all but an insignia or a Coat of Arms with black and red on top of gold-like plating. It had 1993, the year of his graduation, printed in small letters, and the whole thing was no larger than my pinky finger. Jensen’s plan was to pull the ring out and ask me to marry him in front of his family. I wasn't sure I could feign surprise, but I promised I would do my best. Pulling the key out from under my shirt, I fiddled with it nervously, breathing deeply to try calming myself.
"Oh, you gave Mia your senior key," Jessica announced, eyeing it closely.
"Actually, yes, I did give Mia my senior key.” Jensen stood up at that moment and pushed his chair back. The act caught everyone by surprise and I felt my stomach lurch with anticipation. “And yes, I had a reason for bringing you all out to dinner tonight. I think it's no surprise that Mia and I are inseparable and have been for quite a while now. Truth is, I love her more than anything." Jensen paused as I looked up into his eyes, afraid to look at his parents, Karl, or Jessica.
"Jensen?" Ashlyn asked so cautiously that I’m sure she knew what was coming.
Jensen then looked over at his parents briefly and got down on one knee to take my hand. "I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with Mia,” he told everyone, and then looking deeper into my eyes he said, “Mia, will you marry me?" His eyes sparkled and it was almost as if we’d hit rewind on the past year and he was asking me again for the first time. Gently he squeezed my hand and all I could do was stare into the blue of his eyes and smile. Everything stood still until Alicia let out a screech, Jessica inhaled deeply, and I slightly became aware of his family once again. Peripherally, I caught Ashlyn grabbing her husband Dan's arm in surprise.
"Will you marry me?" Jensen whispered again, prompting me for my line. I finally found my voice and whispered "yes" as he quickly began to slide the ring on my finger. I briefly looked down to see it sparkle and then leaned forward, hugging Jensen and feeling tears prick my eyes.
"Yes, they're real," I whispered in Jensen's ear, anticipating he would wonder if I was truly a good actress and could cry on command. We finally turned toward his family to face the music.
Karl got up, shook Jensen's hand and slapped him on the back. "Congratulations, man!" He was smiling from ear-to-ear and leaned over to hug me, repeating his congratulations.
Jessica stayed in her chair, and didn’t come over. "Wow, I had no idea that was coming. Congratulations?" she seemed to ask, more than say.
"I always wanted you as my sister-in-law!” Alicia said as she pulled me sideways and slightly out of my chair into a bear hug. “Congratulations!"
I looked at Jensen's parents. It was agonizing not knowing what they were thinking. Ashlyn and Dan looked at each other and then stood up together, making their way over to us.
"Wow, I don't know what to say," Ashlyn stammered. "You know I love you both and want nothing more than to have Mia as my daughter-in-law, but it's so soon. You know I don't want to be that mom, and I trust you've thought this over.” Jensen’s mother put her hand on my shoulder. “Mia, honey, you're still in high school and barely seventeen."
I gaped at Ashlyn, unsure of what to say. She thinks now is the best time to voice her concerns?
"What your Mom means is we're just concerned is all,” Dan interjected. “We love you both and trust your decision. We just want to make sure you're going to be OK."
"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less," Jensen said, hugging his mom and then his dad. He moved closer to me.
"Wait, you're not pregnant, are you?" Jessica threw in, raising her eyebrows.
"Jessica!" Alicia yelled harshly.
"What? It's a good question. No one gets engaged when they're in high school."
Ashlyn suddenly looked at me worriedly.
"No! Of course I'm not pregnant!" I shot back, but I could tell his parents needed more reassuring. "We're responsible every time, and if you must know, I'm on the pill." Damnit, leave it to Jessica to go there.
As soon as it came out I wished I could claw it back. That was not the way I had wanted to confirm with his parents that we were being safe, and I certainly didn't want Jessica and Karl to know anything about our sex life. Not expecting this reaction at all, I blamed the heat of the moment. Catching Jensen's surprised look that I would have shared that in public, I gave him an apologizing look hoping he would understand.
"We know you two are responsible, honey; no one doubts that," Ashlyn whispered. "Jessica's question didn’t come at the best time, is all." She shot her daughter a look.
"I'm sorry,” I said to everyone at the table, “I didn't mean to share such personal stuff, but I was caught off-guard by such a direct question." My eyes moved to Jessica, whose gaze narrowed slightly as she gave off a fake smile. "And now that we all know I'm not pregnant,” I said, trying to lighten things up, “I think it's best if we plan a long engagement. Don't you agree, Jensen?"
Jensen briefly looked my way and then back at his parents. He deliberately ignored his sister. "Yes, that was my plan. We can't get married now with me starting freshman year at college and Mia still in high school.”
"Well, I'm sure it will go by really fast, and planning the wedding will be tons of fun! I'm so excited for you two!" Alicia said, hugging me again and trying her best to take the awkwardness out of the air. Besides us, she and Karl seemed to be the only ones excited.
"We'll have something at home to celebrate," Dan said, making his way back to his seat with Ashlyn.
As we waited for our food, Ashlyn asked to see the ring. I leaned over the table and extended my hand. She regarded it for some time. "Wow, it's beautiful. VS1 clarity and I can't see any flaws with my naked eye. I would love to get a jeweler's eye on this, though. Jensen, this probably set you back quite a bit. I hope you still have money left for college," she chastised lightly.
Jensen grinned. "First, I'm not about to share what it cost in front of my fiancée; second, I still have money to pay for college."
Ashlyn, still holding my hand, looked up at Jensen somewhat sternly for a second and then smiled. "It's really beautiful. Isn't it Alicia?" She turned her attention back to me.
"Yes, I'm jealous. I'm sure Jess is, too. Right, Jess?" Alicia asked.
Jessica's fake smile reappeared once more, and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with all of the attention, whether good or bad. The food finally arrived and I was thankful that the attention was now on something else. As our server was placing the plates down in front of each of us, Jensen stole a moment to tell me he knew it would go OK.
"See, nothing to worry about. Are you OK?" he whispered.
I nodded and smiled. "Just a little uncomfortable is all. Let's talk about it later."
The rest of the meal was spent discussing Jensen leaving for school, which brought back my depressed feelings from earlier. Once dinner was over with and the whole charade had finally ended, Jensen took the wheel of my truck and drove us in the direction of his house. I played with my engagement ring, twirling it around my finger, while Jensen hummed along quietly to Aerosmith singing in the background about living on the edge. Something was wrong with the world, indeed.
"Jessica
