Fate

Everything in the world told them "No", but there is no stopping fate.

She walked down the road, dejected. He had ignored her again today, just when she thought she was making progress. He had smiled at her on Monday; they had a conversation about the weather yesterday. Why did she keep trying?

‘Because you love him, stupid.’

Right. That.

She felt a drop of rain hit her scalp as the sky darkened. “Yay, rain.” She muttered to herself. She usually liked the rain, but today it just made things worse.

Everybody had told her to give up, he was engaged. His fiancée was crazy for him and he her. Yet it hadn’t stopped her from making that mistake. It couldn’t be undone now.

She wasn’t sure when it started. Maybe it was the first time he walked into the restaurant two and a half years ago? Or maybe it was six months ago when he smiled at her? Oh that smile. The smile that made her knees melt. It could’ve been last week when he wore that hat for all she knew. She didn’t really care anymore either. The fact was, she did.

That didn’t matter either. In a month, he’d be happily married and probably on his way to some island like Jamaica or on some cruise to visit the Caribbean and she would be in the same old dump people called a town working as a waitress part time and being a student the other. He would go on and have a family of pretty children with his pretty wife and become a famous doctor that everybody would love. She would be a nobody in an office building with a cheating husband and rowdy kids. They had different fates, she knew.

She sighed as she pulled out her keys and stuck them in the tiny keyhole of the front door. “I love you, Peter.”

--

Across town he sat in his biology class, staring at the professor with nothing on his mind but the waitress. He’d first met her over two years ago when he went to a tiny diner in town. He was on his way to class and had some extra time. She was young, only there part time, but always at the same time.

He saw her when he first walked in, though she didn’t see him. He was entranced by her, everything about her. She just seemed so beautiful to him. Luck was on his side that day, he mused. He was put in her section and was the only occupied table there. It made sense, who else was eating meals at three in the afternoon?

She smiled at him and his brain stopped functioning. Her voice was angelic, he couldn’t even comprehend what she was saying at first. The thought of those moments brought a faint blush to his face. What an idiot he was. He answered her questions after composing himself and she walked away, unaware of his stare.

He began coming every day, even when he didn’t have classes or didn’t have time. He came on weekends, any day he was sure she would be there. There were a few instances when she wasn’t there, out sick or visiting family. He never stuck around long those days. When he was sick, she’d always get him something special on the side, something he didn’t order. He always felt better after having whatever she gave him, though he wasn’t sure it was the food or drink she’d given him.

After six months, his girlfriend started getting suspicious. His head was always in the clouds or focused on his studies. She knew he was determined to be the best doctor he could, but she needed attention as well. She gave him an ultimatum; propose or break up.

The moment she gave him the choice, he saw how much he loved the waitress at the diner, Rosa she had told him two weeks ago. He wanted her, not his girlfriend, not his Tricia. But she didn’t want him, couldn’t want him. She probably had a boyfriend at school, and she was too young anyway. He couldn’t think of her like that. He proposed to his girlfriend, telling her they’d marry after he graduated, but continued to spend his free afternoons at the diner.

He began talking to Rosa more. He found out her age, her grade and her school. Her favorite color and favorite flower became known. He also learned that she wanted to be a doctor when she was older as well. To top it all off, she was single. He told her he was going into his third year of medical school and how much he loved it. They shared the bond over wanting to make a difference and save lives. Tricia was only become a nurse so she could be in medical school with him. He told her all about Tricia and she was always so happy for him. She would ask how she was and how they were doing and the wedding. He was sure she wasn’t interested and slowly gave up trying to talk to her at all.

Today he had barely said a word. He ordered the usual and said good-bye, still giving her a generous tip. He felt bad about it though. He wanted to talk to her, desperately wanted to, but Tricia and he had gotten in a fight the night before. Harsh words were thrown and Tricia made it clear she knew he was going to the diner every day, though she wasn’t sure why. He felt he should try to distance himself from Rosa, in case Tricia did find out and decided to do something to her. He wouldn’t risk it. Thinking back now, it was a stupid plan. He loved her too much. It hurt more to stay away than to think of what Tricia would do.

“Mr. Carn? Mr. Carn! Finals are in two weeks and if you plan to become a doctor, I suggest you pay attention.” The professor snapped from the front of the room. He always had disliked Peter, and had a tendency to pick on those who didn’t pay attention.

“Yes, sir.” He mumbled, paying attention once more.

Class let out over an hour later, and he began thinking about his problem again.

In two and a half weeks, he would take his last final. In a month, he would be married to a woman he didn’t love anymore. He would leave behind the woman he did love to be with Tricia, just because he was a coward and couldn’t talk to Rosa and tell her how she felt.

“No,” he told himself. “I won’t do it. I’m about to graduate my eighth year of college. It’s time to be an adult.”

--

The next day she walked into the diner, having no hopes today would be any good. He graduated soon, then would marry the angelic Tricia.

“Little w***e.” She mumbled.

She stood at the counter and looked at her section. Empty, as usual. He would be here in fourteen minutes, he was always here at 3:15. Never a moment later or earlier.

She sighed and sat down. She had the time. She could think about her crappy day.

School was the same as always, boring and full of stupid people who thought they were the s**t. It was what happened after school that bugged her. Some blonde bombshell had approached her in the parking lot before she got in her car.

“Listen you little twerp, stay away from Peter. We’re getting married in a few weeks and I won’t have some little high schooler messing it up. Do you understand?” She hissed before walking away, not even waiting for an answer.

She didn’t understand. What did this woman, Tricia she guessed, mean? Did she know she loved Peter? Did he know? Had he told her? Was he sick of her and using Tricia to get rid of her? This didn’t seem like Peter at all. So how did she know?

The little bell above the door jingled and Rosa checked the clock. He wouldn’t be here for five more minutes. She was stuck, thinking of nothing, yet again.

She pulled some homework out of her book bag and began working. ‘Might as well be productive.’

She finished one worksheet, then began some textbook work she was assigned. She checked the clock. 3:17. ‘Where is he?’

She finished the work and checked the clock again. 3:46. He wasn’t coming today then. Maybe he had told Tricia, and he was really sick of her. It made sense.

“What the f**k do you think you’re doing? Cancelling with only a few weeks left? You can’t.” The voice was muffled and staticy, probably from a cell phone, but rung out clear.

“No, Tricia. We discussed this. I’m out.” Peter? What was going on and why was he late?

The bell above the door rang for the second time in the past hour and Peter entered. Rosa sat there, absolutely floored. He had a bouquet in one hand, a velvet, blue box in the other. He had his cell phone, now closed, between two fingers as he tried to put it in his pocket.

“Peter?” She called, standing up.

“Good, you’re still here. I was worried you might leave early since there’s never anybody here. Sorry about the yelling, Tricia isn’t very happy with me right now becau-“

“You’re late.”

“I’m what?”

“You. Are. Late.”

He looked at his watch. “S’ppose I am.”

“It’s not nice to keep people waiting.” She smiled at him, showing she was just joking.

“Terribly sorry about that. I was a bit busy.” He held up his hands to show what he meant. “I wanted to talk to you Rosa.”

“I figured that much.” She stated with a laugh and a roll of her eyes.

He chuckled nervously. “I broke up with Tricia last night. The screaming you heard was one of her non-stop calls trying to convince me I’m making a mistake and that I’m a complete idiot.”

“What happened? It seems like you love her so much…”

“Loved, Rosa. I haven’t loved her for a long time.”

“Then why-“

“I’m getting to that.” He cut off with a smirk.

She locked her mouths and smiled, showing her complete attention and silence.

“I can’t tell you when exactly it happened, I really wish I could. I just know that two years ago when I proposed to Tricia, it was an ultimatum. She gave me a choice or getting engaged or ending our relationship. When she told me, I realized I didn’t love her. I realized that I…” He ran his hands through his hair and looked away. “That I loved you, Rosa. Only you.

“I proposed to her only because I was sure you didn’t love me back and I didn’t want to wait and lose what I considered a far away second best. I stayed through so long, only because I was sure that I would never get you. You were still in high school and I just…didn’t think you were interested at all. I began giving up.

“Then, Tuesday night, Tricia and I got in an argument. She was upset I was spending so much time here and wanted to know why. I couldn’t tell her it was you, she’d hurt you. So, I tried to not talk to you, but it hurt more than anything Tricia could do to me. Then in class I thought about it and realized, I needed to be an adult. I needed to tell you how I felt and not just settle. I had to face facts that even if you rejected me, it was meant to be and there was somebody out there better than Tricia. I love you, Rosa. I had to make sure you knew.”

“You’re an idiot.” She stated, tears falling down her face. “A complete and utter fool.” She began crying harder.

“I knew I shouldn’t have told you. I’m sorry, Rosa. But, keep the flowers, and the necklace, I bought them both for you and I couldn’t think of bringing them back. I already brought back Tricia’s ring today…”

“No, you moron! You thought I didn’t love you back? How could a future great doctor, who will be saving lives soon, make such a mistake?”

He sat for a moment as her word sunk in. Once they did, he grinned and put his hands on her cheeks. “I love you, Rosa.”

“I love you too, Peter.”

With that, he leaned down and kissed her, sealing their fates as intertwined.

Reviews

[Love Struck]

The plot was a cute idea; I'd like to see this expanded into a small chapter book. I might suggest throwing in a bit of twists, though. Maybe Peter really DID love Tricia, but at one specific moment at the diner he realized that he loved Rosa. Or something to make it less predictable, as The Swine King mentioned. The ending line was a bit corny as well, but the text was wonderfully written.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Your story is sweet (if a tad predictable) I was curious enough to follow it through to the end. I have a few suggestions that might a smidge more easy on the ears if you are interested. But I'll only offer them if you want them as I have encountered a few people who view having them included in a review as impolite.