Chapter
15
Alexa didn't tell anyone about Brian's encounter with Elisa. It was
their secret, and talking about it had brought them even closer together, if
that was even possible. They were already very much in love. As Brian's health
continued to improve, so did Alexa's spirits. But then she received news that
made them plummet low again.
Alexa hadn't been to any of her college classes in two weeks. She had
been so wrapped up in Brian's condition that she had completely forgotten about
college. But one day, her parents brought a letter to the hospital. It was a
letter from the dean of the university, telling her parents that her grades,
which had been all A's and B's, had fallen down to C's and D's because she had
been cutting so many classes. It explained that if she continued this behavior
she would be thrown out of college. But already, Alexa realized she would
probably have no chance of getting into medical school. Her long-ago dreams had
been shattered.
But as Alexa pondered over her situation, she realized that she didn't
want to go back to college. There was only one thing in her life that she
wanted, and that was Brian. She could go back to college later in life if she
wanted to. But she had Brian now, and she didn't know how long that would last.
Suddenly, she realized something and knew she had to talk to Brian.
***
"So Lex, what did you want to talk about?" Brian asked later
that day when they were alone in his hospital room.
"Well, first I have to talk to you about college."
"What about it? Are you in trouble for not going to classes?"
"Well, yeah, that's pretty much it. My grades have majorly fallen,
and I'm going to be kicked out if I don't start showing up." Brian looked
stricken.
"God, Lexie, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault! It's because of
me that you've been skipping class."
"No Brian!" she cried. "Don't ever say that! You
couldn't have helped it. And I didn't have to skip. I could've gone. I just
didn't want to." Brian opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him
off. "Listen, Brian, I'm not going back to college. I don't want to
anymore."
"What?! Alexa, are you crazy? You're smart; you can get your
grades back up! Don't let me be the cause of ruining your future! I thought you
wanted to go to medical school and be a doctor! What about that?"
"Brian, you haven't ruined my future! If I have it my way, you'll
only make it better."
"What's 'your way'?" Brian asked.
"Do you remember when you told me about what Elisa said to you?
About you having to do something about us needing each other?"
"Yeah," Brian said. "Do you know what she's talking
about?"
"Yes," she said. "Brian, do you love me?"
"You know I do," he said sincerely.
"I know," she said. "I love you too, Brian. And I want
to spend the rest of my life with you. If Elisa is right about us being meant
for each other, then you will want the same thing."
"Elisa's right, Lex. You and I are meant for each other. We're
like soul mates. I want to spend the rest of my life with you too." He
paused and took a deep breath. "I know this might not be the way Elisa
wanted it done, but I know what she wanted me to do." He took her hand in
both of his and gazed deep into her eyes.
"Alexa Morgan, will you marry me?"
Tears came to Alexa's eyes. She gazed back into Brian's beautiful blue
eyes as she managed a simple "Yes." His smile stretched out wider
than she had ever seen it before. He threw his arms around her, and they kissed
each other passionately. When they broke the kiss, he said, "I'm sorry, I
don’t have an engagement ring for you."
She shrugged. "That's alright," she said. "We can pick
one out later. Besides, I have this," she said, showing him her promise
ring, which was on the third finger on her left hand, the place where the
engagement ring was supposed to go. "It's just as special." Brian
bent and kissed the ring. Then he kissed her.
"I love you, Alexa."
"I love you too, Brian," she said. Then they kissed once more
before Alexa headed out to tell the others about the big news.
***
