Chapter Text
Shannon woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing. She picks it up, seeing that Chris has texted her.
Chris
hello
i’m outside your house
harry kicked me out lol
wait omg not literally. he just said he needs the house to himself today and told me to hang out with you
like specifically told me to do that
he was very adamant about it idk
Shannon
omg shush i’m coming
Shannon stands up from her bed, pulling on a robe and putting some slippers on. Becky stirs on the other side.
“What’s happening? Why are you up?” Becky asks, turning over to look at Shannon.
“Chris is here,” Shannon says with a shrug. “Something about Harry making him come.”
“Oh, okay,” Becky says, standing up from the bed also. “I’ll put the kettle on.”
“No, it’s fine, go back to bed,” Shannon says.
“I can’t,” Becky says, coming over to Shannon’s side to kiss her. “Once I’m up, I’m up.”
Shannon shrugs. “Okay, then.”
Becky walks out to the kitchen, and Shannon walks over to open the door for Chris.
“Hello,” Shannon says when she opens the door.
“Hi,” Chris says, coming in and giving Shannon a quick hug.
“Let’s go into the kitchen, Becky’s making tea. And you can tell me what the hell you were talking about.”
Shannon and Chris reach the kitchen and sit at the table while Becky is standing at the counter.
“So,” Shannon says. “He kicked you out?”
“Yeah,” Chris says. “All he said was that he needed the house to himself today. Didn’t say what for or anything. Just told me to spend the day with you.”
“And you said he was very adamant about it?”
“Yes! He was like, you should spend the day with Shannon today. Like you really, should. Come back around six.”
“Huh,” Shannon says. “Any clue what this could be about?”
Chris shakes his head. “None. He’s not usually this weird.”
“Isn’t your anniversary coming up?” Becky asks, bringing over the cups of tea and sitting down.
“Yeah,” Chris says softly. “Tomorrow, actually.” He looks down into his tea, a faint smile on his lips.
“Probably something for your anniversary then,” Becky shrugs. “Probably just wants to celebrate tomorrow and set everything up today.”
“But what is he setting up for?” Shannon asks, taking a sip of tea. “Gotta be a surprise of some sort if he needs you out of the house all day.”
“Well,” Chris says. “I don’t want to keep speculating if it is a surprise. ‘Cause I actually want to, you know, be surprised.”
Shannon nods. “Yeah, I got you. Anything you wanna do today, then? Can’t imagine you just wanna stay cooped up in the house.”
Chris takes a moment to think, and then just shakes his head. “I can’t think of anything. Maybe we could go for a walk in the park or something, but I can’t think of anything I want to do.”
Shannon sighs. “Okay then. Board games it is.”
Chris smiles. “A chill day. I like a chill day.”
“You guys want me to leave you to it?” Becky asks.
“No, no,” Shannon says, grabbing Becky’s hand. “You can play with us. You can also suffer through Monopoly.”
Chris groans. “Not Monopoly, Shannon, you get so competitive.”
“Exactly,” Shannon says with a smile. “I’m beating you this time.”
“You get scary when you’re competitive,” Becky says as they move into the living room. “I’m not sure I want to play.”
“Becky, please,” Chris begs. “Don’t make me do this on my own.”
“I’m not that bad, guys, shush,” Shannon says as she looks for the Monopoly board.
“Well…”
“I said, shush!”
The afternoon drifts by, board games that they finished around them on the floor, loud laughter from playing Uno, and quiet conversations. They’re in one of those quiet moments, no one talking, but just coexisting in the comfortable silence.
Chris glances at the time, 5:00 PM, and sits up.
“Shan, you wanna go for that walk? We can linger in the park for a bit and then I can go home.”
“Yeah, sure,” Shannon says, stretching as she stands up. “Becky, do you want to come?”
“No, I’m alright,” Becky says, also stretching. “I’ll clean up while you’re out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Becky says, putting a hand on her shoulder and kissing her cheek. “Go enjoy your walk.”
Shannon touches her hand, giving her a smile. Shannon grabs her bag as Chris puts his shoes back on, and they leave for the park.
The walk to the park is quiet, the sunset giving a golden hue to everything. When they enter the park, there’s people scattered in the open space, kids running around and playing. They start on the walking path around the park.
“So,” Shannon says, breaking the silence. “Seriously no clue as to what Harry has planned.”
Chris lets out a breath and shakes his head. “Nothing.”
“Are you nervous?”
Chris thinks for a moment. “I…don’t think so. I think I’d only be nervous if it was something bad, but I don’t think it is.”
Shannon lets out a small laugh. “Yeah, he’s totally pulling up with something bad the day before your anniversary.”
Chris smiles. “Yeah, I know it’s nothing bad.”
Shannon shakes her head. “You two are so sickening, you know? I’m glad you’re happy, but,” Shannon lets out a breath. “Wow.”
“Yes, please keep telling me how in love we are,” Chris says, smiling. “I love that it’s obvious.”
Shannon fake gags, which earns a laugh out of Chris.
“Okay, I can go to my house now,” Chris says. “Let’s hope he’s done.”
“I’m gonna come with you, actually,” Shannon says. “I’ve gotten myself interested in whatever Harry planned. I need to see it.”
“Fair enough,” Chris says, and they head towards his house.
When they reach his house, the sun has nearly disappeared over the horizon. The moon is clear in the sky with stars starting to peek through.
Chris opens the door. Shannon hears soft music playing from somewhere in the house. The smell of cinnamon in the air.
“Harry?” Chris calls out.
“Living room!” Harry calls back.
Chris looks at Shannon, who shrugs, and they both walk to the living room.
The lights are dimmed, a few candles lit on the table. Harry is standing in the middle of the room in formal clothing. Music playing from a bluetooth speaker, that Shannon recognizes now as Lover by Taylor Swift.
“Harry,” Chris whispers as he walks towards him. “What’s going on?”
Harry swallows before talking, even then his voice sounding tight. “I know tomorrow is our anniversary, but I wanted to spend that day celebrating us. I wanted today to be about you, which is why I sent you to spend the day with someone who has been there for you as much as I have.” Harry sends a look to Shannon, who is frozen in place, and smiles at her. Chris turns to look at her, giving her a smile before turning back to Harry.
“God, Chris,” Harry says, his eyes welling up with tears now, causing Shannon’s eyes to water as well. “I don’t know how to do this properly. I had this huge speech planned but then I saw you and…” Harry shakes his head. “I just…you’re my best friend. My favorite person.” Harry steps forward, taking Chris’ hands in his own. Shannon’s tears have fallen now. “I want to keep doing everything with you. Until the end of forever. If you’ll have me.” Harry gets down on one knee, which Shannon hears Chris gasp quietly at. Shannon tries and fails to keep her tears in, especially when Chris kneels down in front of Harry also.
Harry smiles, pulling a ring box out of his pocket. “Chris Dixon, will you marry me?”
At the question, Chris throws his arms around Harry’s neck to kiss him. Shannon fully starts crying at this, trying to keep quiet. She’s quiet enough to hear Chris quietly say, “Yes, of course I will.”
Chris buries his head into Harry’s neck, both holding each other tightly, just taking each other in.
Chris pulls back, cupping Harry’s face in his hands. “You’re my fiancé,” He says, because he apparently wanted to make sure Shannon never emotionally recovered from this moment.
Harry laughed, and to Shannon it sounded like the happiest sound in the world. “You’re my fiancé,” Harry whispers back.
Shannon watches as Chris pulls back just enough so Harry can slip the ring onto his finger, and then kissing him again. Shannon wiped at her eyes, trying to regain some of her composure.
She failed.
She sniffled, which caused Chris to pull away from Harry and turn toward Shannon. “Shan, why are you crying?” Chris asks with a laugh.
Shannon sniffles, again. “I love you two, so much,” Shannon wipes her eyes. “Oh, I’m so happy.”
Chris breaks away from Harry to pull Shannon into a hug. “Thank you for today.”
Shannon hits Chris’ shoulder weakly. “Stop trying to make me cry more.”
Shannon pulls away from Chris. “I’ll get going now. Let you two celebrate. Happy anniversary.”
“Bye, Shan,” Harry says, pulling Shannon into a hug. “Thank you for being there for him today.”
“Of course,” Shannon says. “Bye again!” Shannon says as she’s leaving, waving to them as she steps out of the house.
She can’t wait to tell Becky.