Nora and Isaac mingled through the crowded house. They were so much
ignoring everyone that no one seemed to notice they were even there. Nothing could separate the two at that moment. Except one thing. The clock had turned from 9:45 to 11:30 so quickly. Taylor and Abby stood just two rooms away.
“Tay, I’m ganna go take a pee.” She whispered into his ear.
“Okay babe.” He gave her a quick kiss and she left. Taylor’s stomach
turned somersaults as he patted the square box in his pocket. He made his way into the other room. Isaac and Nora sat talking on the white leather couch. They were in their own little world. He approached Isaac and lay his shaking hand onto his shoulder.
“Hey guys.” He gave a small smile.
“What’s up?” Isaac acknowledged him by standing up.
“Not much. A little shaky.” Taylor said bringing his hand up to his head and running his fingers through his hair.
“Hey, don’t worry. Everything will go all right, Okay? Now... Where’s the ring?” Isaac reassured with a smile.
Taylor looked down. “Right here.” He pulled the small black velvet box out of his pocket and slowly open the top. He lifted the ring from it’s sitting place and looked up at Ike.
They both grinned and Taylor slipped it into his mouth.
“Is that what I THOUGHT it was?!” Nora asked as she jumped up off the
sofa.
“Shhh!” Isaac hushed her. Nora covered her mouth with her hand. Her squeals sent both boys looking at her. “Oh.. sorry.” She smiled.
“Alrigh-” Taylor stopped when the ring hit his teeth. The clank that the gold band made hitting his teeth sent his stomach jumping up his throat.
“Taylor you have GOT to calm down.” Isaac looked at him with stern eyes.
“Okay.. okay.. I don’t think I’m ready for this.” He responded shaking his head.
“Yes you are! There’s no backing down now. So come on.” Isaac led
Taylor back into the living and dining room where the life of the party was taking place. Taylor spotted Abby dishing out some punch. He walked towards her. The clock above the mantle read five minutes till.
“Hi baby. Ahh! It’s almost midnight!” She said a little TOO excited for Taylor. As if she knew what was going to hit her when the clock struck Twelve. He looked at her sideways.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“Oh.. Nothin” Taylor said carefully. It was hard talking with a piece of gold below his tongue. But he was managing. The large screen TV at the front of the room showed the crowded streets
of Times Square and the thousands of people invading NYC to catch a
glimpse of the huge ball drop and the after celebration.
Taylor kept getting chills, and every time he did he would look up. Then Isaac would give him a slight nod.
Already the excitement of the room told that the seconds were ticking
closer and closer. Soon enough the one minute countdown started.
Abby grabbed Taylor’s hand as she looked up and gave him the biggest
grin. Her eyes were sparkling so beautifully. Taylor wanted to kiss her right then, just so he could get it over with. But he held back.
The room finally started chanting the last ten seconds. The little kids were already throwing confetti.
“Five! Four! Three! Two! ONE!” The whole room let up into screaming and shouting. Abby turned towards Taylor.
“Happy New Year, Abby.” Taylor whispered over the noise. Their faces were inches apart. Taylor brought her in for the kiss. He slowly slid the ring into her mouth. Abby stopped kissing him and open her eyes. She stood there for a moment then brought her fingers up to her mouth and pulled out the small golden ring. Her eyes welled up with tears.
“Abby, will you marry me?” Taylor asked barely audible.
She started sobbing. “Well?” He laughed.
“Yes. Yes. I will!” She grabbed him and gave him a hug. She never wanted to let go. Taylor let out a deep breath. He did it.
“I love you.” He whispered again.

***************

The Hanson house was quiet. The last guest had left about an hour ago. Abby’s alarm clock read 2:32am. She rolled over and looked out at the light streaming in her window. The moon was out but a light snow was falling. She was wide awake, and couldn’t sleep after this night. She crawled out from under her covers and walked quietly out of her guest bedroom. She peered down the hall, and saw that there were no lights showing from under Taylor’s door. So she slowly made her way down and across the hall. Abby open the door and looked in. Taylor lay on his left side, back towards her.
Abby walked over and lifted up the covers and crawled in next to him.
He stirred and turned onto his back. His face turned towards her.
She smiled and lay her head on his chest. After a minute, Taylor leaned down and kissed her head. She looked up at him.
“I couldn’t sleep.” Her whispers were soft.
“Neither can I.” He responded. Taylor scooted right up next to Abby and rapped his arms around her body.
Her right had lay on his stomach. The sparkle of the ring on her finger caught his attention.
“So you like it, eh?” He asked lifting up her hand.
“I love it.” She smiled the two of them lay quiet for a minute. Then Abby asked the question she had been wondering ever since he had purposed.
“So tell me this.. When did you have the time to go get it?”
Taylor let out a laugh. “I have my ways.”
He kissed her again and pulled her on top of him. Abby ran her fingers
down his stomach.
“I love you Taylor.” She lay her head onto his shoulder.
“I love you too.”
With those last words, the they drifted off to sleep rapped in each others arms.

*************

“Okay, Are you SURE she knows I’m coming?” Zac looked back at Warren
to get approval.
“Yes! Go!” Warren yelled as he started back into his house.
“Okay, just makin sure. BECAUSE IF I GET BITCH SLAPPED IT’S ALL YOUR
FAULT!” Zac screamed after Warren slammed his deck door closed.
Zac looked down the street. Kari’s house was in plain view. To be honest, he was scared to DEATH to face her. He missed her, but he also was more afraid of her rejecting him once again then anything.
Zac trudged through the thick snow across the street and down the
narrow sidewalk until he stood right in front of Kari’s house.
He made his way up the steps of her porch and paused a second before ringing the doorbell. He held his breath. Seconds later, the knob turned and Kari’s front door open.
“Hello Zac.” Mr. Rea greeted in his usual stern voice.
“Hi, Is Kari home?” Zac’s voice was shaky and scared. He rubbed his
sweaty hands on his jeans in hopes to dry them off.
“I’ll go get her. Come in.” Mr. Rea disappeared into the living room on the right. Seconds later, Kari slowly walked around the corner. She stopped and leaned against the door frame of the living room. She stood in a pair
of blue sweat pants and a long sleeve yellow abercrombie shirt.
“Kari..” Zac whispered. His eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry. I was so stu-”
She cut him off. “Zac. You don’t have to explain yourself. It’s okay. This past month has been hell for me just as much as it’s been for you, even more so. So please don’t start this conversation with apologies. You can save yourself the trouble.”
Zac looked down. The hot tears were now dripping off of his face and onto his shirt.
“I don’t know what to say, Kari.” Zac’s eyes were turning bloodshot. the emotions and pain he had felt over the last few weeks was hitting him harder then ever.
“Then don’t say anything. Zac, I love you. I do. And no matter what you do to me, you know I’ll always find my way back to you. That’s how much I care. I just needed time to deal. I’m begging you though Zac, please don’t do this to me again. I can’t handle it.”
At that moment Zac’s stomach quit spinning, and the ball that had been knotted up released and for the first time in weeks felt normal again. He looked at her with the eyes that he used too. He shook his head and whispered her name over and over.
Kari was at his side hugging him at that moment. He held on to her for dear life. She was his life, and until that moment, did he feel like he had gotten the most important thing he had ever lost back.
He pulled away and brought his hands up to her face. He wiped away a stray tear slowly sliding down her cheek. Then he brought her face to his and kissed her. The one kiss he would never forget. It was the kiss that brought her back him.