Once in Forever

Chapter 9

He was standing in front of me and had a balloon in his hand. There was a blanket with two candles, some fruit and a basket. There was a pale pink rose. I just stared at the pale pink rose. Devon gave me one of those.

"Surprise," he said while putting out his arms.

"What...when?..." I couldn't get my words out. I was stunned and I didn't like that pale pink rose.

"I did this for us," he remarked.

I just happened to smile because I was happy, but confused.

"When?" I managed to say.

"When you were bringing over my car I quickly ran and had some friends help me. I got back just as you drove into the drive way."

I started to stop smiling. "This is...so sweet."

"You really think so?" He said while rubbing his neck.

I started to get tears in my eyes. He put out his hand and I put mine in it. He tied the balloon around my wrist and I smiled.

"Why are you crying?" He asked while wiping a tear from my face.

"Becuase..." I remarked. "I have never had anyone do this for me."

"Here," he said while handing me the flower. "It means Grace."

I grabbed it and my hands were shaking. I smiled and I tumbled the words in my head...'Grace...flower'. He looked at me and motioned his hand towards the blanket. I wiped my tears and sat down. He grabbed a plate and put some fruit on it. I then noticed that we were at a park. It was small and there wasn't a jungle gym, but it had grass and paths and adults walking and running.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Columbus Park." He said while putting potato salad on our plates.

"I've never been here...or even heard of it."

"That's because it's hidden in the out skirts of Barney and almost is in the next town. I come here if I need peace or just some time alone."

I smiled and grabbed the plate he handed me. "Thanks," I smiled.

"Mmhm," he responded. He then fixed hisself a plate and we sat together. "Want to know a secret?" He asked while looking up at the sun set.

"What I asked?" Swallowing some watermelon.

"I was going to ask you out here, but I did it at the hospital instead."

I smiled and took a bite if my watermelon.

"Once the stars come up," he revoked. "We can relax here and just talk."

"I'd like that," I responded. We looked at each other and smiled. We then talked for a little while longer until he grabbed a radio out of his basket and turned it on. The music was calming and we had a few conversations until it was dark. We sat there looking at the stars from the blanket holding each others hands and had conversations about what we saw in them.

"Hey," I said as I turned my head towards him.

"What?" He remarked as he turned his head towards me.

"Thank you."

"For what?" He asked.

"Everything that you've done. You're right...you were here for me every second and I pushed you away. I'm so sorry."

"You don't..."

I cut him off. "Yes I do. What I did was wrong and I have noticed something about us..."