"This is the most wonderful present you've ever gotten for me!" exclaimed Leigh.
"I only wanted you to have the best," Isaac smiled with pride as his now sixteen year old friend examined her gift, a chocolate brown puppy.
"He is the cutest little puppy ever!" Leigh squealed as she picked the tiny dog up and held him in her arms.
"There's another part to your gift as well," Isaac said, raising to his feet. He extended his right hand to her and she gladly excepted it, letting him pull
her to her feet. Gently, Leigh placed the little sleeping pup on the couch.
Isaac said nothing as he escorted her out of the house and to his new car, a green Camry. Opening the passenger door, Leigh stepped in, ducking her head along the way. Closing the door firmly, Isaac crossed the car from the front and opened the driver's door and got in. Starting up his brand new car his parents had bought for him for his sixteenth birthday four months ago, he backed down the driveway and onto the road.
"Where are you taking me?" Leigh asked, watching him carefully concentrating on the road.
"Its a suprise," he said.
"Tell me!" Leigh said. "Am I going to like it?" she asked playfully.
Isaac laughed. "I hope so," he said, putting his directional on, stopping at a stop sign. When the coast was clear, Isaac lightly touched the gas
and road the corner.
"Fine. I won't talk until I see what it is," Leigh folded her arms across her chest.
"Fine, then don't," Isaac said, steering to the left and switching lanes getting ready to make a left hand turn.
Isaac found where he was going and pulled the car into a parking lot. Shutting off the engine, he removed the keys and opened his door climbing out
and shutting the door. Crossing to the passenger side, he placed his hands on the handle and pulled up opening the door letting Leigh out. Slamming it
shut behind her, Isaac clicked a button on his key controller and the car light blinked signaling the locking of the door.
"Come on. It's this way," Isaac said, taking her left arm and leading her to a building.
It was cold outside. The February air was still wintery, and there was still patches of snow outlining the grass and trees. Leigh shivered slightly and Isaac took his jacket off and gently placed it around Leigh. She looked at him, smiled and continued following him. Isaac stopped her and covered her eyes once they entered the building.
"Now don't look," he instructed as he gently guided her around. He brought her to a special spot. A spot in which his friend Paul knew would make her go crazy. "Okay, now stop right here," he said. "Ready?" he asked. Leigh nodded, her head moving between his hands. "Okay, look," he said,
uncovering her eyes.
He heard her gasp inwardly. She glanced around the area that had been set up into a restaurant form. It was a candle light dinner. The table cloth was red with white checkers and the seats were black like the ones in an office. She looked at Isaac and smiled.
"Oh, Isaac. This is beautiful."
"You deserve the best. Now, on with the meal," he said, moving to her chair and sliding it out. She smiled sweetly and swung around and sat down.
Isaac then went to his seat and pulled it out sitting down. Soon, Paul arrived winking at Isaac secretly.
"We'll have the regular, Paul," Isaac said. Paul nodded and walked away. "So, what do you think?" he asked, taking a sip of the water that was placed
in front of them.
"Its romantic. But the thing is, we aren't even going out. We're only best friends," Leigh said.
"So? What are best friends for?" Isaac said.
Leigh shrugged. "I just never expected you to be taking me on a date, that's all. I mean, its not like you think of me that way or anything," she said.
"Ya, well, you know," Isaac said inwardly. Little did she know.
"Here you are," Paul said, bringing over a big plate full of spaghetti and meatballs.
"Just like lady and the tramp," Leigh laughed.
"Just like them," Isaac smiled. "Enjoy."
Both of them began picking at the food, once in a while sharing a glance. When the last piece was ready to be eaten, both looked at one another.
"You can have it," Isaac said.
"No, its okay, you have it," Leigh said.
"Why don't we both share it?" Isaac suggested.
"And end up kissing?" Leigh asked.
Isaac shrugged. "We might not."
"Whatever. Lets eat!" Leigh said.
The two struck their forks into the wet food and began to slurp it up noisily. Just when the last piece was in view, Leigh dug for it while
Isaac did the same. They ate until they were in the middle of the long string.
"You finish it," Isaac said, backing away.
"Thanks," Leigh said, gulping the last of it down her throat.
"No problem," Isaac said. "We have one more stop left. Lets go!"
Without protest, Leigh got up and followed Isaac out of the building and to the car. Isaac did the same procedure as before and then he started driving down a new path. Trees and more road passed by Leigh's window, all a blur. Once in a while Isaac would glance at her secretly. He couldn't wait
for the next gift, his final gift that he hoped she'd accept.
"We're here," Isaac said, awaking Leigh from her thoughts.
"Okay," she said as Isaac climbed out. He opened the door for her and she followed him yet again. Only this time, it was in the woods.
"Okay. I led you this far, now you need to close your eyes."
"I know, I know," Leigh said as she closed her eyes tightly. Isaac began leading her out into an open meadow.
"Okay, ready?"
"As I'l ever be," Leigh said.
"Look," Isaac said,removing his hands.
"Oh, Isaac!" Leigh exclaimed,looking at the peaceful field. Green grass was neatly cut and smelt fresh and new. The air was crisp and cool. Off to the right there was an old oak tree with a thick trunk.
"Come here," Isaac said,guiding her to the oak tee. "Leigh, I've known you since we were twelve years old, and I've been fascinated by you ever since. I've wanted to tell you for so long how I've felt, but I've always been sure you wouldn't feel the same," he paused and then continued. "Leigh, you've
been my best friend. You've been good to me like no other. Now I'm standing here, in the middle of a field telling you this on your sixteenth birthday. I want you, I need you, I want to be able to hold you and say that you're mine. Leigh, will you make me the happiest sixteen year old boy and be my girlfriend?"
Leigh didn't speak a word and threw her arms around him. "Isaac, do you know how long I've wished you'd say that?"
"Are you serious?" Isaac asked as the embrace ended.
"Isaac, I've wanted to be with you since we were fourteen," Leigh said, pulling away from him.
"Oh yeah, and now for the final part," he said and led her to the tree. "I took it upon myself to engrave the tree."
The letters that were engraved brought tears to Leigh's eyes. I.H. + L. H. forever was scratched onto the brown bark of the old oak tree. And around the lettering was a simple heart enclosing it.
"Oh Isaac. This is the best birthday ever," Leigh said as she hugged Isaac, her new boyfriend, again.
"And I promise you that I will try everything in my power to make you happy and to keep you happy," Isaac said, looking into her eyes. Leigh smiled at him and to her suprise, he leaned down and gently placed his lips over hers. "Leigh, I love you and I'm so glad you're finally mine," Isaac said.
"So am I, Isaac. So am I," Leigh agreed.
Why am I like this? Why can't I just figure it out? Why am I with Kyle and why are these old feelings surfacing once again? Why, why, why?! Leigh
asked herself. She was seated in an abandoned parking lot. The one Isaac had brought Leigh to on her sixteenth birthday. The memories flooded her head, memories in which she could not escape from and most of all, didn't want to escape from.
Suddenly, a green car pulled into the parking lot from the right. Not thinking anything of it, Leigh pondered to herself of why she just ran out of the Hanson home like she did. They all must have thought she was crazy or something. Interrupting her thoughts came a light tap on her window.
"We need to talk," was the muffled sound of Isaac.
Leigh rolled the window down. "About what?"
"About this and why you suddenly left like you did," Isaac said.
"Isaac, there is nothing to talk about. I'm engaged. I'm marrying Kyle and that is that," Leigh said. Hearing Kyle’s name sent shivers down her spine.
"Leigh, please get out of your car and talk to me," Isaac said, opening her door. Leigh got out and looked at him folding her hands across her chest.
"I'm listening," she said.
"Leigh, please don't do this to me," Isaac said.
"What am I doing, Isaac?"
"Being like this. You're hiding your true feelings. I can sense it."
"I am not. You're being ridiculous," Leigh said, trying to make sense in her own head.
"Am I?"
"Yes," Leigh said.
Without hesitation, Isaac grabbed Leigh's face and brought it to his. Sweetly, he kissed her over and over again. At first, she did nothing to respond. But after a few seconds, she began to kiss him back. It was then Leigh realized that she was making a horrible mistake. The kiss turned into a romantic tongue war, and Isaac pulled away hands still resting on her cheeks.
"Come back to my place. We need to talk," he said. Leigh agreed to follow him to his house.
