The awaited sequel of Maybe It was Meant to Be is finally up. To those who haven't read MIWMTB, then I suggest you read it. While you can somewhat understand Forever and Always without reading its prequel, obviously it will be easier if you read MIWMTB.

I'll admit that the way I wrote Maybe It was Meant to Be wasn't the greatest, but my writing improves over time. I did revise it, but I honestly can't say I did a good job of revising it. So if you're going to go read MIWMTB and end up not thinking that it's not that good, at least give Forever and Always a chance because my writing ability has improved.

Alright, I'll shut up now so you can start reading.

Forever and Always

Chapter One: The Proposition and Birthday Surprises

The buzzer rang, and the door opened. A man followed a prison guard into the visiting area. The man appeared to be in his early forties and had on an elaborate suit. He was quite tall, nearly being six feet tall and had black hair though most of it was graying.

"You have ten minutes," the prison guard told him. The man walked over to the only other person in the visiting area. He sat down opposite of a boy who couldn't be any older than seventeen. He had messy brown hair and had on the typical orange prison uniform. He seemed uninterested in his visitor and looked down to the floor.

"I don't have long, so I'll get the point." The man leaned forward and said, "I have a proposition to make." The boy still seemed uninterested. "I can get you out of this place," the man said in a low voice, so that only the boy heard it.

"I'm listening." The man smiled and resumed talking.

Alex slammed his locker shut and cursed. It was only the fifth day of school, and he had already been late to his next class four times. He glanced at a clocked and realized he only had a minute to get to class. He started running as fast as he could to his next class. As he ran through the hallway, he constantly looked at the clocks. Thirty seconds left. Fifteen. Five. Just as the bell rang, Alex ran into class.

"I believe this is a new record, Alex. Zero seconds to spare," Mr. Steel, his English teach, said. Alex sighed in relief and walked over to his seat.

"Took you long enough."

"Shut up Neil. Your last class was only five doors down. Mine was across the school."

Alex had first met Neil last year since their girlfriends were good friends. Neil was rather tall, probably being an inch or two above six feet which was a couple of inches taller than Alex and had dark brown hair. Mr. Steel began talking, and they directed their attention to either the floor or the front of the room.

Throughout class, Alex stole a few glances at Ariel, his girlfriend and the girl he loved. She had long brown hair and light blue eyes while he had short black hair and dark green eyes.

Occasionally their eyes met, but Mr. Steel eventually spoke up. "Could you wait till after class is over, Alex? Same with you Ariel." They blushed and turned their attention to him. When the bell rang at the end of class, everyone got up and left the room.

"So it's your birthday tomorrow," Alex said to Ariel as they walked down the hallway.

"I know. Do you have something planned?"

"Of course, and no I'm not telling."

"Please?"

He laughed. "Nope." They walked into the cafeteria and sat down.

"Why not?"

"Because it's a surprise." Neil and Dani walked in and sat down at their table. Danielle Canterlo was Neil's girlfriend and Ariel's good friend. She was only a couple of inches shorter than Neil and had long hair that was dyed blue.

Lunch went by quickly, as well as the whole day, and Alex waited outside of the school for Ariel. Ever since his family had died in a car crash last year, Alex had been living with the Dimpours, Ariel's family. They gave him a key to the house, but he didn't like just walking in. He may have considered it his home, but it wasn't the same.

Ariel came out of the school, and they walked back home together, which only down the street. When they got back, Ariel unlocked the door, and they walked in. They headed upstairs to their rooms and walked in.

A couple hours later Ariel knocked on Alex's door. "Come in," he said. She opened the door and walked in. Alex was currently writing his essay.

"You're not done with that yet?"

He nodded at a pile of papers and said, "This is my sixth page." He set his pen down and turned his direction to Ariel. "I know what you're thinking. I'm not ruining the surprise. It's just about fourteen hours away."

"Fourteen hours?" She looked at the clock and saw that it was only four o'clock. "But that'll be around six o'clock in the morning." He smiled and nodded. "You're cruel. You know I sleep in on the weekends."

"Trust me it'll be worth it." He walked over to his bed and laid down. She did the same and curled against him. He smiled as they laid there together.

"You love me, right Alex?" she asked.

"Of course I do. Why would you ever doubt that?"

"Then tell me the damn surprise."

He shook his head and laughed. "Nice try Ariel."