Looking Up

-----Steve's POV

"Hey G, you ready to go?" I ask G as I walk out of the locker room and see him sitting outside on a couch looking at something on his phone.

He looks up and smiles, "yeah sure! Where are we going again exactly?" he asks as he throws a backpack over his shoulder, which is probably filled with dirty clothes.

"Well I have a few jewelry places picked out in the city- I hope I can find something," I admit as we make our way out of the building and get into my truck. Making our way through the city of brotherly love, I can't stop thinking about the commitment I'm feeling so incredibly confident about. When we get to the first jewelry store, I hear G mutter, "well isn't this fancy, eh?"

I head straight over to the engagement rings and scan for the perfect looking ring for Elle. G walks up to where I'm standing and realizes that I'm not just shopping for a necklace or bracelet.

"An engagement ring? For Elle?" he asks caught off guard.

"No G, for the lady at the front desk at our hotel, it was love at first sight," I sarcastically say.

"I-I'm just surprised to be honest, you kind of caught me off guard. I thought we were just shopping for Valentine's Day gifts- not this," he says motioning to the glass case filled with ornate engagement rings. "But it's fine, I'm really happy for you Mase. Elle's a great girl and you definitely make a great couple."

"Thanks G, it means a lot coming from you," I say with a smile. We go back to looking at the different rings when suddenly Claude breaks the silence.

"I don't mean to rain on you parade but- are you sure this isn't too soon?" he asks hesitantly.

"Well I mean- I'm not going to propose to her tomorrow, but I know it'll be soon. I know we've only been dating for almost a year but I feel so much for her- we've been through a lot together. I can't imagine having anyone else by my side- honestly I can't think of a life without her," I confess wholeheartedly, wearing my heart on my sleeve.

"I'm happy you've found that," G says truthfully, "honestly, I can't imagine you with anyone else either- you two just... make sense."

"Thanks- I knew I could tell you about this- some of the guys would probably laugh at the idea of already asking Elle to marry me."

"Well, I don't think they'd laugh in your face, they might call you insane but they wouldn't laugh," Claude jokes with a grin.

We make our way through two more stores, looking at all of the options Elle may love. In the second store we visited, G found and bought a necklace for Ryanne and I bought Elle a bracelet I know she'll adore. The charms that dangle from it are a combination of small cute cakes and cupcakes. Just before we stop looking and we're about to walk back to the car, I see a cute little jewelry store up the street and bribe G to check it out. As we walk, into the store, we are greeted by coffee shop music and a vintage feel. Even though I know we both feel quite of place surrounded by frilly cotton curtains, and flowers, I insist on just glancing over the ring selections.

I stop dead in my tracks when I see the perfect ring for Elle I know she'll love. The vine-like rose gold band is adorned with a round diamond in the middle of duplicate smaller diamonds. "This is it- this is the one," I say and tap on the glass proudly.

"Oh thank god Mase, I thought the torture was never going to end," he says with a teasing smile, "it's beautiful, she'll definitely love it."

The man behind the counter walks over to me and I tell him I'd like to purchase the engagement ring. As we're working out the details, I can't remember Elle's ring size so I step away from the counter and dial Jen's phone number- I hope she answers.

-----Elle's POV

"I'm just saying you shouldn't be upset about not having a date on Valentine's Day Jen," I say as I put icing on the one of many fresh cupcakes that just came out of the oven; I'm so glad Jen has been working in the bakery the past couple of days to help fill in for Aunt Kate.

"Easy for you to say- you have an amazing boyfriend and who said I was upset?" she remarks.

"Well first of all, I can tell that it at least bothers you a tiny bit and I won't even be with Steve on Valentine's day- he'll be away on a road trip. Which reminds me do you want to-"

"Want to drink all night, eat candy, and watch movies?" she asks, finishing what she assumed I was going to say.

"Yes," I say with a small laugh- I loved how close we were- I don't know what I'd do without her. When we were younger and I was around 18 and she was 21, she'd buy the both of us alcohol and we'd watch movies and just hang out- which is still one of our favorite things to do with each other every once in a while.

"Are you sad Steve won't be here for V-day?" Jen asks with a more serious tone than before, breaking the silence.

"Uhm well I haven't really thought of it- I guess so but it's okay. I'm used to him being away- plus Valentine's Day is just another day, right? And I'll get to spend time with you- which by the way is amazing."

"I'm enjoying the time with you too- I hate being up in New York, no one is up there," she begins to say and puts down the cupcake she's been decorating down on the table. "Listen, Ellie, I'm really sorry about the past couple of years. I know I kind of disappeared there and I-"

"Well I know you were busy- you couldn't come visit," I say interrupting her.

"I know but still- I'm sorry I wasn't around until now. Being around you and mom and some old friends so much these past couple of months made me realize how unhappy I was in New York. Long story short, I've been talking with the publishing company I work for and they said I could relocate to the branch we have in Philadelphia!"

"What?! Are you serious Jen?!" I practically yell and bring her in for a hug.

"Yes! I've been waiting to tell you! I actually start tomorrow- I'm so excited!" she admits with a huge smile.

After I congradulate her a dozen more times, we talk about our plans for Valentine's Day: what booze we'll be drinking and what movies we'll be watching. Suddenly, her phone ringing interrupts our conversation and she answers it with a happy hello and walks out of the decorating room.

-----Jen's POV

"Jen! Hey!" Steve says, jumpily.

"Hey, whatcha need?" I ask, confused as to why he was calling me.

"Is Elle with you?"

"Yeah why?"

"Don't tell Elle it's me," Steve says in a rush, "can you get alone?"

"Alrighty, hold on," I say as I walk through the threshold and into the break room so Elle can't hear me. "Okay I'm alone, what is it?"

"So by any chance do you know Elle's ring size?" he asks nervously.

At first, I'm confused why he's asking about her ring size, but it clicks into place as a flashback from Christmas plays in my head when Ty and I talked to the both of them separately abut engagement. "Oh my god!" I yell but immediately quiet my excitement and look around to make sure Elle isn't eavesdropping, "You need to send me a picture of it- are you getting what I think you're getting?!" I whisper.

"Uh, yeah I think so," Steve says and I can feel his grin through the phone.

"Oh my god I'm so excited- you need to show me!"

"I will, I promise but I need that ring size first," he laughs.

"Oh yeah right, it's a size 6," I say recalling the time she ordered her college ring.

"Thanks Jen," he chimes. We say our goodbyes and hang up the phone. As I slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I process the idea of Elle getting married to Steve. When I first met Steve, I was wary to like and trust him but as time passed, he really proved to be there for Elle no matter what- and that's a truth nobody can deny. I walk back towards the decorating room and stop in my tracks as soon as I lay my eyes on my little sister's innocent face. I feel sadness, nostalgia, and mostly happiness take over my body, making a few tears well up in my eyes. I guess my baby sister isn't so much of a baby anymore- and not so innocent.

-----Steve's POV

Before G and I head back to his apartment, we stop in at the bakery- I wasn't sure why but I wanted to see Elle as soon as possible. When we walk inside the quaint bakery, the bell hanging from the door rings and clangs; causing the almost identical sisters to look up from the display cases they are arranging.

"Steve, hey!" Elle chimes, "and Roo, what's up guys?"

"Just wanted to see you Bambi," I say as we continue to walk up to the counter Elle is behind.

"And what am I? Chopped liver Steve?" Jen says jokingly with a smirk, "And Claude nice to see you again."

"You too," G smiles and begins to start a separate conversation with Jen asking her how she is.

"So how's your day going?" Elle asks with a sweet smile and I rest my elbows on the counter she's leaning against.

"Good, how's yours?" I reply and I grin at our simple interaction- a routine I loved.

"Pretty good, I made plans with Jen for Valentine's Day actually," she tells me matter-of-factly.

"Oh nice, and would that be going out to clubs and turning down men left and right?"

She scoffs at the scenario, "No, more like have a sleep over at our apartment, get drunk and watch movies."

"Sounds like fun," I laugh and kiss her on the forehead, "sorry I won't be here but I promise we'll do something together when I get back, okay?"

"Sure, but we really don't have to," she insists.

"Well, it's too late I've already got a plan," I say with a smirk.

Elle just shakes her head and laughs softly, "I don't know why I try to fight anything with you anymore."

After a little while, Claude and I decide to leave and I tell Elle that I'll see her later before we have to leave for our road trip starting in Washington. When I get home, I search the house for a place to put the ring, a place she'll never look. "Aha!" I yell as I see an old pair of gym shoes in the back of the closet. Sure it's not the nicest place to put it, but I know she won't be wearing my sneakers anytime soon.

*****

-----Elle's POV

"Don't forget to grab the popcorn!" I yell to Jen from Steve and I's bedroom as I grab a sweatshirt of Steve's.

"Yeah yeah I got it," Jen says from the kitchen. She just started staying over the apartment since she's still looking for her own and has already started her job in the city. "The games starting- lover boy is in goal."

"Go Mason!" I shout as I jog out of the bedroom and into the living imitating a hard core fan.

I plop on the couch next to Jen and grab a handful of popcorn. "Yeah but I heard he has a girlfriend," she teases.

"I bet she's a bitch," I laugh.

"Oh, I know she's a bitch," Jen adds and I throw some popcorn in her face. We burst into laughter and continue to tease each other until after the national anthem is finished. The first period goes well and before we know it, the second period is starting and Jen and I are both three beers in. Every time we yell and cheer whenever there's an awesome play or someone gets checked, we hear George groan- the poor guy just wants to sleep.

"Sorry George," Jen laughs and pats his head.

"And Mason is not getting up," we hear Jim Jackson's voice say through the television and Jen and I's heads snap up and fixate our focus on the TV, " a trainer and Giroux are helping him off the ice. This does not look good Bill. Looks like it's his knee but I'm not sure."

"This isn't good," I utter and pick up my phone ready to text Steve.

Notes

Hey guys! Hope you liked the chapter; Sorry for the late update- I went down to Florida and stayed there for a week and was incredibly busy with family but I wrote some more chapter summaries on the plane! Thanks so much for reading! on't forget to leave a comment- I love getting feedback!