17 Roses

Finally done with classes for today I walked quickly back to my dorm. My headphones were blasting a Relient K album and I swiftly went into my own little world thinking about anything but the cold. About ten minutes later I reached my residence hall gladly absorbing the heat as I walked in. I didn’t know it then, but what lay on the other side of my dorm door was going to change my life.
As soon as I opened the door I saw a dozen roses lying on my pillow. I just stood in the doorway staring confusingly at them. Out of all of my friends I was the single one. I did not have a boyfriend or even any guy interested in me for that matter, so why were these roses on my bed?
“Um your flowers are on my bed, Jenna.” I said to my roommate when I finally decided to walk through the door.
“Those aren’t mine,” she laughed, “They’re yours.”
“What?” I said dumbfounded, “Who would send me flowers?”
“Read the card.” Jenna said smiling at me.
“You know who sent them because you had to let them in here. Spill!”
“Nope. Just read the card.”
I sighed and walked over to my bed. I picked up the note tied to the stem of the flowers.
Hello beautiful. I suggest you go for a walk.
I stared at those words dumbfounded. Too many questions raced through my mind as I stood there trying to figure out who would have sent this. Then it hit me… this was a trick. Some sick joke one of my friends was setting up to prove how gullible I was. “Ha ha very funny. “ I said glaring at Jenna.
“What are you talking about?” she asked looking pretty sincere. It was going to be hard to determine if she was lying or not.
“I’m not falling for this joke. Nice try.” I added.
“It’s not a joke. Honest! Just go for a walk and see for yourself.”
I just huffed and turned to walk right back out the door. “Fine I’ll go, but if you’re wrong I am so getting you back.” And with that said I slammed the door.
I had no idea where to go, so I just started walking across campus like I was going to class. The sun was beginning to set and I really did not want to be out here wondering around in the cold for a mysterious, fictitious secret admirer. I had only walked for about five minutes when I decided that this was probably the dumbest idea I had ever had. Boys don’t do stuff like this, especially for me. I sighed and sat down on a large rock beside the sidewalk. I instinctively looked down at the ground as I rubbed my shoes in the dirt.
Then something red caught my eye. Laying on the ground right next to my feet was another red rose with an ivory envelope attached to it. I picked it up realizing the words written on the envelope were my name. Lacey Felton I glanced around my shoulder to see if the person who left this was hiding somewhere. I could have sworn it wasn’t there when I sat down. I slowly opened the envelope, hands shaking, even though I was sure this was still a trick.
Don’t give up now. Just walk a little further. You know, the sun looks as beautiful as you as it reflects off the ocean when it sets.
This was way too much. I sat there staring at the letter trying to decide if this really was a trick. It had to be, but my curiosity overpowered me and I got up and headed downtown. See I knew exactly what the letter was talking about. There is a restaurant downtown that is by the beach and has the best view of the amazing New York City sunsets.
It took me all of ten minutes to walk to the restaurant. As I approached the tan building I began to panic. I am going to be so made fun of for falling for this. All my friends are probably here with cameras ready to post this on the internet. I can see it now “The Gullible Lacey Felton.” I was about ready to turn around when the host walked out the door calling my name.
“Lacey Felton correct?” the host asked. I just nodded and thought it’s too late now. “Follow me. We have been expecting you.” He said with a smile that wasn’t at all patronizing. He led me to the balcony where a table for two waited. The table was lit with a candle and had four more of those red roses. The host pulled out my chair for me to sit down, but instead I walked over to the railing and looked at the ocean.
I didn’t want to look at the table. Something about it made me nervous. Maybe it was the constant voice in the back of my mind telling me that this wasn’t a set up. This was real. My hand began to shake and all I wanted to do was run away from this restaurant and return to my dorm. All of a sudden I felt a hand on mine. I think I stopped breathing. I turned around slowly. As I looked up and saw his face my heart began to beat so fast I thought it was going to burst. I bet my eyes were as huge as saucers and I could have sworn I was going to go into shock. Apparently he thought so too because he put his hand on my cheek and looked me straight in the eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked and I saw the worry in his eyes. I wanted to tell him that I was fine, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move and his hand on my cheek didn’t help. It was because I was looking into the eyes of Landen Barker. I have had a crush on him for as long as I can remember, but I never told him. Instead I moved away from Virginia in the summer to pursue my dreams in the Big City. Of course Landen and I were friends, it wasn’t like he was some guy that I never talked to in my life, I just never had the guts to tell him how I felt. Yet here he was standing in front of me as I had hoped for so long.
“I’m fine.” I finally said when I started to breathe again. “W-what are you doing here?”
“Listen,” he started, taking a deep breath, “Ever since you left I regretted not telling you how I felt and I didn’t want to lose you. I realized having you in my life is what I looked forward to everyday and have missed that since you moved. You are the most amazing girl I have met and I have fallen for you before, but I think I’m falling all over again just by looking into your eyes.”
His hand was still on my cheek as I felt my face heat up. I was blushing majorly, how embarrassing. I really wanted to respond to what he had said, but I didn’t know what to say. I had wished for this moment and now that it was coming true I was too shocked to speak. I just gazed back into his eyes with a huge smile on my face that gave away exactly how I felt. He smiled back and leaned in to kiss me as the beautiful ray of light from the sunset began to shimmer upon the ocean.