Crossover II Evalius

Chapter 22 The Fight

Chapter 22

The Fight

    Aria thought back to when she first woke up in the dragon guarded tower, Derek’s kiss awakening her. Everything seemed so unreal she had been positive that she got caught in a dream. As she gazed down upon Derek, kneeling in front of her, that same feeling returned.

    “Aria?” Derek looked up at her with uncertainty. “What do you say?”

    Aria tried to find her words but the shock made that rather difficult. “I, um…”

    “I know this is sudden,” Derek continued, squeezing her hand tighter. “But I think... I know we were meant to be together forever.”

    “Derek,” Aria began attempting to keep level. “We just got back together like two seconds ago, not to mention we are still in high school. What makes you think either of us are ready for marriage?”

    “If we move to Galatia, things will be different,” Derek explained with confidence. “Besides, this is exactly what your parents want for you. Why make them wait any longer?”

    Aria raised her eyebrow. “And what were you planning on telling your parents? Derek, we both have lives here. We can’t just drop everything and leave.”

    “Our lives are in Galatia,” Derek went on, earnestly. “According to what Myrtle told me, if we move there all the problems we are having here will go away and we can live happily ever after just like we were meant to. Nothing else will seem important.”

    “So you’re saying if we got married in Galatia I won’t be concerned with anything going on here and simply be focused on our happiness, nothing more?” Aria asked softly, as she began to understand where he was going with this.

    Derek nodded. “Yes, exactly.”

    Aria felt her shock transform into rage, as she furiously jerked her hand away. “Oh my God, Derek! You’re just doing this so I will stop trying to save Kendal, aren’t you?”

    “I just want to keep you safe, Aria,” Derek explained still on the ground. “I truly believe that is the best thing we can do right now. I really don’t see why you are upset.”

      “You really don’t understand why that might upset me…. Oh for God’s sakes, Derek, stand up!”

      Slowly, Derek rose to his feet as Aria fumed on. “You are using marriage to manipulate me! Is that really how you want our life together to start? And why is it, every time we just get back together you always do or say something stupid to ruin it? You seriously thought that just by asking me to marry you I would just drop everything and say yes and all our problems would magically go away?”  

    “Aria, I asked you to marry me because I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Derek declared, firmly. “And yes, part of it is that I do want to protect you. I couldn’t bear it if something bad were to happen to you.”

    Hearing his sincerity, Aria tried to soften, but her tone still carried some anger along with frustration. “I love you too, Derek, but let me make one thing clear. We are not getting married before we graduate high school!”

      As she began to storm out of the room, Derek asked, “Wait, so is that a yes?”

    Aria paused, but could not find the right words so instead just moved on leaving a confused Derek alone in the classroom. She still could not believe what just happened. Derek’s unexpected proposal was just too much for her to take in right now with everything going on. The worst thing about all this was that the first time Aria and Derek uttered the words ‘I love you’ to each other was in the middle of a fight.