Two-Sequel to Learning to act

"The only thing in this world I'm afraid of is a buffalo."

"How is Jean Claude?"

"Stop changing the subject."

"Then stop avoiding the issue."

"I'm not avoiding it, I'm just sidetracking a little."

"Tell me, what you were going to say yes to."

"Nope."

"I'm having a sense of d?j? vu."

"Good, here's something else to remember," I said and kissing
him.

"I thought you said you weren't my girl." He said wrapping his arms
around my waist.

"I did say that didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. So if I ask you to come with me to New York will you
go?"

"No."

"Why?"

"That wasn't the question I wanted to hear. You always thought and
still do think I'm afraid of being alone with you, but that's far from
the truth. You just haven't asked the right question."

"Do you still love me?"

"Never stopped, never will. Still not the right question."

"Ahem?sorry to interrupt your reunion but the others are wondering
where you two are." Jeff asked tapping Aaron on the shoulder.

"Sure, we'll be right up, I want to go put these in water before they
wilt." I told him.

I walked toward the bathroom to go and put the flowers in a cup, but
Aaron stopped me.

"We still need to talk about this."

"Later, let's have fun ok."

"My plane leaves tomorrow at noon."

"Don't do that."

"You're doing it to yourself."

"You're right. I've been waiting five years for you to ask me the
question I want to hear, but you're not going to ask it. Here have your
ring back I don't need it anymore." I told him taking his hand, opening
it and handing him the ring, then walked away.

"Allison, stop." He called after me.

"It's my turn to walk away Aaron," I said turning toward him, then
continued to walk away.

I put the flowers in a cup in the bathroom and carried them upstairs
with me. I sat on the stage next to Rose, and started to chat with her
and Kelly for a while. Rose tapped my hand lightly and I looked up to
see Aaron looking in my direction.

"What is up with you two?" Rose asked me.

"Nothing really, just the same old argument. I finally know what I want
in life but Aaron just doesn't understand that."

"Why what happened?'

"He asked me to go to New York with him, and I told him no. I want him
to ask me a different question."

"You want him to ask you to marry him."

"Yes, and no."

"I just want to know that it's just not a fling he's after. If I go up
to New York with him, we'll have fun for a week and then it'll be
over."

"I don't think that's true, and you know that as well."

"I don't know anymore. I have spent the last five years hoping for
something that will never come true. I love him so much more so now
than five years ago."

"Allison go over there and talk to him, work it out. I don't want to
see you so sad."

"Rose, it's not going to happen. If I go over there right now I'm going
to lose."

"It's not about winning or losing at this point. You both love each
other you have spent too much time apart you need to be
together."

"We've tried, it's not going to work."

"How do you know if you don't try?"

"You're not going to let up until I get up and walk across the room and
talk to him are you?"

"Of course not. So go on and talk to him. Just talk to him about life
don't go into the heavy stuff."

"Fine, I'll go when I'm ready. I just need to cool off a bit."

"Ok as long as you are going to go talk to him
I don't care when you do it. I'm going to go over and talk to Jeff for
a bit so if you need me come find me."

I nodded my head and sat on the stage and pulled out a small notebook
and pencil from my purse and started to write. I was scribbling away
when a shadow fell over my notebook and I looked up to see Aaron
standing there. I put away the pencil and notebook and just stared at
Aaron, waiting for him to say something.

"Allison, can we talk?"

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"Look, I'm sorry. All I want is for you to be happy, that's all I've
ever wanted. I always hated to see you sad. Come with me to New York,
just for a day if that's all you can afford to take off. I want you to
see my gallery you'll love it. Allison, I missed you so much these last
few years, I just want you to be by my side."

"Aaron, I can't."

"Allison, just think about it ok. Take a walk with me."

"Ok," I said and he took my hand and led me outside.

It was beautiful out it wasn't too warm, nor was it too cold. The sun
was shining onto the gold, red and orange leaves making it look like a
shimmering sunset in the trees. I reached out and plucked a red maple
leaf from a low branch and started to twirl it in my hand.

"Where are we going?" I asked Aaron as we walked into the parking
lot.

"I need to get something out of my car."

"Hmm, let me try and guess which one is yours. Could it be the bright
blue Beemer parked next to me?"

"Yes, it's a rental though. My other car is thunderbird."

"You creep," I said with mock hatred.

"I guess I shouldn't mention, it's red."

"Nah, I like pink."

"I've noticed, so you haven't changed too much now have you."

"Nope, what I like is what I like."

"That's what I like about you."

"So what do you need from the car?"

"You'll see."

"You know I hate surprises."

"That's just what you say. I know you do like surprises, or else we
would never have been even friends."

"True, very true. I like unpredictability, it's hard to explain."

"You like unpredictability only if you can predict it."

"No, that's just idiotic. No I like spontaneity, and unpredictability
if it's a good thing. Sometimes there are bad surprises in life. Like
Tom and Ashley."

"Whatever happened to those two?"

"They broke up right after I graduated."

"I thought they were supposed to get married that September."

"They were, but something happened and in May less than 4 months before
they were supposed to get married they just went kaput. Tom came
crawling to me."

"He did?"

"Oh, I never told you."

"Allison, what happened?"

"It's not that big of a deal really. The night after he and Ashley
broke up he came to our apartment. You were on a trip to Pittsburgh or
something. He came in with tears in his eyes begging me to forgive him.
I told him I can't, but he could come in for some coffee then leave. I
mean he didn't talk to me for two years and I'm just supposed to drop
everything and help him I don't think so. He didn't even stay, he
Called me a few more times after that but I never answered the phone.
If it wasn't for you I probably would have forgiven him then the cycle
would have continued."

"I wish you would have told me."

"There was nothing to tell. I had to deal with him on my own."

"I know, I just wish I could have done something."

"It's in the past. What's done is done."

"I know, but I hope that doesn't mean everything in the past is over,"
he said looking at me straight in the eye then he opened the car
door.

"Depends on what you are talking about."

"I think you know what I'm talking about," he said slightly muffled
because he was searching his car for something.

"Can I play dumb and say no," I said smiling, then noticing that Aaron
was half out of the car and half in asked. " What are you looking
for?"

"Just hold on a second."

"How long can it take a person to search for something in a BMW
convertible?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Well, I'll be in my car because it's starting to
get a bit chilly out because the sun is starting to set."

"Just stay where you are I almost have it."

"I'm staying. Just hurry up ok."

"Got it. Come on let's go for a walk," he said putting something into
his pants pocket.

"Ok, so what did you get from your car? That was totally
necessary?"

"You have patience of a gnat did anyone ever tell you that."

"Not as lovingly as you."

"You're shivering." He said as he draped an arm around my shoulders and
felt me shiver. "Here take my coat."

"Thank you, what you just thought I was saying I was cold for the heck
of it?"

"You have been known to exaggerate on occasion."

"Have not."

"That's the funniest thing I have ever heard."

"Give one example."

"Only one? Let's see perfect example would have to be your first
book."

"What about it?"

"Well, it was basically an exaggerated form of your life."

"Your point?"

"You exaggerate."

"Oh and you are Mr. Humble."

"No, but at least I admit when I'm wrong."

"You know me."

"Yes, very well. Come on let's hurry."

"Hurry where?"

"To Admin, have you ever seen the sunset from there?"

"No."

"It's a must see, especially with the view of the tree lined
drive."

"Always an artist."

"Always a pain."

We walked up the hill and up the stairs of Admin and sat on the stairs
and waited. The sun began to sink below the trees beautiful reddish
orange filled the sky making it difficult to distinguish between the
skyline and the trees. It nearly took my breath away. I was just about
to look over to Aaron when I felt him put something on my lap. I looked
down and saw a small pink velvet box with a red tulip as the clasp to
open it. I stared at it for a few seconds unsure of what to do.
"Well, aren't you going to open it?"
I nodded and undid the clasp and inside the box was a diamond claddagh
ring in platinum the heart was the diamond. I was in shock.

"I should have done this years ago. However, I knew that you had to
find out who you were, and choose for yourself. I don't know if this is
the question you wanted me to ask, but I'm going to ask it before this
moment ends. Will you do me the honor of marrying me Allison Caroline
Whitcomb?" He asked kneeling on the step below mine.

I looked at him and swallowed I tried to say the word but it just
wouldn't form, I was speechless. I quickly took out my pencil and
notebook and wrote, "Yes, I will" and handed it to him. I kissed and
hugged him.

"I love you," I finally managed to say.
He took the ring out of the box and placed it on my finger.

"I figured it was about time to replace that old ring you had."

"I love it, thank you."

"So, will you go with me to New York?"

"Did you even have to ask?"

"I was just checking."

"How exactly am I going to get there?"

"I bought you a plane ticket."

"Mr. Confident aren't you?"

"I wasn't going to leave until I was sure you were coming with
me."

"Confident and stubborn."

"Not as stubborn as you."

"Well no, but no one is."

"That's an understatement."

"Yeah well, you'll have to live with it won't you."

"For the rest of my days."

"Any regrets?"

"None. So how does this story end?"

"With a kiss at sunset," I replied kissing him