Highschool Sweethearts

So here he was. 1

Blake Winters waited in front of the James Breck High School, snowflakes raining delicately in peaceful flurries around him, coating the roof of the much-modified building, the flagpole, the sidewalks and the grass that were all on the property of the sand-colored brick building that was the place Blake had spent the best years of his life. High school.2

As he waited, Blake looked back to the time, more than fifteen years ago, that he had attended this high school.3

***4

It was the school year of 1992 - his senior year.5

Back then, he had had it all.6

He was the star football jock of the team and his build had been one an Olympic swimmer would kill for; all the girls wanted him and all the boys wanted to be him - the auburn-brown-haired, blue-eyed, sweet-hearted boy was not only handsome but had a personality that no one could hate.7

He had had absolute crowds of friends, most of them loyal till the end, made up of both genders.8

Blake was passing his classes with, if not brilliant, at least acceptable grades.9

His parents were wealthy and he wanted for nothing.10

And the last category that made up his perfect life was the perfect and beautiful Amy Wright, the one who had been his steady since seventh grade. The light and love of his life, which he truly believed. The one to whom the wedding ring hidden in the bottom of his messy closet would be offered to. Beautiful Amy.11

She had blonde hair, long and straight and layered, and the oddest, most beautiful eyes he had ever seen - a brilliant shade of violet. Her face was narrow and heart-shaped and her skin was the pale tone of all who had lived in the New England area throughout most of their life. She had been tall, almost as tall as his impressive senior-year 6'2", a figure to die for, and a personality matched by none. Humor, sarcasm, teasing, caring, kind, loving Amy - who had been such a romantic daydreamer back then.12

When it happened, it was two months until graduation. The James Breck Snapping Turtles (sucky name, kickass team) had won the high school football championship. Grinning, the team had lugged a huge trophy into a bar and ordered a couple rounds for all the players. Needless to say, every football player in the bar had been way under that night - Blake himself had had twelve mugs of the heady beer served as a regular.13

The drunken Blake Winters then fulfilled a naughty dare concocted by another of the drunken football stars.14

He slept with a random girl on that double-dog-dare, who just by coincedence happened to be Miranda Jenkins, the jackass cheerleader queen of James Breck.15

Needless to say, with how fast gossip travels in high schools, within a week it was public knowledge that Blake Winters had slept with Miranda Jenkins.16

Amy, the brilliant woman that she was, didn't want to believe them at first. But Blake couldn't bear to lie to his one and only anymore and so one day, three weeks from graduation, he broke the news to her that he had indeed cheated on her. Only, he didn't o it quite right.17

Unbeknownst to Blake, Amy thought that this was because he had gotten bored of her and that his seemingly sincere reassurances that he loved her, not Miranda. She was devastated, but kept the relationship going, having Blake think that everything was fine and that he could finally use that engagement ring hidden in his closet until graduation day.18

Amy had then given a speech on going on into a new world and all the crap, but had added a piece of something personal to the end of it.19

"And last of all, I would like to thank Blake Winters..." Blake had grinned at that until he heard the rest of her words, fingering the black velvet box in the front pocket of his navy graduation gown. "That cheating bastard we all know and love who goes through women like tissues. I look forward to never seeing him again in my long and happy life, one that noticably will not contain him, free of that cheating player of a jackass."20

Then, without another word, she had bowed politely and stalked away with an infuriated, grief-stricken look on her face, gripping her diploma in hand, diseappearing off somewhere in her hand-me-down green SUV.21

The look on Blake's face - a mix of so many emotions as people stared at him: complete shock, devastation, denial - was enough to tell them all that he had not seen this coming.22

He wasn't able to collect himself enough to make a dignified exit, and instead had just numbly exited the bewildered scene towards the parking lot where his Mercedes waited.23

***24

That had been the day, Blake remembered, that his life had gone awry. 25

***26

After that, every teacher would wish that college boys dealt with grief the way Blake did. Some would say it was the turning point in his life. He poured himself into his work and his studies, anything to pass the time that guilt and depression and hurt would only fill, refusing to spend time with the few horribly sympathetic friends that he had left.27

He had gotten a big fat advanced degree and then went on to shoot up the ranks of a banking company, coming to rest as a co-owner when the previous wealthy old man who had liked and trusted the hard-working Blake and left part of the company to him.28

The rest of his life and the fifteen-odd years that had passed since high school he spent living in the past - drowning in the what-if's - dreaming of and wishing for the old days, the Golden Years.29

Until, one spring day, a Miss Amelia Bryers walked into his office on the premises of refinancing her house.30

Blake had been surprised and overjoyed.31

Amy had been surprised and miserable.32

She was weary, had bags under her eyes, her figure had deteriorated a bit, and her blonde hair had darkened a bit, but she was unmistakably the same Amy Wright.33

Following a bitter conversation about high school days, he found out that she was working as a hospital nurse with terrible hours and pay and fighting off forclosure on a run-down little house while also trying to sort out more divorce papers from her previous husband, Mitch Bryers, and supporting ten-year-old twin boys. Not only had this shell-shocked him, but Amy was surprised to see barely-passing Blake Winters at the head of the Gorgon Bank, making a salary of several hundred grand a year and being the owner of a sweet, unused bachelor pad with a huge office with a view.34

Surprises, surprises. Blake had changed little since high school, maybe more weary and not possessing tha abs he had in high school, but still burly and not someone you'd want to pick a fight with.35

Finally it was agreed that Amy would come back in a few days to discuss refinancing possibilities. 36

Over the course of the next month or so, Blake managed to make up more excuses to see her - even meeting her kids when he gave her a ride as her old Explorer broke down - and also managing to secretly deposit cash into Amy's bank account to help out a bit. (Okay, maybe more than a bit.)37

Then, on a discussion-date at a French cafe, Blake found out why Amy had really dumped him: because she thought he was bored of her.38

This brought an unexpected reaction in him.39

Blake had, for years, been selfishly hogging and insisting on taking all the blame for the end of the Amy-Blake item. Whether it was because he didn't want to blame Amy, who was supposed to be the perfect Mrs. Right, for making a mistake. Maybe he had been refusing to acknowledge the secret grudge he had harbored against her for jumping to conclusions and not even trying to figure out what happened - not that he was bored of her, but twelve beers and a double-dog-dare.40

He had then walked away and, for the first time in years, touched a beer and watched the football game until Amy's kids called him, flamed him, and asked him to come over and get their mother out of the bathroom in which she had locked herself.41

After a bitter talk in which it was revealed that Amy still loved him, as he still loved her, he grudgingly agreed to start over.42

***43

Blake smiled, recalling their second relationship.44

***45

And it had been just like high school: the jokes, the sarcasm, the humor, the sweet moments... and the deeper, more emotional moments that made them all worth it. A few fights and a few bumps in the road that had ultimately led to...46

This.47

***48

Blake fingered the black velvet box in his shirt pocket and bit his lip, full of emotions: hope, love, anxiety, fear - what if she didn't accept? What if she wasn't ready for this? What if -49

All his doubts were then dismissed as Amy's new blue Prius pulled up in the parking lot and she stepped out with a dazzling smile.50

"What are we doing back at the high school?" she asked, looking around a bit worriedly.51

"You'll see," Blake said as he took her hand and led her inside.52

Through familiar halls and familiar classrooms which Blake took his time around to reminisce with Amy, he slowly meandered towards the outside stage near the back of the school where they had made graduation.53

As they stepped outside, Amy looked alarmed.54

"Remember this place?" Asked Blake, squeezing her hand.55

"It's where I... humiliated you in front of everyone..." Amy was looking pale as Blake led her slowly up the icy, snow-covered stairs, telling her to watch her step.56

He moved over to the center of the stage.57

"This is where you were standing," he said.58

Amy's heart was gripped by a cold, clawing hand. She knew it. He was recreating the scene to -59

"But it wasn't snowing then," he said regretfully. "That's ok. It adds to a nice touch. Come over here please, Amy."60

Bracing herself for the words, and not letting the pained tears flow, Amy did as he said and walked over.61

Blake knelt to the ground, one knee on the snow-covered stage floor.62

"What... what are you doing?" Amy asked, a bit panicked.63

"What I should have done," Blake said, heart beating faster as he saw her panic - was she going to say no? "Fifteen years ago."64

Amy looked totally bewildered.65

He went on anyway. He had to do this.66

Blake reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a black velvet box as Amy's expression totally transformed from panic into pure and total happiness.67

"Yes," she cried, throwing her arms around him, cring tears of joy now. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"68

It was Blake's turn to look bewildered. "But... you looked so panicked... so indecisive..."69

Amy looked him in t he face and kissed him. "Because I thought you were recreating the scene... to... to end it. Us."70

He looked at her in amazement. "I would never do that... not after I lost you once."71

He hugged her close for another moment, then pulled away.72

"I have to do this right. Please."73

Amy, smiling, obligingly stood up.74

Taking a shaky breath, even though she had already agreed, Blake began.75

"Amelia Elizabeth Wright. You are truly the most beautiful, amazing woman I have ever met. I can't even tell you in words how much I love you. I was a fool and I lost you once. I never want to lose you again. Amelia Elizabeth Wright," Blake said her full name again. "Would you make me the happiest man in the world and be my Mrs. Right?"76

Amy, smiling with cheeks red from excitement and bliss and cold, answered.77

"Blake Nathan Winters. You are the most handsome, amazing, thick-headed man I have ever met. I love you too much for words. I was an idiot and I lost you once. I don't want to lose you again either. Blake Nathan Winters," Amy said, smiling as she repeated her own version of Blake's proposal, "I would be the happiest woman alive if I was allowed to be your Mrs. Right. I love you," she said, falling into his arms again, "Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes..."78

"I love you," they said in unison.79

And then, as the afternoon snow drifted down around them, covering teir tracks in the pristine white to create the perfect beauty once again, they kissed. 80

Had Amy's twin sons been there, they would have exclaimed "eww!" and run off, describing the interaction as one of those "sappy, kissy-face kisses". But even they would have ti admit one thing.81

They were in love.