Forlot: Not What I Am - Book Twenty

Chapter Two

Cindy was waiting for me by the movie theater. She had on her shirt and pants, her regular clothing, and her black hair was pulled back in a ponytail as usual. It did not take me long to see what was off about her.

Her eye. More specifically, her left eye had a red scar. The scar was diagonal and crossed over her eyelid. Thank gosh that the eye was not damaged.

Cindy spotted me, and her smile grew wide. "Caleb!"

"Cindy! My love."

We hurried to each other and hugged. She buried her face in my shoulder, and I gave her a peck on the cheek.

"I am overjoyed to see you again, Caleb," Cindy notified me.

We ended our hugs, and I said, "Right back at ya!" I winked at her.

She blushed and laughed. "Oh my gosh, Caleb. You have so much confidence today. Why, a fan might say that you have gone through major character development."

"The better to be confident to ask you..." I pointed a finger at the scar. "...why you have a scar."

She uttered a startled gasp and covered both her eye and the scar with her palm. "I am so embarrassed right now. I was hoping that you would not notice...."

I tried cheering her up. "No need to be full of embarrassment, Cindy. It looks cool on you."

She seemed surprised by this. "You mean...you like my scar?" She lowered her hand.

"Well..." I rubbed the back of my neck, for I was concerned for the worst, but I had to ask. "...only if the scar is not from abuse and if you treated it."

"Are...are you implying that my mother and father abuse me?"

I sighed and adjusted my glasses. "Yeah. I am only asking because I care about you and know that your parents hate my guts."

Her eyes darted to the side, and then back at me. "You...you care about me?"

"Of course. Why else would I decide to propose to you?"

As soon as that escaped from my mouth, I covered my mouth with my hands. In an instant, my skin was completely drenched in sweat, and my heart pounded against my chest.

I was an idiot. A complete idiot. How could I allow that to slip past me? I must have been the dumbest boy in the world.

My girlfriend narrowed her eyebrows. She looked as if she were scowling at me. Why? 'Cause I ruined the romantic moment?

"You were going to propose to me, Caleb?" she questioned. "When?"

"After our date," I finally confessed the truth. "After we saw the movie that you really wanted to see."

"I suppose that you bought me a ring."

"A gorgeous ring, yes." I shoved a hand in my pocket and pulled out the box. I tried handing it to her. "Here. You can view the ring now."

Cindy stared at the box...and then pushed it back. "No, Caleb. I want you to propose to me."

I was in a bit of a shock. "Seriously? It will not be that much fun now that you know."

"Please. Do it."

"N-now? Or after the—"

"Now. I want to be engaged as soon as possible."

"Oh...okay..."

Remembering my practice with Joan, I got on one knee and held the small box in front of me. I took in a deep breath and began.

"Cindy Banks, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You were there when no one else was. You supported me when even my parents thought that I was a lost cause. I love you, Cindy, and not just for your kindness towards me. I love your beauty. I love your personality. Your hobbies. I love you. And I do not know what I would do without you."

I opened the box, and Cindy was taken aback.

"Such a wonderful ring."

"Cindy Banks...will you marry me?"

"Yes...yes!"

I had to hear her response one more time. "Did you say yes?"

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" She handed me her hand. "Put it on me. Put it on me!"

My cheeks were burning as I pulled the ring out of the box, took her hand into mine, and slipped the ring on her finger.

My girlfriend moved her fingers and admired the ring. "I will never take it off."

I chuckled nervously. "You will have to have it off at times by the order of the Forlot leaders. You would not believe how long the process was for me to convince the leaders to get you an engagement ring."

She hugged me tightly. "Thank you, Caleb. It was totally worth it."

After seeing her movie of choice, she insisted that we return to her house. Or should I say, mansion. Her parents are wealthy and own a mansion, and I lived there. Of course, I could not live there for free.

I hated, absolutely hated, being in that mansion. Not because I occasionally got lost. Not because of the chores that I had to finish every day. No. It was Cindy's mom and dad. And the fact that they treated me like a slave.

Oh, I am not exaggerating. I was literally their slave.

I had to sleep in the dusty basement with large spiders that sometimes accidentally crawled into my open mouth.

Yuck!

I also had to do all the chores. Clean the dishes. Make the beds. Clean the mansion from top to bottom. Heck, even do the bills! And what do I get in return? No food. At all. Cindy had to secretly give me food without her parents knowing.

Tonight made things worse.

We were in the living room. Cindy and I were on the couch, and Mr. and Mrs. Banks were across from us and sitting in rocking chairs.

Mr. Banks asked, "Cindy, how did that scar form over your eyelid?"

"Easy, Dad. Caleb did it. Though, he did not mean to."