It had all started out with just a simple trip to the grocery store to restock on a few items they were missing which had quickly turned into many detours: stopping at every little corner to get back into her hobby and hiding behind her camera, debating on contacting some friends in case they didn’t wish to speak to her and just enjoying the falling leaves. She didn’t want to leave Jack’s side so soon after returning to his side but she didn’t want to overcrowd him either.
Sitting on a bench near the park and watching the golden leaved trees as each one fell to the ground like snowflakes, Katelynn couldn’t help but smile. It had been a year since she had moved to Metro City – already her one year anniversary – and soon it would be many more one year anniversary’s. Autumn had reminded her that winter was coming and with that Jack’s birthday, the one year since their first meeting, date, first time they had made love; all of it in one month.
How quickly they had fallen in love and yet she had not regretted it. In Jack she had found the happiness she had missed out on for so many years. He made her happier than anyone else could.
Thinking of her beau made her want to return to his side already, standing up from the bench, she sighed happily and enjoyed the trek back home, just deciding that even though her relationships with her friends needed to be improved upon, she had Jack to rely on, to love her no matter what and who would never leave her.
“Love?” she called softly as she stepped into the apartment some time later, looking around for him.
The lights inside the apartment were dimmed, only a couple of lamps left on. Instead, it was lit by the soft, warm glow of candles: some on a plate near the door, others in rows on the coffee table and on top of the television. There was even a (fake) candelabra in sight on the kitchen table.
“I hear and answer, m-my lady.” Jack’s voice came from the kitchen. As soon as he’d heard Katelynn outside the door, he’d gotten up and hidden himself, so as to make the proper entrance.
Now, he walked out to greet her, dressed in the elegant navy-blue uniform of a royal prince. A red silk sash was tied across his front, and golden epaulets rested on his skinny shoulders. High, polished black boots, and a heavy blue-velvet cloak trimmed with gold, completed the look.
He made a courtly bow in front of Katelynn, sweeping his cape in what he hoped was a graceful, gentlemanly gesture. “Welcome.”
Stunned.
He had left her completely stunned as she stood there, her eyes blinking at his appearance. She could already feel the blood rushing up her neck to color her face into that of a pink rose, eyes traveling from Jack to the roam around the decorations before returning to him. It was all she could do in her shock.
What was all this? Jack didn’t tend to be the romantic type and she had come to appreciate every little touch and word of affection so this was definitely something that had robbed the words from her lips. Good thing her camera was hanging around her neck or she might have dropped it. As it was she barely had a grip on the grocery bags.
Watching her gape at him, Jack could feel his own face grow hot as a purple blush tinted his cheeks. For a long moment, he was afraid he’d made a terrible mistake, one she might never let him forget.
“Um …” he stammered, “s-since we missed your birthday, I, uh, I w-wanted to do something special for you.” He gulped nervously. “Do you like it? I r-remember you said once that you’d like it if I dressed up as a prince …”
Jack Maple 