Page 116 of Outdrawn

"Me first." She perked up. "Please?"

I groaned but I couldn't say no to those eyes. "Fine. But I guarantee mine is better."

"Oh please." She scoffed. "We both know I'm the best one at surprises. Who planned a whole trip for you to Canada for Christmas? Or, got you floor seats to that weird band. Or—"

"Okay, okay, Pastel." I kissed her with a laugh. "Let's argue about this later. Preferable when I'm not this nervous."

"Fine…wait, your nervous? For what?" she asked.

"Nevermind." I waved my hand. "You'll learn soon enough."

"Bet I'm more nervous than you," she said in a singsong voice.

"Noah," I warned and smiled. "Come on."

"Sorry." She laughed and grabbed my hand. "Close your eyes."

I sighed and did what I was told. She led me down the rest of the hallway and into my living room. The smell of ink was stronger than usual in here, mixing while with the comforting hint of lilac.

Noah stopped me to where my coffee table should be. My heart started racing when I heard her ruffling around some papers.

"Noah?" I sounded worried.

"One sec," she said.

"But…"

"Okay, now!" Noah said.

I opened my eyes to the most beautiful woman in the world standing in from of the largest piece of art she'd ever done.

"What is…" I stepped closer to my living room wall where there were comic panels plastered. They covered every inch of my living room. The drawings closest to me showed the meeting of two girls. One was lanky with wire framed glasses. The other dressed in all black and wore a frown on her face. The story continued with them getting on one another's nerves until they didn't speak for years. I followed the panels down the wall, reading the story of how they meet again. How they got a second chance. How they fell in love over sketchbook paper and impossible expectations. By the time I reach the end I can barely see through my tears. The last panel was of the glass-wearing woman on one knee. I let out a strangled laugh and turn around to find Noah on one knee.

"You're crying," she said, half-surprised, half-concerned. "You never cry. "

"No one's ever made me feel…like this." I spread out my arms and marvel at the art again. "You did all of this for me."

Noah's teary now too but she cleared her throat in hopes one of us could keep it together. "Of course I did. I wanted it to be something special. Something you'd remember. It's our story."

I nodded, still a mess as she motioned for me to come close.

"Sage Danielle Blue," Noah started.

"Wait!" I held up my hand.

"What?"

I hurried out of the room wiping at my face as I retrieved the bear. When I came back, Noah was still on one knee. Her eyes went wide with recognition. Now, she couldn't hold it together.

"Is that my bear?" she asked.

I nodded and handed it to her. "Have you been in my room?"

She shook her head, unable to look up from the stuffed animal.

"It's flooded with flowers and decorations," I explained. "And I learned that song. The one from The Last of Us. It's really sad but beautiful and I wanted to play it for you before I asked you to marry me."

"You were proposing tonight?" She laughed.

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