1 Zoey's Engaged!?

It was a pleasant February night in Dallas, Texas. The blue haze of the day had already lifted to reveal the twinkling stars that sparkled like little pulses of light hanging on the night sky. The air clear as crisp. In an apartment in Uptown, Dallas sat two girls on a red coloured couch, watching the rom-com movie "10 things I hate about you."

One of them a brunette with beautiful long dark brownish hair that came all the way down her back, with dusky complexion and tanned skin tone, and soft pinkish lips with dimples visible on both her cheeks every time she laughed was, Ashley sitting comfortably in her hello kitty PJs and extra-large sized batman t-shirt she wore at home with a bowl of caramel flavoured popcorn placed on her lap, her legs folded and her eyes locked on the tv screen though she had watched the movie a thousand times, with her parents and little sister sleeping sound asleep in the next rooms.

The other one was her childhood friend Zoey, who also had gorgeous long blond hair that was curly in texture which she had tied up in a messy bun with strangles of hair coming out from the sides. She however was not too involved in the movie, though she was a fan herself but tonight she was quietly watching her friend, waiting for the perfect moment to break the news of her engagement to her.

As soon as the movie ended and Ashley went on and on about how much she loved a good love story with an exciting plot, Zoey couldn't keep it in any longer and blurted out. "He asked me to marry him! Can you believe it!?"

Ashley was left in a state of confusion. She couldn't believe her ears. After a second she screamed out happily, "Wh-hat? Isaac?! He asked you to marry him??"

"He did just yesterday!!! Oh God, I have been dying to tell you!! which is why I wanted to come over, spend the day and then give you the news!! I wanted our news to be memorable for you too!!"

Tears of happiness started to roll down Ashley's rosy cheeks as she heard her friend's magical news. Unable to control her excitement she jumped up to hug the bride to be.

"How did he propose? Did he get on one knee?? What did he say? Show me the ring!! Tell me everything!!" exclaimed, Ashley.

Zoey was engaged to Isaac. This was like a dream come true. A beautiful, fairy-tale ending to the most wonderful love story Ashley had witnessed. Well actually, the only successful love story Ashley had witnessed but never the less it meant the world to her.

Ashley and Zoey had been friends for as long as either of them could remember. The two had grown up together, lived in the same neighbourhood, went to the same elementary and middle school, were the only two among the three people who opted for Sociology as an extra subject in high school before Zoey got shifted to another school when her family moved to a new neighbourhood. However the two never let that separate them and remained close as ever and now, both the girls had just started studying in different colleges of the same university. Even though that meant they were in different campuses but they knew they were going to find a way to visit each other and keep their friendship alive.

"He told me he was coming to Dallas over the weekend to discuss something important with me. I'll have to admit, I was terrified! I thought he was going to call it quits because of the whole long-distance thing but as soon as I opened my apartment door, I found him standing with his back towards me, he then turned around and as he knelt to the ground he pulled out a ring and popped up the question," said Zoey as blushed while narrating her engagement story, making sure not to miss out on any details.

"I TOLD YOU HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO YOU!! Isaac is such a sweetheart!! I told you he is a keeper!!" winked Ashley, still struggling to control her excitement.

"Shh your parents are gonna wake up if you keep talking so loud." chuckled Zoey. But Ashley couldn't control her happiness, she was on the seventh sky. "You're really excited, aren't ya?" smiled Zoey as she showed her friend the mesmerizing princess cut diamond ring, sparkling on her finger.

"Who doesn't love a happy ending?" laughed Ashley as she admired the magnificent stone on her friend's finger.

Zoey and Isaac had met in high school when she moved into the new neighbourhood and ever since then were inseparable. They were the best friends that everybody secretly rooted for. Ashley always knew in her gut that Zoey had feelings for Isaac. She remembered the first time she saw Isaac's name pop up on Zoey's phone when both the girls were hanging out together at Ashley's place and the way Zoey's cheeks turned flaming hot red when she was asked who Isaac was. But neither Zoey nor Isaac confessed their feelings to one another. It was not until the last few weeks of the senior year of high school when Zoey admitted her secret to Ashley.

*FLASHBACK*

"He is going to Chicago for college, Ash.." cried Zoey as she admitted her feelings to her friend. "He doesn't even know that I love him."

"Why don't you just tell him how you feel?" said Ashley softly.

"Are you serious? I can't tell him I have feelings for him!"

"Why not?"

He is one of my best friends, what if he doesn't feel the same?? I can't ruin our friendship! I can't take the risk! No way!" cried Zoey in frustration. "And besides if he felt the same way, he would have confessed it by now.."

"So, your plan is to just let him go because he didn't admit he has feelings for you first?"

"It is complicated," said Zoey.

"Look Zoe, maybe he is scared of the same thing? and besides, don't you think he deserves to know how you feel about him? And more importantly don't you think you should know the truth too instead of just wondering over the what-ifs?" explained Ashley calmly.

"But what if he doesn't like me back?"

"Then you will know you did everything you could and it just wasn't meant to be. Then you know it is time to move on," explained Ashley softly, taking care of her friend's feelings.

"Ughh I hate it when you're right," said Zoey, rolling her eyes. "Oh God, why does it have to be so hard!?

"Hey, don't worry! You got this!" smiled Ashley.

"Wish me luck?"

"Best of luck girl!!!"

It felt like yesterday when Ashley had talked Zoey into being honest to Isaac about her feelings, Ashley thought to herself. To take a stand despite being the girl. To not let him go miles away from her without confessing. And it was this advice that turned Zoey and Isaac, from being best friends who secretly had feelings for each other, to them being officially a couple, and after six months of being in a long-distance relationship, the two love birds were now engaged all set to be married after Zoey's med school was over.