�J I'm fine� she giggled
�C'mon I'll take you upstairs� I said as I scooped her in my arms and began to climb the stairs.
�Does your head hurt? � She whispered touching my head lightly
�A little bit�
�I'm sorry, this is my fault�
�It's not your fault baby�
�Yes it is� She said firmly.
�No it's not. Brit I wasn't gonna let you go by yourself�
�I talked to my laywer. The divorce hearing will be in a couple of weeks� she said later.
�Ok, everything will be ok�
�Yeah I hope so�
I slowly laid her on the bed once I reached what now would be OUR bedroom. I put a tape in the VCR and lay down next to her. A couple of hours later after we were done watching the movies I rented. I noticed Britney sleeping soundly cuddled up to my side, which I thought was the cutest thing ever. I walked downstairs and wrote a note to Brit telling her I'd be back later. I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.
I drove around in my car for about half an hour before I reached my destination. The jewelry store. I got out and walked inside the beautifully decorated store.
�Hello, how may I help you� said a woman in her mid fifty's.
�Hi, I'm looking for an engagement ring� I said smiling
�Ok, follow me�
�Do you see anything you like?� she asked after a couple of minutes.
�Yes I'd like to see that ring� I said pointing to a beautiful heart shaped ring.
�Ah very good choice. This is one of the most expensive rings. As you can see is a pink heart shaped diamond�
�It's beautiful. Exactly what I was looking for. Do you take credit cards�
�Yes�
I handed her my card and a few minutes later she handed it back along with the neatly wrapped engagement ring. I walked back to my car and drove around for
another hour. I needed to think when, where and how would I propose to her.
BRITNEY'S POV
I woke up to an empty space next to me. I figured Justin had gone downstairs
when he realized I fell asleep. I slowly walked downstairs. My head was pounding. The doctor said this would happen for a couple of days.
�J� I called but got no answer
�Justin� I called again.
After a while I noticed the note siting at the table. I walked over to it and picked it up in my hands. It read:
Brit,
I have to run some errands. You looked some peaceful sleeping, I didn't have the heart to wake you up. I'll be back in a couple of hours. If you need
anything just call me.
Love, Justin.
I put the note back down. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize the phone was ringing. I heard the machine answer it and soon Ryan's voice filled the room.
�Brit I know you're there so pick up the phone. Ok well I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I know I'll never be able to tell just how sorry I am. I want to see you. Maybe that way I can show you how much I love you. Think about it and give me a call. Bye�
Somehow that short message had managed to take away my voice. My thoughts were completely focused on that message. How could he say that? After all he had done he had the nerve to call here. At Justin's house and tell me he loved me. Why am I even crying? I love Justin not Ryan, right? I was so focused on my thoughts that I didn't hear the door being open.
�Hey Brit�
�Baby what's wrong?� He asked once he noticed the tears running down my cheeks
�What? Oh I didn't noticed you got home� I replied quickly wiping my tears
�Yeah I just got here. What's going on?�
�Ryan called a couple of minutes ago� I whispered. I wasn't even sure if he heard me
�What did he say to you?� He asked raising his voice lightly
�Nothing. I let the machine get it�
He walked over to the machine and played the message again. �Brit I know you're there so pick up the phone. Ok well I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I know I'll never be able to tell just how sorry I am. I want to see you. Maybe that way I can show you how much I love you. Think about it and give me a call. Bye�
He turned around and I could see the anger in his eyes. He turned to face me and his eyes softened. He reached for my hand but I pulled away before he could touch me.
�Brit� He began while he searched through his pocket. He bends down on one knee and I could feel the tears building in my eyes. But they weren't out of joy. Not this time.
�I love you more than anything in this world. I know we haven't been together that long. But I love you. Will you marry me?�
At that time, in that place I looked into his eyes. Those blue eyes full of hope love and promise. And as much as I wanted to say yes I felt something inside of me that was keeping me from saying yes.