“You just told me what I was too blind to see all along”
3 years later:

Death changes people, I should know. Though she is gone, Laurel stays with me forever. I still love Luke, but we will never quite be what we once were before, each others whole lives.
It must be strange that I’m thinking about Luke and Laurel as Calum gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him, but then again its no surprise really, after all some things are just meant to be, everything that has happened led up to this moment. I look into Calum's warm eyes “What do you think?” I say. He pretends to think about it, “Hmm… I suppose the only question is when’s the big day Mrs Hood” he winks cheekily at me, and my heart swells with love for him. He gently lifts my hand and slips the glittering ring onto my finger, smiling.“Yes! I love you!” I shout and throw my arms around his neck.

“He what!” Anika screams down the phone at me. “Woah, Ash I need to sit down repeat to me what you just said” I am jumping around my room with excitement “Calum proposed to me and I said yes!” I carry on making excited movements. There is a long silence before Anika goes just as crazy as I feel “Oh my God! Ashleeey” she screeches. “Im coming over stay right were you are, Im serious dont move!” and with that she abruptly ends the call and I am left to face the person I feel most scared about telling, Mum.

She is busy on the phone when I enter the room, chatting to a friend of hers. But when she sees the look on my face she says “Hang on Jen I’ll call you back” “Ash, whats up you look as if your going to burst” she enquires. “Mum… Calum proposed to me and I accepted” I burst out. She looks completely stunned.. Okay not exactly the reaction I was hoping for “Oh honey” she whispers. God, the excited feeling I had just seconds ago has faded. To my complete horror she begins to cry, I stand rooted to the ground unsure what to do, but she rushes up to me “Oh my baby, you’re growing up so fast, I just can’t believe it.” she says “Oh sweetheart Im so happy for the two of you! My girls getting married.”

She pulls away from me and wipes away her tears, the doorbell chimes “Thats Anika” I say, before I leave to get the door I think I hear her whisper “Oh, Luke.”

My heart begins thumping at the mere mention of his name, I look back at her but she seems to have the same expression as before, maybe I just imagined it. Anika is at the door, her brown eyes lit up practically bouncing. “Ash!” she shrieks then begins chanting “Ashley's getting married, Ashley's getting married” “Stop it” I say trying to look annoyed at her but I can’t help the smile creeping up my face. “Right girl” she says “Tell me all the details” taking my arm and leading me into my house.

We are stretched out on my bed when Anika ask me something that makes me realise just what being engaged to Calum will mean “Um.. Ashley not to make you upset or anything but have you thought about how Luke will feel about this, you know you did go out for a while and marriage is a big thing.” I think about my answer for a long time before I reply “Luke had his chances, God he had more chances than he was worth, Calum is the one for me.” Anika just gives me a look like she’s not convinced.
I’m not that convinced either.

Notes

Sorry for being so bad at updating!
I know I have made this update 3 years later but all will be explained in flashbacks (for anyone slightly confused!)

Thank you as always for reading, subscribing and commenting! xx
Another update will be up today hopefully!