Jack:
“Jack Barakat.”

I felt my face flush as I distinctly heard Alex cheering louder than anyone else. I made my way across the stage. Handshake, “Congratulations”, “Thank you”, pose for picture, take diploma, and keep moving. Stepping off the stage, I let out a breath.

I did it.

Twenty minutes later I wound my way through dozens of clusters of families, trying to find mine.

“Jack!” I was suddenly lifted from behind and spun in a circle. “My college graduate!” Alex beamed at me as I turned to face him. He pulled me into a deep kiss. “I’m so proud of you!”

I ducked my head a bit, feeling my heat in my face. “Thanks, babe,” I mumbled, a smile still on my face.

“Alex, you’re embarrassing him,” May laughed.

Alex’s smile got impossibly wider. “I can’t help that I’m a loving and supportive boyfriend.” He placed a loud, sloppy kiss to my cheek.

“Alright, love birds, let’s get out to dinner; we have a reservation,” Joyce laughed.

I watched the scenery go by as I held Alex’s hand in the backseat of my mother’s car. I wasn’t paying attention to any of the conversation happening, but I suddenly realized something was vibrating. I turned my attention to find Alex trembling.

“Lexy,” I whispered, trying to not draw the attention of my family in the front seats. He turned his head, but said nothing. “What’s wrong, babe?”

He shook his head. “N-Nothing. Don’t worry about it, ok?”

I arched an eyebrow. Alex and I never kept anything from each other. “Are you sure, babe?”

He grinned. “Course. I love you.”

I couldn’t help but match his smile. “I love you, too.”

The rest of the ride was quiet. I was ready for a relaxing evening after a nice dinner with my small family.

That was the plan, anyway.

I couldn’t understand why May was giggling as Alex nudged me along, prodding my back to go where he wanted. He placed his hands on my hips as we stopped at the hostess. “Reservation under Barakat,” he smiled.

The girl nodded. “We have you in the back. Right this way.”

“After you, m’lady,” Alex giggled, His tongue poking between his teeth.
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” I followed the hostess to the back room.

I gave a polite nod to the waiter who opened the door for me before Alex shoved me inside. “Lex, what the-“

“Surprise!”

I scanned the room, finding it full. My eyes fell on both my and Alex’s family in addition to countless friends. “Oh my god.”

I felt Alex squeeze me from behind. “Surprise, baby.”

I laughed. “Alright, you got me.”

I spent a half hour greeting everyone and catching up. I had lost Alex shortly after we walked in and I was excusing myself to go find him when someone jumped at me.

“Jack! Look at you!”

“Cass?”

She beamed at me. “We’re so proud of you!”

“Sure are, man. Great to see you,” Rian gave me a quick hug.

“Jesus, guys, it’s been a while,” I laughed. “You two flew all the way back here for this?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Lzzy squeeled as she ran up to join up.

“You, too?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s just graduation, guys. It’s not as big a deal as Alex is making it.”

I caught a glimpse of an odd look on Cass’s face before Rian was dragging her away with Lzzy following close behind. I shrugged it off and continued my search for my boyfriend. I was unsuccessful, but I did find my sister.

“May! Hey, have you seen Alex?” I asked.

“I think he went to the bathroom?” she offered.

“Thanks!”

I found the bathroom door locked so I waited. After a few minutes, I knocked on the door. “Hey, Lex, you in there?”

I heard some quick shuffling before the door clicked open. The first thing I saw was the flush on his cheeks and water in his eyes. I slipped into the room and relocked the door. “Lexy, what’s wrong?”

He laughed. “Nothing’s wrong, babe, trust me. Are you having a good time?”

I let it drop. “Definitely. Did you put all this together?”

He grinned shyly. “Yeah; Joyce and May helped.”

I rolled my eyes, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you, baby. You didn’t need to make such a big deal of my graduation.”

He scoffed. “Jay, five years ago you didn’t even think you could go to college and today you got your degree. Of course, I had to make a big deal out of this!” He held me tighter. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

I buried my face in his hair and mumbled, “Thanks, Lex. It means a lot.”

He took a shaky breath before pulling away. “W-We should get back before people notice we’re gone and get the wrong idea.”

“I mean, we could always just screw in the bathroom. It is my party after all.” I winked.

He shoved me away with a roll of his eyes, but a smile on his face. “Oh, shut up.”

We mingled and danced, and enjoyed the party for the next couple of hours. I was on my way to the bar when I heard the music stop and a hush fall on the crowd. I spun in place to see Alex in the front with a microphone. What is he doing?

“Hey, is everyone having a good time?” He asked the crowd, who responded enthusiastically. “That’s awesome! I’m glad to hear it. I just wanted to say a few things about our man of the hour. Where’d he run off to?”

I rolled my eyes and started making my way towards him. “You called?”

“There he is!” He pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, putting his arm around my waist. “I just wanted to say from all of us how proud we are – hey, quit it, I’m being serious,” he scolded when I rolled my eyes, “All of us are so proud of what you’ve accomplished, Jack. You are so incredible and one of the best people I’ve had pleasure of knowing.”
I could feel the blush pooling in my cheeks and dripping down my neck, but I couldn’t help grinning at my boyfriend.

He removed his arm from my waist and stuffed one hand in his pocket, taking a deep breath before continuing. “A little over six years ago my family picked up and moved here dragging me along, kicking and screaming.” He paused as people chuckled. “I did not want to be here, but you,” he laughed, “you did not make it any better. You irritated the hell out of me.” Tom was howling with laughter alongside some of our high school friends.

“Hey! You loved me,” I protested.

“I learned to love you when I realized you weren’t going to leave me alone,” he grinned. “But seriously, you did grow on me. You quickly became my best friend, and that was when I realized that I didn’t mind the move so much, because it gave me someone who would become the most important person in my life.
“Jack, the last six years have been the most fun I’ve ever had, and if you’d want, I’d like to make the next sixty years just as great.” I only had a moment to be confused before Alex was on one knee, a small box extended to me.

“No,” I whispered, feeling tears prick in my eyes.

He grinned. “I gave you a ring about five years ago and you freaked out thinking I was about to propose at seventeen. I told you I wasn’t doing that, that it would be another ring for another time. Well, baby, it’s another time, and this is another ring, so, Jack Barakat, will you marry me?”

I nodded, frantically. “Yes, Lex. Oh my god, yes!”

He smiled wider than I’d ever seen and slipped the ring on my finger before standing and crushing me in a hug as everyone applauded. “I love you, Jack, so much.”

“I love you, too. Oh my god, I’m getting married! We’re getting married!” I couldn’t help the happy tears as I clutched to my new fiancé.

It was a little while later – after we’d been congratulated by everyone and I was brought a glass of water because I couldn’t stop crying – that Alex and I were sat at a table as I wiped the last of my tears onto a napkin. “Is this why you made such a big deal out of my graduation?”

He grinned. “You’d mentioned once that you wanted to get engaged surrounded by friends and family. I filed it away because I figured I’d need that information later, and lo and behold…”

Realization suddenly dawned on me. “Is this,” I help up my left hand, where the ring I’d just been given sparkled, “what you’ve been freaking out about all day?”

He laughed. “The thought of asking in front of all these people was nerve wracking. I don’t even know what I would have done if you’d said no.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why on earth would I say no? Look at this thing!” I waved my left hand around.

I had never seen Alex so happy. “Yeah, I guess. You like it?”

“It’s perfect.” I pulled him in for a deep kiss. “Just like you.”

“God, I love you.” Alex smiled.

“I love you, too.”

He glanced around before pulling me close and leaning to whisper in my ear. “I don’t think I can wait until we get home. I want to remind you exactly why you got that ring; exactly why you’re mine. Any chance I could take you up on that previous offer?” He squeezed the inside of my thigh.

I grinned, taking his hand to drag him back to the bathroom. It was a blur of rough grips, strained whimpers, and soft kisses, as we tried to hurry and clean up in record time. We tumbled out of the bathroom with our ties loose around our necks and purple stains poking out of our collars. I caught Alex’s eye as we made our way back to the party and was consumed with pure joy.

“I love you,” I blurted out.

He chuckled. “I love you, too.”

And, for the rest of my life, that was really all I ever needed.

Notes

Ask and ye shall receive! Thank you for loving this story as much as I did! I'm sad to see it go, but all good things must come to an end. If you need more, I have an OMAM story called Strength in Numbers on the OMAM fanfic site or on my Mibba and Wattpad (@Piercethemiceandmenn). If that's not you're thing, I still invite you over to my Wattpad or Mibba to stay tuned for my next story. Until next time, enjoy! - Anna