The One: Scandalous Redemption (The One Series-Book10) (ORIGINAL DRAFT)

Chapter20: The Proposal

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to one of my few active readers, Alessandra Amato. My biggest Andyson shipper! Here's the chapter you've been waiting for! ;)

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Chapter20-The Proposal

November 17th, 2012

 It’s now November. 7th Anthem’s third album, ForeverZero5, has become their biggest worldwide sell ever. Even in America, their album emerged as one of the top 5 albums on the Billboard Top 200 charts. 

 Now they’re promoting their latest single, So Much Love. They were scheduled to perform on a charity show, called Children In Need. This is their fourth year performing on that show. 2009 was their first year.

 As they were getting ready to perform, Andrew was looking at the ring he bought for Alyson. He was trying to find the right time to propose to her. Now he finally found the opportunity. 

 He was nervous. He was hoping Alyson would accept his proposal. A part of him knew she would. She loves him very much. At the same time, he had some doubts. He knew he put her through pain. He knew her parents would never approve of him. Even if he decided to convert to either Christianity or Judaism, denounce his bisexuality and go completely straight, and be a so-called “born-again virgin,” he’ll never be good enough.

 Regardless, she loves him just the way he is. So what he’s agnostic, bisexual, and sexually experienced? She would rather have him be flawed than be perfect. Then the director told him, and the guys in the dressing room, “You’re on in 1 minute.”

 Andrew replied, “Thank you.”

 So Andrew put the ring box in his white spiked-shoulder leather jacket in an inside pocket. He went out, and met with the girls. He saw Alyson, dressed in a white, studded, crop, slashed, long-sleeved top. Her white bra was peeking through the top. She wore a high-waisted white skater skirt, and black combat boots.

 He approached her, and kissed her lips lightly. When he pulled away, they both smiled. Alyson asked, “You wanted to kiss me before we go onstage?”

 He replied, “Yeah, and show you how much I love you.”

 He then caressed her long, straight blonde hair. He muttered, “Beautiful.”

 Even though she was used to his compliments, she blushed. Then it was time to go on the stage. They performed their single.

 But towards the end of the song, Andrew took Alyson’s hand, and got on his right knee. He told her as he looked into her eyes, and hold his microphone: “Alyson Bauer, ever since we met as kids, we became soulmates. We didn’t know it back then, but there we were. In our classroom with our first grade teacher, Mrs. McCreary. I still remember you tried to be friends with new guy from Hartford, Connecticut. I rejected you, but it was only the beginning of everything.

 “We eventually became friends, even though there were times we didn’t treat each other like friends. In fifth grade, I was your first ever boyfriend, and you were my first ever girlfriend. We shared our first kiss, and we were only 10 back then. Unfortunately, we broke up. But we never stopped loving each other, even though we were too proud to admit it. 

 “When we were 15, 7th Anthem was just formed. We broke up with our partners after we admitted we wanted each other. Since then, you’ve made feel loved, wanted, accepted, and alive. I was in misery with the girls I dated. So much so, I almost made a guy my boyfriend.

 “But you are the light of my life. You were the first person to tell me that you loved me. You helped me gain confidence in myself so I can perform in front of TV camera. You…you made me feel human again. All those years of being a bully, I had the label ‘The Monster.’ I never fought it off, because I knew it was true. But even before we became a couple, you made feel otherwise.

 “All these years, you made feel like the luckiest man on earth. I’ve never been so happy, so loved, and so alive in my life. You’ve done all of this. You made me the man I am today. I don’t even want to think about what my life would be like without you.”

 Then Andrew took out the box from his jacket. Alyson knew immediately what that was. He said to her with so much emotion in his voice as he opened the box, “Alyson Sarah Bauer…will you marry me?”

 She stood there, in shock. She wanted to cry, and she did as she said, “Yes…I will marry you!”

 Suddenly, Andrew grinned as he put the ring on her finger. Then he got up, and kissed her lips passionately. Soon, his tears flowed onto his cheeks. She kissed back, and held onto him tightly. She was finally marrying her soulmate.

 The audience cheered and applauded the newly engaged couple. Even the 7A members clapped for them. Then Andrew and Alyson pulled away, seeing so much support from everyone. 

 Alyson then faced Andrew, and saw his wet face. She wiped his eyes, and said, “Don’t cry, Andrew. I’m going to be yours forever. I love you so much.”

 Andrew lightly laughed, and said, “I love you so much, too. And I’m crying because I can feel my heart is exploding right now.”

 As Alyson was about to speak, the director escorted 7A off the stage, as their performance was over. Then Alyson burst into the guys’ dressing room, and kissed Andrew’s lips passionately. He kissed back.

 Then she pulled away, and said excitedly, “I’m so glad to be your wife. You’re…you’re actually going to be my husband!”

 He smiled, and said, “I know. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

 “Okay, I have to…” 

 Suddenly, her face fell. Andrew noticed, so he asked her with concern, “What’s wrong?”

 She slumped onto a chair, and said sadly, “My parents…my parents aren’t coming to the wedding.”

 Andrew breathed a heavy sigh, and rubbed her shoulders gently. He said to her, “They’re going to find out soon. You know that, right?”

 With that, Alyson began to cry a bit. She said, “But I want them there. But…that’s not going to change the fact that I’m marrying the love of my life.”

 Andrew thought for a moment, and said nervously, “You…we have to talk to them. I know you say you don’t care about them not being at the wedding, but I can see you do care. You love them, despite the fact they were so strict with you when you were a kid. They need to acknowledge the fact that you chose a flawed, agnostic bisexual instead of Mr. Perfect Angel. You can leave the sex part out if you want, but…it’s obvious we have been doing each other.”

 She turned to face him, and said, “I know, but I’m scared. I’m scared of how they will react to this news.”

 He looked on the floor. Then he grabbed a chair. He sat down, and held her hands. He looked into her eyes, and said, “Aly, I get you’re scared. But listen: No matter what they’ll say or do, I’ll protect you. I know you have it in yourself to protect me. And I appreciate it greatly. But let me help you. Let me fight for you. Let me defend your choice. They should know that I love you, and that you love me. Okay?”

 Alyson nodded her head, and then hugged him tightly. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy to convince her parents that she loves Andrew. But she knew this needed to be done. They had a right to know.

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IN THE VID IS 7TH ANTHEM'S NEWEST SINGLE, "SO MUCH LOVE." IN THE EXTERNAL LINK IS 7TH ANTHEM'S LATEST ALBUM, "FOREVERZERO5">>>>