Somebody That I Used to Know

It was my birthday and after much discussion, Ronnie and I decided that it would be best if I finally return to work. I sat at my desk in the dress Ronnie gave me this morning as my first birthday gift, proofreading the articles about this years Warped Tour with Parker sitting next to me and clicking through the pictures on his camera from a recent photo shoot. Jason walked into the room with his cell phone to his ear and glanced at my desk briefly before widening his eyes and pressing the end call button on his phone.

“Ana,” he began, “you’re back.”

“I needed some time off.” I explained, “Did you manage to survive without me?”

“I found a way to continue on in this world.” he joked, pulling up a chair and sitting across from me at my desk.

“How did the big meeting go?” I asked him, knowing that I was unable to attend the meeting yesterday.

“It went well, Parker here,” he said, gaining Parker’s attention, “took your spot at the meeting and just explained a bit of what events and things of that nature that you have going on.”

I nodded my head, ripping the piece of paper in my hands in half and throwing it out in the small trash can next to me. I rubbed my small baby bump that was barely noticeable thanks to my dress and felt eyes on me. I looked up to see Jason staring at the hand on my stomach with an eyebrow raised.

“So, how are things going with Ronnie?

“They’re going good. Ronnie and I are actually dating now, we’re selling the house and moving here to LA as well.” I said.

“And the reason for this move is what, exactly?” he asked.

I felt Parker stiffen a bit beside me because he was one of the select few people that knew all the details of my situation since he was the closest thing I had to a best friend at the moment now that Aimee still refused to talk to me. I leaned forward on my desk, placing my elbows on the cool top and crossing my arms over my chest.

“What are you getting at?” I asked him, a smirk on his face.

He leaned forward as well, copying my actions.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” he asked with a genuine look of concern on his face.

I sighed and opened my mouth to reply to him when Ronnie walked through the elevator doors with a bouquet of my favorite flowers in his hand. He smiled at me and I felt my cheeks heat up.

“Happy birthday, beautiful.” he said sweetly, handing me the flowers and kissing the top of my head.

“I almost forgot it was your birthday.” Jason began, “tomorrow we can all go out to lunch, my treat. Maybe we can finally meet this girlfriend Parker has been telling us about.”

Parker blushed but stayed quiet, a bit intimidated by Ronnie.

“Are you ready to go?” Ronnie asked me, holding his hand out to me.

I looked over at Jason, biting my lip. He nodded his head with a smile and I placed my hand in Ronnie’s. I stood up, my hand still in his and I used my other hand to smoothen the wrinkles on my dress when I noticed Jason’s eyes fixed on my baby bump.

“I’ll see you both tomorrow.” I said sweetly as Ronnie pulled me to the elevator door.

They both said their goodbyes and once Ronnie and I were safely in the elevator, he pulled me closer to him. His arms wrapped around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck, his lips kissing mine softly.

“I love you.” he whispered once he pulled away.

“I love you too.” I said with a giggle.

He smiled at me as the elevator doors opened and he pulled held my hand as we walked to the new car that he bought recently. He opened the passenger side door for me and I felt my eyes widen at the sight in front of me on the seat. I gasped, placing my hand over my mouth and I heard Ronnie chuckling from behind me. A black pit bull puppy sat on the seat with a silver bow wrapped around his neck. His big hazel eyes were staring at me and I couldn’t help but smile as I picked him up and cradled him in my arms.

“Do you like him?” Ronnie asked me.

I was at a loss for words but I managed to nod my head and he wrapped his arms around the puppy and I from behind and placed his chin on my shoulder.

“What’s his name?” I asked after a moment of silence.

“I was thinking we could name him Charlie.” Ronnie suggested as we both got in the car.

I nodded my head and smiled down at the small black puppy sleeping in my arms. Ronnie managed to beat the traffic and he was parked in front of the house in record time. We walked to the front door, me still holding Charlie in my hands. Ronnie opened the door to our house, which was still dark, and he flipped on the light switch.

“Surprise!” screamed the room full of people that had been previously hiding behind the furniture and countertops.

I smiled as I was continuously bombarded by hugs from my friends and family that were in our roomy home. Max walked up to me and I smiled at him, noticing the small piece of confetti that must have found its way into his hair when he and the guys were decorating the living room and kitchen with streamers, balloons and the large cake on the dining room table. He opened his arms for a hug and I happily accepted it.

“Happy birthday, best friend.” he said sweetly, my face in the crook of his neck.

I smiled and wrapped my arms tighter around his thin waist. He pulled away from me a moment later with a goofy smile still on his face.

“What’s that smile for?” I asked with a giggle as we sat down on the comfortable couch.

He shrugged his shoulders with a laugh and wrapped his pale arm around my shoulders after pushing his locks of black hair away from his green eyes.

“Max,” I began after a moment of silence, “Do you think I’m making the right choice?”

“The right choice for what?” he questioned.

I said nothing, choosing to just shoot him a look that said everything I was thinking. Max nodded his head.

“Ana, you love Ronnie. Ronnie loves you. You are pregnant and even if it is not from the happiest circumstances, you still are. I know that if you have this baby you will shower it with all the love and attention he or she needs and I know that Ronnie will do the same. You’re not in this alone, Ana. You have me, your mom, Ronnie, Ronnie’s dad, Riley, Jacky; we’re all here for you no matter what.”

I smiled and brought him closer to me in a friendly hug before standing up from my seat to politely talk to the other guests. Over the hours, people slowly left the house and soon the only people left were me, Ronnie, and Max. Max slinked away to the guest bedroom that was practically his and Ronnie and I were left on the back porch surrounded by the twinkling lights that Max and Jacky had put up as decorations for my party. Ronnie’s hand stroked my cheek and I felt heat growing under his touch.

“Ana,” Ronnie began nervously, “you know I love you more than anything, right?”

I nodded my head.

“Yeah, I love you too.” I said.

Charlie scampered up to us happily and I scooped him in to my arms.

“He’s the best birthday present ever, RonRon.” I said, leaning towards him and placing a kiss on his lips.

Ronnie smiled at me when I pulled away from him and shook his head.

“Charlie’s not the present.” he said.

I felt my nose scrunch up in confusion as I looked at him. Ronnie gestured to the puppy that sat in my lap and I picked Charlie up, holding him a bit closer to my face to see a small black velvet box hanging from the ribbon that was tied around him. I took the ribbon off of him and placed Charlie on the floor as I opened the velvet box that was in my hand. The insides were a pure pea green silk and a beautiful ring was held in its middle. I felt my jaw drop open at the sight and looked up at Ronnie.

“You-You got me a ring?” I questioned.

Ronnie merely nodded his head with a goofy smile on his lips.

“This must have cost a fortune; did you sell your soul or something?”

“I had some savings in the bank and even if I didn’t, you’re worth it.” he said, taking the box from me and slipping the ring onto my left ring finger.

“Ronnie,” I began as I stared at the ring on my finger, “what does this make us?”

“Just think of it as a promise ring. It’s a promise that no matter what happens I’ll always be there for you, just like I always have.”

I felt my smile widen as I continued to look down at the ring.

“Only you would know I like pearls more than diamonds.” I said happily.

Ronnie reached out for me and pulled me in for a hug, my body happily melting into his. The twinkling lights around us shined on to the pool where Ronnie and I’s reflection lay, forever unsoiled by the world around us.