Epilogue
Three Years Later
“Alright class, settle down,” Melissa instructed the room of high school students as she sat down behind the piano. As she played, the students sang their scales, warming up their vocal chords. “Great! I hear a lot of ranges improving! We’ve got a week til contest and I’m feeling very good about this. You guys have worked so hard that I’m sure we’ll do great.”
After finishing school, Melissa had moved to Joey’s hometown of Orlando and very quickly found a job, teaching choir at a local public high school. Most every day, she couldn’t have been happier with her decision. She had a job she adored and a man whom she loved more than she could hope to explain. Things weren’t always easy and she sometimes went several days without seeing Joey, but it was all worth it just to be with him.
As the class practiced their contest piece, the intercom boomed out, interrupting them. “Ms Jameson,” Katherine Price, the school secretary’s voice rattled.
"Yes, Ms Price?” Melissa replied, a little peeved that her class was being interrupted.
“Someone is here for you,” she said, almost giggling.
“Hey Angel,” a familiar male voice said, bringing a light blush to Melissa’s face and giggles from much of the room. Many of the students here knew that she and Joey were an item.
“Hi Joey,” she said fighting off a giggle as she watched her class. “What’s up?”
“Well, I need to talk to you,” he said.
“OK, now?” she said as the class began to chatter.
“Yep,” he said. Melissa could hear the smile on his face and she smiled in return.
“Well, whatcha need?”
“Well,” he said before he began to sing, “I’ve loved you forever, and lifetimes before and I promise you never will you hurt anymore…” Melissa’s eyes threatened to tear up. The passion in his voice as he sang almost undid her. “I give you my word. I give you my heart. This is a battle we've won. And with this vow, Forever has now begun...”
With this, the door to the large classroom opened and Joey walked into the room, holding the intercom microphone, as he continued. “Just close your eyes each loving day. I know this feeling won’t go away. Til the day my life is through, this I promise you.” By this time, Melissa had given way to her emotions and she sobbed, smiling at the man she loved.
Joey smiled wide as he looked out toward the students. “Hey everybody,” he said waving. “There’s something I need to say. And I hope that this is the right place to do it, cuz I wanted everyone to know.” With this, Joey placed an arm around Melissa. As the classroom full of teenagers watched, he took her hand, and got down on his left knee, placing his right hand in his pocket.
Melissa began to shake as large tears formed in her eyes. Was he about to do what she thought he was doing? He pulled his hand, which concealed a small item, out of his pocket as he continued. “Melissa, I love you,” he said quietly before continuing a bit more loudly. “Lyss, from the day that we met, I knew that I loved you. And soon after that day, I realized that I couldn’t see my life without you in it. I want to have a family with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” With this, he placed a large diamond ring on Melissa’s finger.
She eyed the ring through tear-filled eyes as she fingered the platinum band. Smiling wide, she looked down at him, and replied simply. “Yes, Joey!’ At that, the classroom stood and applauded. The shrieks and whistles were almost deafening as Joey stood, gathering Melissa into his arms as he kissed her full on the lips.
“I’m gonna make you the happiest woman in the world, Angel,” he said as he stroked her cheek.
“You already have, Joey. My God, I love you,” she said as the tears continued to flow freely from her eyes.
“Well, then, we'll have to redefine happiness, cuz I know I can do better than that,” he said, kissing her again. “And we’ve got the rest of our lives to do it.”
The End