Forever Chicago

*Abby’s POV*

“Hey guys!” I yelled at Jon and Arianna as Patrick and I entered the room. “Abby!” Arianna said jumping off the couch as she gave me a giant hug. For a second, I thought she looked kinda sad. I ignored that thought as I went over to hug Jon. “You guys want something to drink?” Jon asked as we all sat down in the living room. “Nah” Patrick and I both said in unison. I felt my phone vibrate in the back pocket of my jeans. I took it out. It was a text from my sister. Hey, you in Boston yet? It said. Yes, we are. We plan on going out to eat tomorrow with Pat’s parents. I will give details later, but wear something nice. Pat and I planned on telling both our families over dinner. Pat and I both took off our rings when we got there, because we didn’t want Arianna and Jon to know right away. I planned on telling her by going out to lunch or something, and I didn’t know how Pat was gonna tell Jon.

We talked and ate little snacks for a while, before Pat told them we were going out to dinner with our families’ tomorrow night. “Where ya guys goin’ out to eat?” Jon asked us. “I was thinking Amereins in South Boston.” I said. “Well you guys better make reservations. They fill up quick.” Arianna said as I took the last of the pretzels. “Already on it” Patrick said as he grabbed his phone and went in the other room to call. “How many are there gonna be?” Jon asked. “Well there is 4 coming from my family, and 5 coming from Pat’s, so 11.” “Wow, good thing I told you guys to make a reservation” Arianna said laughing. I looked at Arianna again. She didn’t look right. Even though she was laughing, and acting like her usual bubbly self, there was something different. I knew it! I thought to myself. Her eyes. They were sad. They were usually so vibrant, but they were gloomy, and lifeless. There was something wrong. I just needed to figure it out.

It was time for bed, as Patrick and I said goodnight, and walked into the guestroom. “They sure have a nice place here.” I said as I changed into my pajamas. “Yes, they sure do.” Patrick said as he did the same. “Hey, did you notice anything about Arianna tonight? Did she seem any different?” Patrick looked over at me with a confused expression on his face. “No, she seemed fine.” “Eh, I must be on drugs.” I said laughing as I hopped into bed. We turned the TV on, and watched it for a while, like an old married couple. I was finally feeling drowsy, as I sank into the warm bed, and fell asleep.

We were at the restaurant. The whole family already there talking about what the surprise could possibly be. Patrick and I sat down, and for some reason, we told them immediately. No one said a word for a minute. Then, of course, his parents congratulated Patrick and I. I reached over the table and gave them a hug. I looked over at my parents. They sat there in disbelief. “Mom, Dad, whattya think?” I said getting nervous all of a sudden. “Honey, your only 20. I can’t believe you would go out, and waste your time like this.” My mom said in the most disappointed voice I had ever heard her use. I looked at Pat in my own disbelief. “But mom-“ My dad cut me off. “She’s right Abby. You think that since you two have been together a while now, that you should get married. Well sweetie, your only 20, and let me tell you, there are going to be tons of guys that make you feel like this.” I started to feel tears in my eyes. I looked at my sisters to see if they agreed. They had disappointment in their eyes too. “Louise, Hannah..You too?” I asked. They nodded their heads in unison. I slumped back down in my chair. I couldn’t swallow I was so mad. I finally lost it. Tears running down my face, I fled the restaurant. People staring at me as I ran out.

“Abby! Wake up!” I heard. I sat up in bed, with tears in my eyes. “What just happened?” Patrick said to me, as he held me in his arms. “I think I had a bad dream” I said. I thought about my dream and shuddered. “Patrick, our families will except us get married right?” “Yes, I know for a fact, they both will.” We lay in bed, I told him about my dream, and he laughed. “You know that’s never gonna happen right?” he said as he kissed my forehead. “Yah, I know. I just worry sometimes that’s all.” We got out of bed, and Arianna and Jon were already out in the kitchen. Jon making breakfast turned around and said “What were you guys yelling about?” “I just had a bad dream that’s all.” I said as I sat on the barstool next to Arianna. “What was it about?” Arianna said to me as she was rubbing my back trying to comfort me. “Oh nothing” I said. “I don’t even remember anyways.” Patrick saved me, and quickly changed the subject.
“Jon, these eggs are delicious!” I said in between bites of my yummy breakfast. “Well ya know, if I wasn’t such a good hockey player, a chef or a model would be next on my list.” He said back jokingly. We all laughed, as we continued to eat. “So Abby, when ya planning on going out to eat?” Arianna asked me. “Umm how ‘bout tomorrow” I said. “Today is gonna be kind of busy. I want to get ready for tonight, and maybe go for a jog this morning.” “Hey, maybe I can go with you.” Arianna said. “Sure, I need the company. Patrick doesn’t like running with other people anyways.” I shot Patrick a dirty look. “What! It’s not efficient!” Patrick said, as Jon, Arianna, and I laughed at him.

I grabbed my sneakers, and walked out of the bedroom. “You ready?” Arianna said as I walked down next to her to put my shoes on. “Almost, just let me drink a glass of water” I walked over to the sink, and poured myself a glass. I chugged it down. “Come on lets head on outta here.” I said as I kissed Patrick on the cheek, and we left.

Most of the run was an awkward silence. I had something to tell her, but I couldn’t tell her yet. I wanted my family to know first. I felt like Arianna was keeping something from me too. Usually she would gossip about every little thing Jon and her did, but she was exceptionally quiet today. I didn’t want to ask anything; I was afraid she’d turn the tables, and ask me the same thing. I wasn’t the best liar, so I decided to keep quiet. At one point, we talked, but it was about small stuff. Neither of us was really paying attention to the conversation anyways, so it was pointless.
We made it back to the apartment alive. “Wow, I am surprised I could do that.” I said in between gasps for air. “I have been so out of shape lately.” Arianna laughed as we opened the door. The guys were sitting there watching TV. “Cartoons eh?” Arianna said as we walked to the kitchen for a drink. “For your information, guys love cartoons.” Patrick said to her. “Yah, like I believe two grown men watch cartoons, when their girlfriends decide to leave the house for a while” she said back to him. Jon turned around to face Arianna. “What are you accusing us of doin’ baby?” Arianna and I both snickered as we sat down next to our extremely attractive boyfriends.

After about 10 minutes of watching cartoons with the rest of them, I decided I needed to take a shower. “Well I am off to clean myself” I said as I stood up. Patrick gave me a certain look, and I knew what he was thinking. “Bye Patrick.” I said as he stood up to follow me, but I pushed him back down. Arianna and Jon laughed at him, as he glared at them. As I walked into the bedroom I heard Jon say “Wow Pat, you can’t even get some action from your girlfriend anymore.” I shut the bedroom door and laughed, listening to all of them start to argue out there.

“Can I come in?” Patrick said from the other side of the door as I was getting changed into my bra and underwear. He didn’t even wait for an answer. “Damn Abby, we can’t do this right now” he said walking towards me. I ignored him as I put my arm on his chest, and stopped him from getting closer. “Patrick, I need to find something to wear for tonight, and so do you, so go get ready.” “Alright mom” he said as he pulled out his suitcase and started looking for something to wear. I looked through mine, and found a blue maxi dress at the bottom. I took it out and pulled it over my head. “You like?” I said as I turned around to face Pat. “Indeed I do” he said as he walked over and kissed me. “Well, you don’t look bad yourself ya know” I said as I kissed him again. He was wearing a nice light brown dress shirt with khakis similar to the ones he wore when I asked him to marry me. I finished applying my makeup, as Patrick waited for me on the bed.

We walked into the living room where Arianna and Jon were sitting. “Well, whatever the occasion is, you two look adorable.” Arianna said as she looked us both up and down. “Be back by 9, ya two love birds” Jon said laughing. “Thank you and we will Jon.” Patrick said. We left the apartment building, and got into the rental car.

“You nervous of what their reaction is gonna be?” I said to Patrick as he started to drive. “Not one bit” he said. “Well I sure as hell am.” I said as I bit my lip. “Baby, they know we love each other, and they know that we belong with each other for the rest of our lives. If they didn’t think that, wouldn’t you think they would have tried to split us up already?” “Patrick, your right. I just need to relax that’s all.” “Baby, I am always right” he said in the most serious voice, as I laughed at him. “Keep believin’ that Patrick. Just keep believin’ that.”
We arrived at the restaurant. I saw that my family’s car was already there. “Do you know what kind of car your parents are driving?” I asked Patrick. “They are here, as he pointed to a big SUV at the back of the parking lot. As we walked into the restaurant, we both put our rings back on, and we saw both our families sitting there laughing and talking. This is already turning out like my dream! I thought. “Hey everyone!” I said as they all stood up at once to hug us. “We’ve missed you!” I heard everyone say to Patrick and I, as we sat down in the two empty seats reserved for us. “Hey there squirt” I said to Louise as winked at her. “Abby, do you keep forgetting I am only a year younger than you?” she asked in a rather serious tone. “Well when you dress like that.” I said teasingly. She lightly punched my arm, and turned around to continue on with telling a story she started before we had gotten there.

We ordered our meals, and sat in silence for a minute. I looked up at Patrick and got the go ahead. “Well everyone” I said as I got everyone’s attention. “So obviously, Patrick and I took you guys all out to dinner, because we had a surprise for you guys.” “Does it involve candy?!” Hannah said jokingly. The table laughed as I continued on. “Patrick and I are very much in love with each other and wanted to take it a step further.” At that moment I lifted hand from underneath the table and showed it to everyone. I grabbed Pat’s hand too, and held it next to mine. Here we go, time for the reaction, I thought to myself. “Patrick, Abby, that is great!” my mom said. I smiled as everyone started congratulating us, and telling us how happy they were. In the middle of it all, my dad yelled and said “Hey Patrick, now it looks like I really have to kill you!” We all laughed as our food was brought out to us. “See babe, what did I tell ya” Pat whispered into my ear as everyone was making plans for the wedding already. I was bombarded by a million questions in the next moment. “Listen” I said to everyone. “All Patrick and I know right now is that we are getting married. That’s it.” Everyone continued to talk about the wedding plans as I kissed Patrick. “See Patrick, I don’t get why you were so worried.” We laughed as we were in our own little world at the moment.

Everyone stepped out of the restaurant, and said their goodbyes. “We hope to see you soon!” Donna said as she gave me a hug. “Definitely! Pat and I will visit New York in the next couple weeks for sure!” I went around hugging everyone else. “Goodbye everyone!” Patrick and I yelled from our car as we drove off. “Well that went well” I said as we made it to the apartment building. Patrick put his arm around me as we walked up the stairs. “Fuck” Patrick said as he dropped his wallet to the bottom of the stairs. “You go on without me, I will be up in a sec.” He started to walk back down the stairs as I walked to Jon and Arianna’s apartment.

I got near the door, and heard noise. I couldn’t make out whose voice it was so I assumed it was the TV. I opened the door, and all the lights were off. I continued to hear the noise, but like the idiot I am I couldn’t tell what it was. Maybe they went out to eat, and they left the TV on in their bedroom, I thought. Their bedroom was at an awkward turn, so I had to turn the lights on to see if they had the TV on. I turned on the lights and stood there in shock. I dropped my purse, and covered my eyes. “Baby where a-“ I heard Patrick say as he came up behind me. “Oh shit!” He yelled as I could tell he covered his eyes too.

Notes