| Annabelle once again began shuffling through the stuff in her memory box. There were small mementos from each state she had visited on tour and birthday cards from the guys. She saw a few love letters and gifts from JC. Suddenly her hand ran across a thin plastic card. ‘Why in the world did I put a credit card in here...oh...this isn’t a credit card,” she thought as she read the words ‘Hilton Hotel’ and remembered the special night 2 months ago. Gently stroking her stomach, Annabelle chuckled softly, “Well, I don’t think we want to discuss that one just yet. Just be thankful for Hilton Hotels.” After looking through the last few items in the memory box, Annabelle softly sighed and reached into her shirt pocket. Studying the simple but eloquent pattern on the tiny silver ring and gazing into the beautiful diamond, Annabelle’s mind drifted back to a few nights before. Her most precious memory. <Flashback> “Bella, wake up,” JC softly whispered as he nudged he once again. Annabelle slowly opened on one eyelid, so she could see who was disturbing her sleep. “JC, go away. I’m sleeping,” she mumbled closing her eyelid again. JC sighed and was about to nudge her again when her eyes flew open.“JC! What are you doing in my hotel room? What if someone sees you?” JC grinned and answered, “Nobody saw me and nobody’s going to. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning, everyone is sleeping. Get ready we’re going out.” Knowing she would never get back to sleep, Annabelle gave a frustrated sigh and got out of bed. She grabbed a sweatshirt and sweatpants and was about to enter the restroom when she realized something, “Wait a minute, where are we going at 2 o’clock in the morning? Isn’t it a little early?” JC’s simply smiled and shoved her into the restroom. A few minutes later, JC and Annabelle quietly snuck through the hotel floor and out of the hotel. Scanning the parking lot, JC motioned Annabelle to follow him to a small rental car in the farthest corner. Annabelle willingly followed him while humming the theme to Mission Impossible. Once in the car, Annabelle erupted into laughter. “So, Agent C, what’s our next mission? Is the car going to turn into a submarine, so we can travel through the ocean to Puerto Rico where our arch nemesis Mr. Magoo is staked out?” JC responded with a sarcastic reply, but Annabelle didn’t hear him over her own laughter. Once her laughter had subsided, Annabelle realized JC was being unusually quiet. “JC? You there? I hope you’re there since you’re driving the car and everything. Man, I really start talking gibberish when I’m sleep deprived, don’t I? Anyways,” she paused to catch her breath, “where are we going?” “I’m not telling, Bella. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Trust me it’ll all be worth getting up early and listening to your gibberish,” JC vaguely responded. Annabelle decided to take his advice since she knew he wasn’t going to talk. She sat back in her chair and stared at JC’s beautiful profile. Sighing inwardly, she studied every line on his face. ‘How lucky am I? Here's the most beautiful, sweet, and romantic man on Earth, and he wants me.’ she thought as JC briefly turned to look at her and smile. “I love you,” Annabelle quietly whispered as she drifted asleep. “Bella, we’re here,” JC said as he opened her car door. “How long did I sleep,” she groggily asked. “Only 30 minutes. I think you fell asleep as soon as we got her, so I let you sleep while I set everything up. Ready to see your surprise?” Annabelle nodded as she stepped from the car. JC took her hand and began leading her down a dirt path. Judging from the tree around them, Annabelle assumed they were in a forest or park. JC suddenly stopped and pulled Annabelle in front of him. “Suprise,” he whispered in her ear as she looked at the sight before her. There was an clearing in the middle of the forest that JC had romantically decorated. A blanket was laid out on the ground surrounded by tulips, her favorite, and two glasses filled with Dr. Pepper since she didn’t drink. “Joshua Scott Chasez! Have I told you that I love you with all my heart? Cause I do,” she screamed as she threw herself into him. JC gently stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, “I love you too, Bella. More than anything.” JC slowly placed a finger under her chin and lifted her lips to meet his. While still keeping their lips together, JC scooped her into his arms and carried her to the blanket. He reluctantly pulled his lips from his as he placed her down on the blanket and reached for the cups. “I’d like to propose a toast. To my Bella, I love you. You’re my North Star because without you I could never find my way home. So, I bought you...,” JC paused to pull something from his pocket, “this. Open it.” Annabelle slowly unfolded the paper and almost began to cry as she read what it said, “You bought me a star?” JC slowly nodded tears forming in his eyes; “I told you you’re my star, so I made it official. Right now, there are people looking up in the sky and looking at your beautiful star. Admiring it’s beauty, watching it shine, just like I do whenever I look at you,” JC said as he pulled her crying form to him for a kiss The next morning, Annabelle woke up to find that she was sleeping in the forest on the blanket. Slightly turning her head, Annabelle saw JC sprawled out on the blanket next to her with his arm around her. As slowly as she could, Annabelle reached for JC’s arm and slowly removed it from her stomach, but not before, she noticed a shiny object on her finger. “What in the world,” she mumbled as she brought her hand closer to her face. Her eyes grew wide when she saw that it was a ring. Not just any ring, but an engagement ring. “Holy cow! Is this what I think it is? No way,” Annabelle screamed as she leapt to her feet. “Will you keep it down? I’m trying to sleep,” JC said in mock annoyance, but with a big smile plastered on his face. “JC, did you...I mean, is this...do you want to...,” she stuttered. JC stood up to face her as her took her hand into his. “Yes to all of the above, but now that the surprise part is over with, let’s get down to business. JC silently removed the ring from her finger and dropped to one knee. “Annabelle Renee Cooper, since the day I met you, I knew that you were the one. Your smile, your laugh, your eyes, and even your tears move me in ways I never thought possible. I never want to lose that and I never want to lose you. Ever. Please, I’m asking with every fiber of my being, will you spend eternity with me? Will you be my wife?” Unable to form words, Annabelle quickly nodded her. JC, with tears streaming down his cheeks, placed the ring on her finger once again and swept her into another kiss. <End Flashback> “Your dad’s such a romantic,” Annabelle whispered through the tears the memory had brought to her face. ‘I still haven’t made my decision. Now what am I going to do?’ she regretfully thought. Remembering that she still had to perform, Annabelle checked her watch. “10 minutes,” she exclaimed. Hurriedly she packed everything back into the box and rushed to fix her makeup. A knock sounded at the door as Annabelle finished applying her lipstick. As she opened the door, Annabelle saw all 5 guys standing in front of her each with a single tulip. Looking at their faces and remembering all that had happened in the past, Annabelle made her decision. |
| Chapter 6 |