"Can you believe we're graduating in two months? I've been waiting for this day ever since I stepped foot into this school and now I'm gonna go to University." Sasha exclaimed excitedly. I chuckled and outstretched my hand towards her plate.

I grabbed a fry off of it and plopped it into my mouth, ignoring the way she glared at me. "What do you wanna do after High school dollface? We never really spoke about that. . .our future." Mason said, his lips falling into a frown.

He's right. We never spoke about what we're doing after this. Well I mean I know he wants to take football seriously but we never actually sat down and discussed it. Why is that? Were our lives so occupied with drama we never had time to talk about mundane things?

"I-I don't know. I've never really had dreams or ambitions and it's sad because I've spent four years trying to figure out what I wanna be and yet still I-I don't know. I guess I'll just go where life takes me and along the way I might find something I'm passionate about."

It really did pain me to realize that I never had any real dreams. So many girls out there want to become astronauts, or chefs or Doctors and then there's me, a 17-year-old about to graduate high school who still has no idea what she wants to become.

I mean that's totally normal, but after high school, I don't want to waste my time doing things I don't love.

"What do you wanna do Mason?" Sasha asked and he turned towards her, a smile on his lips, "I applied to Florida State University, Berkely and UCLA. I wanna be a professional football player, get drafted to the NFL, you know all that. It's always been my dream, really. But I'm not sure if I'll get into any of those schools considering my track record," he sighed.

I squeezed his shoulder softly and smiled, "you'll get into one of them, Mason. Someone will recognize you for your talent and not for your past because that doesn't define you. What you're able to do with the gift you have is what defines you." I reassured him and mirrored my smile, dipping his head to my palm and planting a kiss against it.

"Mason, if you're worried about us being separated then don't. If you have to move then I'm moving with you." I said and his eyes widened as he peered down at me in shock. He straightened his posture and fully turned towards me, his hands slipping into mine.

"Y-you mean that? You'll leave everything you know and love to move with me?" He inquired anxiously and I nodded my head slowly, "there isn't anything in DC for me. I think moving would give me a fresh start, give me something to focus on, you know? It'll be nice, good. . .for you and me."

He suddenly pulled me into a hug and I gasped as I felt his heart hammering harshly against my chest. Which led me to believe that he was really thinking of what him possibly getting into University would mean for us. Well, I have no problem moving, I meant everything I said.

Maybe when I get there I might find something I love. I am really into fashion, not so much but I can't go a day without properly styling my clothes and making sure everything I wore was coordinated.

Maybe I can look more into that. "I love you," he whispered and I pulled him back so that we were facing one another. He smiled down at me, his fingers lightly caressing my cheeks as we looked into each other's eyes in silence.

And I realized how different my life would be if Mason didn't walk into it. How dull I would have felt, heartbroken about Kaleb and still devasted over my sister's death. I still am, I've never fully gotten over them but having Mason by my side made it easier to cope with.

If moving with him meant that we got to spend every day together then so be it. "Aren't you guys going on a date tonight? Why don't all of us double date, we've never actually done something like that before." Sasha said and I pulled away from Mason's grasp to face her.

Kaden shook his head slowly, "it's their official date, Sasha. We can't impose or else they'll kill us."

"What do you mean official date? You guys have been together for over two months." She said and Mason and I shared a look before falling into a laughing fit. "It's because all their "dates" is something illegal. This date however requires an elegant dress, a tux and the most expensive bottle of wine in a restaurant." Kaden explained and I nodded my head slowly as I recovered from my fit.

"Yeah, Mason and I have been on many so-called dates but they were all wild. Breaking into motels, trespassing onto someone's beach, this one time we even trespassed onto an abandoned hospital, it was really creepy but I'd still call that somewhat of a date."

"Why haven't we done anything wild before?" Sasha asked Kaden and he frowned as he leaned back in his chair, pop a fry into his mouth and chuckle humorlessly, "because unlike Mason I don't want to get arrested again and I'm not one for those type of adventures, that's for crazy heads like Bonnie and Clyde here, minus the murders and robberies."

Sasha's frown deepened and I watched her suck in a harsh breath before bringing her drink to her lips and averting eye contact with Kaden. "Hey guys, you can join us on the date, it's okay, we don't mind. . .right Mason?" I turned towards Mason and he shook his head vigorously, a smile stretched onto his lips.

"Yeah, no totally. You guys can tag along, it's a double date!" He exclaimed and Kaden groaned deeply, his eyes rolling. I flashed Sasha a smile and she giggled softly before mouthing thank you.

•••

"You look. . .wow, I-I can't even put it into words." He chuckled softly as I slowly sauntered towards him, the bottom of my dress hiked up in my hands. "I think the word you're looking for is beautiful," I whispered and he nodded his head vigorously as he peered down at me. "Yeah, that," he swallowed hard and I giggled as I placed a chaste kiss onto his lips.

"Come on, we wanna get there early," I said and he nodded his head once again before slipping his fingers through mine. "Are Sasha and Kaden already in the car?" I inquired and he muttered a yes as we trekked towards the black jeep parked out in front of the house.

Kaden and Sasha were already sat in the back, conversing with one another and Mason and I slipped into our respective seats at the front. I buckled on my seat belt and leaned over the seat to assess Sasha before smiling, "you look beautiful hon."

"So do you, ugh this night is gonna be perfect!" She chirped.

After driving for over 30 minutes we finally got to Iron Gates Restaurant and I unbuckled my seat belt as Mason hopped out of the car, slammed the door shut and rounded to my side. He popped the handle and the door went flying open. I giggled as he outstretched a hand towards me, "ma' lady." He winked and I rolled my eyes as I slipped my hand into his.

"So formal, kind sir, I like it," I replied as he lowered his lips down onto my palm in a soft kiss. He shut the door and led me towards the front of the restaurant, Sasha and Kaden in tow behind us.

We trekked into the busy restaurant and I couldn't help but marvel over the interior of the place. This wasn't a restaurant you could book overnight and get a table just like that, this was one of the hardest places to get into and I thanked my parents for helping us set up this date.

Large white panelled windows stretched across the room, providing a breathtaking view of the trees outside that swayed at the influence of the strong wind. Embroided maroon curtains hung loosely at the ends of the windows. A chandelier hung in the middle of the place, its branches sprung out wide, illuminating its crystal glow down onto the tables beneath it.

A soft hum from the piano sat beside the embroidered sofa enveloped the room and I couldn't help but let my lips hang low, still gawking at the priceless beauty that was this place. "Goodnight, welcome to Iron Gates Restaurant, how may I help you, gentlemen and lovely ladies?"

"Reservation for Michelle White," I said and the waiter nodded her head as she flickered her eyes to the monitor, checked our reservations before verifying it. She grabbed four menus from behind the counter. "Follow me, please." We followed in suit behind her to a large table that sat beside the window. Mason pulled out a chair for me and I thanked him softly as I lowered myself down onto it.

"My name is Jessie, I'll be your waiter tonight. Would it be of interest to you all to start off the night with one of our finest bottles of Krug Grande cuvée?" She inquired and before I could speak Kaden jutted out his glass towards her, "I don't know what the hell that is but it sounds super expensive so I want it."

"It's 3,000 dollars," I said and he began to cough loudly, his eyes widening as he flickered them towards me then towards the waitress who stood awkwardly. "That is expensive, Michelle," Sahsa mumbled and I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly as I motioned for the waitress to pour it.

"Only the best for the people I care about." Kaden rose his now full glass and smirked, "cheers to that!" I chuckled deeply and rolled my eyes as I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip. We're ridiculously underaged but the owner of this building is friends with my father, so he let it slide.

Dangerous and irresponsible I know but you only live once. "Let's make a toast-" Mason began as he rose his glass into the air, "to an abundance of unforgettable memories and to always living like to the fullest and forever being there for one another, through thick and thin."

We clinked our glasses together and before the night ended we went through our second bottle of champagne- courtesy of Kaden. We ended up ordering our food sometime later, I went with my usual which was a medium-rare steak with mashed potatoes, Mason ordered the same but replaced the mashed potato with fries because he doesn't appreciate the fact that someone would "waste" potatoes by crushing it.

His words, not mine.

"So he said, Mason, I know you don't like girls, there's no way in hell a handsome man like you - mind you I'm sixteen years old, I'm not even a man yet. Anyways, he's like there's no way someone like you could be single and straight because you can't even keep a decent relationship, so why don't you explore your options, maybe you're not into girls. I was mortified."

The table rumbled in laughter and I shook my head in disbelief as I stared back at him, "I can't believe your coach hit on you." Sasha rasped out in between wheezes and Mason motioned towards Kaden, "assistant coach. . .he tried touching me too, I punched him in the face and if it weren't for Kaden walking into the locker room on time I'd probably beat the shit out of him."

"See even men think you're attractive. Should I be worried, babe?" I giggled, taunting him. He leaned his face down before mine and smirked, "you're the only one for me dollface." He whispered and I pouted as he cupped my cheek into the palm of his hand and kissed me softly.

I groaned deeply when he pulled away and rolled my eyes in frustration as he grabbed his glass and rose from his chair. I sat upright and peered up at him in confusion. He rose the glass into the air and tapped his fork against it, drawing in the attention of the other guests enjoying their dining.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you all on your beautiful night out but there's something I need to say to the girl I love and I feel like everyone here should know how much she means to me e-even if you don't care." He chuckled as he peered into my eyes.

"Before I met you, I never allowed myself to get attached to another girl, let alone love her. I think what made me fall for you so hard and fast was the fact that I heard all these wonderful things about this mystery girl, the girl who loved adventures, danger, risks. I fell in love with someone I never knew but only heard of-

I never thought the day would come where I'd get to meet you. And to be honest, when I did I was disappointed at first, you weren't really my cup of tea. But then I saw you dancing and I remembered who you were- who I knew you to be and I kissed you and goddammit that was one of the best irrational decisions I've ever made in my life.

I know I've hurt you, one too many times and I always apologize and every time I mean it more because I can't lose you. . .never. I want you in my life forever, Michelle. I want to marry you, I want to have kids with you, I want everything with you. A normal person would say I'm crazy for wanting those things when we've only been together for two months but I've known you longer and hell w-we're not normal.

So I'm gonna do the not normal thing, something not any normal seventeen-year-old would do- at least no teen that didn't come straight out of a romance novel." He pulled out a velvet box from his pocket and suddenly lowered himself down onto his knee.

I sucked in a harsh breath as I stared into his brown eyes, searching for any indication that he was joking but the determined look on his face said otherwise. My heart hammered in my chest wildly and I watched, perplexed, as he opened the box, revealing a silver encrusted diamond ring, etched on the inside were our initials, M.M.

"This isn't an engagement, but I'm asking you to keep a promise to me. A promise that whatever happens to us, whether we fight through our complications or drift apart, you'll someday marry me. Will you be my future wife, Michelle White? Can you keep this promise?"

The entire restaurant fell deadly silent and I held my breath, only now realizing that tears trickled down my cheeks slowly as we stared at one another, peering into each other's souls as if we could read our minds. I cupped my mouth and let out a shaky breath as my lips slid into a wide smile, ignoring the way the salty tears trickled into my mouth.

"Yeah, I think I can keep that promise. . .I-I know I can." He chuckled deeply and slipped the ring onto my finger and quickly tugged me into his arms. "She said yes!" Kaden shouted and the restaurant erupted in cheers. I giggled loudly as I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him to my chest tightly.

"I love you, dollface." He whispered into my ear and I pulled away, cupped his cheeks in my hand and lowered my forehead against his, "I love you too."

I really am lucky.

Very lucky.