Chapter 4: The Scouts

I looked at Ray did in his eyes, after all that I had just said to him, as I could tell that he was quite a bit shocked, and a bit lost as well, as to each and every word that I had said to him in the very first place any ways. I could tell that he was not all too sure as to what it was that he should say back to me, due to the fact that he had a bit of a blank look on his face right now, as it was clear to me that he was a bit surprised as to what it was that I had said to him in the very first place any ways.

I did not blame him, as it was not only rare for the fact that a guy at the age that I was, to confess his love to some one, to their friend, but also the fact that I had told him that I was about to propose to her, and all of the other plans that I had going on through all of it, about the band coming in to play some music, which I felt would for sure confuse her as to just what it was that was even going on in the first place if she heard that.

It was the first day of school, and the first day was always weird, but it was not weird enough for the band to be playing some music for some odd reason or another, which I knew for a fact. I knew that it was going to have her a bit off, on the fact that for one thing, she was going to be lost, and not have a clue as to just what it was that was even going on in the very first place any ways, as I knew that as soon as she looked over to see what was going on, that was when I was going to get down on one knee, and then give her the ring that I had bought her.

That my mom had paid for none the less, as it was a 10k ring, and it was not some thing to be messed with for sure, as I knew that I needed to handle it carefully, as I did not even have it in my pocket right now. No, that was not the case at all, as I knew that I had given the ring to my father, to make sure that nothing bad happened to it, so that I could go in to his room during lunch, and snag it, as I knew that he had the same lunch period as I had, luckily enough for me, as this had all been planned out before hand.

Once Kimberly had got her eyes on the band, and I was going to get on the knee of course, that was when the band was going to head over to us, at the table, as I knew that it was going to build a lot of suspense, as to why all of this was going on in the first place. That was when she was going to look over at me, only to see that there was a very nice diamond ring made for her, and I knew that she was a smart girl, she would know right away, as to what it was that I was even getting at, in the very first place.

I smiled just a bit, as I then shook off all of those thoughts at the exact same time as well, as that was simply all that I had told Ray of this point, as what ever it was that I was going to do, or what it was that I was going to say after all of that was done, I felt like would simply just be a bit of a gut instinct, and some thing that I did in the moment, as I had been told more than once, that I needed to live in the moment, but of course, the people who said that were not exactly the best people to be trying to get advice from never the less.

I rolled my eyes a bit, to my self mainly, as I got my focus off of all of that all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden, got my focus on to what it was that was going on at this very moment in time, as I remembered that Ray was beside me, and that I had in fact just told him my entire plan up to this point, as my mother and father were the only ones that I had said any thing about it to other than that.

I felt like I could just not hold it in for all too much longer though, as I felt like I had to say some thing to a friend as good as Ray was, as I felt like I would screw this up other wise, if I just kept it a secret to my self. I had not even told the band as to what it was that was going on in the first place, as I had in fact known that Kimberly had a few friends that were in band, and they might snitch all of it to her, which was some thing that I did not want to risk at all.

I sighed, as I blinked my eyes just a few times, and I looked at Ray right in to his eyes at the exact same time as well. Ray blinked his eyes a few times too, right back over to me, as he then all of the sudden nodded to me at the exact same time too, making it known that he was finally ready to speak to me, after all of that had finally managed to settle in to his head, as to what it was that I had planned in the very first place for today, any ways.

I looked at him for just a few more seconds, with a bit of a blank look on my face, as I was ready for any thing at this point, as I still had a bit of a lingering suspicion that Kimberly might say no, simply due to the fact that we were both 16. I shook off all of those thoughts how ever, as I knew that it was best, just like my father had told me to do, to not get side tracked on all of that, and to keep your focus on what it was that you were about to do, and to always live with a positive attitude day in and day out.

I grinned just a little bit, at those thoughts, which I could tell that it confused Ray a bit, but I got my focus off of all of it at the same time as well, as I remembered that Ray had in fact been about to speak to me in the first place any ways, as I then all of the sudden nodded right over to him, to let him know that I was listening and he had my full attention on what it was that he was going to say to my at the exact same time too.

Ray was still a little bit lost by all of it, which of course, I felt like I could not really blame him for, as all that was in fact going on right now, was of course quite a bit confusing, as well as the fact that I was about to propose to the love of my life, Kimberly, just felt like it was going by like a blur. I breathed in heavily how ever, as I knew that I had to keep my head up, and I had to stay strong, as finally, after a little while longer, Ray decided that he was ready to speak to me, as he did in fact do as such a thing, I then began to listen as to what it was that he had to say to me in the very first place either way.

"Man... That all sounds cool and all, but are you sure that you are ready to propose to her at 16? Man you got your whole life ahead of you! You already have plans to have kids or some thing?" He said to me, as I could tell that a part of what it was that he had just said to me was in a bit of a joking fashing, but at the exact same time too, a part of what it was that he had said was him being a bit serious, as it was clear that he was trying to speak truth.

I looked at him for just a few seconds, as I had a bit of a blank look on my face never the less, and I knew it, as it felt like there was not all too much that I could do to stop that right now. It was more of just a bit of a natural instinct for me to do as such a thing, as I just was not all too sure if I wanted to feel weak to Ray at all. He was a friend of mine and all, but at the same time too, I also knew that he was on the football team none the less.

I gulped just a bit to my self, as if I was going to be completely honest with my self, I was not all too sure as to why I had even gone to Ray, to tell him all about what it was that I was going in the first place. Maybe it was due to the fact that he felt like he was the most real guy out of all of my friends, well, besides Kimberly of course, but I knew that I could not tell her about any of it at all, as it was meant to be a bit of a surprise to her, which I hoped that Ray would keep it that way, though I really did not feel too worried about the fact that he would not.

I was more just worried for my self, as I just was not all too sure as to just what it was that was going on with me at all right now, if I was going to be honest with my self, as it kind of felt like my brain was shutting down a bit, at this very moment in time, which was for sure not a good thing at all. I did my best to stay strong through all of it how ever, as I knew that was just what it was that my father had told me to do, if I did in fact want her to say yes, and she was in fact the love of my life.

I knew that a part of what Ray said was in fact right, as to the fact that I was of course 16, and I was still young never the less as well. That did not matter at all too much to me how ever, as I still felt like with out a doubt at this point, that this was the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, as I could not help but to crack a bit of a smile on my face, once again, as all of those thoughts seemed to rush back in to my head all of the sudden.

My parents had got married when they were in high school as well, so I felt like I should not be all too worried about any of it, as I knew that my parents loved each other to death. I kept that same big grin through all of this, as I then got my focus off of all of those thoughts all at the same time as well, as I then nodded to him. I was not all too sure as to why, as if I was going to be honest with my self, I just was not all too sure as to what it was that I should say back to him.

I knew that he had a bit of a fair point, and he was only trying to give me good advice, and to make sure that I did not make a big mistake that I would regret later down the road, as every friend should be to their companion. This just felt like this was not the case though, and he was not all too. I was sure as to what it was that he was thinking on for one thing, and also the fact that our relationship was not a normal one, or at least, so it seemed to be for me.

I let out a bit of a soft sigh all at the exact same time as well, as Ray all of the sudden nodded back to me, to let me know that it was safe to speak to him, and that of course, he was paying attention to what it was that I had to say to him in the very first place any ways, which did in fact make me feel a lot better about all of this, as I then gulped once again, and then I began to speak up to him, not too loud, to make sure that no one could hear me at any of the near by tables, as I knew that he was listening to what it was that I had to tell him, as I kept on going.

"Well... I know that it might sound stupid and all to you right now... But I feel like she is just the one for me, and my parents got married in high school, and they have had what seems to be the best, and most perfect relationship... I feel like this is the best, and most perfect opportunity for me... We've been dating for a few years now... I can't wait to-" He said to me but I then saw him shaking his head over to me, over and over again, as I was a bit lost as to what it was that he was even getting at in the very first place any ways.

I tilted my head, as I was quite a bit lost and also a bit upset by it, as it did not seem like he wanted to hear what it was that I had to say back to him for some odd reason or another. I squinted my eyes at him for just a few more seconds, as he had a blank look on his face right at this very moment in time, such as he had earlier, when I had told him all of the plans that were going on in the first place any ways, as he all of the sudden seemed to smile.

I had not a clue as to what it was that was going on right now, if I was going to be completely honest with my self, as I kept my eyes squinted at him for just a few more moments, still quite a bit lost by all of this. That was when all of the sudden, it hit me as to what it was that was going on right now, and also the reason as to why he had wanted me to shut up, as I felt some thing grab on to my shoulder, not to scare me at all, but more to surprise me, and make me a bit happy, as I turned my head around over to who it was that had grabbed my shoulder.

To no surprise, what so ever, I then saw that it was Kimberly, and she had a big smile on her face, as to the fact as that she got to see me. I knew that she did in fact love me, just as much as I loved her, as it was a lot of the reason that I felt like I really should not be all too worried as to what it was that was going on in the first place, as it was like my father had told me, and my father had known Kimberly, and her parents for a good amount of time now, before we had even started dating none the less, as she was a top tier student in one of his classes in Freshman year.

I blinked my eyes, as I still could not help but to be a little bit afraid by all of this none the less, as I was worried that she might have over heard a bit of what it was that I was saying to Ray. She was a smart girl as well, and I knew that it would not take her all too long to under stand as to what it was that I had been getting at, and what it was that I had even been saying to Ray in the very first place any ways, as I once again, not for the first time in the last few seconds, gulped some spit right down my throat.

Kimberly seemed to have a bit of a blank look on her face, but of course, her being a smart girl and all, she began to get a bit confused, and a bit worried, as to the fact that I had a bit of a look of some fear on my face, which was the last look that I should have when ever I was with her, unless we were watching a horror movie or some thing, which was quite a bit rare, as I knew that she did not like to be scared, or spooked at at all either.

I felt a bit bad for it, as I was not all too sure as to just what it was that was going on with my right now never the less, as I let out quite a bit of a soft sigh to my self all at once, as I then dipped my head a bit low to the ground. Kimberly was quite a bit lost her self now, as it was clear that she was a little bit worried as well, as just what it was that was going on with me right at this very moment in time. I was still a bit lost, as well as a bit embarrassed by all of it, as she then began to speak, to which I was not sure if it was either towards Ray, or me.

I shook off all of those thoughts all at the exact same time as well how ever, as I felt like it did not matter all too much to me at this point, as I then all of the sudden, at this very moment in time too, then lifted my head back up, to let her know that I was paying attention to her right now, as much as it might not seem like it. Kimberly did not seem to be paying all that much attention to me at all how ever, as her eyes seemed to be on Ray, as she continued to speak, and I listened as to what it was that she had to say to him clearly, in the first place either way.

"What's going on with you 2 right now? Are you guys alright? You both look quite a bit awful if I am not going to lie to either of you..." She said to us, as she looked at Ray for just a few seconds, as she squinted her eyes at him, as it was clear that she was quite a bit suspicious as to what it was that was going on right at this very moment in time, as it was clear that she felt like, she knew that we were hiding some thing.

Well... She would in fact be right on that of course, as I had a good reason to be hiding some thing from her right now, which was not bad at all, but it was more just the fact that I did not want her to know at all, as to the fact that I was about to propose to her at the lunch table in a few hours from now. I still felt a bit bad for it though, as it was like I had said before, she was of course, a very smart girl, as she, just as I was, was top of her class.

Kimberly seemed to stare at Ray for a few seconds, but as it seemed like Ray was not going to budge at all right now, she then gave up on that, and she turned her head over to me, which I felt was quite a bit hard for me to lock eyes with her right now, as if she might some how already know as to what it was that we had been talking about, and what it was that was even going on in the very first place any ways.

I shivered just a bit, as I did my best to try to keep my eyes locked with hers for as long as I could. Kimberly seemed to be a bit off her self right now, though I felt like I should ask her some thing about it, I also knew that we had to answer the question that she had asked the both of us a few seconds ago, as I then heard her let out quite an annoyed sigh, as it seemed like she was a bit upset with the fact that neither of us had spoken to her just yet, and told her as to what it was that was even going on before she got here. It was like I had said though, there was a good reason for that, as I knew that I could not say any thing about it to her until the time came in a few hours.

I did not want her to be upset at me before all of this how ever, as I felt like I should at least try to think of some sort of excuse to buy my self out of this, which I had not even got my self started on just yet, as I let out a bit of an exasperated sigh all at the same time too, and I then began to start to process all of it through my head all at the same time too, as I began to think some sort of excuse to try to lie my way out of this right now, as if I was a little kid again, and it was like I was lying to my parents like I used to.

I was a terrible liar though, and I just was not all too sure as to just what it was that I should say to her right at this very moment in time, as it all felt quite a bit cold in the air right now, if I was not going to lie to my self, once again, due to the fact that I was an awful liar, and I really did not try to practice trying to be a better one, as I really did not like to lie to people in the first place any ways. This felt like some thing I had to lie to her about though, as I knew that I had to keep all of this a surprise to her.

I stared her down for just a few seconds as well, as I saw her tilt her head at me, as it was clear to me, that she was a bit lost by just what it was that was going on with me right now as well. I felt quite a bit sick, as I really was not all too sure as to what it was that I should say to her right now. I opened my eyes as if I was about to speak, but not a single word came out of my mouth at all how ever, as it was clear that my mind was drawing blanks right now. Luckily, I did not have to worry about any of that for all too much longer, as Ray came in to save the day for me, as I heard him start to speak up to Kimberly all at the same time too.

Ray was a good liar, and I was glad to have him beside me right now, if I was not going to lie to my self at this very moment in time. It was as if he was a hired, and a trained professional when it came to stuff such as this, as he had a bit of a blank look on his face, as he spoke to her, as it was clear that he was doing his best to not show any thing at all to her at all, which I was grateful for of course, as well, as I then nodded to him, though he did not have his eyes on me at all right now, which of course he should not, due to the fact that he was talking to Kimberly, as I shook off all of those thoughts at once, and I then began to listen as to what it was that he had to say in the very first place any ways.

"It's not all that much... We are just worried about the scouts..."