Goin' Viral (Kleinsen)

Chapter 24

(Jared)

I walked with Heidi down the hall to my room. It had been worked on today, something was wrong with the air conditioning or something. I don't remember. I was just happy to be back. The only thing was, I didn't know where I stood with Evan. We talked last night when he came to visit, but we didn't discuss it. I don't know if he has a boyfriend or if he just doesn't want to date me. I will have to discuss it with him when I see him again. Will I see him again? Now that I'm awake and he doesn't have to feel guilty, will he even visit? I sighed as Heidi pushed the door open to let me in. When I looked up I was in complete awe. 

The lights were turned off but the room was illuminated but what must have been hundreds of candles. There was a pathway from the door with rose petals leading the way to- to Evan? Holding flowers? IN A TUX? What was happening right now. Evan smiled at me from across the room and held his hand out for me to join him. I slowly walked, looking up at the ceiling and around the walls to see all the lights, they resembled stars in a way. 

Then, my eyes settled on his. I was standing in front of him now and I took his hand. "Ev, what's going on?" His smile grew a little wider then. He looked down for a moment then looked back up at me. He gently handed me the arrangement of flowers in his other hand. A small smile tugged at my lips. I looked back up to him. 

"Jared, if at any point you feel you need to stop me in this, just let me know, okay? If you want me to stop, I'll stop. You just have to let me know how you're feeling. Alright?" He spoke gently, his voice slightly above a whisper. You could hear the tone of his voice but it was still below a regular speaking voice. I managed to nod and he continued. 

"Jared, I don't know if you remember this, but today would have been our anniversary. I know that you haven't truly been here for the last year, but I have. Every day I sat by your bedside hoping, praying that you would wake up." He was tearing up now. I tightened the grip on his hand to let him know it was okay. He gave me a small smile for that and returned my squeeze. "That night, this night a year ago, I made a terrible, terrible mistake. I let my anxieties and my fears get in the way of this. I thought that after this wonderful day we had together, that you were going to break up with me. I thought that you still cared about me, so you wanted to let me down easy. Like what happens when you have to get rid of a dog. On their last day, you do everything they love so that it makes you feel better when you have to let them go. I thought that was what was happening. I didn't want you to feel like you were to blame. So, I tried to beat you to it. But, that wasn't what was happening that day, was it?" 

"No, Evan. It wasn't," I said, my voice gentle. He let out a small laugh, with no humor in it. 

"I will never forgive myself for wasting a year of your life- of our lives- on that mistake. But, that time made me realize something. Something I'd always known, but still hadn't felt the full extent of." He paused for a moment, searching my eyes for anything negative. "Jared, I can't live without you." He whispered, I could tell he was going to cry soon. He took a calming breath. "If there is anything that this year has taught me, it's that. So, I don't want to waste anymore of my time not being with you. So, if you feel the same way, there's something I need to ask you." 

He squeezed my hand and reached into his pocket. Pulling out a small box, he kneeled down on one knee. Then he opened the box, revealing a beautiful silver band ring. Tears poured down my face as I let out a little laugh of happiness. 

"Jared Kleinman, will you marry me?" I could see the nerves on his face. But I couldn't help myself. 

"Gosh, Evan, I just don't know. I mean it's such a difficult decision. I mean that means I'd be marrying a huge dork. I'd have to spend my life with a guy who likes trees more than video games- it's just so difficult." I tried to keep my face straight but I couldn't help but crack a sly smile. 

"You are such a jerk. But I don't know what I was expecting from the insanely cool Jared Kleinman," He smiled back at me. I giggled and joined him on my knees. He put both of his knees under him and sat back. I put the flowers on the floor next to us and took his hands. 

"Evy, of course I'll marry you." I smiled widely at him and returned it. He pulled me into a long passionate kiss. When we parted he slid the ring onto my finger. He put his forehead against mine and we both looked down at my hand, smiling. It had taken a while, but finally, everything was as it should be.