Chapter Text
Stella woke me up this morning by throwing a pillow on my back. I assumed she was being playful but I rolled over to see her face being red and her eyes puffy and solemn. I sit up quickly and try to speak but she whips around crossing her arms.
“I need some space,” She says, her hair stilling across her shoulders.
“Wait-honey, please. We should talk about this,”
“No, I need some time to think,” Her voice quivers as she speaks.
I think back to the night before when she was laughing and smiling brightly at the movie we had put on during dinner. I also think back to her sudden change of mood when I returned from the bathroom after having taken extra time to put the engagement ring box in my pocket. She seemed…upset. If she wasn’t upset then, she certainly is now.
I get out of bed and pull on some clothes, watching Stella leave our bedroom. I glance at the ring box hidden in my sock drawer, the hiding spot I came up with after Stella stormed off after dinner last night. I walk out of our room to see Stella sipping on coffee in the corner of the living room, on her favourite chair. The chair is a nice white fluffy material, and she sits in it regularly in the afternoon after work. To see her sitting on it in the morning, breaking her normal routine, is very jarring.
“Listen, Stella. I’m not going to pry for an explanation if you don’t want to talk right now,” I say, watching her turn her head the other direction, “I’m going to go run some errands for a bit. Call me when you’re ready to chat.” I slip my boots on and exit our apartment.
As I walk down the stairs I ponder on what she could possibly be so upset about. The last time she was this upset, it was when one of her family members passed, but she wasn't mad, just sad.
As I get in my car and drive to the mall, I remember the last week and her child-like giddiness at every date I took her too in preparation for the big night which was supposed to be last night. I also remember her arguing with her best friend over the phone after one of our dates in which I was on my phone texting with the flower arrangements and photographers for last night. I didn’t hear their whole conversation, but I did hear my name being thrown around a few times.
I arrive at the mall and continue my pondering about Stella. I’ve never thought that her best friend would convince her of anything bad. I've met her and she’s a very nice person, but looking from her perspective the odds aren’t exactly in my favor. I pick out her favorite flowers and a necklace as a gift and check my phone for any messages. She texted me about wanting to talk and I headed back home, gifts and necklace in the passenger seat.
I open the apartment door and see Stella sitting on the couch with a cake in front of her and a few candles lit. She stands up and runs to me, giving me a big hug. She pulls away, presumably after feeling the gifts behind my back, a light gasp exiting her lips.
“Listen, I’m sorry for upsetting you, so I got you these,” I reveal the gifts and she takes them in her gentle hands, admiring the beauty of the necklace and the fresh flowers.
“It’s okay. I realized shortly after you left that I overreacted and should’ve talked to you first.” She turns around gesturing her arm to the cake and candles. On the cake written in her cursive handwriting is “I’m sorry” with a few stray hearts around it. We sit on the couch, and I hold her hands in mine as she tells me about her noticing me being on my phone and the increase in time I’ve spent “in the bathroom”. When she stops I look deeply into her emerald eyes, sliding off the couch onto one knee. Her face shifts from loving to shock as she realizes what is happening. I pull out the ring and ask her the most-anticipated question in every romantic relationship; Will you marry me?
She pauses for a moment, her face turning beet-red and inhaling sharply.
“No.”