The gazebo

He is my best friend, my confidant, my everything. My boyfriend always knows how to make me smile. This day was special, though. This day was one of those days you never forget. 1

It was hard for us to find days together. Between his overly-strict parents and my work schedule, we were hard pressed to steal a few moments just to see one another. He was only seventeen, six months younger than my eighteen, so his parents didn't want us to go on single dates and wind up getting knocked up. We wouldn't have, but they didn't trust us. As a result, our dates usually consisted of us cuddling to a movie in his basement accompanied by his 9 brothers and sisters jumping up and down around us. This day was no different.2

It was a cold day in late November and it was still snowing, adding to the eight inches already blanketing the frozen ground. I shivered just looking out the window at the weather I would brave to see my love. I threw on the warmest thing I owned, which also happens to be the least attractive. Clothes and makeup didn't matter. I wanted to look nice for him, but he'd seen me at my worst and still came back for more so I was comfortable in jeans and a sweater around him. 3

Finally he arrived and I ran to the door to greet him with the biggest hug I could muster. We ran through the biting air to his beat-up old car and clambered inside, desperate to escape Jack Frost. Seven and a half minutes later, we pulled up in front of his house and again rushed for warmth. 4

Inside, I threw my purse and jacket on his bed, then headed out to engage in our ritual of popcorn-eating and movie-watching. The popcorn was burnt, the movie was only half-decent, and his 4 and 6-year-old brothers had decided we were a target for throwing jelly beans at. Just a typical night. 5

In order to meet curfew, my boyfriend usually took me home around 11:30 so he'd be home before he turned back into a pumpkin. Tonight was different, though. We decided to leave sooner and squeeze in some time driving around looking at early Christmas lights. We drove aimlessly for fifteen minutes when suddenly he stopped the car.6

"Where are we?" I inquired.7

"You'll see" He replied. "Are you up to braving the cold?"8

"I'm up for anything" I boasted. With that, we hopped out of the car and he grabbed my hand, leading through a foot of snow. Little flakes still drifted softly from the sky, sprinkling our noses with white powder. Through the holes in the clouds, we could see the stars bright and I pointed out the big dipper like I always did. Very sneakily, I reached down and grabbed a handful of snow, swiftly throwing it up into his cute face. 9

"Oh! Girl, there's a storm coming. You'd better run." He threatened as a danced away playfully, scooping up more snow. As a turned around to throw it, I got a face full of the cold wet snow. His laughter rang out across the small park. We continued throwing snowballs back and forth until he ended it by tackling me. We both laid there, panting, giggling like children, him laying on top of me. He smiled at me and I blushed like I always do. He leaned in closer and I could smell his cologne. I loved that smell. His lips brushed mine and I smiled. He rolled off of me and helped me to my feet, and we continued our journey through the snow.10

Up ahead was a gorgeous gazebo in the middle of the park, all lit up with white Christmas lights and garland. He pulled me up the stairs onto the wooden platform. 11

"This would be the perfect place for a musical" I commented. 12

"Yeah," he agreed, "this would be the part where the guy confesses his undying love to the girl next door and then he'd bust into 'spontaneous' song". I giggled as he stepped up to one of the poles and swung around it singing an outrageous tune to illustrate his point. 13

"What happens next?" I laughed.14

"Hm...what do you think should happen?" He posed thoughtfully.15

"No way, honey, this is your musical. I'm just watching."16

"That's what you think" With this, he grabbed me around the waist with one hand and took my hand in his other, swaying me back and forth. As the snow fell gently around us, he began to sing our favorite song softly in my ear. I sighed happily and leaned my head on his shoulder. During the song, we swayed there in perfect unison. When the cresendo came, he picked me up and began spinning me around and around to my squeals of delight. He then set my feet on the ground, but we started dancing for real, him spinning and dipping me in perfect time with the music. The song faded into the night, but we remained there swaying back and forth.17

Suddenly, he pulled away and bowed. "That, my dear, is how my musical would go."18

I grinned and said, "It's my new favorite." His face quickly grew serious and he stepped forward, taking me into his arms again, one hand stroking my face. 19

"I love you."20

"I love you too."21