Proposal

Cyrus was in a panic, so rather than hide in his office, he hid in the attic. With the Sonatas and Mori’s return, with two couples working in the restaurant (if you could call whatever Shata, Anita, and Norman had), Leigha had turned her sights on him. Now she was on a whirlwind to plan his engagement. Not that he needed any help. He had already bought the ring a few days after asking her, but Leigha insisted on having a grand ordeal. These co-workers were becoming painful for his nerves.

"Cyrus? Come on, Ramona said Linda is coming over today," yelled Leigha from the hallway below. Cyrus shuddered and took the ring box out, staring at the small thing inside. It was simple as Linda might not be able to wear it  because of work hazards. But it was simple enough where he knew she would like it.

"I think I left some stuff here. I'm going to check," came Oliver's voice from below. Cyrus snapped the ring box shut before hiding in the corner. The trap door opened and Oliver's head poked out.

"Thought you might be up here," he said as he crawled in.

"I'm not going down there."

 "Because you don't want to propose to Linda?"

"Because Leigha terrifies me. Her mother is a horror, but Leigha is a demon."

"Ouch. So what do you want to do?"

"I want to propose."

"Right."

"But my way."

"Last minute with no real plan?"

Cyrus looked at the box, thinking about his options.

"Exactly."

"Say the word, and the guys and I will handle the girls. I even got Norman to help since he's on lunch."

Cyrus looked over to Oliver, the young man smiling back at him.

"Can you come back to work for Tormino's?"

 "Ha, nope. I'm quite happy with my master now. Plus, his house is warmer than here." Oliver crawled back towards the hole.

"Give us a couple of minutes, then come down."

"Cyrus? Where are you? Linda is walking over!"

 "Or not," amended Oliver as he jumped down onto the table. Cyrus crawled after him, lowering himself onto it. 

"I found Cyrus," called out Sierra, who had been tuning her erhu, only for Oliver to pick her up and shove her into the girls’ changing room.

"Get down already," hissed Oliver as Sierra pounded on the door.

"I'm old; I can't jump out of an attic like you."

"You're only six years older than me."

"Like I care!" Cyrus made it down to the table, ducking as he moved off. Oliver shoved a chair under the door handle before following Cyrus out.

Leigha had already organized a whole event with streamers and balloons. Even a kimono was hanging on his door for him to wear. It looked like Leigha was planning for them to get married right then instead of engaged.

"Run!" urged Oliver, pushing him through the decorations.

The remaining girls all turned as he entered, Leigha with a mischievous glint in her eyes. 

Norman held back Anita, preventing her from leaving the table where she had been serving him, although she wasn't putting in too much effort to get away.

Leigha was running for the tackle, only for Shasta to throw his ladle, which hit Oliver. Miles managed to catch her with a side tackle. Cyrus ran for the door.

"Ramona, stop him!"

He came face to face with Ramona, who was guarding the entrance to avoid her tripping.

"Ramona, please," Cyrus pleaded.

"Don't listen to him! Linda's almost here!" Ramona looked between her co-workers, stopping at one. Cyrus looked back to see Miles mouthing something.

"Go, Cyrus!" Oliver pulled Ramona from the door. Cyrus ran past, running into Linda outside the restaurant.

"Linda!"

"Cyrus!" 

"We need to run. Leigha's crazy!"

Cyrus pulled Linda after him, both running away from the restaurant.

"Cyrus, stop! What in the world is happening?"

Linda slowed them to a stop on the bridge near the restaurant. 

"Leigha is crazy; all the girls are crazy. Ramona less so. But still."

"I don't understand."

Cyrus struggled to catch his breath as he switched between leaning over and standing up straight.

"You don't want to. It's a madhouse in there."

He looked over to the restaurant to see Leigha running out, with Miles on her heels.

"Linda, will you marry me?" He asked, putting the ring box in her hand.

"What?"

"Gotcha!"

 Leigha side tackled Cyrus. Miles tried to pull her off as she secured a wrestling hold on Cyrus.

"What in the world?"

"Help me," gasped Cyrus. Linda tried to help Miles pull Leigha off Cyrus.

"Stop, not until he gives you a proper proposal," demanded Leigha.

Linda looked down at Cyrus.

"The box," he gasped. Linda released her hold as she opened the box to see the ring inside.

"Please marry me."

Linda shut the box as she laughed.

"Of course, you dolt," she giggled as she kissed him.

Seeing her plan fail, Leigha released her chokehold on Cyrus. Cyrus crawled on the ground, gasping for breath until Linda pulled him up again for more kisses.

"Come on, back to the restaurant." Miles grabbed Leigha by the arm, dragging her away from the couple. The girl whined about the perfect engagement the whole way back.

"Put it on me," Linda requested, handing him back the box.

"Right." Cyrus took the box from her and slid the ring onto her finger. It was a little too big.

"I was certain that I had the right size," he explained, checking the box for the size.

"I don't care. I have you." Linda leaned over and kissed Cyrus again.

Behind the restaurant stood Anita and Norman with zoom lenses on their cameras, taking pictures of the whole thing.