My Heart CH.31

My Heart: A Joshayley Story CHAPTER 31

HAYLEY'S POV:

Touring was finally over. I was back home, where it all began. To think I was doing band practice here a few years ago. Now we're pretty successful in the music industry. Although I'm glad it didn't all get to my head, but I had friends and family to thank for that. We even added an additional band member to the picture--Taylor York. One of our closest friends ever and yet another hooligan in the crazy band we already were.

Everything was absolutely perfect, falling into place, especially because Josh was still mine. I sighed. He was a beautiful human being that was going to take me out tonight. It was my birthday today, anyways.

Josh.

My boyfriend.

I smiled as I thought of him. But really, anyone could smile if they thought about Josh Farro. I smiled at the fact that he was mine, and that our relationship had lasted through high school and beyond, and that he was "the one" for me.

The doorbell of my hotel room rang unexpectedly. I looked down at my watch. It was early. Josh was here already? I hurriedly brushed through my orange hair and fixed the curls. Josh told me to look pretty tonight, so I did.

"Hey Hayles," he greeted, smiling at me. He looked over at my knee-length black dress. "You look pretty. Good job."

I chuckled. "Thanks, Farro."

Josh leaned in closer to kiss me, but I placed a hand on his chest signaling him to stop. "The lipstick will get on your lips."

"Do you honestly think I care about that, Hayley?" He asked me. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"I guess not."

Josh smirked and leaned in to me again, parting his lips slightly and finally placing them atop mine. After it was slowly turning into a make out session, I pulled away and took a breath.

"We aren't going to waste this date kissing all night."

"We could," Josh suggested, raising an eyebrow suggestively. I shook my head and smiled.

"I spent an hour trying to look good, so you are taking me out somewhere whether you like it or not," I told him.

"Alright, alright," Josh answered, backing out of my hotel room.

Josh took me to a extremely fancy restaurant that night, and the waiter being so impeccably nice to us. That restaurant had enough room for dancing, and Josh slow danced with me for half the date. It was all so romantic, and I had no clue was he had planned. He was being so cute and so flirty the entire time, treating me nicely, as if something special was to happen tonight. I let him take me along, not asking him anything at all, though I wanted to so badly. I wanted to ask, Josh, what do you have planned for us? But I couldn't. Not yet.

After the date, he took me to a park, still filled with lights from Christmas two days ago. The trees were still decorated, and in the middle of the field was a plaid picnic blanket with flowers scattered all over them. It slowly dawned on me that the picnic was for us. This was turning into one of the best birthdays ever.

We both sat on the blanket, the lights on the trees illuminating the darkness.

"Here," he said, handing me a medium sized box wrapped in a shiny green paper. "Happy birthday Hayley."

I smiled and took it gratefully. I unwrapped it, hoping not to show too much eagerness. It was a jigsaw puzzle box, the pieces inside.

"A puzzle?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Open it and put it together," Josh urged, with a cute lopsided smile that made me oblige immediately. I smiled and nodded, spilling the pieces onto the blanket. There were only a few pieces packed inside. Josh watched me as I figured out what they looked like.

I managed to put together three pieces, forming what I thought to be a letter, and then, piece by piece, a message was beginning to come together. After finally putting on the final puzzle piece, I looked over at the finished picture.

It read, Will You Marry Me?

I gasped and caught my breath. Josh was smiling broadly now, and grabbed for my hand. From out of his pocket he fished out a ring with a simple diamond placed atop it, not entirely elegant but not horribly plain either. I gasped again at the sight, losing the ability to breathe.

"Hayley Nichole Williams, I love you, so much, and I promise to forever." Josh laughed quickly and continued. "Will you marry me?"

There was not a rational reason why I would not explode with a "yes" right there and then. After smiling so wide that the muscles of my lips began to feel sore, I exclaimed a loud, triumphant, "Yes! Of course!!!"

Josh and I shared a laugh as he grabbed for my waist and twirled me around, carrying me. I squealed as he did that, laughing and inserting the occasional "Josh! Put me down!" in between each giggle. When he finally did put me down, he slipped the ring onto my finger, gingerly holding my hand.

I scrutinized it for a good minute before looking up at him. "You better be sure, because I'm not giving the ring back," I said seriously.

Josh laughed. "Of course I'm sure."

"Good." We both smiled at each other, on the very verge of laughing once more. There was not a single word that could express the complete gratitude I felt as I held that ring on my finger. It was the symbol of love, of everything Josh and I ever shared and ever felt. There was nothing that could have been anymore perfect than that gold band with the simple diamond attached to it. It made everything between us...official, for lack of a better word. My astonishment was beyond expression. But in my heart, there was not one doubt about the decision. He really was the one for me.

JOSH'S POV:

Hayley was cuddled against my chest, breathing softly, her body very warm. It was nice to be back in this hotel room after asking her to marry me. We did get a little drunk and a little too happy--enough to leave us both clothes-free, but that was fine. It was nice she said yes. For a second I thought she wouldn't, but she did, and I was so happy. A million memories of high school and our relationship back then flooded my brain, leaving me satisfied about us being together right now. My hands were wrapped securely around her small frame, the blankets around us both. The underlying guilt that I thought would be surfacing right now instead seemed non-existent.

Slowly she began to wake up. She opened her eyes to look up at me and smiled. "Time to plan this wedding thing." My hand curled around her cheek very gently. She groaned, eyes fluttering, still a bit delirious from sleep. "Josh...the wedding. We need to plan...mmm." My hands brushed her thighs.

I smiled at her, climbing on top. "That can wait." I leaned in to kiss her gently, and her lips accepted mine with a lot more passion than what was acceptable for this early morning hour. But I took it nonetheless, wanting this as much as she wanted it--happy to see last night's fun wasn't quite over yet.

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