Life changes.

Frozen.

I look at Austin like he is crazy. Did he really just ask me that? I look at him and stare at him. Looking in each others eyes, I see he is serious. “Austin, I said yes. We will get married. I don’t want to get married in college. We did one semester, I would like to finish college then we can get married.” He looks at me and then nods, “k.” He gets up and walks around the couch and upstairs. I look at the empty spot where he just set trying to figure out what just happened.

I feel a hand on my arm and look over to see Alex. “You are going to hate me saying this but, he deserved to know.” I look at him shocked. “How could you?” He puts his hand up, “Yell at me in a minute, hear me out first. You got engaged to him and ended it. Then you get engaged again but didn’t talk about marriage or planning it. Since I have been here you haven’t mentioned anything about it. If he is like me and I know he is, he doesn’t miss things. He has noticed that you don’t talk about planning it or even getting married. He probably feels like your relationship is ending again or that you will never marry him.” He moves his chair back some and looks at me. I stare at his face as it all sinks in. Alex is right.

He looks at me like he is waiting for me to yell at him but I sit on the edge of the television stand instead. “You’re right.” He looks taken back, “What?” I laugh a little, “Your right, like always.” He smiles, “Ally, its me. I know you and I know Austin. I know this relationship. You need to talk to him.” I nod, “Yeah.” Getting up I stand there and start for the stairs before turning and bending to hug Alex. “Thank you.” He smiles and wraps his good arm around me. “I’m here to help.” I laugh and pull away, “Not much else I can do right now anyway.” I look at him and sigh, “I know. I’m sorry. Soon, you should be able to at least walk even if it’s with a boot.” He nods and I head for the stairs. I stop and look at the top, “Go Ally.” I look at him and shake my head before heading up the stairs. I see our door is open slightly and push it open some more before walking into the room.

Austin is leaning against the wall. I close the door and look at him. He looks up at me. I move some so my back against the other wall. “Hey.” He stares at me, “Hey.” I slide down the wall and our feet almost touch. “Austin, I’m sorry. I never thought about it. I just figured when I said yes it was all okay and we would go from there. I didn’t think that we should talk about marriage and start planning already.” He nods, “I see your point but it hurt that you never even talked about it. It was always me Ally.” I look at him and start to think. He was always the one to bring up marriage, never me. He looks at me before turning slightly to look at me better. “Ally, do you want to marry me? Tell me the truth, please.” I stare at him, at those amazing eyes that with one look I am his, that mouth I love to kiss and his hair I like to play. The face of the man I am in love with, I have been in love with since I can remember. The father of my kids. It takes not even a second for my reply, “Yes Austin, I want to marry you.” I see the famous smile spread across his face. “But not until after we graduate.” He smiles and comes over hugging me, “Fair enough.” He pulls away and pecks my lips at first before deepening the kiss.

We pull away when air is needed and the Austin I know and love it back. “Did you really have to go off on Alex?” He shrugs, “I didn’t get it all out last time we did so…” I slap him and he laughs, “I get it. I will apologize.” I smile, “Thank you.” He nods and kisses me again, “But I wont be buddy buddy with him again.” I sigh, “I never expected you too, I was shocked when you guys were before.” He shrugs, “We bonded, I don’t remember over what but we did. Sometimes that takes everything away for awhile.” I nod and kiss him, “Let’s go before our kids wake up and Alex is lost not being able to get them.” He laughs and stands up before putting his hand out and helping me up.

Holding my hand he leans in and kisses me. Pulling away he kisses my ring and smiles at me before pulling me out of the room and downstairs. I see Alex in his chair watching some weird zombie movie. “Do you ever stop?” He turns slightly and laughs. “I like horror, sue me.” I shake my head, “I can deal with zombies, so we are good.” I sit on the couch and get sucked into the movie.

Austin wraps a arm around me and I turn and smile before turning back to the movie. I hear the doorbell about twenty minutes later. Looking around Austin laughs, “I will be back and with food.” I smile and turn back to the movie. He comes in with a pizza box and drink. I laugh and watch him put it on the table. “food is here. Let’s finish the movie then get the kids up.” I nod.

The movie ends and I smile and walk over to Aubrey and bend down on the floor. “Aubrey sweetie, food is here.” She pops up and smiles, “Food.” I nod and put her in my lap and she hugs me and wraps her legs around me as I stand up and bring her to the couch. Austin places her plate of cut up pizza on the table with her Sippy cup and she sits against the couch as we bring the table closer.  She starts to eat happy. Alex has his plate in his lap and cup of the table. Austin has Aiden in one arm and a bottle in one hand. His plate on the table next to mine. I smile and look at Aubrey, “Do you want to watch something?” she nods, “Frozen.” I laugh and get up putting the movie in.

The food is gone and we are all into the movie.  Elsa is climbing the mountain. The song is starting and I couldn’t help myself and start to sing with it. “The snow glows white on the mountain tonight. Not a footprint to be seen. A Kingdom of isolation and it looks like I’m the queen.” Everyone looks at me and I shrug. Alex and Austin shake their head and Aubrey claps.  I start to sing again after a few lines, “Don’t let them in. Don’t let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don’t feel. Don’t let them know, well now they know.” I look at Aubrey and smile, “Let it go, Let it go, cant hold it back anymore. Let it go, let it go. Turn away and slam the door, I don’t care what they’re going to say let the storm rage on, cold never bothered me anyway.” I stop singing and see Austin and Alex shaking their heads again. “I don’t get it.”

By time the next chorus comes around they are singing with me, “let it go, let it go, I am one with the wind and sky, let it go, let it go, You’ll never see me cry. Here I stand and here I stay, let the storm rage on.” Austin is moving his hands up like he is making a castle and Alex is sway in his chair. When the music starts back up they are singing with me still, “My power flurries through the air into the ground. My soul is spiraling is frozen fractals all around. And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast. I'm never going back, The past is in the past! Let it go, let it go, And I'll rise like the break of dawn. Let it go, let it go. That perfect girl is gone! Here I stand. In the light of day. Let the storm rage on, The cold never bothered me anyway!” Alex and Austin both take their hand and act like they are slamming a door. I smile, “Don’t get it huh?” They both look at me wide eyed.

I laugh as Austin and I get the kids ready for bed and put them to bed. I am still laughing as I clean up the mess downstairs. They both are next to each other with their arms crossed, “Okay Ally, we get it.” I shake my head, “You were shaking you head and laughing at me then you guys somehow magically know the words, How many times have you watched it?” They both start to say something then Austin shrugs, “Probably six, Aubrey loves it.” Alex shrugs, “Three and youtube videos.” I laugh and shake my head as I walk by them, “You guys are more alike then you know.” They scuff and try to make excuses. I laugh and shake my head, “Good to have everything back to normal.” Walking to them I hug Alex and kiss his cheek and hug Austin and kiss his lips. I walk around them and start up the stairs before stopping half way and looking back at them, “Try not to kill each other.” I turn and continue up the steps and into my room before getting in bed.

 Things are still a mess. Alex is still hurt, Austin and I are still working on us, I am still upset with Alex and we are working on being friends again slowly. But in a way everything feels good, it feels like we are heading back to normal. Back to something good. I smile at the thought before falling asleep.