The 20 Year Old Virgin | Herophine

Epilogue

Jo

"And that's a wrap folks!" Roger yells out causing everyone on set to erupt in a massive celebratory cheers.

Hero and I are still seated by the steps going into what is supposed to be Tessa's and Landon's New York apartment building but really is just inside this huge studio in Atlanta where we've been filming for the past six years now. He wipes the remaining tears on my cheeks from the very emotional scene where Tessa finds out about the book Hardin has been writing. We've been filming for more than eight hours just for this particular scene and I am emotionally exhausted but the look of adoration on Hero's face as he gazes at me is enough to wipe away the hours of crying.

"We did it, love. Our last After movie," he whispers like it's just us in this huge studio and that the fifty or so crew and casts are not surrounding us and waiting for us to join them in celebration. We are in our own little bubble for the last time here in hotlanta.

I have been utterly and foolishly in love with this man for six years now. Those six years may not have been the smoothest and most unproblematic years for us but I wouldn't have it any other way. We fight like all hell is about to break loose but we make up like it's heaven on earth. He's said this to me a thousand times in the last six years-I am his damnation. I think it's ironic that he thinks this of me and I, on the other hand, see him as my salvation.

"Marry me," I blurt out.

What the actual fuck was that Josepfine Langford?!

His eyes widen and the entire studio suddenly falls to a stand still. Did I say it that loud for everyone to hear? Oh fuck me! I think I hear Anna sob somewhere and someone whistles but other than that, it's you-could-hear-a-needle-fall silent. I don't dare look around us, afraid of everyone's judgemental gaze directed towards me. I am not ashamed that I asked Hero to marry me but it's embarrassing because of the way I just sort of put it out there where everyone is now witness to what is supposed to be a private and intimate moment for me and the love of my life.

And then Hero bursts out in laughter. I'm just about to smack him in the face for making this a thousand times more embarrassing for me than it already is when he moves from sitting on the steps beside me to kneeling down right in front of me. I can't seem to wrap my head around what the hell is happening, not even when Shane is handing Hero a small red velvet box. My head is spinning.

"Baby, you couldn't really have waited for me to go down on my knees for you?" he chuckles in amusement while opening the box, revealing a diamond ring. "I was supposed to do this during the wrap party tonight when Anna would make her speech and then she'd give the floor to us so we could thank the entire crew and cast and now I am just blubbering nonsense," he chuckles again, only this time, there are tears pooling in his magnificent eyes.

I think a sob escapes from my lips but I'm not entirely sure. I can't seem to decipher which is real and not right now. This is all too surreal.

"Josephine Langford, I have been in love with you since the moment I spit my soda right on your face the first dinner we had together here in Atlanta six years ago. Since that night, you've literally turned my whole life upside down and I never looked back ever since. I never need to. I never wanted to. I never knew how dull my life was before you. You brought so much color and fire to my otherwise boring as fuck life. You showed me the bad so I could better appreciate the good. You helped me find my true self and you've taught me the concept of accepting the past in order to move onward with the future."

I am speechless. Holy fucking shit! Is this really happening to me?

With one final deep breath, he looks up at me with big green eyes which are almost pleading. "Will you marry me?"