𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓘𝓷𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓜𝓮𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓽...

Chapter 75

My birthday fell on a Sunday this year, and I was more than relieved that it was during the weekend. My birthday was enjoyable the first few years that I remember, until I got to middle school and I stopped getting excited for it. My parents decided to be the kind of people who invited everyone in our hometown to my birthday parties until I was 18 when I asked them to stop throwing me public parties. It always felt empty and no one was really there for me and it was supposed to be my day. I usually would lock myself in the room with the excuse that I was unwell. Skipping my birthday for three years after was a little more lonely, but at least I didn't have to pretend to be happy when I really wasn't. I just hoped one day I'd find a reason to be excited for a personally special day again.

I woke up on my birthday as if it were a usual day, but then I heard a knock on my door and when I went to open it, Magnolia and Georgina were there in the doorway. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARINA!!!", they shouted and I was alarmed at first, but I ended up smiling. "Thank you, girls", I said to them. "Come on, you gotta get dressed!", Magnolia exclaimed, and then I questioned, "What for?" They looked at each other and looked t me like I was crazy before Georgina answered my question, "Why your birthday party, of course! The Palaye Royale gang is hosting one for you at the abandoned church." My eyes widened as I remembered telling Remington how I didn't want to skip my birthday this year and that he said he would give me a great party. "Oh, right", I said after being speechless for a couple of seconds, "I guess I forgot. Just give me about ten minutes, you guys can wait inside while I get ready." They nodded in sync and they entered my apartment and sat on the couch.

When I was finished making myself look decent, I donned my red leather jacket and went back out to the living room and the girls placed a party hat on my head. "Gotta get into the spirit, ya know!", Magnolia justified and I just burst out in laughter of how cute all this was. We walked out of my apartment and I drove us to the abandoned church where I saw a bunch of other cars and vehicles were parked outside and it was awfully quiet. Magnolia and Georgina walked ahead of me to open the front doors for me. As soon as I stepped through the door, everything else was drowned out with the booming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARINA!!!!" that erupted from the people waiting inside and raising welcome arms and clapping and cheering just for me. I was so overwhelmed by their love and dedication to making me happy, I smiled so big covered my face as it turned red as a tomato.

I spotted Remington walking through the crowd of people and toward me with a gorgeous smile and eyes full of love and admiration. I was still blushing as he got close enough to me and offered his hands for mine to take. After I carefully took his hands, he kissed my forehead and looked into my eyes while asking me, "Well, ma chérie, are you enjoying your birthday so far?" I looked deeply into his eyes and I just wanted to dive into them. I was still speechless from the amazing surprise, so I just nodded with a smile on my face and he smiled back in response. "I forgot to tell you what I wanted for my birthday, though", I mentioned trying to hide my giggle. He arched a brow and asked with a smirk, "You didn't? Well, what is it you want?" I tugged him closer to me and leaned into his lips and he didn't hesitate to kiss me back, the crowd cheering for us and making my blush deepen.

The party was better than any birthday party I was ever given in my life, for more reasons than I imagined.  They used a chair made to be a throne for me to sit upon and everyone gave beautiful gifts, big and small. Various bands performed songs and wished me Happy Birthday, even Delilah and her girls. Palaye Royale were the last ones to perform and Remington wrote a song for me called "Mrs. Infamous", like what he used to call me before we started dating, and I loved it with all my heart. When they were done, he walked up to me and I embraced him in a tight hug. He hugged me back and I whispered in his ear so only he could hear me say this, "No matter what happens, I will always love you, Remington." He pulled away and looked at me intently, and a huge grin stretched across his mouth. He picked me up and carried me into what looked like an office inside the church and closed the door behind him. I was starting to get nervous as he sat me on a desk.

"R-Remington", I stuttered as held me close to him, "I-I love you, but I-I don't want to go t-too far." He looked deeply into my eyes and kissed my forehead, which made me relax a little. He placed his hand on my cheek and rested his forehead on mine as he stated, "I know, my sweetness, I just want you to know my intentions with you are the same." I looked at him I. surprise and a little bit of confusion. "Ever since we spent more time together", he explained while resting his hands on my waist, "I can't imagine my life without you. You're what makes me smile when I'm feeling shitty and what calms me down when I'm feeling anxious. Its unrealistic to think about, but I hope I never lose you in my life." He then took one of his rings from his hands and then he took one of mine and slid it onto my wedding finger. I gasped as he got down on one knee and held the hand that was wearing his skull ring.

"This ring is my promise that sometime in the future after we've achieved our dreams and are emotionally ready that I will ask you to spend the rest of our lives together and continue to make each other happy. There might be a million girls out there who will wish to be mine, but not one of them makes me feel like how I do when I'm with you, and it baffles me how you make me never want to date another girl in my life even if, God forbid, we weren't together anymore. I know it might be a lot for you to take in since we're still so young and we've only been together not that long, but I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

I was on the verge of tears after he said all that, and then I stepped off of the desk and kneeled down to his level and took his face as I declared, "Neither have I, I love you." He smiled and then kissed me so passionately, I almost lost my composure while in his grasp. He stole a few pepper kisses on my neck, making me giggle. He kissed my lips once more and then helped me back up as he stood up and we walked out of the office. When we opened the door, a bunch of our friends ran away from being so close to the door and tried to act casual. "Um, can I ask why you guys were so close to the door?", I asked slightly annoyed. They tried acting innocent and didn't say anything, and then Nina answered, "I was just making sure you both were still alive since it was certainly quiet." Me and Rem looked at each other, and then burst out in laughter. Our friends joined in and I was starting to look forward to my year at 22.

HI AGAIN!!! Sorry it's been a while, well maybe not that long, but my back's been hurting and I needed some inspiration for my story. Last minute (as usual), I decided to add that emotional moment where Remington practically gives Carina a promise ring that seals his promise to belong to her only and pop the question. 😍 Anyway, thank you all for your amazing support for it means so much to me. I wouldn't be continuing this story if it weren't for your love and dedication. 💗💗💗