Guarded

||thirty-three||

I basically spit out my drink.

"Niall!" I shout. "There's a ring inside my apple cider!"

He smiles nervously and stands up from his seat, only to get down on one knee, taking the ring from my now empty glass, and holding it out in front of him.

I feel everyone in the restaurant's eyes on us.

"Cassie, you know I love you with all my heart. And I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my world, Cassie. You're my beautiful, crazy, wonderful, amazing world. And I love you so, so much. So, I ask, will you marry me?"

I gasp. He wants me to marry him.

I mean, I love him with all my heart, but I'm still so young. However, I do know he's the one. I can feel it.

"I, uh, I-" I stutter.

"It's okay if you don't know what to say. It was kind of unexpected," he says.

"Yes," I say and Niall's face lights up. "Yes, I will marry you." He pulls me into a large embrace and kisses me passionately while the entire restaurant cheers.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Niall laughs nervously. He puts the ring on my finger with the largest smile on his face I've ever seen.

I show it off to Elena and some other waitresses, as well as some customers who have gathered.

"Okay," Elena says, taking out her phone to use as a camera. "Get the happy couple together. Smile!"

-

"You guys are getting married?!" Marie exclaims excitedly, jumping up and down in her seat.

"Yes, we are," Niall and I say together, holding each other's hands.

Everyone does a chorus of 'we're so happy for you guys' and 'this was a delightful unexpected surprise,' but I think the boys knew about it. That's why Harry winked at me.

"We need to find you a dress, and get a good venue for the reception, and..." Emme and Michaela list a lot of things that need to be done for our wedding.

"Guys," I cut them off. "We're not having a huge wedding. Just a couple of friends and family members. Then a cute little reception at the country club Niall's parents belong to."

"Oh, well, there goes most of the fun things." Marie pouts. "We're still helping you find a dress, though, right?"

I swallow hard. I had always dreamed of having my mum there when I picked out my wedding dress. I would like one, she would say it's too expensive and/or naked around my chest. But then, after a couple hours of fighting, we'd settle on the perfect dress. And I'd love it and she'd cry because 'her little baby is growing up.'

"Definitely," I say with a weak smile. "And you guys will be my bridesmaids."

"Okay, but what about maid of honor?" Marie asks, smirking.

"Oh, um." I hadn't thought about that. "Rock, paper scissors?"

"Seriously," Louis chimes in, his eyebrow raised in disapproval.

"Hey, you won't be getting best man with that attitude, Lou," Niall retorts and Louis backs off.

"Rock, paper, scissors is a great idea, Cass," he says with a fake cheesy smile.

The girls play for a while and soon, Marie wins. She's dancing around the apartment with complete joy on her face.

Zayn brings out a bottle of real champagne. Everybody collectively shouts,

"CONGRATULATIONS NIALL AND CASSIE!!"