-My Stories- -Hosted Stories- -Good Reads- -Much Recommended- -Banners/Links-
"W-who is that?" Ryan stammered.
"That's... umm..." she started, hoping Brian would cut in and save her. He did not.
"That's actually Dave... yeah, Dave." She sputtered, her brain not functioning fast enough to think of an excuse.
"Dave?" Ryan asked, puzzled. "Dave who?"
"Dave, the Brian Littrell look alike," Holly said, an idea suddenly coming to her. "We were gonna play a big joke on you, pretending he was Brian and all... but I guess that's backfired now."
Ryan stood silently for a moment, taking in the answer.
"But why is he here... taking a shower in your house... sleeping in your guest room?" he asked, cocking his head to one side.
"That's a long story," Holly said quickly, grabbing his arm. "You know what? We'd better go." As they went out the front door, she quickly glanced back toward Brian. His feet had remained rooted to the spot where Ryan had first laid eyes on him. If he felt anything at all about what had just happened, she couldn't tell. Rather than dwelling on it, Holly chose to work on the task at hand: convincing Ryan that what she had told him was the truth.
*********************
"Thanks," Holly said as Ryan pulled out a chair behind her and helped her into her seat.
"No problem," he replied, striding to the other side of the table and seating himself in the thickly padded chair opposite her.
"This is a really nice place! I didn't even know it was here!" Holly said in wonder, surveying her surroundings. They sat at one of many tables spread sparsely throughout a room which was more like a cavernous palace than a restaurant. The walls were etched deeply with 17th century style moldings, and a huge sparkling chandelier hung from the middle of the domed cathedral ceiling. A deep red dominated the color scheme, complimenting her clothing. Taking a moment to look at the floor, she noticed it was carpeted with an intricate Asian design. To top it off, the place smelled of spiced foreign cuisine. She loved it.
"Yeah... I've been meaning to take you here for a long time, but never got around to it."
"I bet," Holly added, not convinced. It was more like Ryan to take her to the local McDonalds than a place like this. She knew something was up, but the sheer volume of things on her mind prevented her from probing the reason for their being there.
Sipping water from the tall crystal glass in front of her, Holly let her eyes rest on her boyfriend. Not knowing what to say, she stayed silent and hoped he would speak up.
Before Ryan had a chance to speak, a waiter came over and took their orders. After he was gone, the two were again faced with the ominous silence between them.
"So..." she started, looking down into her empty glass.
"My cousin just had a baby," Ryan blurted out, his loud voice invading the calm atmosphere. He blushed in embarrassment.
"That's nice!" Holly said, ignoring Ryan's crimson cheeks.
"Yeah... it was a girl," Ryan elaborated. "Blonde hair... blue eyes."
"Wouldn't it be nice to have kids someday?" Holly mused. "I know I'd like to have them, anyway."
"Maybe we can," Ryan agreed.
"We?" Holly asked, surprised.
Ryan quickly realized what his words had implied. "Holly," he started, looking deep into her clear green eyes. "I want you to know that I love you."
"I know, Ryan, but you said..."
"Shhh... what I mean is, I'm really serious about this."
"How serious?" Holly asked, purposely stretching out her words.
"Serious enough to... well, here," he said. Taking a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolding it, Ryan cleared his throat.
He looked at her and grinned. "I'd hoped to do this a little later, but now is as good as ever, I suppose."
Confused, Holly leaned in closer. She didn't know whether it was the brilliant lights sparkling from above or the smile that played upon his lips, but at the moment Ryan looked beautiful in her eyes. More than the boyish good looks he'd been blessed with... more than his shiny brown hair and mysterious brown eyes.
Her mesmerized stare was interrupted when Ryan began to speak, his voice taking on a poetic tone Holly hadn't known he possessed.
The words he spoke were not important. True, they detailed Ryan and Holly's relationship, but the thing she noticed most was the passion in his voice as he read the prose.
She was in awe.
The next thing she knew, Ryan was kneeling beside her holding a small velvet box. He opened it to reveal a diamond ring, the faceted stone sparkling from every direction. Raising her eyes to meet his, her heart caught in her throat as he spoke the next five words.
"Holly, will you marry me?"
Welcome The Darkness