Sticky Notes, Roses, and...Promises?

Authors Note: I know it has been a while since I have posted anything, and I promise I will be getting back to my stories, I still plan on finishing my story Venting, but I wanted to give ya'll a little something to read in the meantime. This was meant to be up by Valentine's Day, but as you can see its a bit on the late side, but it is now up, and as the other story, there again will be three chapters. Hope you guys like it! oh and none of the characters belong to me, they belong to Kelly Armstrong! and I will add that the characters may be a little OOC, but they have grown up some and it isn't taking place during the Darkest Powers trilogy, in this story, they are in their first year of college.

Chapter Three

Derek had left a little while ago, saying that he had "things to prepare." So now, I stood in front of my mirror looking at the billionth outfit I had tried on.

"Where is Tori when you need her?" I mumbled, turning to the side, and shook my head. "Definitely NOT this one..." I sighed, and turned back to me bed where my pile of dresses lay.

"Oh good your here!" Tori exclaimed as she came in the door and threw down her backpack.

"Thank god your here!" I exclaimed. I held up my pale pink dress and my little black one. "Which one should I wear?" I asked. Tori sighed, "I told you when you called me an hour ago to go with the pink!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah but when I tried it on, I felt... I don't know..."

"Why are you nervous?" Tori laughed, sitting down on her bed. "You're only going out with Derek, you know the guy you have been dating for like four years now? Aren't you past that whole nervous thing yet?" She shook her head.

I smiled, I knew she was right but..."It's because its Derek." I sighed. "I want to look perfect."

"Then go with the PINK one." Tori laughed. "It'll match your..." she stopped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"It'll match what?" I asked, but Tori shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I REALLY want to tell you but I can't... he made me swear! Plus he did a little threatening as well, and well you know he will do it if I do tell..."

"Tori come on!" I squealed, crawling over my bed to sit in front of her. "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!"

"NO!" She yelled, laughing. "Just trust me, it's good. Really really good." She smirked.

There was a knock at my door and I knew it was Derek. He was always right on time. I looked down at my watch, yep 7:30 right on the dot.

I grabbed the little black box I had set on my dresser and put it in my purse. I was definitely not going to forget this.

When I opened the door, Derek stood before me, looking even more amazing as usual.

"Ready?" He asked, and held out his hand for me. I smiled and placed my tiny hand in his and we headed down the hall and out towards his car.

"Where are we going?" I asked once we got in and buckled our seat belts.

"Heres a hint." Derek smiled and handed me a package. I opened it up. A blanket? "Didn't you get me this last year?" I laughed, holding it up.

"It's not the same exact blanket." he laughed, "Although it does serve the same purpose."

"Are we going to another run down theatre?" I asked, and he shook his head. "Did you read the card?" He asked. I looked in the box and noticed a white envelope.

I opened it and read...

"One day, I hope to take you to the real place, but for tonight, this will have to do."

"Okay... Derek, thats even more cryptic than just the blanket..." I sighed, folding up the piece of paper and putting it back in the box.

"It was meant to be cryptic Chloe." He laughed, "I don't want you to figure it out before its time!"

A few minutes later, he pulled the car over. I looked out the window, nothing but trees and a little lit path...

Derek got out of the car and opened my door, He was holding the blanket and a little picnic basket...

"Are we having a picnic in the woods?" I asked, confused.

"Nope. But we are going through the woods." He smiled, helping me out of the car.

We headed down the little path and the further in we got I began to hear soft music. "Whats that?" I asked, as we turned a corner. I began to see some brighter lights up ahead and I could hear other voices just below the music.

When we turned the last corner, we were standing in what looked like a park by day, but tonight...It was like I had stepped into the streets of Paris.

"What is this place?" I asked, turning to Derek.

"Well, I found out the other day from a guy in my chemistry class that there was some big thing going on here for Valentine's Day. I looked into it and found out that the owner of this land was throwing a little fundraiser type thing open to all who wanted to come. There's a live band, they are french and I don't exactly speak french so I'm not quite sure how to say their name, but if you look to your right theres the Eiffel Tower, well obviously not the real one, but the whole thing is set up to basically give couples a nice time out, and not in your regular restaurant atmosphere." Derek smiled down at me. But I found that my heart had basically stopped. This was...amazing! There were couples sitting around on blankets in the grass, drinking wine and eating and laughing. There was a band up in front, in a gazebo playing some soft music, there were lights strung up in the trees, giving the whole area a beautiful glow. There was a small version of the Eiffel tower off to my right, along with a table filled with goodies.

"Chole? What do you think?" Derek asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"I think this was a wonderful idea. Its amazing!" I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. I felt him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Did you think I didn't like it?" I asked, pulling away. He shrugged, "As well as I do know you, you always manage to surprise me." He smiled. "Its one of the many aspects I love about you."

I smiled and he took my hand and led me to a little spot in the grass, spreading out our blanket, and sitting down, pulling me down beside him.

We opened up our basket and spread out our dinner. "Where did you get the food?" I asked looking at the little crescent sandwiches and other little finger foods.

"I ordered them from a little french restaurant Tori told me about." He laughed. "It's where Landon is taking her tonight."

I smiled and took a bite. "Well the food is great, but I am glad we are here."

Derek nodded in agreement.

When we finished eating, we snuggled up beside one another laying down in the grass and listening to the wonderful music. Even though I couldn't understand what they were saying, it was such a soothing tune and beautiful voice I fell in love with the music. The man beside me pulled me closer, his lips pressing against mine. I smiled into the kiss, my arms running around his neck, my fingers playing with his hair.

"I have something for you." he breathed.

"I have something for you too." I smiled.

"Well open this first, please." he smiled, pulling a small box from his pocket and placing it in my hand.

I starred at the box. It couldn't be. Could it? My heart pounded in my chest, as I slowly opened the box, as soon as I saw what was inside, my breath hitched and everything around me seemed to stop.

"Oh, Derek..." I smiled.

"Chloe..." He whispered, his hand tilting my chin up to look at him.

"Will you marry me?" He asked, his green eyes glittering.

If my heart had been pounding before, it was beating twice that now. "Of course I will." I smiled. wrapping my arms around him, my lips flying to his, locking him in my embrace. He pulled away slightly after a few moments.

"Here." He smiled, pulling the gorgeous ring from the box and slid it onto my finger.

"I love you." His deep voice rumbled.

"I love you too." I could stop myself from grinning as I pulled his face back toward me as I kissed him again.

"Derek, this has been the most amazing night of my life." I whispered, as I laid my head down on his chest.

"It is for me too." He replied, his hand running softly through my hair.

Suddenly I sat up. "Your gift!" I laughed.

I rummaged through my purse and pulled out the little black box, and handed it to him.

He glanced up at me.

"Don't worry, it's not quite like the one you got me." I laughed.

He opened the box to see a solid silver band.

I had gotten Derek a ring. Engraved on the inside were our initials, with the words Today, Tomorrow and forever. "I got you the ring as a sort of promise, that we'd be together always...but it seems you had the same idea too." I laughed.

Derek smiled and slid the ring onto his finger. "It's a bit tight, but we can fix that later." He pulled me to him, wrapping me in his arms as we laid back down on the blanket.

"I love it." He laughed. "I was a little worried about proposing..."

I sat up and looked at him, "You were? Why?" I asked.

"I didn't know if it was the perfect time...we just started school, I wasn't sure how you would take it... So I talked to Simon about it. He assured me that I was being stupid and needed to propose."

I laughed, laying my head back down on his chest. "Well I'm glad you listened to Simon."

"Oh, yeah you would be for that part, but it's probably Tori you should really thank."

Now I sat up. "Why should I thank Tori?" I asked, laughing.

"She's the one who drug me around the stores looking at rings. I had no idea what to pick... there are so many choices, and to me, they all look so much alike! But she picked what she said was the perfect one for you. And now that I see it on your finger...She was right." He smiled, his fingers toying with the ring on my finger.

"Seeing it on you, makes everything so real. And it all feels so right."

"It feels right to me too." I smiled, snuggling up to him.

"I love you Derek."

"With all my heart Chloe." He murmured and kissed the top of my head.