Chapter 3
Vex’ahlia has been nervous before, sure. She was nervous when she first asked a girl out on a date, when she was 16. She was nervous when her brother had nearly died in that horrible car crash, but nothing compares to this.
She’d been in a thrift shop yesterday, after sending Keyleth home, looking for gifts for Keyleth, when her eyes had settled on one of the most beautiful rings she’d ever seen. It’s on the higher price, sure, but Vex didn’t even blink when she saw the number. Keyleth deserved good things, and well, this ring belonged on Keyleth.
It was a thin silver band, made to look like a set of antlers were coming out of it. It was elegant, and Vex wanted to be the one to put it on Keyleth.
So she had bought it, and now, ring in pocket, Vex stands outside Keyleth’s door, and knocks.
Keyleth opens it, this time dressed and ready for work. She waves at Vex, beckoning her inside as she grabs her things, and after a ‘goodbye’ to Minxie from the both of them, they walk to Vex’s car.
The ring box shifts as Vex walks, and she stops Keyleth before she can open the door.
‘I got something for you, Keyleth,’ Vex says, willing her hand to steady, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out the box. When she looks up at Keyleth, she is met with round eyes that twinkle in her direction, and a small blush making it’s way across her face.
Vex looks back down at the box and opens the it slowly, and Keyleth moves closer, ever so slightly, but they are close enough that Vex’s heart quickens. When the ring is properly revealed, Keyleth lets out a small gasp, and when Vex chances another glance at Keyleth, her beautiful green eyes are watering with tears on the verge of falling, looking right at Vex.
‘I saw this in a store and thought of you. I thought it’d be nice on you.’ She says, taking out the ring. Keyleth wordlessly extends her left hand, and oh, Vex wants to put it on her ring finger, wants this to be another situation. But it is not. So Vex places the ring on Keyleth’s middle finger, where it fits as if it were made for Keyleth herself.
Vex is unprepared when Keyleth crashes into her, wrapping her arms around her, and engulfs her with the softest hug Vex has ever received. The smell of plants and flowers flow over her, and Vex tries not to make it obvious as she takes a deep breath. She feels Keyleth’s mouth against her ear, then, and oh gods, she tries not to shiver as Keyleth whispers a thank you, Vex.
Keyleth releases her after a moment- Vex certainly wasn’t going to be the one to let go- and looks at the ring.
‘It’s beautiful, Vex,’ Keyleth murmurs, her eyes shifting over to glance at Vex and then back at the ring. ‘You really didn’t have to- I can’t- it really should be me giving you something, what with you driving me to work and all.’ Keyleth drifts off, and Vex immediately swoops in, not giving Keyleth a chance to doubt herself.
‘Darling, your presence is a gift itself,’ Vex says, ‘And besides, I wanted to get it for you.’ Vex gives Keyleth a pointed stare before Keyleth can say anything more, and continues. ‘It looks beautiful on you, Kiki.’
Keyleth blushes again, then nods, once, twice, then a third time.
‘Thank you, again, Vex.’
There’s depth to those words, and Vex can feel the heaviness of them. Some day, maybe, they’ll talk about why being thought of means so much to Keyleth, but for now, Vex will show her that she deserves it just as much, if not more, than anybody else.
Eventually, they make their way to school, and Keyleth looks at the ring throughout the drive, and Vex feels something blossoming in her.