Loving Elsie

Prologue

"You can't know what love is, you're just a kid!"

"You'll find someone new in university, you'll see."

"Don't think too seriously about relationships yet."

That's what they all said. Friends, parents, teachers.

But seventeen-year-old Gabriel and sixteen-year-old Seana knew better. They were passionately in love, and they were going to be together forever.

It all started on Valentine's Day of that year - the year they became more than best friends.

The girl sat alone in her dimly lit bedroom brushing a comb through her very long, very straight blond hair. She smiled to herself. It was 7pm. In half an hour, certainly no less, Gabriel would be over to pick her up. They had planned a date at the cafe.

She put on her cutest dress - a short red one that was tight at the top and poofed out at the waist. She pulled on some black tights and clipped a white bow into her hair on the left side.

A knock at the bedroom door came. "Seana?"

"Yeah, Ma?"

The older woman strided in and knelt beside her daughter, who was doing up her white Mary Janes. "I brought you something to wear on your date," she said warmly, and revealed in her hand a golden charm bracelet.

Seana looked curiously at it and then took it into her own hand. "It's so pretty. Thank you Ma."

"It was mine, but you can have it for good. I've got plenty of jewellry."

The teenager smiled, "Help me put it on?" she asked, and her mother clipped it onto her right wrist.

"So, you just about ready?" asked her mother as they both stood up.

"Just about," murmered Seana as she inspected the bracelet on her arm. "I think Gabriel should be -"

Beeeep!

They both hurried to look out the window to see a red car parked in the drivway.

"Go have fun, dear. Love you."

"I love you too, Ma!" Seana yelled behind her as she flew down the stairs, grabbed her sweater and was out the door.

She closed the door behind her and grinned as big as she ever had when she saw Gabriel in the driver's seat. She ran over and took the passenger seat. "Hey," she breathed.

"Good evening, gorgeous," he said with a smile. He was wearing a leather jacket and jeans and his long black hair was slicked back. That boy couldn't dress classy for the world, but Seana loved him just the same.

"You aren't cold with that thin thing?" Gabriel asked when they started driving.

Seana gave a slight shake of her head. "Nope, no worries."

"That's my tough girl," he teased.

When they parked at the cafe, they ran inside as fast as possible. It sure was cold if you spent enough time outside!

They were expecting the cafe to be empty, as it was. It was where they had their first date, it was their hangout as kids. They took their seats and ordered some coffee. The air smelled of bread and coffee, jazz music played in the background.

"How was your day," asked Seana enthusiastically. "I hardly see you at school this semester."

"It was okay, but I missed you."

"Happy Valentine's Day," she said as the waitress came with their coffee.

"Happy Valentine's Day, love," he whispered, leaning over the table to give her a kiss on the lips. "I got you something."

Seana gasped, "Oh really? What?"

Gabriel reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a golden ring with an emerald on it. "I love you, Seana. And I want to marry you."

"Gabriel..." She leans back, her mouth agape. "Are you proposing to me?"

"That's what it looks like, doesn't it?"

"I've always dreamed of this, I want to marry you, but..."

"But?"

She took a deep breath. "You know we need consent. I'm only sixteen, do you think my parents will let me make this commitment? Save that ring, Gabriel. Its beautiful. It's mine and it always wil be. Just give me two years, love."

He smiled sadly and took his lover's hand, he noticed she was starting to cry. "Hey, baby... It's fine. I'm going to wait as long as we need to."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, I love you. This ring is yours, as you say." He pulled her in and they got lost in a long, passionate kiss.