I placed my makeup gently on my face. A nice soft blue shadow, just right for the dress I’m going to wear. I’ve been back in Miami for two days. I’ve been spend time with my family and my boyfriend, Leon.

I love saying that… my boyfriend, Leon. It makes me want to giggle.

I put the finishing touches on my hair for the wedding. My birthday had pasted about two weeks ago and I am now officially twenty-two. So far my twenty-second year was going perfectly. I graduated all of my classes and received my teaching degree, and yet I’m not going into teaching.

Leon was reading something over the internet one day. When I asked him what it was he had told me it was a fan fiction that he liked to read. When I looked at the story and the author I noticed that he was reading my story. Those stupid stories I wrote as a stress reliever for when I was angry. I didn’t think that people actually liked it and by the look that Leon gave me I guess I was wrong.

“Karen, are you serious? I can’t believe you’re her. Your stories are amazing. You should really think of getting into writing. You have what it takes.” I just looked at him with a smile. I loved to write but I didn’t know I was good. So I made a deal with him. I’d study to be a writer if he’d drop trying to be a doctor.

He agreed. He had come to terms with himself and realized that being a doctor wasn’t right for him. I went with him the day he went to tell his father. Leon was nervous but his father was a kind man. I could also tell where Leon had gotten his good looks from. Leon confessed to his father that he was dropping medical school and was planning on going to an art school. His father smiled and gave Leon a big hug. “I was waiting for the day you would realized that you wouldn’t make a good doctor.” Leon laughed and so did I.

Later that day we had dinner and I got to know a little more about Leon. I would have never guessed that as a little boy Leon had a band named, “Crazy Boys.” I laughed just trying to picture Leon singing lead. His father said that they were horrible but he never let them know that. He even showed me pictures of the band. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Leon in full grunge clothing. Then, they showed me pictures of his mother. She was just the way that Leon had painted her. She was a beautiful woman and from what sounded to be a wonder one at that. Leon looked at the pictures with a smile and whispered in my ear that he had never shown anyone the pictures of his mother. I hugged him knowing that it was a special moment.

Everything was perfect between Leon and I. His father told me that he had never met a person that Leon showed so much love for and I believed him. As we walked out of the house Leon’s father gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “She would have loved you.” I closed my eyes and let a tear fall from my face.

Leon and I were very open with one another and there was nothing that we were hiding from each other anymore. With that said he finally confessed at the fact that he did look at my breasts the day of the convention. “I knew it,” I screamed as he told me. He just smiled and kissed me on the cheek. He also told me that the day he grabbed my breast at the school café really was an accident. He really didn’t mean to touch but at the end of it he was happy that he did. I looked at him with a weird face as he just smiled. I couldn’t do anything but think that he was just too cute but I still smacked him over the head.

Leon was recently signed up for another gallery opening and this time the painting of his mother was going to be the main painting and the only one not for sale. I was so proud of the way he was finally moving on with his life and I was even happier to be by his side the whole way.

And speaking about paintings, the painting he had done about Ranma and Akane was based on the day of the convention when he followed me to the park after he made me cry. It was his apology and I of course I accepted. The painting now hangs in my living room wall, where everyone could see it.

There was a knock on my bedroom door and walked in my sister asking me to zip her up. John was talking with Leon and my father in the living room, waiting for us girls to get ready for the wedding. They all sat uncomfortably in their tuxes as we took our time getting ready. Finally after zipping up my navy blue long dress, I was ready.

First, my mother walked into the room looking dazzling as ever. She wore a peach dress with soft flowers all over the bottom of the dress. My father jumped up from the couch looking at his woman with pride, taking her in his arms and kissing her gently. John and Leon just smiled. Then, walked in Maria, she wore a beautiful yellow dress with a clear shinning fabric over it. Her hair was perfectly straight instead of frizzed and curly like normally. John’s smile grew as Maria walked into the room. He slowly walked up to her with his jaw on the floor. He grabbed her hand and kissed her.

Leon sat patiently waiting for me to walk in. “Come on Karen the mass starts in an hour,” screamed Maria. I slowly walked into the room with a big smile on my face. Leon’s jaw slowly dropped as I stood still in front of him. “Wow,” was all he could say. I giggled and just stared at him waiting for him to stand up. He shook his head as if finding his way back to reality. He stood up quickly and just took me in his arms. I wrapped my arms around him squeezing him tightly. “You look amazing,” he whispered in my ear.

“You don’t look bad either,” I said with a giggle.

My mother grabbed her camera from her bag and told all of us to get together. We all took about fifty pictures but she finally stopped when she saw what time it was. John and Maria went in the car with my parents and Leon and I went in his car. On the drive their Leon looked a little nervous. “What’s wrong,” I asked.

“Just nervous about the wedding.”

“Why? It’s not like you’re getting married.”

“It’s just that I am finally going to go to one of your family's famous parties. All Chelsie ever talks about are the crazy parties your family has. I just don’t know if I’ll fit in.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and just rubbed his back, “You’ll be fine I promise.”

He turned a corner and saw the big white church near my house. People from my family were stepping out of their cars and heading for the church. Leon parked his car and took a deep breath before stepping out. He slid out of the car and ran to my side, opening the door like a true gentleman.

I grabbed on to his arm and walked beside him to the front of the church. As we walked in we saw all of my family giving hugs and kisses to one another. I walked around with Leon introducing him to the ones that had never met him and announcing our statues to the ones who had already met him before. Everyone was happy for me, finally finding someone to love, and even happier at the fact that he was such a great guy. Leon took it cool after a few minutes into getting to know my family better and I was nothing less than proud of him.

“Hey, Karen,” screamed a voice from behind me. I turned to see Peter running up to me in a tux. “Well, look here, he’s actually wearing a tux.” Leon laughed. “So,” I started to ask, “where’s the girlfriend?’

“She’s just saying hi to my mother,” he answered me. Just as he pointed to the direction his girlfriend started walking closer to us. She was dress in a skin tight forest green dress. It shinned when the light hit the fabric. Her hair was wavy and her makeup was perfect. But what would you expect from Chelsie. She walked up to Peter and they kissed in front of Leon and I. She held on to Peter’s hand as she looked at me. “Aw, the perfect couple,” I said grabbing Leon’s waist.

“Back at you,” answered Chelsie. We all started walking into the church and took our seats. The church was beautiful, the walls were painted a plain white but it shinned of the colors from the tainted glass windows. All the windows were pictures from stories in the bible. It was breath taking.

The ceremony was nothing less than perfect. My cousin looked dazzling as she walked down the aisle with my uncle. Everyone in the room cried as the couple said their vales and happiness took over the room when they kissed. We all ran outside waiting for the couple to jump into the limo. As they exited we all threw rice scream cheerfully as they entered the limo with smiles on their faces.

“Party time,” screamed one of my crazy uncles and everyone rushed to their cars driving all the way to the party location.

It took about thirty minutes before we finally made it to the party location. It was a ballroom next to the beautiful ocean shore of Miami. As we stepped in the ballroom, the wall was just one big window showing off the ocean view. In the center was the dance floor and around it were all of the tables. I found my name at the list in the front. There is bold letters was written “Karen and Leon.” For once it wasn’t Karen and guest, and my guest wasn’t Chelsie but my own true boyfriend. I was so excited.

Leon and I took our seats and our assigned table, number three. There yet again all of my favorite cousins. Peter sat next to Leon and me with Chelsie by his side.

You should have seen Chelsie’s face when Peter asked her out the day we graduated. She was just in total shock, just like me. Apparently, Peter has had a thing for Chelsie for a very long time. Who knew?

Well, one person did… Ed… I still can’t believe that Ed knew. He told Chelsie and me that the first time he went to see IDK perform at the Cat’s Café, he noticed how Peter looked at Chelsie and he also noticed how Chelsie looked at Peter. He thought it would be easier to work with Peter than Chelsie and he was right. After a few conversations with Peter he had convinced him that there was no other person that he should go for than Chelsie and with the fact that he already had a thing for Chelsie, Ed’s plan worked perfectly. Right after graduation Peter went up to Chelsie and asked her out on a date. It took Chelsie about five minutes to process what was happening and making sure that she wasn’t dreaming but when she finally came to she screamed yes. Ever since then they’ve been together.

Since I’m on the subject of change there was this one big thing that happened with IDK… we got a recording contract. It was the weekend after the farewell concert when we got the good news. Apparently, someone videotaped the concert and send it to a record company. The record company loved our sound and wanted to sign us up immediately but I had my doubts. I loved being in IDK but I didn’t know if I wanted to be famous. I really never wanted to go too far with IDK but I didn’t want to take their opportunity away. I had a long conversation with Peter and he understood what I was saying. “It’s okay,” he said with an upset voice.

“You can always find another singer,” I answered back trying to help in some way.

“It’s just not IDK without you.” I wanted to cry when he said that but I was determined to find someone new. I posted up an ad on the newspaper. A lot of people answering my ad but I didn’t think anyone fit the style. Then, almost like a miracle I found my lead singer. I was at Leon’s apartment, watching a movie with him in the living room when I heard this dark deep mystical voice in the other room. “What’s that?” I asked Leon.

“Oh that,” he answered putting more popcorn into his mouth, “that’s Ed. He loves to sing alone in his room.” I stood up quickly and ran into the room. I opened the door wide without knocking and saw Ed jumping around his room singing a Guns ‘n’ Roses song perfectly. “Hey,” he screamed from shock, “can’t you knock?”

“Ed, you’re perfect.” I ran up to him and gave him a big hug. Ed was shaking as I hugged him, “You know your boyfriend is in the next room?” After an explanation Ed was honored when I asked him to take my place. The next day I took him to a band rehearsal and he fit in like if he had done it all along. He became the official lead singer of IDK and the record label still loved them. Their first record is due next year.

The guys didn’t want me to just leave them without a proper farewell, so as a hidden track on the album will be me singing none other than ‘The Baka Song,’ my final duty as the lead singer. I don’t regret my decision and I don’t think I ever will.

The real party started as my cousin and her husband made it to the center of the dance floor and danced together. The music was soft and beautiful. You could tell that they were in their own little world. As they finished, dinner was served and everyone just talked and ate like kings. Once all the food was gone the real party started. The Latin music took over the room and everyone took over the dance floor, dancing with all of their hearts. Before I could even ask, my mother had grabbed Leon to the dance floor and forced him to dance. To my surprise Leon could dance. I just smiled watching him turn my mother and following the flow of the music.

Once he was done with my mother Leon walked up to me. I was waiting for him to take me to the dance floor but instead he grabbed my hand and asked me to follow him. We stepped out of the ballroom to the outside parking lot. We went around the building until he found the entrance to the beach. I took off my high heels and walked behind him. He finally stopped walking quickly when we reached the beach shore. I picked up my dress and walked along the water. There was a fresh breeze coming from the water as the dark night shined with twinkling stars and the glow of the full moon.

It was the most romantic thing in the world. I looked at Leon as he held onto my hand. We walked further from the building where the party was being held but I didn’t care for I am with Leon. I wrapped his arm around my waist making me come closer to him. He smiled as a breeze softly brushed his hair from his face. His hazel eyes shined like the stars and his face had a glow only the moon could match. “Leon,” I sighed as we stopped to look at a cruise ship slowly pass by, “why are we here? The party had just started.”

Leon turned his body to look at me. He looked at me making sure that there was nothing else he wanted me to look at but him. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“For what?” I asked with wonder.

“I wanted to give you something special.” Leon reached his hand into his pocket and took out a small box. I have to say that I was shocked. I mean I love the man but I’m not ready for what I think he’s ready for. How will I turn him down? It’s just too soon.

Then, he opened the box and there wasn’t a ring but something else that shocked me. It was the cross that Leon’s mother wore in his painting. It was just like he had painted it. A black cross with red jewels all over as a vine swirls around the cross. It was more beautiful in person. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. “This is for you,” he said with a smile.

“Leon,” I said taking deep breaths as I looked at the most beautiful piece of jewelry in my life, “I can’t.”

“Why not?” he asked with an upset face.

“This is the necklace your mother wore in your painting. This was hers, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was. I gave it to her on the birthday before she passed. She loved the necklace so much that she wore it every single day.”

“Leon…”

“Please take it. My mother told me that when I fell in love with someone really special, who I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with, I was to give her this necklace to show my love for her. Please take it; it was my mother’s wish.”

I looked at him deeply. It was a wonderful present that had so many memories for Leon but I could tell it meant nothing unless I took it. It was more than just jewelry in his eyes when it came to this necklace and that’s all I needed to convince me to take it. It was a sign of love from Leon, a sign that he loved me more than anyone he has loved before. I looked up from the necklace and smiled at him, “Help me put it on?”

He smiled back and took the necklace out of the box. I turned around and picked up my hair so that he could attach the necklace together. Once he placed it together I turned to let him look at the necklace. “Perfect,” he said as he leaned in and gave me a soft kiss.

Once he backed away Leon looked around the beach shore, as if making sure that no one else was there. He then, looked at me and gave me his weak in the knees grin, “May I have this dance?”

“But there is no music,” I said looking at him weirdly. He looked up to the stars and started humming a song. At first I didn’t know what it was until it hit me. He was humming the song ‘Eyes on Me,’ the song I had sung for him the night of my farewell concert. I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to me. I left my shoes fall to the floor as I started to sing the song with his humming. We slowly moved to the beat of the song and I gently placed my face on his chest. He stopped humming and started singing along with me. His father was right, he couldn’t sing but it was cute the way he tried.

The night was perfect as the waves from the beach slowly sounded like the song we sang. It was a moment I would never forget and I know that Leon felt the same way. And for once I felt at peace. There was no longer a tension between Leon and me, or just within myself. For once I felt like my life was finally complete.

I’m twenty-two years old, I have been on a date, I have kissed a guy and I have the best boyfriend any girl could ask for…

Yes!

Author’s Note:

I wanted to take the time and thank everyone for reading my first original story. After many fan fictions I had finally created my first original story and from the reviews I have received, I believe it was a success… Karen is a character very dear to my heart for the fact that she was based on me. Although I am not 21 years old, there was a time that I was just like Karen, I just wish I could have found a real Leon (but my boyfriend is good enough… lol)

I also wanted to take the time and say that this isn’t the last of Karen, Leon and the gang that you will see… Although I haven’t started writing story (which I had this story finished about three months before I had started to post it… note why the updates were so quick) they will be back in a new story called drum roll please Unconventional Love! Here is the summary:

Karen and Leon have been together for almost a year, but there is something they still haven’t discussed… sex. For Karen, she hasn’t thought about it and she really doesn’t know what Leon thinks about it… but it’s not like that’s the biggest problem. Her biggest problem? Handling bumping into her first love from high school at Ohki-chan. What is Karen going to do when her old feelings return and will her first couples fight with Leon make a difference during the situation?

Hope you all like how it sounds, still working on the blue prints, but I hope to start posting around October or November.

You can contact me anytime at:

Thanks again, -MaryJane1913