Proposal

I pulled up in front of Michi's high school. My stomach felt about ready to burst from all the butterflies in it. I got out of my car and adjusted my tie.

Here goes everything, I thought. I took a deep breath and walked up to the school, a single white rose in hand and a small jeweler's box heavy in my pocket.

It was Michi's lunch hour. I could see her with all her friends, talking and laughing. She's so beautiful....

With one last deep fortifying breath I walked into the cafeteria. A hush fell over the room. After all, it's not everyday that someone walks in wearing a tux and carrying a rose.

It seemed that the entire room held their breath, waiting to see who I was walking to.

My eyes were trained on Michi. I could not have looked away if I had wanted to, and I didn't.

She recognized me...she knew my face...she knew I was crazily romantic enough to do this. Her eyes were huge, shocked that I was there...she hadn't even realized why I was there yet.

I reached her table and stopped right in front of her. There was a soft murmur, a couple of gasps, but I ignored them, concentrating on my love, within arm's reach. I dropped down on one knee and extended the rose out to her.

She took it, her eyes beginning to express a growing understanding of what I was doing. She began to smile.

"Michiru...I love you." At this point I pulled out the jeweler's box and opened it. Inside lay a ring, platinum, mounted with a single ruby that was flanked by two small diamonds. It glinted in the bad flourescent light.

I took one last deep breath and spoke the words to seal our fates.

"Will you marry me?"

The entire room held their breath. Michi looked deep into my eyes.

"Yes...my Haruka." Her reply was whispered, audible only to me. I smiled at her happily and took the ring from it's box.

I slid the ring on her left hand. It fit perfectly. She smiled at me and carressed my cheek.

I remembered I was still kneeling on the floor and stood, taking her hand and helping her up. I hugged her tightly, unable to believe I was finally holding her in my arms.

"Lets go get some lunch." I suggested. She smiled and nodded.

We walked out of the cafeteria amid catcalls and whooping and yells of "Go boy!"