3,000 Miles

Chapter 24

I rolled over in bed, a little too far. I nearly rolled off the bed again. I still wasn't used to sleeping on a bunk, but Wesley grabbed my waist and pulled me back to his side.

"Do I need to put up railing or something" He groaned in his raspy morning voice.

"Sorry" I apologized, "I keep forgetting the bed ends." He just giggled and sat up. I did the same and leaned my head on his shoulder.

"You know we have a couple days off, let's go home." He suggested.

I gave him a concerned look.

"Don't worry, you don't have to go home." He reassured.

"Yeah!" screamed Landon, pulling open our bunk curtain. "You can come to my house!"

"Landon, you nosey dork! Well, I guess that could work." I laughed.

"Yes, sleepover at my house!" cheered Landon, chest bumping Carter.

We were in Toronto so we decided to take a plane back home. Wesley and I, plus all the boys, boarded the plane back home.

'Thunk' 'Thunk' 'Thunk' was all I felt on the back on my seat.

"Seth!" I yelled turning around in my seat, "Could you not?"

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Stop kicking my seat!" I shot back.

"I can't help it! I can't get comfortable."

I sighed and looked over to Carter who was clutching on to the seat so hard I thought the covering might rip.

Oh that's right, he was afraid of flying, I remember now. I laughed and turned back around. I put on my headphones and leaned back in my seat. I felt Wes's face press against mine.

"Whatcha listening to?" he asked, straining to hear the music. I laughed and shared one headphone with him.

"Oh this is I good" one he said banging his head.

"That's you, you loser." I giggled.

"Oh, well that explains it."

The plane ride only lasted about three hours but when we exited the plane we were completely swarmed. People flustered everywhere, crying, screaming, and doing whatever it took to just catch a glimpse of the boys. Even now it seemed surreal.

We were loaded into a black SUV by security and rushed to Landon's house before anyone could follow us.

"I'm hungryyyyyy!" Landon wined as soon as we walked through the door. I have to admit I was felling hungry myself.

"How are we suppose to go eat without getting mobbed?" Seth questioned.

"I know how." Carter spoke up. His eyebrows furled and I knew he was up to no good. He shared a glance with Landon and almost telepathically he understood him. The two boys ran off into a back room while the rest of us stood there confused, and slightly curious.

A few minutes later they came back with a giant trunk.

"Disguises?" I asked unconvinced. "Nobody is going to believe these tacky costumes."

"Well, it's worth a shot." Wesley laughed.

The next thing I knew we were covered in fake hair, and glasses of different forms. We looked ridiculous, but we didn't look like us.

"Good enough." Landon concluded and we went out to eat looking like a Halloween party gone wrong. The costumes were effective, however ridiculous they were. We were able to eat without getting completely bombarded. We got back home and took off our alter egos, which took a while.

It was about six and the sun was barley starting to set.

"Hey, do you wanna go for a walk?" Wesley asked.

All the boys exchanged looks and elbowed each other. I gave them a confused look before agreeing.

Wesley grabbed my hand and as we were walking out the door Seth yelled,

"Keep it PG you two!"

Wesley and I turned around at the door,

"Shut up Seth!" we yelled in unison. We continued outside, it was a bit chilly so Wes gave me his hoodie.

"Were are we gonna go?" I asked.

"Oh I thought we'd visit our special place."

"The cave?"

"That's the one."

We walked down the street, arm in arm, huddled close for warmth.

We walked slowly through the woods behind our house. we dodged branches and rocks as we had done so many times before. We took our time as the sun slowly sunk lower in the sky.

"You know, before we went on tour your dad told me a funny story your mom had told him." Wes said as we walked.

"Really? what was it?" I asked.

"Well, he said when we were nine, the first day I brought you here, you came home and while your mom was bandaging your cut, you told her you were gonna marry me one day. I thought It was pretty funny."

I blushed and looked down at my feet.

"He told you that?"

"He sure did, I thought it was cute." He laughed. we stopped in front of the cave.

"Would you still want to? Marry me, I mean." He asked in a now serious tone.

"I suppose I would." I said kicking a rock and still looking at my feet.

"Then why don't you." he whispered.

"What?" I said looking up. There was no need to look up, he wasn't there. He was down, down on one knee, holding a little box.

It all made sense now. This was it, this was the big secret. My head span and I couldn't think, I could only cry. My hand flew up to cover my mouth. I tried to answer but my mouth was stuck, so I nodded and held my arms out to him. He stood up and held me in his arms. I cried and couldn't stop.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes. A thousand times yes, I love you." The words came now, and as they did so did his tears. He pulled back and took the ring from the box. He took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger. He stopped and pushed back his hair.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that." He choked out between tears.

He hugged me again.

"I guess nine year old you knew all along huh?" He laughed

"Always have."

"Always will" He finished, before pulling me into a kiss.

I pulled back,

"It's so beautiful." I said admiring the ring.

"So are you." he said tilting my head up to his. "I love you, I love you with every ounce of my being and I want to spend forever proving it to you. I want to be there for every second of your life, and you for mine." He paused.
"Honestly I couldn't imagine my life with anyone but you, it's always been like that, since we were little. I never wanted anyone but you because, god, your so beautiful. No one could ever compare the the beauty you possess, inside and out."

I was half laughing and half crying. I didn't know how to respond, no one had ever said anything like that to me before. I couldn't find any words, so I just kissed him. 'I love you' were the only words to escape my lips, but they worked because there was no other way to describe how I felt other than,

"I love you."