Marry Me

Chapter 2

     I spent almost every day from that moment on with Chelsea. We went to the same schools, but I was a year older than her so we never had classes together. Chelsea and I rode the bus to and from school together every day, and always met up outside after we did our homework. Holidays, birthdays, and a lot of times even family vacations were spent together. 

     Mark and Daniel were almost more inseparable than we were. They often had classes together, and had a lot of the same friends. They both had gotten accepted to an out of state college and left to "start their lives" as my Dad always said. 

     I started playing football in high school, and Chelsea came to every game. She often wore a jersey with my number on it, and was the loudest of all our friends when they cheered for me. I loved hearing her laughing and yelling my name from the stands as I made pass after run after touchdown. 

     After the Homecoming game my senior year, we decided to go to dinner to celebrate our win against our rival school, Riverwood High. I was squeezed into a booth with Chelsea on my left, Andy on her left, and Michelle, Marley, and Lincoln across the table. We laughed and talked well into the evening as we ate our burgers and wings. 

     Eventually, all our friends went home to do homework or to start their weekend. Chelsea and I were the only ones left at our little booth in the back corner.

     My heart was racing. She was my best friend in the world... but God did I love her. I had loved her from the day we met and every moment after. Now she was mere inches from me. Quietly laughing together as we talked about our futures. College and careers and where we wanted to be in ten years.

     I decided to do it. Tonight was the night. Our friendship had built a strong base for an amazing relationship.  She had to feel the same way.

     I moved my arm to rest behind her on the seat back and we continued to talk. She didn't move back or seem uncomfortable so I took that as a good sign. I could hardly focus on her words, or even hear most of what she said over the voice in my head shouting "Do it, you idiot! Do it now while you have finally grown a pair!"

      "Um, Chelsea?" I interupted. She put down her drink and looked at me.
      "What's wrong? You look like you are going to throw up." She said, concern causing her brows to furrow and a frown to appear on her face.
      "I... I'm just nervous. I, uh, I need to um, to do somthing and if I don't do it now then I dont think I'll forgive myself."  I told her, swallowing hard. She turned in her seat so she sat criss cross in front of me and tilted her head to one side.
      "Okay, so what is it?" She asked. I was starting to panic. I never wanted somthing more in my life but what if she got mad? What if she only thought of me as a friend and this ruines everything?
     I took a deep breath, leaned in, and...
      "Will we be needing any dessert over here tonight?" a voice asked. Chelsea and I both jumped and she whirled around to face our waitress.
     I quickly took a few sips of my soda to buy myself some time. I couldn't do it. I wasn't anything like Chelsea's ex boyfriends. She would reject me in a heartbeat, and I would never come back from that.
     When the young waitress walked away, Chelsea turned back to me again and cleared her throat.
     "So, um, what were we talking about?" She asked quietly.
     Just do it. My heart screamed.
     She doesn't love you. My head shouted louder.
     "Uhh, nothing. Forget it, I think I figured it out."

     Coward.
     Damnit. 
     I think I just screwed up.