“This is me, here, hands open, heart out. I want all of you and then some. I want your 3am low and all your brokenness. I want to know what terrifies you the most so I can tear it to pieces. I want to spend the rest of my life exploring your blazing hot, cosmo of a heart. I want to show you the way the imperfections, the flaws, that separate you from the gods are the very things I'll fall for the hardest.” - Beau Taplin \\ An admission.

Songs for the Chapter: Pillow talk - Zayn Malik

P.s... Lots of Beau Taplin in this chapter.

I've been off for a while and I wanted to apologise. Had really important exams. No worries, IWAY is coming to an end, three or four episodes left.

Picture of Char's ring on top.

Chapter Fifty-Four: Yours

“N-” Char, with a solemn expression, opened her mouth to say but was cut off by Daniel.

“I'll give you a box of chocolate,” he added hopefully, his chocolate brown eyes shimmering beautifully in the sunlight as he stared at her.

Char thought about it long and hard.

What were the odds that a few weeks ago, Daniel would be in front of her, the entire town— confessing love for her and asking her to be his for all eternity?

Yeah, not much.

In the past six weeks, she built a wall, a protective shield around her heart against him, against any man, promising herself to never again be subjected to the pains of falling in love and watching her heart break all over again. Hell, she hadn't even though she'd ever see him again. Why did it seem like the minute she decided to move on was when everything would come back crashing down on her?

But still, Daniel was here in front of her.

Her heart sank in her shoes.

Oh, how she loved this man. How she adored him. Ten years of loving him.

Ten years suddenly seemed like ten days and strangely, she wanted to love him more. She didn't think she'd ever stop loving him.

Sure, he was an idiot. An impulsive idiot that couldn't make up his mind, an idiot she'd like to spank everyday to Easter next year but he was her idiot and that was all that mattered.

He would always be hers.

“You can't win me over with a box of chocolate. Two boxes and I'm all yours.” she gave him her most gorgeous smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that showed her happiness.

From all around her, cheers of joy and approval echoed in the lake.

“Oh, Leslie! How romantic,” Rose yelled to Leslie standing next to her over the cheers and noise with a noise on her face and tears in her eyes. Finally her son was going to be married to a woman he loved and who loved him back. What else could a mother ask for?

“I know! I wish Ryan was this romantic in our time,” Leslie said dreamily, and for a tiny fraction of a moment, she envied her daughter. But it was gone as soon as it came. Ten years of loving in silence finally paid off and she had a wedding to plan.

Daniel ran to Char and with a tightening embrace, lifted her off the ground. His joy knew no bounds. The smile on his face was so wide his cheeks hurt. “Oh my God, Charlee. You have no idea how happy I am.” he said into her neck, his chest aching with so much happiness and relief that his voice broke as he spoke.

“Pinch me. I can't believe this is happening.” Char's eyes widened in bewilderment, which soon turned to a slight discomfort as she felt a prick on her left arm. “Ow! You pinched me, you doofus!” she yelped.

“You asked for it, you dummy.” he retorted.

They looked at each other and instantly bursted out in laughter. It'd been so long.

Daniel’s expression turned serious, and that determined look returned to his eyes. “I've never met anyone like you. And I don't just say that because it's cliché. I say it because it's the truth. I've never met anyone that can make me laugh as much, I've never met anyone who makes me as happy, I've never met anyone that I can talk so freely to. And really, I've never met anyone who's mere presence can actually change my mood the way yours can.” he said.

Char couldn't wait to pour out her heart to him. “You get me. There's no other way to put it. When I am a whirlwind of a person, a mess of bad moods and even worse ideas, you move in slow, wrap each of those arms around me and in an instance, I am understood. When I am blind of all else, I see the way through you. You bring out the best in me. And I don't mean manners, or a sense of maturity, or whatever else this tired world expects of me. I mean you make me want to climb roofs, run wild and act inappropriately, take risks and purse my dreams with passion and integrity. Around you, I start living.”

The entire audience held their breaths knowing what would come next, as Char swallowed down the huge lump in her throat, lifted her head up to look Daniel in the eye and gave him a heartfelt smile.

“I love you. The way I love you is relentless. It breaks me my concentration when I am busy and drifts my mind away to thoughts of you when I am in the middle of a conversation. Like a helpless needy child, it pokes and prods tirelessly for my attention, and in the end it always get it,” she continued with a shaky laugh, “There's something unusual about us, something deeply supernatural. The way we fall into each other so naturally like our love was carved off the earth. There are star systems bursting at our fingertips when we touch. We are in tune. Our hearts croon the same old song. The universe planned for us. I know it,” she held his face in her hands, “I know it.”

Tears pooled at her eyes, as a few ran down her cheeks. Daniel felt his heart was going to burst out of his chest. This woman in front of him was finally his. Oh, how he wanted to show her the finest things in life. How he wanted to scream from the rooftops that he was in love with her.

“I am madly, completely, utterly, hopelessly, irrevocably, stupidly in love with you, and I can't wait to officially make you mine.” he said quietly, as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

She had so many things to say, she didn't even know where to start from. “When I look into your eyes, I don't see perfection. I don't see a love story that someone would watch on a big screen and dream about. I see someone who will fight for me and protect me and love me in spite of all the ways I'm still a wreck. I see home.” she stopped to sniff, and at this point she couldn't even see through her tears. “I love you, Daniel. I love how you hold me. I love how you tell me I'm beautiful. I love how you look at me funny when I say something stupid. I love how you make me happy. I love how you laugh when I say something random or stupid. I love the face you make when I snort when I laugh. I love how you ask me if I'm alright when I can't stop laughing. I love how you like my pyjamas. I love how you like it when I sing to you. I love how you whisper in my ear when it's really quiet. I love how I can talk to you about nothing, everything for hours and you listen, and listen. I love how you squeeze me real tight when I hug you. I love how you squeeze my hand, how you rub my back.  I love how you lay next to me and the tell me everything's perfect. I love how you see the person I'm really am. I love how you make me cry, but not because I'm sad or upset, or you hurt me, but because you make me the happiest person on earth. I love how I wake up in the morning for you, how I anticipate seeing you. I love how you kiss me. I love how you turn me on. I love how I turn you on. I love how I love the look in your eyes when you're turned on. I love how my parents love you. I love how you deal with my picky eating habits. I love how I look at the empty space in my bed, wishing you were filling it. I love how I'm nervous when I see you, but feel more comfortable with you than anyone else. I love how you keep me warm when I am cold. I love how you take care of me. I love how weird looks at awkward moments. I love how I make you happy. I love how you make me happy. I love how I'm important to you. I love how you get jealous. I love how you are with your family. I love how you make sure I stay in line. I love how I only want to be with you. I love how I love being with your family. I love how I can only see myself with you. I love how you think I have cute feet. I love how you tickle me. I love how you get mad when someone says something to upset me. I love how you chose me. I love you. I love that I love you. I love how I love you. I love everything about you.”

Applause rang put through the crowd, cheers and whistles loud and clear. There. She finally said it, and it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off her slender shoulders.

Char grinned, her arms going around Daniel's neck in a tight embrace. As she held him, she rubbed her body against his, sending shivers of pleasure through him.

Daniel pulled back, looked at her through his dark, hooded eyes and winked. She already knew what he was thinking.

“Alright people,” he clapped his hands loudly, “Show’s over. Go on, get on outta here. I have important business to finish.”

One by one, the crowd slipped away, knowing that the newly engaged lovebirds had more important things to do than entertain them. As they walked, Char realised that the actual entire town really was here. Even the kids.

So that's where everybody went. No wonder it was so quiet.

“Yeah yeah, we know. We're leaving too,” Zach rolled his eyes as Daniel glared at him. He grabbed the guitars and walked toward Char, wrapping his arms around her. “Give him another chance, Char. I promise you won't regret it.” he whispered in her ear.

Char nodded as he pulled back, giving him a small smile.

Cat followed, hugging her tighting too. “Told ya, didn't I? Everything's fine now. Tap that ass hard, babe, don't let me down.” She laughed as she pulled back, giving her a peck on her cheek.

“Perv,” Char laughed as she peck her back. One minute she was in her room, locked up with news that two of her best friends had broken up and the next, she comes out only to see that they were closer than ever. They had to talk.

Her dad came into view. “Dad,” she whispered.

“Sweetie,” he said as he embraced his daughter. “I'm so happy you're happy. I never want to see you sad, ever again. I know you'll be very happy now. I love you, honey.”

If Char didn't know better, she'd say her old man was crying.

“Thanks dad. I love you too.”

Her mom came next. “I already know what your wedding dress will look like,” was the only thing she said.

Rose smiled and hugged Char. “I always liked you better.”

Char almost cried. That was the best thing a mother-in-law could tell her daughter-in-law.

Vincent gave her one of his bear crushing hugs. “Walking you down the aisle with Ryan is something I've been dreaming about for a long time now. I'm so happy it's finally going to happen.”

She pulled back from him and smiled. “I love you too, old man.”