I guess its just you and me again, phone girl." Cal said, all of his nerves leaving his body as he intertwined his hand with hers.
"I can't believe you still call me that." Lila chuckled.
"You still call me Muffin Man, so its only right." Cal said.
"I guess you're- oh, look how pretty!" She suddenly gushed, pointing at the sand several yards in front of them.
Cal's nerves set back in again. They had arrived.
In the sand was a heart that Declan and Jo had traced in while Cal and Lila were on their walk this morning. Around it were an abundance of flowers of different varieties, and in the center, Cal had traced a message while Lila was in the bathroom.
"I can't believe someone did all of this! Do you think someone is going to propose to someone?" Lila asked, looking up at Cal. "What does is say in the middle?" Lila let go of Cal's and to step closer, and in the mean time, Cal took the ring out of his pocket and got down on his knee. He checked the time on his watch. 11:11 right on the dot. Jo had timed it perfectly.
"Its 11:11, and my wish is that you'll turn around and... say yes." Lila read, trailing off at the end.
Tears filled her eyes as sh slowly turned, and she let out a cry when she saw a pink cheeked Cal down on one knee.
He cleared his throat nervously. "Lila, phone girl, will you do me the great honor of marrying me?" He asked.
Lila frantically nodded her head and covered her mouth to hide her ugly cry of happiness. She bent down and kissed his lips as passersby clapped and awed at them. Lila pulled away, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Cal slid the ring on her ring finger with a bright grin.
"I cannot believe you, Cal." Lila cried as she looked over the gorgeous ring that fit perfectly on her finger. She'd have to video chat her parents when she got back to the hotel to tell them of the news. "I love you so much." She said as Cal wiped the tears off of her face.
Cal kissed her, his happiness at an all time high. "I love you too phone girl."
They stood up, and Lila pulled him in for a tight hug.
"I want you to know that the majority of my 11:11 wishes have been for you, Muffin Man. Ever since call five, I think." Lila said. "And now I have you."
