When Love Knocks

Chapter 2 - Ezra's POV

…. Graduation Day 2010

Ezra watched Nevaeh walk across the stage and receive her diploma, the little box in his pocket felt like it was burning a hole in it.

“She’ll love it.” A voice came from behind him.

“I hope so Madilyn you’re her best friend, I hope you know what she likes.”

“She will, not because of the size, because well let’s face it, it’s small; but because it’s from you and she loves you.”

“I love her too, so much. That's why I want to ask her to be mine forever.”

Ezra’s row had stood up and begun to make their way towards the designated front of the gymnasium. When he turned his eyes towards where Nevaeh was sitting her face was pale and Dylan leaned over whispering to her. He couldn’t blame her for not feeling good, it was hot in the gymnasium even with the fans overhead trying to circulate the air.

He followed the line getting antsy as he did the closer he came to crossing the stage the closer the time was when he would hopefully get to spend the rest of his life with the most amazing girl in the world.

“Ezra. . . .” said the principal but Ezra didn’t hear the rest as he watched Dylan leading Nevaeh out of the gym. He felt worried, not of Dylan, everyone knew he didn’t swing that way, but for Nevaeh she worked so hard to make top grades and the fact that she left the graduation ceremony she should’ve stayed to toss her cap in the air with everyone else. A cough sounded at his elbow as one of the teachers caught his attention and nodded towards the stage. Pasting a smile on his face he made his way to get his diploma. That was a feat in and of itself, he honestly never thought that he would get it. He had always been a class clown and skipped school, getting into fights for no reason with anyone for the hell of it. Then he met Neva and she seemed to understand who he was even before he did. She encouraged him to talk to the school counselor and between her and the counselor, they had found out that Ezra was merely bored with the average classes. The counselor was able to make a plan with the teachers that allowed him to complete the work and tests on his own time frame, along with a more advanced curriculum. The counselor had helped him work with a local college even to work on some core classes he would need in college and do a work study program. Something had to be wrong if she wasn’t even staying to watch him finally get what he worked so hard to achieve.

The rest of the ceremony passed quickly and he tossed his cap with the other graduates and cheered, the crowd was already streaming out of the gym and Ezra made his way through it looking for Nevaeh, he spotted her before she noticed him and made his way behind her grabbing her hand and tugging her back wrapping his arms around her, “Hey babe, we did it. Now we can go out and conquer the world.” He said in her ear, and turned her around to face him as he gave her a quick peck on the lips, “I need to talk to you later. Meet me at our spot?” he asked, his chest was tight but he knew that’s where he wanted to ask her to marry him.

“Yea, I’ll see you there.” she answered, giving him another quick kiss as she stepped back and smiled over at her family. He knew he should’ve asked her father beforehand out of respect but he hadn’t. Zebadiah and him didn’t always see eye to eye. He still saw Ezra as the troublemaker and someone who wasn’t good enough for his little girl. Hell sometimes Ezra believed it himself, there had to be someone out there who was better suited for Neva but he’d die fighting to his last breath before he just let her walk away, she saw him and gave him the motivation he needed to better himself.

“Love you.” he said before stepping back to look for his own family.

“Love you too Ezra.” she said and it made him smile. He didn’t think there were any better words to come out of her lips except ‘I do’ when she married him someday in the near future.

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He leaned back in the chair patting his stomach, his mom, Sara, had made a huge dinner in celebration of his graduation and he ate himself silly. The sounds of the kids playing on the swingset in the backyard filtered through the open windows. Shanna slid a chair out next to him as he was taking a drink and smiled, “My baby brother is all grown up now, graduating high school. Next he’s going to be getting married, and having babies.” he inhaled his drink and started choking. She slapped him on the back a couple of times, “s**t Ezra, I was just kidding, didn’t have to try killing yourself on your drink about it.”

His heartbeat was frantic as he glared at her, “Shut it Shanna, I have ages ahead of me to have babies, but right now isn’t the time. Both Neva and I are heading to college in the fall, we won’t have time for kids yet.” he said

Her smile returned but a little wickedly, “I noticed you didn’t say anything about marriage staying off the table though. . .”

He groaned, rubbing his hand over his face, “Congrats bro,” Zack said, slapping him on the back oblivious to the conversation their sister is trying to lead him into. Shanna glanced at him before smirking, “Our little brother is going to be getting himself hitched.”Ezra stood up from his seat, “Just drop it Shanna,” he started but Zack piped in, “Dude, seriously? I wondered when you were going to pull your head out your ass and ask Nevaeh, we love her to pieces for turning you into,” he paused like he was searching for the right word, “well not an angry douche anymore. You're still a douche at times though.” Ezra shoved Zack’s shoulder. Shanna smiled, “Do mom and dad know yet?” she asked as his niece Megan came in crying followed hotly on her heels by his nephew Ben, “I didn’t do it, she’s making it up,” he said quickly, which made Ezra smirk with a chuckle as Shanna pulled Megan onto her lap and smoothed the girl’s wild hair from her face. “Benjamin Roscoe, what have I told you about picking on your sister?” Shanna asked heatedly. Ezra took that time to sneak off while she was busy. He loved his sister but damn she can’t let anything go. “But seriously, have you told mom and dad yet? You know they would be thrilled to have Neva as part of the family.” Zack asked, having followed him.

Ezra shook his head, “I don’t want to get their hopes up yet. What if she says no? Dude, I know that this is what I want, but I can’t help being nervous about that fact. I honestly think I might break if she did. She's been a rock and light for me for years, she’s my world, you know?” he said. Zack smiled bumping into him as they stood next to each other, “I do know, and I get where you’re coming from, hell I went through almost the same s**t before I asked Lorelei. That girl loves you though, even if she says no, just ask her again and again until she says yes because maybe it’s just not the right time for her yet. Don’t give up before you haven’t even asked.” Ezra shook his head smiling, that was the most advice, let alone words he’s heard his brother speak in one time, “Zack, I can’t believe you just pulled all that out your ass.” he said laughing which earned him a punch to the arm, “Z, I love you but your still a douche sometimes.” he said laughing too.

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Ezra sat on the bank of the river watching the water flow by listening to the gurgles and splashes, but also listening for the sound of tires on the gravel above that would let him know Nevaeh had arrived. This had become their spot after she had shared it with him shortly after they met. She said she liked to come to her and think, it was peaceful and calm and the view of the covered bridge that spanned the river only added to the beauty of the spot. He smiled thinking about the night that he had carved their initials into the wood of that bridge, it was why he wanted to ask her to marry him here because he wanted her to know that he meant it when he did that.

He watched the sun sink low in the sky taking a sip of a beer out of the six pack he had snagged from his old man, he didn’t care that Ezra drank as long as he wasn’t stupid about it. He lost himself in thoughts of the future, he was planning to go to school for architectural engineering; wanted to design bridges and buildings that would last lifetimes. He wanted to come home to his sweet wife Neva, barefoot and free, blooming with his children. His friends might call him p***y whipped but she brought new meaning to his life and he wanted to explore every aspect of it and once he was done he wanted to do it all over again.

He finished the fifth bottle before he knew it and it was full dark outside, furrowing his brows he pulled out his phone thinking he had missed a message from Nevaeh but nothing showed up. He pulled up his messages and went to send one off to her.

E: Babe, hope everything is okay. It’s getting late and it’s not like you to not be here by now. Text or call me so I know you are okay.

He waited a little while longer and finally the sound of tires on the gravel sounded, followed by the sound of car doors being shut; wait doors? Who was with Neva? He made his way towards the path that led to the pull off when male shouts sounded, “Hey, dipshit you down there?” his heart sank a bit that it wasn’t Neva and now his best friends, Brody and Scott, had shown up carrying more booze. “What are you guys doing here?” he asked nonchalantly as he could. “We went by your place but your brother told us you weren’t home and were supposed to be meeting up with Neva.” Brody said and looked around, “Speaking of which, where is she? Is she getting dressed? You dirty dog, getting busy out in public, can’t take you anywhere.” he said laughing. Ezra shook his head, “Nah, she isn’t here, have you seen her? She should’ve been here by now though starting to worry a bit, she hasn’t messaged either.” Brody and Scott looked at each other before shaking their heads, “Nope, haven’t seen her, didn’t pass any accidents on the way either. So there’s that positive.” Scott said, “Maybe she just fell asleep and forgot? I mean it’s been a long ass day, what with graduation and then family celebrations afterwards.”

Ezra pasted a smile on his face, “Yea, could be that, she wasn’t looking so hot during the ceremony today. Thanks guys, I think I’m gonna go though.” he said, watching his friends' faces sink in disappointment at the chance of a party between friends not going to happen. He cleaned up his empty bottles and patted both of them on the back, “I’ll catch you guys later.” He said as he got into his truck, before shutting the door he heard Brody call out, “Hey, if Neva shows up we’ll shoot you a message.” He waved in acknowledgement before shutting the door. Deciding to at least drive by her house before going home to just put his mind at ease that she really was just tired.

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He laid in bed staring at the ceiling, he wasn’t tired and even though he had seen Neva’s car parked he still wished he would’ve heard from her. He’d go see her tomorrow, pick up a picnic lunch from the diner and spend some time with her. He rolled over in the bed and looked at the ring box that sat on his bedside table, while a little worm of doubt wiggled itself into his brain, maybe she was off because she wasn’t feeling things for him anymore. That thought alone made strings tighten around his heart.