Short Stories

New Year's Day

"How are we not wasted?" Nathaniel says to my left.

We sit on the steps leading into the living room of our new New York apartment. Our eyes wander over the glitter, bottle, and red cups that litter the floor.

It was New Years Day and the last of our New Years Eve guest had left. Left us to clean up the mess they created. This was the first party we've thrown in our new apartment. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be the last.

"Because we have to clean up the mess." I reply softly.

Nathaniel chuckles softly. "About that, I was thinking about going ou-"

I smack his arm before he could finish his sentence. "You are helping me clean up this mess."

"Okay, Okay. But we need music." Nathaniel says as he stands up and walks over to the sound system he's had since he was in high school.

"Didn't you have enough of the pounding noise last night? Or was that this morning?" I had lost all track of time.

"That noise was Daft Punk." Nathaniel calls from the living room.

I stand up and walk into the kitchen to grab a garbage bag. Soft music starts to play and I scrunch up my nose. I'd end up falling asleep to this. "This is not the cleaning kind of music." I point out as I step back into the living room.

"Patients darling." Nathaniel says as he offers me a hand.

I set the garbage back on a bookshelf and take his hand. He leads me to the middle of the floor and tugs me to his chest. His other hand comes to rest on my hip.

"What are you doing?" I question as he starts to sway to the music.

"Dancing." Nathaniel says with a grin. "Dance with me."

I laugh before setting my free hand on his shoulder. As soon as I do he starts to move us across the floor. The music was the perfect tempo for a slow dance. I rest my head in his chest. His hand mumbles bed from my hip to gently rub my back. I let out a soft sigh as he does so.

When the song ends I tilt back my head to look up at him. "This really isn't helping us clean up." My voice was low, not wanting to ruin the mood.

"Alright, Alright." Nathaniel sighs sadly. "We can clean up now." He drops his hand from my waist and steps back.

I lean forward and place a soft kiss to his cheek. "I'll clean up the trash if you sweep the floor."

He nods his head before going to the closet to grab the broom. I turn and walk back to the shelf to grab the garbage bag.

Before Nathaniel starts to sweep he changes the music to something upbeat. I dance around the room as I pick up empty cups and plate and toss them into the bag. I'm so lost in the music and cleaning I don't notice Nathaniel hadn't started sweeping.

"May." Nathaniel asks in a soft voice.

"Hmm?" I hum without looking at him. My mind was still focused on the music.

"May, look at me." He says again.

I sigh before turning around to look at him. My eyebrows shoot in when I see him kneeling on the ground, holding something in his hands.

"If that's a spider, I swear to god I will burn this apartment." I say as I cautiously walk over to him.

Nathaniel shakes his head. An emotion I can't quite name passes over his face. He looks down at his hands then back up to me. I tilt my head to the side as he watches me.

"What?" I asks skeptically.

Nathaniel lifts his hands and shows me what he's holding. A black ring box sat in the palm of one hand. He pulls it open and the most beautiful ring I've ever seen sits inside.

A gasps escapes my lips and my hands fly up to my mouth. He wasn't, was he?

"Maylin Leonard, we've been together officially for a year now. It total, with all the on and off, it's been more like two. To be honest, it feels like I've know you all my life." Nathaniel says as he looks up at me. Tears start to well up in my eyes as I listen. "I love you so much and I can't imagine my life without you. So, will you be in it forever? Marry me?"

I couldn't speak past the lump in my throat. Instead I nod my head so fast it almost gives me whiplash. I tackle him in a hug, causing him to loose his balance and sit back in the ground hard.

"I'll take that as a yes." Nathaniel chuckles as he hugs me back.

Now straddling him and crying, I lean back and hold out my left hand to him. He pulls the ring out of the box and slide it on my ring finger. I hold up my hand to look at it and a grin breaks out on my lips. "I love you." I whisper before connecting my lips to his in a heated kiss.