The Proposal (fiction)

I ordered drinks for one and sat at a table alone with the perfect view. I studied the menu in an attempt to look busy. Every time the waiter, Paul, (I think that was his name...) came to see me, I waved him off in a hush. For this was the most important night of my best friend's life. Darek, her boyfriend, was going to propose.

Last week he showed me the ring and personally invited me to witness the entire thing. (Well, I invited myself - but that's besides the point). So of course I said yes and of course I was going to get it all on video.

By eight o’clock, I took my sunglasses off. I felt people staring. Was I at the wrong place? Finally, I heard a familiar voice. It was Cass. Out of the corner of my eye I watched the hostess walk the two of them to a small booth in the corner. Damn it to hell. How was I supposed to get a good view with them sitting all the way over there? The next time Paul asked me how I was doing, I had moved my chair to the other side of the table. He stood there confused.

“Paul, can you just get me another drink?”

I pushed my scarf out of my face, and reached for his arm -

“Surprise me this time,”

I was certain just how nervous Darek must have felt. He and Cass had been together for four years now. After every anniversary, Cass would call me crying hysterically that he hadn't popped the question. And everytime I asked Darek what the hell he was doing, he’d end up leaving to buy her some fake flowers (she was allergic) or candy from the store and blame me because I made him pause Assassin's Creed.

But today was the day. The day that Cass and I had been waiting for. Her mom and I both knew he wasn't end game from the start. I fasted to the gods that maybe one day Cass would see the light and she did. And then there was Paul. Paul didn’t wake up today knowing he’d be a side character on this very special night. But the next time he came to my table I whispered to him just exactly what we needed.

It was like slow motion. I scrambled for my phone from inside my purse as I watched Darek get to his feet. People began to turn their heads and quickly, Darek had caused a scene. In the middle of some half-ass monologue about his undying love, he got down on one knee and offered her the ring. I zoomed in on her face.

Please say no, please say no.

She sat there gaping at him then locked eyes with me through my Iphone camera.

“No,"

Darek was floored. The restaurant was floored. A pile of plates crashed from the kitchen and according to Cass, he shed tears. And then some moments later, Paul brought to them a slice of cake with the loudest fire crackling candle stuck in the center.

A congratulations cake. For Cass, for her mom and for me. Darek and his sorry ass will be out of our lives forever and I got it all on video.