Disclaimer: The Animorphs belong to K.A. Appelgate and Scholastic, not me. I stole the title from the song by 98 Degrees, on their Christmas album. The last names of the Animorphs are mine. I thought up what they should be. I am simply using the Animorphs and the song for my own entertainment purposes. I am not now, nor ever will be as long as this story is posted, making any money off of it. Read it and (hopefully) enjoy.
Author's note (aka Author's endless babbling): Just so you know, I like to think that Jake is approximately six months older than Cassie. Don't ask why, but if you have any proof whatsoever that my ideas are totally whacked, I'll change it. But meanwhile, Jake's six months older than Cassie. This story puts Jake at 22 and Cassie at 21 ˝. They're about to graduate from undergraduate school (aka 4-year college), and Cassie's been applying to medical school to become a vet. Jake's going to go for a masters in teaching and wants to coach high school basketball and teaching history. Okay? Okay.
by leiadude2002
Chapter One: The Proposal
Jake Mackenzie sighed as he looked out the window at his snow-covered balcony. He had been waiting for four weeks for the perfect time to ask his girlfriend, Cassie Martinez, to marry him, and the time was finally right. Jake turned around and looked at Cassie. She was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper.
Jake put his hand in his pocket and felt Cassie's Christmas present. He walked behind the couch and put his arms around her in an awkward hug. Cassie grabbed Jake's hand and guided him around the couch so he was sitting next to her.
Jake looked into Cassie's eyes, and saw that they were sparkling with her love for him. So beautiful, he thought to himself. So angelic.
Cassie looked beyond Jake and smiled. She reached up and gently pushed his face in the direction of the window. "It's snowing," she stated simply.
Jake looked down at his beautiful girlfriend, and she looked back, her eyes shining with excitement. "So it is," he responded.
"Jake—"Cassie started, but was cut off by Jake pressing his finger against her lips.
"Ssh," Jake said. "Listen."
Cassie listened and heard—nothing. Nothing, except the crackle of the fire and the beating of her own heart, which always beat this hard whenever she was around Jake. But the "nothing" part surprised her. It was a rare, almost nonexistent moment when the streets of New York City were quiet.
Jake raised his hand to Cassie's face and brushed a strand of hair off of her forehead. Cassie lowered her eyes, embarrassed, but Jake tilted her head up with his hand.
Cassie felt like her heart was going to burst when Jake leaned down and softly pressed his lips to hers. She wanted so desperately to take the kiss farther, but Jake leaned back and stopped their kiss.
Jake sat straight up and pulled Cassie's present out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Cassie smiled as she opened the unwrapped gift, and gasped when she saw what was inside: a 1-karat diamond—encased in gold—engagement ring.
Jake took the ring out of its box and knelt in front of Cassie. Sliding the ring onto her finger, he began the short speech he had practiced hundreds of times.
"Cassie, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. You know I love you more than life itself, and that I'd do anything for you. I realized that my life would be empty without you. Cassie, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Jake asked, looking into her eyes.
Jake's question took Cassie a little by surprise. She wasn't really expecting it. She thought about her answer for a few moments, then smiled and leaned down to kiss Jake softly on the lips. "What took you so long? I thought I was going to have to ask you," she joked.
Jake smiled and leaned up for another kiss. The rest of the world was forgotten for a long, long time.