Author’s Note: Here you go. The FINAL chapter. Not my strongest final chapter, but I’m happy with it. Expect another chapter of Changes for the Better soon. Till then, thank you all so much for reading this. It means a lot to me. Because of you readers and those of you who review, I have gotten my highest goal of reviews, over 50. Thank you. J I’m pleased. Now, will you do me a favor and read Changes for the Better. It’s my best so far and it would mean a lot. Thanks…

Julie

Chapter 15

Months passed us by quickly. Our senior year had arrived and soon our six-month anniversary had passed. Were people surprised that we had hooked up? No. I guess that I shouldn’t have thought they would be.

During that time, I’d been filling out college applications. It was becoming clear that Cliff and I wouldn’t be going to the same school after we graduated, but we both had taken offers to schools that were only half an hour away from one another.

Graduation passed and soon the summer was over too. My first year of college had started off fine and Cliff and I saw one another every weekend and talked on the phone every single night.

All in all, my life was shaping up to be something that I thought would never happen. I was happy all the time. I knew most of my happiness came from Cliff. He made me happy. I loved him with my entire heart.

One Saturday night, we had both gone home and I went over to his house to hang out, like we normally did. Cliff insisted I didn’t go into his room and I was beginning to get worried. Why wouldn’t I be allowed in there? We went to dinner and then went back to his house.

His mother and father were sitting downstairs. Cliff instructed me to sit and wait until he came to get me. I sat down on the couch and looked at his parents with an uncomfortable look on my face. I love Cliff’s parents and all, but I knew something major was up.

"So, eh, how’s the business Ronny?" I asked his father.

Ronny smiled and we talked about his business. He owned a construction business that did wonderfully in town. About half an hour later, Cliff came back down and took my hand and we said good bye to his parents. We headed towards his room, like I imagined we would have done and he opened his door slowly.

Roses were everywhere in his room. They were on his floor, on his bed, in faces, on the windowsill, everywhere. The roses were assorted, long stem, tea roses, red, yellow, pink, white, you name it, he had it. I gasped and looked up at him. He had a small grin on his face. Candles were lit everywhere and I found myself hugging him to me.

"How much did you spend?" I whispered.

"Does it matter?" Cliff asked me, rocking me gently in his arms.

"I don’t deserve this," I told him, looking up into his eyes.

"Of course you do. I love you and that means that you deserve the world."

"But it cost a fortune."

"So? I don’t buy you much often because things with school are tight and I know you know that, but you deserve some special attention every now and then."

"Cliff," I started.

He cut me off though as his lips pulled down to land upon mine softly. I kept trying to talk and he kept cutting me off with soft kisses. He took my hand and led me to the other side of his bed.

"I’ve known you my entire life, Ri. I dream of spending the rest of my days with you. I can’t imagine not spending one without you anymore either. I love you."

I looked into his eyes and smiled at him. "I love you too."

"So what do you say?"

I arched an eyebrow at him and he took our intertwined hands and pointed towards the ground. Candles were arranged in a heart and rose petals of all different colors lay on the floor. I’ve been a blonde at heart my entire life. It took me about five minutes to realize they were spelling something out. When I read the Marry Me, written in rose petals, I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

Cliff turned me to face him and knelt before me. It was perfect, better than I ever imagined it could be. He took my hand and pulled a box out of his pocket. "What do you say? Will you make my dreams come true? After college will you marry me?"

I wiped a tear from my cheek. "Yes," I somehow managed and he slid the ring onto my finger and stood up and kissed me again.

Wrapped in his arms, I felt safe, I felt welcome, I felt happy, and most of all I felt happy. I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter as he deepened the kiss.

The rest of the night became one to remember as a door to my life closed and another opened. When I was a junior in high school, I never ever thought this would happen. Eventually I began to think about it and soon it became a dream to me. Its taken work to keep us strong. It hasn’t been all flowers, but it’s been a wonderful climb.

I found myself maturing and I know that what we have is solid. It won’t all be perfect our whole life. There will be fights and arguments, but afterwards we’ll be stronger.

As I stare at myself in the mirror, all alone in this small room inside the church, with my head propped on my fists, I take in the whole picture. Whether it be the dress or the veil or the rings, I know I’m ready. I’m ready to marry him and I’m ready to open another door.

March 20, 2002