54The doorbell rang. I walked down the stairs and I opened the door. It was Cody.
I smiled, "Hey Cody."
I hadn't so much as heard from him in a week. I'd told him I'd call him if I needed him, and I hadn't needed him.
Surprisingly; I'd been okay.
"Come on Nia, I want to bring you somewhere."
"Okay..." I said. So much for hellos...
I grabbed my jacket and walked out of the house with him.
"So how are you?" I asked.
"Fine, fine," he said distractedly. "You?"
"I'm good," I said smiling. There was something about him that could always make me smile.
"I decided I'd not going to sell the house just yet, I'm going to live here for a while maybe sell it later."
"Oh, good," he said distractedly.
I slid my hand into his, he took no notice.
We walked in silence. Cody wasn't talking much, he wasn't talking at all. That was strange...
"So," I said conversationally. "Where are we going?"
He didn't even look at me, he just looked at the ground. "You'll see."
Something was going on. What was it?
We walked for a bit longer, towards our old school, there was nothing in that direction, I couldn't figure out where we were going.
"What's this about, Cody?"
Again, he didn't look at me, he just kept starring at the ground.
Something wasn't right.
"You'll see," he said again.
And that's all he said.
Something was defiantly wrong.
We started to go over the bridge that lead to the school. I hated this place but loved it at the same time. It had a bittersweet feeling about it. This was where I had tried to kill myself, but this was also where I'd been saved. Did that make it good or bad?
Once we arrived at the middle of the bridge, he stopped.
"Cody, why are we stopping?" I asked.
"Because we're here."
"Where?" I asked, puzzled.
"This is where I wanted to bring you."
"Why?" I said, wondering why on earth we were in the middle of the bridge.
"Just give it a minute, you'll understand," he said.
"Aright," I said, waiting for him to say something. He didn't. I decided to start up the conversation.
"I still can't decide if I love or hate this place..."
"Why?" for the first time since he'd picked me up at my house, he looked at me. She had something strange in his eyes. Something I couldn't read at all.
"Cause this is where I tried to kill myself, but it's also where I met you."
"That's why we're here."
"What?" I was starting to become nervous, what was he talking about?
"Nia, I have to ask you something."
I turned to Cody; he had his hands in his pockets.
"What?"
"Do you ever get tired of hearing the words "I love you" from me?"
I smiled; "No"
"Never?"
"Never." I smiled. He looked relieved. Why? Didn't he know that?
"Do you think you ever will?"
"No. Why?"
"Do you want to take a chance?"
"What kind of chance?"
"Just a chance..."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nia, do you love me?"
"Yes."
"You honestly love me?"
"Yes, I do," I replied without hesitation.
Again he looked relieved. What was this all about?
"Then take this chance for me."
"Cody, stop playing games, what's this about?"
"If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?"
"Cody, you're avoiding the question."
"So are you. Anything. Anything at all."
"I don't know, why are you asking me?"
"Just pick something!"
"I've got you! What else you I want?" I said earnestly.
He smiled his beautiful smile. What was this all about?
"Nia, you're 19 now-"
"I just turned 20," I corrected, smiling.
He laughed; "Sorry, 20, I forgot, and I think you can make this decision."
"What?"
"No matter what, I want you to know that I love you."
"What are you talking about?"
"This is a big step, and I won't be offended if you say no."
"What are you-?"
"Nia, will you marry me?"
He fell to his right knee and my jaw dropped. I raised my hand to cover my mouth.
"I want to always be there for you, I want to do everything for you. I want to never spend another moment away from you. I love you Nia, I will love you forever."
From his pocket he pulled a little black box.
Was this really happening?
He opened the box.
My eyes grew wide.
On the cushion lay a ring with a little pear shaped diamond on it.
I shook. There was no way this was possible.
"I know we're a bit young, but I can't help being afraid that if I don't act soon, someone else will. I want to be the person who will always make you smile when you're sad. The person who holds you when you're scared and the person that loves you night and day. I want to be the man in your life who wakes up next to you every single morning. I will do my very best; to make all your problems go away. We can forget about the past and start fresh. We've been through hell and back together, no one can deny that. I don't think any couple has had to deal with all the problems we've had to. But the truth is; I would go through it all again for you. I know I will never meet anyone that I could ever love as much as you."
He took my hand. I was shaking. I could feel his hand. I wasn't dreaming. This was real.
"I don't want to pressure you, know that I'll love you either way, and that-"
"Would you shut up Cody?" I said, I could feel the tears I was pushing back sting my eyes.
He looked shocked.
I smiled.
"Would you just shut up long enough to let me say yes?"
This was where I had been just one jump away from ending my life, and now this was where I was one step, one word away, from a whole new beginning.
AN: I told you you'd know when it was done. I had to break my own rules a give Nia a happy ending; she deserved it. I'm not big on marriage myself, but it's what she woud have wanted,I just know. I hope you all enjoyed One Jump Away, I know I did. Please see my "New Stories" and vote for which one you want me to start next, please keep in mind that "Embers of Amber" is an option. Yes, Amber as in Saoirse's sister, One Jump Away is the first in a trilogy I'm calling "Freefalling". So go and vote.
The End