Authors: June Whitfield
"Pepsi, please." I told her.
"Root beer." Offered Laura.
And Ashley left to get our beverages. Laura pulled out the oversized menu, perusing it. I narrowed my eyes at her root beer, I thought she hated root beer? I ignored the thought and decided to look at the menu.
So many choices to pick from! I felt giddy inside, I had never been to Olive Garden before.
"What should I get, Laura?"
She shrugged her shoulders, her face still behind the menu. "Whatever you want."
I pulled the menu closer to my face. "What about the chicken pennini? Or the lasagna? Oooh! Maybe I should just go classic spaghetti! I don't know! Laura, you decide for me!" I chanted, unable to make up my mind.
"You should get the spaghetti." A male voice told me. I froze in fear, wondering who was answering for Laura.
Ever so slowly, I pulled away the menu, revealing Jake sitting where Laura was.
I immediately narrowed my eyes at him. "Where's Laura?"
He gave me a heart-melting smile. "No idea."
"Jake. Why are you here?"
As he paused, I took in his appearance. It didn't help induce my anger when he was looking adorable in his dark gray sweater and nice jeans. His blonde hair fell perfectly across his tan features, his blue eyes bright.
He shrugged. "I happened to be around."
And I hated his vagueness. Why couldn't he just tell me? Couldn't he see I was over him? And if I remember right, he was clearly over me too!
"Did Laura set this up?"
"No."
I slumped back in my seat, stunned. This whole scene was just screaming Laura. But Jake wouldn't lie to me about this...would he?
Jake's POV
The view was breath-taking. And no, I wasn't talking about Niagra Falls.
I was talking about Maria. Her brown eyes were so clear that day, so worry free, I just wanted to stare into them all day. Her luscious hair was hanging down by her shoulders and she looked great in her outfit.
And so I played a little cocky. Something I knew she wouldn't be able to resist. She just had to know the answers to everything.
"Seriously, Jake," She said unnerved, "What are you doing here?"
What could I say? I'm trying to make you fall in love with me again? Because Laura sees as I do, that we were
meant
for each other.
And so I didn't stray from the truth. "You want the truth?"
She nodded earnestly.
"I miss you Maria, more than you can ever know. I have thought about you everyday since we were apart. The whole Sarah thing, it was just a set-up. I did it trying to make you jealous. I
need
you Maria, and I
love
you. I just want to hold you and have you be mine forever. You're all I want in a woman, you're absolutely perfect. Stunning beauty and fantastic personality. Maria, I honestly think we were meant for each other. Even if you don't think so yourself."
She sat there for a minute, soaking up everything.
Maria's POV
He really did think of me everyday! Just this sentence alone was enough to send my heart to do jumping jacks. Of course, I could tell he was telling the truth. He held eye contact the whole time and his tone was sincere. Genuine.
"Jake," I began. "I miss you too." I whispered.
And his grin widened like it did the day I announced I liked him. He sat up from his chair and pulled me into his arms. Some people stared at us in the restaurant, but I didn't care. I put my head against his chest, his chin resting on my head. Would we finally be together, nothing to stop us?
My conscience didn't give up so easily. What about his cheating? It wondered. What about Cynthia? I pushed away the silly thoughts. Surely they didn't apply to him anymore. We had been over the moon and back in this short time of our on and off relationship.
He pulled away and gazed into my eyes lovingly. "I have waited a long time to do that." He murmured.
And he bent down and placed his lips on mine. It was only for a second, and it made me hungry for more. But I composed myself and we took our seats again. We would share a meal together, and it would be one of the best moments of my life.
Maria's POV
The following day, of course, Cynthia confronted me. Again.
She huffed up to me and smirked at me. "Just to let you know," She snapped on her gum, "I went out with Zac on Saturday because he claimed you stood him up."
Zac was history. We never were a thing, and wouldn't be, now that Jake and I were back together.
"Okay."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "That's it? That's all you're gonna say when I take him from you?"
I looked her in the eyes. "He was never mine. And I don't care. I have someone else now." Now it was my turn to smirk.
She heavily made up eyes widened in disbelief. "Who?" She cried.
I gave her a small smile. "Why would you care? You have Zac now." I pointed out.
Her jaw lowered. "No," She shook her head, her voice weak. "Not Jake."
At that point, I just wanted to victory dance all around her and rub it in her face. Looks like witches don't win around these parts.
"Yes," I told her. "Jake. Believe it."
And I waltzed away from her, leaving her in shock. I met up with Jake in the cafeteria. He gingerly grabbed me by the elbows. "Hey, you alright?"
"I'm good," I said giving him a peck on the cheek. He smiled and we went and grabbed some lunch.
Jake's POV
3 years later
I put my hand in my pocket under the table for the millionth time. It was there, like it was always.
Maria caught my nervous state. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." I croaked, although I was far from it.
She cocked an eyebrow, but didn't question further. I excused myself to go to the restroom. Once in the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face. Why was asking this single question so hard?
This, I knew the answer to. Because I was afraid to be turned down.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Maria claimed these past few years had been treating me well in the appearance department. I had to kind of agree with her. I looked like I did in high school, but my boyish charm had disappeared. My body was more evenly toned and facial features were more manly. I smiled at the mirror, I suppose I did look alright.
I took a deep breath and walked back to our table in the restaurant. Maria gave me a reassuring smile. She looked stunning tonight, she put all the other women in the restaurant to shame. No one could compare to her in her maroon dress. Her hazelnut locks were stacked high on her head, curled, making me want to run my hands through the softness.
A waiter came by and delivered our spaghetti to us. Trying to calm myself down, I took a sip of my root beer.
Maria noticed my drink. "Root beer has so many memories." She smiled.
And it did. Hanging out at my house, and the date at Olive Garden where Laura had ordered my favorite drink for me.
I took in the scenery around us. It was around 8 o'clock, the sky darkening as we ate. The waiters were all dressed nicely, all of them with spotless service. The food was excellent, which was to be expected in this fancy five star restaurant.
It was beautiful, and perfect. Like Maria.
I cleared my throat. I had to ask now, before I chickened out and lost my nerve. I could do this, couldn't I?
Maria's POV
Jake cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. I wanted to know what was causing him to act so apprehensive. I wanted to calm him down, and reassure him. But I didn't know the source of his discomfort.
He gave me a nervous smile and cleared his throat again, demanding attention. I locked eyes with him, all my attention devoted. He looked fantastic tonight in his dress slacks and button down shirt. His ocean blue eyes looked somewhat troubled, and I wanted to remove this look nervousness.
"Maria," He started. "We've been dating exclusively for three years now."
And yes, we had dated for that long. Nothing had interrupted our dating during those years. Absolutely nothing. People thought we were the perfect couple for the rest of high school. Which, I thought we were. If you saw how he acted around me, you never would've thought he used to be a player. He was so gentlemanly and thoughtful, I just loved him to bits.
"And I want to take this relationship a step further. Maria, I love you. I love you more than you'll ever know. I love everything about you. And so," He twitched nervously, "Will you marry me?"
He got down on one knee, earning looks from the people around us. He pulled out a small velvet box, a ring inside. And my voice caught in my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes, this moment was beautiful! I beamed down at him.
"Yes!"
And he carefully pulled out ring with a large diamond in the center and placed it on my ring finger. Its facets caught the lights and glittered wonderfully.
He pulled me into an embrace, my head in his shoulder. He smelled and felt right. As if we belonged to hold each other forever.
"I love you, Maria." He murmured into my hair.
"I love you, Jake."
Epilogue
Maria's POV
2 years later
Two years. It had been two years since he asked me to marry him. And today was June the third. Otherwise known as the day we had gotten married two years ago.
What do I get the most perfect man in the world for our anniversary?
A watch?
A wallet?
A car?
I'm just shooting from the hip here, I had no idea what to get Jake.
So, you could say I was a little flustered that Saturday.
"Good morning, beautiful," He murmured beside me that day.
"Morning, happy anniversary," I smiled.
He tightened his grip around me, and I wanted nothing more than to stay in his hold forever.
"Hey," He said softly, "Today we're going to that fancy Italian restaurant, downtown, okay?"
I giggled like a little girl. "Okay." I gave him a smile and he pecked me on the lips.
I showered and dressed, then headed into town to look for a gift. I know it was terrible doing it the day of the anniversary, but I had thought about the right gift, and I was still clueless. So I drove to the mall, claiming I was grocery shopping.