"Me too."
"I didn't tell Colton about my little ultimatum, which was stupid. I'm sorry. And I thought I was going to cry when you didn't want to talk to me."
"I'm sorry. I should have talked to you just a little. But I didn't want to ruin the surprise. Which I nearly did by telling Colton I'd see him in a few days. As it was I asked him if I could marry you."
"What did he say?" Mandy was shocked. Both by Kip asking Colton and Colton not spilling the beans.
"He said it was okay with him."
Mandy picked up her plate and moved around the table. She refused to be apart from him when he was sitting to close. As she sat down, she noticed a couple of teachers with their faces pressed against the glass of the doors. She waved at them and they waved back and then walked away.
When she smiled up at Kip, he bent down and kissed her softly. "I like having you beside me."
"Well, good 'cause I'm staying. Now explain everything to me."
"Later. Eat." He kissed her again and then released her.
Mandy ate quickly, wanting to get to the explanation and maybe even the ring. When Kip was done, the students cleared away the table. Kip stood up and excused himself. "Forgot something inside," he said, jogging to the school.
He returned with another rose. Then he got down on one knee beside her. She turned to him, feeling the tears spring up instantly. He set the rose on her lap. "Mandy, I've loved you for one third of my life. I want to love you for the rest of it. Will you marry me?"
He pulled out the box from his pocket. She noticed his eyes were watery as well. He opened the box and Mandy thought she might fall off the sofa. "Holy," she whispered. "Wow." There was the biggest diamond she'd ever seen.
"If you don't like we can take it back and pick something out you do like," he said quickly.
She wasn't sure about that. Then again she didn't want to have something so large around, it would be nerve wracking for her.
He prompted her. "Hey, I'm on my knees here."
Oh right, she hadn't answered his question. "Yes," she breathed out. "Yes, yes yes."
"I'm going to get up before I put the ring on you. Rings," he said, glancing at the black box. "My knees doth protest. Mainly because I had the bad luck to kneel on a rock."