His Name Was Damian

fourty - three

"Well did you take a pregnancy test?"

Naomi tried to calm down Melanie over the phone as she locked her car door.

"Yes! But one came out positive and one came out negative. What am I going to tell X?"

Naomi laughs through the phone which receives yelling from Melanie.

"Naomi this is serious, I'm not ready to be a mom. I could be an aunt easy but there's no way I'm ready to be locked down with a baby locked on my tit."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I say you go to a clinic and they'll test you there. That way you'll know for sure. Don't stress Mel."

"Babe, you're pregnant? Oh my gosh, yes," Xavier screams over the phone. Naomi pulls her phone away from her ear for a moment before placing it back to its original position.

"I have to go, Naomi, Xavier's having a conniption and I have to put his ass in check. Love you."

"Love you too, " And she hangs up the phone, walking into her building.

The apartment was warm and cozy as it awaited its owners to come home. Naomi walked through the hallway to her door before unlocking it. Having a long day, she drops her purse at the door and kicks off the heels she had been wearing and heads to the kitchen. Her golden doodle, Ray, says hello by waging his tail in her direction, causing a series of kisses from Naomi.

She sips on some water as she scrolls through her Instagram feed, seeing old friends from high school in her timeline. Naomi sighs as she drops her phone back onto the counter.

It's been five years since high school and now everyone is doing their own thing. Lana is now a senior in college, Xavier is a tattoo artist full-time with hopes of opening his new shop soon with the help of Melanie, Naomi is now working a graphic design firm, Teddy is working at a center for foster kids, and Damian works at a school as a counselor.

Walking into her bedroom, she was about to get into the shower but stops when she sees an unfamiliar notebook on her desk. Walking over, she read the title 'Damian'.

Sitting down, Naomi starts flipping through the notebook, seeing various things written down from college plans to grocery lists. She then stops at a page that reads day one :

Naomi was hit the hardest. Melanie has some bruised ribs but overall she'll be alright. It's Naomi, I'm worried about. The doctors didn't put her in a coma; she slipped into it on her own. The guy who hit her was drunk.

I should've never let her leave my house or none of this would've happened.

Naomi flipped the pages some more, reading quickly through the text.

Day 4: Everyone was asking about you at school today.

Next page

Day 11: I'm scared of losing you, Naomi. I don't know when you're going to wake up.

But she stopped on Day 27

10. Hopefully spend the rest of our lives together, if you want too.

She continued to flip through the pages, resulting in not being able to hear the door of her apartment opening.

"What you reading?"

Damian's voice comes from behind Naomi causing her to jump in surprise. She puts down the notebook softly and jumps on top of the table, opening her arms for him.

"Hey! How was work?"

He was holding onto Ray as he neared his girlfriend, his tattoos on full display in a white tee. "It was good, but I kinda want to know what's under your butt."

"Nothing, nothing," Naomi shrugs.

"Naomi..."

She sighs before moving down and grabbing the notebook, "I promise it was already on the desk."

"Yeah, I know. Did you read the last page at least?"

"The last page?" Naomi begins to flip through the notebook until she comes across bold text at the very end.

PROPOSE TONIGHT

Naomi looks between the notebook and Damian and while she does, Damian drops to his knee.

"Well since the secret is out, I've got no other choice but to do this here."

Naomi drops the notebook back onto the desk and Damian takes her hands into his.

"We have been together for five years. When you first took that cigarette out of my mouth, I knew you were going to be someone special to me. You were so nice to me even after my attempt. You asked questions about me no one else did and opened yourself up to me to gain my trust. We've been through a lot and I want to spend the rest of my life with you if you allow me too."

"Yes."

"Naomi, I haven't even asked you, yet."

"Okay, well ask me so I can say yes again," Naomi says with a smile.

Damian laughs as he takes out the ring, "Naomi Simone Johnson, will you marry me?"

"Yes," Naomi exclaims as she tackles Damian to the floor and wrapping her arms around him. "A million times yes!"

Still on the floor, Damian slips the ring onto Naomi's finger which lined up to the promise ring she wore. Ray joins in as well, thinking the hug was a group tackle.

"Hey, I have a question," Naomi says wiping away the hair in her face."

"I have an answer," Damian says, leaning back on his hands.

"How long did you keep that journal for?"

Her boyfriend sighs and rubs his forehead, "Well I started it when you slipped into your coma but when you came out of it, I use it for just writing things down that happen during the day."

Naomi nods, "Interesting but you know what sounds even better?"

"What?"

"Something to eat. Wanna head to the kitchen?"

Damian ticks his jaw as he looks at his fiancé, "I'll race you there?"

"You're on."

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Final chapter coming soon!