"I'm glad," Rachel replied, pushing away ALL thoughts of Roxanne Lily Rider to the dark, dusty places of her mind where they would STAY until further notice. Yes - they would. The locket was ALL that the present was for now.

Even though she had been expecting a gift - it was Reid, after all - the sixth year still gasped in surprise as Reid announced that he had a present for her too. YAY!! "Why, thank you," she said, laughing slightly in expectation. She couldn't fathom what he had gotten her since she couldn't recall ever talking about something that she wanted. She DIDN'T want anything. . .

OOOH PRETTY! All thoughts vanished from her mind the second her eyes laid onto the box Reid had taken out of his pocket. She gasped and her eyes widened at the actual box. "Merlin, Reid - this is AMAZING," she said quietly, gingerly taking the box from him, careful to move too suddenly for fear of doing something to damage the intricate little container.

The box HAD to be the present. There was no way that there was something INSIDE this beautiful, but slightly over-the-top-ly decorated, box. Unable to resist her curiosity, Rachel open the box and peered inside, pretending that she was just checking out it's interior. Well, it WAS really pre-

O_O

"REID!" she squealed, ALMOST dropping the box in her amazement. He had gotten her a box AND something else. Something BEAUTIFUL. Something OUT OF THIS WORLD.

... A ring. YES - A RING. If Rachel had not been a sensible, down to earth sort of gal, she would have panicked at the thought of receiving a ring but since she was all of the above she knew that it was just a ring, nothing more. Or a promise ring, maybe? OOOOOH.

Handing him the box without looking at him, she carefully lifted the ring so that it shone in the light and gasped again at it's beauty. Two intertwined hearts laced with- Wait a minute. Bringing the ring closer to her face, Rachel examined the silver band closely and gasped for the THIRD time as she realised that not only were the jewels REAL - they were diamonds.

"Reid," she repeated, out of breath, amazed and a TEENY bit angry as she looked back up at him. "This must have cost you a fortune," the sixth year stated, holding the ring up to the light and watched the rays dance off the diamonds and onto their faces.

If he had given this to her a year ago - she would have thrown a fit. Really. But now... Jake was making a ton of money (being Department Head had its perks), and in a few years time he could not ever call himself even remotely poor - and back at the Riders there was never any sort of problem when it came to materialistic things. She really didn't have the heart to be mad at Reid.

"But it's amazing - thank you. I really really do LOVE it," she added after a few seconds, smiling to Reid and slipped the ring onto her finger, grinning as it slid effortlessly down. It was perfect - all of it. Looking back up at him, her eyes shone happily, full of love a strong type of liking towards her perfect boyfriend.

Well... Almost. Hehe - but if he were perfect, he wouldn't be real.

So yes - towards her REALly amazing boyfriend.