Zachary

I couldn’t keep my eyes off Beks during the wedding. She looked so happy and Jesus Christ, happy looked good on her. Beks kept looking at me and I knew my staring was distracting, so I would turn my attention back to the wedding. However, my gaze always ended up right back on Beks and I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I didn’t want to. God, I was so in love; I was so in love with Beks.

I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

God, I wanted to spend every second of the rest of my life with her.

“Hey, I have a few errands to run but I shouldn’t be too long,” I tell Beks, kissing her on the cheek. We arrived home from the wedding a few minutes ago, and she was now taking down her hair to get ready for our date tonight.

“Where are you going?” She asks looking at me through the mirror.

I shrug watching her as she allows her hair to fall down her back. She begins brushing her hair and I realize I could watch her do that forever. She’s so beautiful. How did I get so lucky? “I’ll be back in time to take you out, I promise.”

She gives me a look, slightly smirking. “You better.”

“I love you,” I call as I walk down the stairs.

“You better not be late, Zachary James!” She calls back. I chuckle quietly to myself as I grab my car keys and head out the door.

I make my way a few blocks down to Brian’s house. His place was the first of two I wanted to visit before my date tonight with Beks.

“Baker,” Brian greeted as he opened the door. He had a glass of wine in his hand and Marlboro red between his lips.

“I need it back,” I tell him.

Brian furrowed his brow. “What?”

“The ring, I need it,” I reply.

Brian’s mouth made an O shape. He allowed me in the house and then turns to me. “You’re ready?”

“I’ve been ready,” I answer. And it’s true. I bought that ring when we were on tour. I was going to invite her to our show in New York and I was going to propose. I had a plan before the wreck happened. Then, I decided not to propose because I was scared. Scared of what might happen because it seemed like anytime things were going good, something bad happened; but not anymore. I wanted to marry Beks. I love her.

Brian smiles at me and hands me the small box I was waiting for. I open it, checking its contents and smile. She’s going to love it. “When are you going to ask her?”

“Tonight,” I answer. Hell, a part of me wanted to do it right now. Just call her up on the phone and ask her. If I did it that way, though, I think she would punch me in the throat.

“Well, congratulations dude. I’m happy for you.”

“Oh, she hasn’t said yes yet,” I chuckle.

“She will.” He reassured.

We exchanged a few more words before I left and headed to my second destination: Matts. Except I didn’t want to meet Matt at his house since we lived next door to each other. I didn’t want Beks to come over and interrupt our talk, so we went to Johnny’s Bar. Matt was sitting at a table with a beer in one hand and his phone in the other when I entered. I sat next to him and set the box with the ring inside on the table in front of him.

He arches a brow and opens it. “No offense but I’m already married.”

“Shut up.” I smile, rolling my eyes. “I’m asking her tonight.”

Matt grins widely. “About fucking time!”

“Shut up,” I laugh.

Matt gulps down more beer. “How are you going to do it?”

“I’m taking her to her favourite restaurant.”

“And?”

“And what?” I ask.

Matt laughs. “You have to make it special. Going to her favourite restaurant isn’t that. When I proposed to Val, I took her to the place we had our very first date.”

“You were like five with your very first date,” I tell him.

“Oh, shut up. Anyways, you have to make it special.”

My phone beeps and I look at it. It’s a text from Beks, reminding me that our reservation is in thirty minutes. “It will be. I have to go,”

I stand up from my seat and Matt follows. “I’m happy for you, Zack. Both of you deserve this more than anyone I know.”

I nod. “Thanks, Matt. I’ll talk to you later.”

Beks and I arrive at the restaurant and sit down. God, she looks absolutely beautiful. I don’t start to get nervous until our dinner arrives but I don’t know why. Beks loved me, there was no doubt in my mind that she would accept my proposal. She would leave with this ring on her finger, I knew that. Everything was perfect; the food, the restaurant, her, the ring. Tonight was going to be perfect.

God, she was so perfect.

And this was so wrong.

The whole setting. A restaurant? What the fuck was I thinking? This wasn’t the right way to do this. This was wrong, this was wrong. Beks deserved more, God, this was wrong. Why am I only now realizing how wrong this is?

“I’ll be back,” I announce suddenly, standing from my seat.

She puts down her dessert fork. When did we order dessert? I don’t remember ordering dessert. “Wait, what? Where are you going?”

“Finish your dessert, I’ll be back.” I walk off before I vomit on my shoes. This is a disaster. I’m so stupid.

I basically run outside and dial Matt’s number. God, this was all his fault. I thought this night was going to go great and it would have if he didn’t plant that idea in my head that I wasn’t making it special enough.

Fuck him.

“Hello?”

“How the fuck am I supposed to make this special?” I hiss into the phone.

“What? Zack?” Matt’s voice rang.

“Special – you said I wasn’t making it special enough for her. Tell me how I’m supposed to do this.” I begin to pace, and my stomach begins to turn again.

“Did you not go to dinner?” He asks me curiously.

“We’re at dinner now,” I reply. I begin to rub the back of my neck.

“You’re at dinner now?” He repeated.

I have a headache. “Yes. She’s inside eating dessert.”

“Zack, you have to go back inside!” There’s a slight laugh in his voice.

I stop pacing and throw my head back. “I can’t,” I groan. “This is stupid. I need it to be special.”

He’s laughing a little harder now. “You’re panicking. It’s natural. Just calm down and think. Think of a special place or a time or something. You’ll know it when you think of it. But right now, you have to go back inside.”

I sigh. “You’re no help.”

“Go back inside!” He laughs and hangs up.

I stick my hand down into my pockets and grab the box. I hold it there for a long while before pulling it out and opening it. The door behind me opens and I quickly close the box and turn around, a sigh of relief escaping me when I realize it’s not Beks. I shove the box back into my pocket and walk back into the restaurant and to our table.

We’re just going to go home. Tonight’s not the night for this. I made the decision too hastily and she deserved more. She deserved something special.

Fuck Matt.

Beks asks if I’m okay when I return and I tell her I am. We decide to leave and I try to keep a smile on my face, but from the looks Beks keeps throwing at me I don’t think I succeeded. I don’t even realize I passed our street until she mentions it. Where was I even heading?

And then it hit me. Prom night, that was a night that was important to both of us; it was special to both of us. Huntington Beach High School was not the place I want to propose but…my parent’s house. The first time we kissed, we had sex, the first time I told her I loved her. That was it. That was the place.

We arrive and thank God, they’re not home.

“Zack, what…” Beks has been asking me what was wrong since we left the restaurant. I get out of the car before she can finish her sentence. I walk to the porch and turn to her once I hear her follow me.

“This is where I spent part of the most amazing night of my life.” What kind of opener is that, Baker?

“Zack…” Beks looks tired, confused.

I interrupt her. “Wait.” God, here it goes. A deep breath. “Before this night – prom night, I knew I loved you. I loved you but I knew I couldn’t have you,” And I remember how painful that was. God, it nearly killed me. But ruining our friendship on a high school romance wasn’t worth it. This was better, dating when we were older and more mature was better. I blab for a few more seconds and then pause. Jesus Christ, I’m going to throw up.

She’s smiling at me. At least now she’s smiling instead of looking confused. “Zack, that was a long time ago, why…”

My hand is fumbling with the box in my pocket. Has it gotten smaller? I feel like it’s gotten smaller since the last time I looked at it. I interrupt her again. Man, I’m going to have to apologize for interrupting her so much tonight. “I know. It was a long time ago. So, I’m hoping to replace it with another best night of my life. Tonight.”

Slowly, and as gracefully as I can - which probably isn’t as graceful as I think it is – I get down on one knee. The box is out in my hand. My hand is shaking so bad I’m afraid I’m going to drop it. My mouth is moving before my brain can fully comprehend what I’m saying, but she’s smiling and so I must be doing something right. I open the box and reveal the ring. “Marry me, Beks? I promise I will protect you and love you with my whole heart and…”

Before I can finish she’s pulling me to my feet by my tie and kissing me. My first instinct is to drop the ring and grip her hips, but I don’t. I’ve held onto this ring all this time. I can’t drop it now.
“I love you,” Beks whispers. “I love you, I love you.” She kisses me more and fuck, I love kissing her.

“Is that a yes?” I ask her. Please let it be a yes. I want to kiss her every day for the rest of my life.

“God, yes.” She pulls herself away from me and she’s smiling. I pull the ring from the box as she offers me her hand and I slip it on. It fits perfectly. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with the most beautiful woman in the entire world.

“I love you,” I tell her.

She tears her eyes from the ring and looks at me. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her so happy. “Let’s go home,” she kisses me, grabbing my hand and lacing her fingers with mine. “I really want to show you how much I love you.”

“Oh, I like that sound of that.” And I did. Fuck, how did I get so lucky?

The next morning, I wake up earlier than expected. Beks is still asleep beside me. Her back is to me, her left hand gently resting on the pillow beside her head and the engagement ring looking beautiful on her hand. Things felt different, in the best way possible. I felt invincible, like nothing could ever go wrong.

I stayed in bed for an hour or so. I went between dozing on and off and watching her asleep. I woke up after dozing off and was in the bed by myself. A moment later, she walks out, my shirt from last night wrapped around her.

“Hey, sleepy-head,” she mumbles.

I smile. “Hey, beautiful.” I pull her back into bed with me and kiss her. “I have to get up, but you should stay in bed.”

“Why?” Beks pouts.

“I have to take the newlyweds to the airport, remember?”

She groans, kissing me. “Well, I’ll go with you.”

“As much as -” I kiss her lips, “- I would love that -” I kiss her jaw, “- I don’t think -” I kiss her neck, “- we would all fit.” I kiss her collarbone.

“Just tell them to downsize on the luggage,” she suggests.

I chuckle. “Tell you what, I will take them to the airport and I won’t even stop the car. I’ll just drive by slowly and push them and their luggage out and come home and we can do whatever you want.”

“Okay,” Beks smiles. I give her one final kiss before crawling out of bed. “Hey,” she calls before I enter the bathroom. I turn to her expectantly. “We’re engaged.”

My chest swells with love, excitement, and joy at her words. “We’re engaged,” I repeat.

I shower and dress so quick when I exit the bathroom Beks is still staring at her engagement ring. I give her a swift kiss on the lips and make my way down the stairs. “I’ll be home in two hours!”

“Drive safe,” she calls as I grab my keys and head out the door.

I head to my sister’s house and she basically runs out of the house. “It’s about time, Zachary!”

“Hey, not all of us are going to Bora Bora, so not all of us are excited to get to the airport,” I smile, popping the trunk.

Her husband, Michael walks out with a suitcase in each hand. “I don’t think she slept at all last night.”

Zina laughs. “I had to make sure everything was packed! You don’t want to get there and not have any underwear, do you?”

Michael smiles, rolling his eyes and kissing Zina. “You’re right, babe.” He walks back into the house, to get more bags I assume and Zina turns to me.

“I’m so excited. Where’s Bekah?” she asks me.

I shook my head. “I figured there wouldn’t be enough room for her, so she’s at home.”

“Aw,” she makes a face. “Good call, though, I think I over packed.” As if on cue, Michael walks out of the house with more bags.

“I think you’re right,” I agree. “So, hey, I have some news.”

“Don’t give me any bad news before I leave, Zachary,” She crosses her arms.

“It’s not bad news! At least…I don’t think it is?” I shake my head, chuckling slightly. “I um…Beks and I…we’re getting married.”

“What?” Zina shrieks. “When?”

“I don’t know,” I laugh. “I proposed last night.”

She pulls me into a hug. “I’m so excited! Oh, Zack! That’s great news!” She pulls away from me. “I’m so happy for you. Do mom and dad know?”

I shake my head. “No, you’re the first to know besides Matt and Brian.”

“Aw, well don’t I feel special,” she teases.

I laugh. “Brian had the ring and Matt helped with the proposal.”

Michael walked out of the house and announced that everything was ready to go, and so we loaded into my car and headed off to the airport.

On the way, Zina babbled about their trip and everything she was excited to do. I was glad she and Michael could entertain themselves because my mind was preoccupied with Beks. A part of me couldn’t believe I was engaged to her. She was the love of my life. In high school, if you would have told me this was how my life would pan out, I wouldn’t have believed you. I was a lucky man. I was lucky to have such a great family, a beautiful fiancée, life-long friends and bandmates. The support and love in my life were unconditional.

We arrived at the airport with no problem. I gave Zina a hug goodbye and told her to have a safe flight and a fun trip. I told Michael goodbye and watched as they disappeared into the crowd and then headed home.

I had to remind myself not to speed as Huntington Beach neared. When I was about half an hour away I texted Beks, demanding that she be naked when I arrived home. She texted back almost instantly.

“Had to run to work for a minute, so YOU be naked when I get home. Won’t be long, promise. Love you.”

I smiled and sent her a text back asking what she was doing there but she never texted me back. I thought about stopping somewhere to get food to take home for us but didn’t know how long she was going to be and didn’t want it to get cold.

I lock my car door when I arrive home and head to the front door. I’m unlocking the door when suddenly there’s a sharp pain at the back of my head. I stumble inside, and when I turn to see what the fuck just happened, I feel someone grab the back of my shirt collar.

“Enter the code,” they demand. I didn’t even notice the alarm system asking to disarm.

“Wha…” I start but stop when I feel something cold, metal and circular on the back of my neck.A gun. I enter the code and the alarm disarms.

“Now, where is Rebekah?”

Notes

Shit's about to go down with only two chapters left! Thank you so much for reading! Thanks to Cheyenne16, Hollie, imagine fiction, a7xdeathbats6661, and kaylakakes for commenting!

Title credit: Avenged Sevenfold "Gunslinger"