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Jamie

“Leave, Nolan.” Jamie resisted physically pushing him out of the way. She couldn’t bear to be that close to him. Tears threatened and she did not want her former best friend to see them.

“I can’t, Jamie. I can’t.” He sounded on the verge of crying himself. 

Taking several steps back, Jamie shook her head and folded her arms. “After what you said this morning I don’t want to even look at you and you haven’t the decency to give me the space you know I need at this very moment and will probably need for at least a few months.”

“You weren’t supposed to ever hear.” Nolan hung his head but still did not move.

Her hands fisted. “And how does that make it any better, Nolan?”

She was met with silence and an immovable wall of a man. If there was another exit, she would have gladly taken it.

“Jamie, please hear me out and then you can leave and I’ll do my best to never have you see me again if that is what you want.”

“Fine. Just don’t touch me.”

Nolan nodded quickly, motioning for her to sit down. He did not look her in the eye and she was glad of it. Her heart was still aching deeply from overhearing Nolan talking to Prissy Landers. She had thought nothing of it until she heard Prissy say Jamie’s name.

It had drawn her up short.

Earlier

“Jamie?” Nolan said. “Why bring her up?”

Prissy giggled. “Of course I had to bring her up. The two of you are constantly together. I am not willing to subject my friends to her if we were to act on our feelings.”

“It wouldn’t be a problem.”

“No?” Prissy didn’t sound like she believed him. “Won’t she be jealous?”

“I really doubt that. She thinks of me as a holding space. She can’t stand to go anywhere alone, so until she manages to attach herself to a boyfriend, I fill that space. We would just need to find her another fill in and she won’t pay me any mind at all.”

“Nolan, you sound positively mercenary.” Prissy giggled again.

Standing slumped around the corner, Jamie could barely breathe. She didn’t hear anything more. She wasn’t sure if they had moved farther away or if her heart couldn’t bear to hear anymore and had blocked it out.

Unfortunately she was so far lost in her own pain that she did not hear the footsteps approaching until there were feet facing her. 

She looked up and into the face of Reese Dunn.

“Are you alright?” He pulled her back up to standing. “You look as if you were suffering a stroke.” His light smile pulled her attention away from her broken heart, just a little.

She shrugged. “I’ll admit I have just received some painfully enlightening news and I am still reeling I suppose.”

“Shall I stay with you until the bell rings?” He held her hand as he moved to lean against the wall next to her.

She looked down at their entwined hands in shock, then up at him.

He gave her another small smile. “I’ve heard that human touch can have a healing effect when matters of the heart are involved.”

“I…thank you.” Jamie let her head drop back against the wall. “I’ve discovered a friend of mine considers me a mere nuisance he can pawn off to any other on a whim.”

“Nolan said that?” Reese focused on her face and she felt herself blush.

“Who said anything about him?” Jamie hedged.

“Jamie. Everyone knows that the two of you are near inseparable. I think most of the underclassmen assume that you are a couple.”

Jamie’s heart tore a little more. Her head down and her gaze fixed on her feet. “I had hoped it would have eventually happened, I admit. I was never in any rush.”

Reese pulled her away from the wall.

“Where are we going?”

“I think you need a change of scenery.” His delighted smile captivated her.

“What do you mean? School is about to start.”

It was then that Nolan came around the corner, alone. She could see his surprise at seeing them there. Maybe even more surprised to see her holding hands with Reese. Her heart withered but her ire rose like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her. Reese lightly squeezed her hand, drawing her back and grounding her.

“Jamie.” Nolan smiled. “I was just looking for you.”

“Why?”

It was probably the flatness of her tone and the lack of her usual enthusiasm to see him that clued him in to the fact that something was wrong.

“Why was I looking for you? Why wouldn’t I be?”

Reese moved toward Nolan, placing himself slightly in front of Jamie.

She had to step to the side to be seen. She laid a hand on Reese’s arm. When he looked back at her, she smiled, hoping he’d understand. He seemed to, when he stayed where he was and didn’t block her again.

“Why would you be looking for me at all?” Jamie could scarcely breathe. “So I wouldn’t be alone? Because I am so helpless without you that I need you to find me a boyfriend to cling to so you can be relieved of your responsibility?”

His face paled at her words. “Jamie?”

“Reese?” She turned back to Reese, completely blocking Nolan from her view. “You said you wanted to show me something?”

“Jamie.” Nolan called out again as Reese escorted away. Jamie made it a point not to look back.

Now, sitting in the classroom with Nolan pacing back and forth in apparent distress, Jamie didn’t feel the pain. She didn’t feel anything, even as the tears threatened.

“You wanted to say something?” She coldly ground out. This was an agony she wanted over and done.

“Could you please just pretend you didn’t hear anything this morning?” He faced her, dropping down in front of her. She leaned back.

“Why? And how?” Jamie shook her head. “I don’t think I could ever manage to erase the disdain in your voice as you spoke of me to Prissy.”

“I was trying to assure her that you wouldn’t have a problem with my dating her.” 

“And did it work?” Jamie glared. “Is she your one and only true love?”

Nolan’s head dropped again. “No.”

She wanted to slap him. “So you made me out to be a pathetic, clingy, worthless piece of trash for nothing.”

“Please, Jamie. I want us to still be friends.” He pleaded.

“Again, why?” Jamie stood. “You made it very clear that I am an annoyance interfering with your love life. And after the realization I came to today, why would I want to be your friend? You’ve proven yourself to be a worthless sort of friend today and the worst sort of crush to have.”

“Jamie.” 

“No, Nolan. Reese is waiting for me, as a friend should.”

She reached the door.

“Jamie, wait. I love you.”

She whirled. “Don’t you dare say that. You betrayed me today and you expect me to forget it all because you now say that you love me? Goodbye, Nolan.”

Cora

Cora did not deviate from her course. She couldn’t.

Her father and mother back home in their beds, depending on her to provide them with food. With them both ill with fevers and wracking pains, it was left to her to provide.

Luckily, they had always been careful to save any extra money they earned for such times as this when Father wasn’t able to sell his furniture and wood-carved figures. Yet she hadn’t dared take more than a few pennies to buy a few vegetables at the market with the hope that the extra nourishment would hurry their recovery. There was no telling how long it would be before Father could get back to his own stall at the market. She might have to make the money stretch.

She kicked at the dirt. If only they would let her sell the wares. It wasn’t as if she would be exerting herself. However, her mother had been insistent that she not, so father had listened.

Reaching the market she stopped to catch her breath. She hated being away for long, in case her parents needed her for something.

It didn’t take more than a few minutes to gather what she came for; some tomatoes, fish, and flour. Had her purchase been any bigger though, she would have had a hard time carrying it all the way home.

She had only been walking a few minutes when she heard a wagon approaching from behind, from the direction of the market. Glancing back, she gave a happy wave at the young man in the front seat, driving his team.

“Miles!” She called as he drew closer.

He nodded her way as he pulled the horses to a stop beside her.

“Miss Shaw.” His voice had deepened to a marvelous low baritone over the past few months and it never failed to cause a thrill to shoot along her spine.

“How many times have I asked you to call me Cora?” She put her hands on her hips and pretended to glare. “It’s not as if I am some elderly matron.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “More times than I can count Miss Shaw. But my mama would scold me for days if I allowed myself to not address you properly.”

“Then I guess it’s about time I had a talk with your mama.” She laughed. It was good to see him. After the achingly lonely days of tending to her parents and nothing else, she was longing for such friendly and pleasant company as Mr Miles Tuckett. He never failed to make her feel special.

His presence lightened her day out of the bleak mire she had been wallowing in as she trudged home.

Miles hopped down from the wagon seat and leaned back against it. “We noticed that you and your parents had not been at the market for several days. Pop has been remarking on it. Everything ok?”

Her eyes and shoulders dropped. “They’ve been sick.”

“Anything I can do?”

“I wish I could ask you to try selling some of my father’s finished pieces but I know that would be impossible. Neither of our parents would allow that.” Cora shook her head. “I am just hoping that they will be feeling better soon. Even if it is just well enough for Father to sit on a chair in his stall at the market.”

“Do you have enough fire chopped to keep warm and are the animals needing some attention? I could spend a bit of my time coming to help sort through the gap your father’s being sick creates.”

Cora’s head popped up. “You’d be willing to take time away from working at your father’s farm to come help me with my father’s chores?”

“For you, Cora? Indeed I would.”

She beamed up at him.

“What?” Her joy had him shifting from foot to foot.

“You said my name. You said Cora, not Miss Shaw.”

He blushed.

She didn’t give him time to apologize because she didn’t want him ruining her delighted moment with a sorry and him retreating home. “I have to be honest. I haven’t given thought to all the things my father hasn’t been able to do other than his woodwork. Keeping them comfortable and well tended has taken up all my attention.”

“Well, lucky for you I have a bit of free time right now. If you want, I can give you a ride home and take stock of what needs doing. It’s possible that an hour of work can set it to rights well enough.” He climbed back up and held out his hand for her.

She motioned at the back of the wagon. It was covered with a tarp.

“I wouldn’t want to interfere with your deliveries.” She gave a helpless shrug. “I can walk. It isn’t too far to go.”

“Nonsense, Miss Shaw. Just climb on up and I’ll see you home.” Miles patted the seat next to him and waited.

She swallowed a giggle before it could slip out. “If you insist.”

“I do.” He squashed his wide brimmed hat back over his eyes. “Now let me get down and help you up. I completely forget my manners when I am around you.” Immediately he was jumping back down and reaching out to assist her.

“Much obliged Mr Tuckett.” She gave him a small smile.

His laugh rolled out from him like a deep wave. “Since when are you so formal with me?”

“Since you retreated back from calling me Cora. I admit to rather enjoying hearing you say my name. So I feel I must deprive you of the same pleasure. Maybe then you can get up to courage to inform your mother that you will be calling me Cora from now on.”

“You know I can’t do that.” He moaned, a pleading look in his eye. “Once Mama gives her opinion on a subject, there is no changing her mind. You shoulda heard how furious she was the last time I called you by your first name. Livid.”

Cora whispered as she looked straight up at him. His face was so close to hers. “I won’t tell.”

Ellery

There was a time when going to parties seemed glamorous. Getting all dressed up, fancy cars, red carpet events, paparazzi, celebrities, and delicious food. However, the novelty of it all was beginning to wear off for me and John didn’t understand. It was his life ambition to hobnob with the elite for so long that he has eventually become one of them. It had been fun, at first. I mean who doesn’t want to become famous?

Well, after 6 months of being treated like I am about to spark a scandal or drag some starlet’s boyfriend away from them or am going to beg or bribe one of the many managers or agents into “discovering me”, I want to be done.

No matter how many times I denied it, the assumption and stigma was still there.

“Ellery, we are going to be late.” John griped from where he stood just inside my front door.

I grabbed my shoes off the dressing table and stuffed my phone into my sleek black clutch.

Walking out to the living room where John tapped his foot and glaring at the clock on the wall I spun in front of him.

“It’s no surprise that we are going to be late when you make me change my dress at the last minute.” There was a slight bite to my purposefully sweet tone.

“Ellery, you looked fat. You had to change.” He shrugged as he hurried out the door. “Let’s go.”

He didn’t stop to escort me. Instead, he was already halfway in his car by the time I made it out, teeth grinding.

He didn’t pause to breathe as he launched into a spiel about all of the people he needed to meet and impress. It was when he started lecturing about my role in his evening’s plans that I interrupted him.

“Are you implying that I am only going tonight to shop for a new boyfriend?”

He looked at me like I was stupid. “Why else would you be coming? It’s not like we are in a committed, long term arrangement. Right now, in my life, you are the perfect eye candy to bring along to these sort of events.”

“Well, up until a minute ago, I was coming as your supportive girlfriend.” I spat out, wishing I could slap him.

John didn’t respond but kept driving.

I crossed my arms and glowered in the silence. He didn’t even say anything as we arrived. Yet, ever aware of his image he whispered, “Don’t you dare open your door.”

I didn’t respond or move.

When he opened my door, I glared at him. “I’m going home.”

“After the party, yes. For now, you will stay on my arm and smile pretty.”

Again, John wasn’t looking at me, expecting to be obeyed without question. I flashed my best smile at the photographers.

“John, if you say one more unkind thing to me, I will make an even larger and more dramatic scene than you could ever have possibly thought I would. “

John’s eyes darted around to make sure no one was noticing our delay. “Deal. Get out of the car.”

Gracefully I stepped out and scanned the people around me for a familiar or friendly face. None.

However, there were two men off to the side, dressed up in their tuxes looking at me in an almost speculative way. It wasn’t a leer or I wouldn’t have dismissed them immediately from her mind. Instead I was left mulling over them.

They must be famous since they were here and dressed well but I didn’t recognize them from previous parties. The muscular blonde one had a familiar feeling about him though. 

John cleared his throat loud, holding out his arm for me to take.

I had a feeling I was going to need a lot of deep breathing to get through the night without ripping his head off. The carpet and the pictures seemed to take even longer than usual. Maybe it was because I was purposefully hanging back and staying out of any shots with John.

I was surprised at how many of the photographers called me by name to have my picture taken, without John. That had earned a few glares from him but it had made my night.

Once they were inside I could feel my shoulders relax. And it wasn’t long before John was off making rounds without me, simply stating that there were some relationships best cultivated without my distracting presence. For the first time in our relationship I was more than happy to let him saunter off.

Within minutes of finding myself free of her now ex-boyfriend, the two men who I had noticed outside were by my side.

The man with short deep red curls bowed, his face lighting up with an almost boyish glint of mischief. “Pardon me. We couldn’t help but notice that your amor left you alone and we thought now would be the best time to introduce ourselves. I’m Connor. And this is my lookout Killian.”

The blonde half of the duo wasn’t looking at me as he scanned the room, yet he was still smiling.

I gave a laugh. “How fortuitous of you. And a pleasure to meet you.”

“Isn’t it?” Connor laughed.

Killian paused in his lookout duties to stun me with an intensity that had my arms prickle with awareness. “I may be forward in saying so but I can’t abide how your date treated you when you arrived.” He looked back out at the crowd. It was as if his subtle glares were keeping the crowds at bay.

I felt my skin heat. “You heard him?”

Connor gave me a side hug. “Maybe a little.”

“And you came to talk to me because of it?” My heart sank just a little.

Killian once again focused in on my face. “You don’t deserve to be spoken to in such a way.” His dark green eyes glittered almost black.

I put on my brightest smile and held firmly to Killian’ gaze. “And that is why I broke up with him.”

“You did?” Connor broke in, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“The two of you witnessed the end of it, where I agreed to attend this party and no more.” I nodded. Saying it aloud made it all seem so much more final.

“You are a strong woman, Miss …?” Killian said.

“Ellery Walker.”

It was Killian who snared my attention once again as he stepped toward. “Truly a pleasure to meet you, Miss Walker. I do hope it is not the last time we are together.”

I stared as the pair walked away, already deep in conversation. And I still couldn’t figure out why he looked so familiar.

Nina

“Drop the phone Nina and back away.” Trevor’s voice echoed over the mall’s speakers, causing Nina to jump.

“Trev?” She looked around the food court. “Trev?”

“Just do it. Nina, do it now.” His urgent voice continued to bounce around the large room.

It took another few seconds of glancing around to see if she could spot him before she set her phone down on the table.

“Thank you!”

“Where are you?” Nina called out.

She was met with silence. And if she wasn’t in a public place she might have screamed his name. However, she was currently surrounded by a large crowd of strangers, so she was going to keep the screaming to a minimum if at all possible.

As she searched the faces around her, her frustration grew. Trevor was nowhere to be found. “How did he even get access to the speaker system?” She groaned.

When she turned to sit back down and finish her lunch she found him sitting there across from her. Plopping back in her seat, she laughed. “Hello my sneaky friend.” 

He sat up with mock outrage on his face. “Sneaky? How could you call me sneaky?” He gestured around him. “I basically announced to the entire food court that I was here. And you knew it was me because you were calling my name.”

Kicking back in her chair she folded her arms. “Sneaky and bold. The oddest combination in a friend.”

“And the best.”

Nina shrugged. “I might reserve some judgment on that.”

“Aww why?” His face transformed once again to form a pout.

“My phone for a start.” She reached out her hand.

He laughed. “What phone?”

“You can’t give me that innocent look and honestly make me forget about it. I want my phone back, Trev.” She tried to look stern and not laugh at his antics.

“I am sure you do. However, I won’t be handing it over.”

All of the inclination for laughing vanished. “Say that again?”

Trevor laughed even harder. “Aww your face! You look hilarious.”

“And you still have my phone.”

“I need it, Nina.”

“Why? You sneak up behind me, steal my phone, and refuse to give it back. I’m beginning to not feel so happy to see you.”

“Don’t be like that.” He groaned. “I promise it’s a good thing. It’s a surprise.”

“A surprise that requires my phone?”

Apparently he didn’t catch the sarcasm. “Exactly. Now you get it.” He stood. “I’ll be right back.”

“Trev, no.”

He didn’t stop. She couldn’t gather up her things fast enough to chase after him. He was gone and out of sight as she moved to grab her purse.

With a groan, she sank back into her chair to pick at the rest of her cheese covered gourmet burrito. If he didn’t come back in the next 15 minutes she was going to leave and contemplate murder.

“Nina.”

Looking up, she saw Ian across the court. Immediately she was up and running over to him.

“Hey! I thought you had to work today.”

“I know I said that. Someday, in the grand scheme of things I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” Nina took a step back.

“For telling you that I had to work so I couldn’t meet up for lunch when I didn’t actually have to work.” Ian shrugged.

“Why?” Nina hugged herself. People were definitely watching now. “And why are you telling me this here, with all of these people watching?”

“That’s another thing I hope you’ll forgive me for.”

Music blasted over the speakers causing Nina to jump. At the same time several people nearby jumped up and started dancing around the two of them.

Laughing she leaned into him, practically yelling in order to be heard. “It looks like we’ve been caught in the middle of a flash mob. I’ve never seen one live.” She twirled around once, a huge grin on her face. “I’ve always wanted to see one. Can we talk about you lying to me once this is done.”

Ian laughed. “Yes, definitely.”

Going to grab his hand she moved in to have him hold her while she watched but he wasn’t there. She looked sharply over to where he had stood only moments before but he gone.

“Ian?”

By this time even more dancers had joined in and somehow she had managed to stay in the middle of it.

“Ian!” She called out again. She even moved to stand on a chair to get a better view. Nina could see all the dancers so much better. So much so that she was momentarily distracted from finding Ian.

Caught up as she was in the music and the dancing she almost missed him. He was dancing. He knew she had seen him because he threw her a jaunty salute as he continued to prance around.

Then the song morphed into another and she clapped. It was one of her favorites. Ian must have had a hand in picking the music for this flash mob. Her smile widened even further.

Maybe this was why he had been lying to her. He wanted to get her here to see the flash mob he was in.

But why lie? He could have just come with her and started from wherever they had been eating.

In another minute the tempo slowed and morphed once again, now into a slow song. It almost seemed like one of those cheesy romance theme songs. Best flash mob ever!

She was momentarily distracted when she spotted Trevor holding up her phone like he was recording the dancing. But there was no way to get to him, as much as she wanted to tackle him and force him to give her her phone back.

All thoughts of Trevor disappeared completely when she realized Ian was standing right in front of her, not dancing. His smile said he was excited but his eyes looked nervous.

She didn’t understand why until all the dancers stopped in unison and he knelt down on one knee.

“Nina Octavia Florez, will you marry me?”

Gasping and looking around at all the flash mob dancers doing jazz hands in her direction had her near swooning. She looked back down at Ian. “Yes.” She squealed.

Maya

Maya’s shoulders slumped as she took in the sight of the dishes piled high in the corner of the kitchen. 

Add dishes to the list. 

With her children in bed, she was finally able to catch her breath and look around. Of course it looked like a disaster. The living room was covered in toys and balls and dolls and books. She hadn’t had time to clean up. 

Add toy cleanup to the list. 

Moving into the crumb covered floor of her kitchen, she winced. 

Add sweeping to the list. 

The more she looked around, the more she saw everything that still needed to be done. The oven needed cleaning. The laundry needed to be switched from the washer to the dryer. The front room needed vacuuming. Her to-do list before she could go to bed was growing longer by the second. And that was only the things she could see that needed doing.

So absorbed in avoiding the crumbs, she nearly tripped over the scattered kitchen utensils her son had joyously scattered about the room in his efforts to ‘help’ her make dinner.  Spatulas, stirring spoons, whisks, forks, and the potato peeler created a maze for her to wade through.

With a groan, she made it to the sink and let the warm spray of the faucet soothe her tired hands. The dishes were stacked to overflowing in the large farm sink, with the dirty pots and pans lining the counters. With a glance to the microwave’s clock to see how much longer until Jack came home, she picked up her first plate. She hated having him come home to a mess. He always felt like he had to clean up before he could sit down and rest from his own stressful and busy day. Even more than that, she hated going to bed with a mess. It meant she would be waking up to a mess and wide awake kids to deal with as well.

Quickly, the dishwasher began to fill as she rinsed and scrubbed. Someday she would get control of the mess that was her house. At least enough so that she wasn’t doing the entire day’s dishes after the kids were asleep. Scraping off dried spaghetti sauce was just as hard as chipping off the dried oatmeal leftovers from each breakfast bowl in the bottom of the sink.

There was something soothing about clearing out the sink of dirty plates, cups, and silverware. Not that it was something she particularly enjoyed, it just needed doing and she was the only one around to do it. Maybe the satisfaction came from being able to see the progress she had made as the sink began to empty. As she put another cup into the top rack of the dishwasher she heard the front door open and close.

Not having the energy to stop, Maya waved a soapy wet hand in his direction from her station in front of the sink. She didn’t even pause to look over at him. Any extra movement might tip her over into exhaustion and she wouldn’t be able to finish everything she had left to do. Besides, he always headed upstairs first to go say goodnight to the kids.

Seconds later, she practically melted as his hands slowly wrapped around her, pulling her back into his warm solid comfort. Well, to be totally honest, it was a toss up between gracefully melting into a romantic embrace and collapsing in an undignified heap in his arms. Romance won. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back and sighed.

Instead of letting her go after a brief hug, he turned off the water and turned her away from the sink to face him. She was tempted to lay her head on his shoulder and let him hold her for a while despite her hands still dripping with soapy water. However, his face showed signs of the long and wearying day he’d had and she couldn’t force him to take on more. 

His smile was soft and gentle, like he understood what she was feeling without her having to say a word.  It made her want to go up on her tippy toes and kiss him. So she did. 

That kiss steadied her. She didn’t feel as though she was going to be spread in a thousand different ways in order to get her to-do list done. Her mind slowed and the endless spinning of messes to be cleaned stopped battering her consciousness. Her focus narrowed solely on him, in the feel of his warm strength holding her space for her so she could breathe.

Taking both of her wet hands in his, he walked backward, pulling her with him toward the living room, a small smile on his face. How he didn’t trip over toys or kitchenware she couldn’t figure out. His dark brown eyes stayed riveted on her face. A sort of bubbly, fluttery, effervescenty feeling shivered through her core. Everything but the man in front of her faded into obscurity. Her to-do list forgotten. 

And for the first time that night, she allowed herself to breathe deep. It almost made her sob. And it did make her yawn. His low chuckle had her smiling too, while she shook her head at him. She had too much to do for him to be leading her away from the dishes still to be done.

Reality came crashing back as he left the kitchen completely, entering the war zone of a living room. When she opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, he stopped her with a finger softly crossing her lips. He shook his head and seated her softly on the couch.

Kneeling down in front of her, he bent and took off her shoes. Once they were off he gently propped her feet up on the ottoman.  He leaned in close and kissed her closed eyes one by one. Stepping away, he moved back to the kitchen and silently turned on the water.

Tears streamed down her face as she watched from the couch as he did the dishes she had tiredly been working through.

Her heart thumped with a deep joy, knowing that he was hers. He chose her over everyone and everything in the world. How was she so lucky? After working all day he came home to help so that she could finally sit without being crawled on by kids, knowing that while she sat, the mess was getting smaller instead of bigger. She couldn’t explain the lightness it caused her to feel in her chest.

The smile he then flashed her way was the whipped topping to what could have been a miserable end to the day. Instead she had reason to smile. 

She was loved.

Calliope

What sort of a name is Calliope? It’s not. It’s a musical instrument. Who names their darling daughter after a musical instrument? My mother. And I love her to pieces. Maybe not for my name but it could have been worse. Right? I definitely wouldn’t want to be named flute…or oboe. Ugh I’d cry if my name was tuba.

Alright I take it back. Calliope is a beautiful name, almost like a song. You can sing my name and you have a chance at not being laughed at for it. Not that I’ve tried.

Anyways, on to more important things. I have met someone. A boy.

Oh goodness. I just shrieked in the diner I’m at because I’m so excited. Kill me now. Everyone is looking at me funny. And I didn’t even sing my name! Maybe if I shrink down and silently do a happy dance everyone will forget my outburst.

So his name is Nate. And he isn’t like what everyone always says that they want when searching for their one and only. You could call him Aladdin. I could! A nickname. Maybe I should clear that with him first. Anyways the reason I brought up Aladdin is because of what he is called in the movie. A ‘diamond in the rough’. That’s Nate.

Now, that is not me saying that he is ugly. I’d say he looks normal. He just doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold of prince charming.

And the more I get to know him, the more I am so glad he doesn’t. He isn’t ashamed of his quirks and he has patience with mine.

I’ve always struggled to get out and be social. I’d rather just stay in and read a book or watch a cheesy romance movie. Hanging out with friends is fun and exhausting. I feel like it takes me a day or two to recover from being social. Yet when I am with Nate I don’t feel like I am going out of my way to be social or have to plan out time to ground myself afterward. I just am.

I’m even getting more comfortable with him knowing I’m not perfect. Shocker, right?! Every woman wants her man to think of her as perfect, right? Not me.

Perfection…all the time? What an unrealistic expectation. And how exhausting. No wonder I feel stretched out and worn thin when I even consider dating a person. Feeling like I am failing someone else’s expectation makes me feel like I am failing my own. And I don’t expect myself to be perfect.

Oh so back to the whole reason I brought this up. I’m in love and I have to tell someone about it.

The main problem is condensing the meet, first date, and the next few months of awesomeness down. Or maybe I shouldn’t. A book? I could write a book!

Hmm so I have to tell you parts of it now though because I might burst if I don’t.

We met at one of those super awkward social mixers for singles. I know, right. Anyways. I was standing next to the cookie table, consoling myself with sugar. No one would even talk to me, not even the women.

How horrible is that feeling when you are watching everyone else talking to a friend, group, or even a stranger and have no one to talk to because you don’t know how? Seriously, though.

I was standing there, alone, for at least 10 minutes. And I had promised myself that I wouldn’t get my phone out at all unless it was to put someone’s phone number in it. So that added to the stressful loneliness of it all, but I was determined to at least keep the promise I’d made to myself. I wouldn’t want to go home after and regret playing on my phone for an hour, not knowing if I might have met someone great if only I had been looking up.

And back to the story. Sorry for all the side notes. Think of it as me adding dimension to the story or something.

So I was about to head out of that stupid mixer with a firm resolve to never go to one of these things alone ever ever again when this guy walks up. Only an inch or taller than me, sandy brown hair with maybe a few streaks of sun through it, and brown eyes; this guy might not have caught my attention if I hadn’t desperately been wishing for someone to talk to me.

I am just not good at approaching people and starting up a conversation out of nowhere.

So he came straight up to me and said hello.

After managing to get out a hi that even sounded mildly flirty I took as subtle of a deep breath as I could manage.

“I’m Nate. I just got here so I’ve missed out on most of the evening. However, imagine my surprise when I saw you standing here without at least 5 other men hanging on your every word. Did I manage to catch you in between admirers?”

“Something like that.” I laughed. Maybe it is my nerves coloring my view of the evening but I think I sounded shrill. He didn’t flinch though so I am going to overlook my judgment of my laugh.

“Could I maybe get your name before some dashing prince comes back with your drink?”

“Oh, I’m Calliope. And no one is coming.” Pretty sure I blushed.

His grin widened. “It must be my lucky day then. And since luck seems to be on my side I think I will take the opportunity now to ask you out and if you decide I’m too weird you can cancel.” Nate cleared his throat dramatically. “Calliope. Will you be so kind as to agree to go on a date with me this coming Friday night?”

If you really are still wondering, I did say yes. The date was amazing and it’s been a blast ever since. Hard and real conversations included.

Ok so you know at least a little of what’s been going on in my life. I’ll update you more soon. Talk to you later!

Charity

The storm was pure raging perfection. A fury unmatched. The dark greys of the clouds swirled with the deep greens of the forest pine, fusing them together as the wind tore the needles from the treetops. A mere mile away from the rampaging storm stood a small walled city on high alert with guards staring in awe over the ramparts at the powerful brutality they were witnessing.

Hundreds of people could be seen fleeing toward the city with little more than what they could carry.

Only one of the guards was not watching the mighty storm as it approached, unconcerned with it. Searching among those fleeing, he was anxious to see with his own eyes that his daughter Charity had reached safety.

“Have you seen her?” An anxious voice sounded from his side.

Glancing at Charity’s fiancé, Dane, he could not muster the words to say no, nor did he dare look away for fear he might miss her. “I am still looking.”

Dane’s hand lightly rested on his arm for a minute before he too leaned against the wall to peer closer at the refugees approaching.

“Is that her?” Dane cried out a moment later, pointing out a tall dark haired woman in the back, struggling to carry a toddler and hurrying along two other young children. “What is she doing?”

Her father peered close in the direction Dane was pointing. “It looks to be her but it is still too great of a distance to be sure. Keep searching.”

“Where are those children’s parents?” Dane couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. She was lagging further behind. The storm edged closer, tearing up great gouges in the earth.

There was silence as both men stared.

Finally Dane could take no more. “I am going out there.”

“And if that is not her? Or you cannot find her because there are too many people jostling around out there? What help are you to her then? You yourself could be caught outside the protective barrier when it rises.”

“And if it is her?” Dane shot back. “Should I stay here and helplessly watch her fall victim to the storm? And if it is not her, should I not help that woman when we can both see that she is so obviously in need of assistance? Everyone else out there is fleeing for their lives, not looking around for who they can help. I am going.”

There was a pause of charged silence before Charity’s father nodded to him. “Charity would be proud of you.”

Dane did not wait a second longer, dashing down the great stoned steps set into the inner side of the wall and to the front gate. He was hard-pressed to fight past those rushing to get inside.

As he passed the guard at the entry he heard him holler out. “3 minutes until the shield goes up and no one else gets through. We can’t wait any longer.”

Dane picked up speed at the news. He had 3 minutes to get the love of his life safe within those walls or they would both be left to the mercy of mother nature’s latest brutal tantrum.

“Charity.” He yelled, heading in the direction he had seen the struggling woman and children. In seconds he had them in his sight and called out again. “Charity.”

This time the woman’s head rose to meet his, fear and relief flashed across her face. “Dane. Help me.”

Without pausing for a second he scooped up the two children she had been trying to tow alongside her. They looked to be anywhere from 4-7 years old, no older. The young one in her arms was barely 2.

As they ran back toward the gate he glanced over at her to make sure she was still keeping up. Her breathing was labored but she was keeping pace with him with a look of set determination on her face.

The relief on the guard’s face as they reached him was clear. “You are the last.” The man softly announced.

As he finished speaking a shimmering pale arc appeared just outside the wall, encapsulating the whole city in seconds. The wind’s howling dulled to barely a whisper as the storm was cut off from raining destruction down on them.

All around the city, outside of that shield, dirt, trees, and more flew around. It was as if the wind was tossing it all around like a toddler would when told it was time for a bath.

Charity’s face appeared before them, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. She managed to smile softly at the children now clinging to Dane as she patted the back of the little girl she was still cuddling close.

It was almost an hour before Dane was able to pull her aside from helping out those who had been displaced.

After a heart-searing kiss he sighed into her hair. “Charity, I was scared I would lose you.”

Her chuckle was grim. “I was too. It was close. If you hadn’t come out I would not have made it with those children.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she mentioned the children she had set up in a corner of what was soon to be their home when they started their new life together.

“How did you manage to pick up children while out to gather herbs?”

“I found them.” She looked straight up at him. “I found them as I was fleeing from the storm. Dane, they had been abandoned. I am sure they had been left there to be taken by the storm. The poor things were holding onto each other, the eldest trying to calm the young one while crying herself. I couldn’t leave them.”

“I would never have asked you to.” He smiled down at her. “And it appears this little family of two has grown to five in one day.”

“Really?” She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

“After what the five of us just went through, it doesn’t seem right to have them stay with anyone else.”

She cried into his shoulder. “I love you Dane Penrose.”

Alana

It had sounded like a good idea when I’d signed up. My friends had been with me and had been so encouraging. Helping me fill in the form with all the information and laughing with me at the thought of going.

But now, standing there alone in the killer red sheath dress my friend Gina had picked out for me, staring at the sign welcoming me to the seminar I felt a little stupid.

Maybe it was the sign. It was huge. In bright pink fluffy letters, for all the world to see, it asked ‘Why are you still single?’

Might as well stamp ‘reject’ on my forehead. And I had to go get my name tag at the table underneath it. Oh and all the fun free stuff the website said I would get would forever announce that I had gone to this thing.

I feel compelled to add that whoever made the sign probably didn’t think anyone would get stuck on that first line. Underneath in a beautiful dark red script is said. ‘Find out where your soulmate has been hiding.’

With a groan I took a step forward then took several back, right into someone.

“I am so sorry!” I burst out, spinning to see who I had practically demolished in my haste to flee the scene of that sign. I would not be admitting to the world my singleness today.

“That’s alright. You looked to be fleeing something in a hurry. I’m just sorry I stopped you from it.” The man I had trampled in my haste was in the middle of wiping my hot chocolate off his business suit and picking up my purse at the same time.

“I…thank you.” Tucking my hair behind my ear I swung my purse back onto my shoulder.

“Were you late to get somewhere or are you truly trying to escape?”

I knew the second he saw the sign behind me because his smile doubled in size. I didn’t know that was even possible but it did. It had my heart thumping even faster, causing my breath to hitch. Deep breaths. No swooning…or crumpling into a graceless unconscious heap.

“I see.” His chuckle rumbled from deep within his chest as if his whole being found me and my situation highly amusing. “Would you feel better if I walked over with you?”

My shoulders slumped. “Am I that pathetic that you automatically assume I’m a lost-cause single girl in need of a pity party from a gorgeous, obviously successful man?”

“Gorgeous, obviously successful man?” He looked around. “Is that supposed to be me? I’m flattered. And now I find I would like to insist on walking you over, even if it is to learn your name from the nametag you pick.”

My blush made an appearance as I felt my cheeks heat. “I can’t keep you from following me I guess.” Swallowing a giggle that almost followed those words I took a sly deep breath instead.

His grin was disarming but his full smile was devastating to my normal brain function.

“True.” His voice cajoling. “Unfortunately I doubt that tag has your phone number on it as well.” His eyebrow rose in question. “Or maybe it would, since it is a singles convention.”

“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t get that far.” With a shrug, I glanced back over to the table laden down with cute pink name tags.

“Shall we then?” He held out his arm.

“Don’t you have somewhere that you were needing to go? I doubt you were standing there waiting for someone to run over you so that you could escort them to wherever they need to go.”

“I do have somewhere I need to be so I suggest we get moving because I am serious about this mission to get your name and number.”

“I could just give it to you.” I laughed. At his hopeful face I added. “But you would have to ask me.”

He held out his arm again with that grin I was beginning to like very much. “Shall we?”

“I haven’t caught your name yet either.”

“You would have to ask.” His eyes sparked with mischievousness.

I rolled my eyes. Then, batting my eyes, I forced my voice into a soft but high falsetto. “Please kind sir. Would you tell me your name and current occupation so I can have a complete first impression assessment?”

“Once I get yours…over at the sign in table you are avoiding.”

Hooking my arm in his, I sighed. “Oh fine.”

The thirty second stroll over to the frothy pink table manned by two super smiley, gorgeous people was not as traumatic as I was thinking it would be. But maybe that was because of my escort.

“Hello there friends. Are you here to sign in?” A bubbly over-makeuped brunette stood to greet us. Well I take that back. She enthusiastically greeted my new crush, who was currently holding my arm. I knew she wasn’t greeting me because she didn’t take her eyes off him as she spoke.

He gestured over to me. “I believe my friend would like to get her name tag.”

“Name?” Her eyes were still glued to him.

I spoke up. “I’m over here.”

The girl turned her syrupy smile onto me. “Yes.  And I’m still waiting for the name.”

“Alana Tern.”

She handed me my phone numberless name tag and I could see his shoulders slump. As I worked on attaching it to my shirt he leaned in to half-whisper. “Can I have your number?”

I nodded. “Give me a second while I get this on.”

“Ok.” His attention turned back to Miss Sickly Sweet. “Jeremy Henderson.”

“Here you go.” She handed him a nametag of his own and my jaw dropped in shock.

He shrugged and shot me a side smile. “I told you I had somewhere I needed to be.”

“You are attending this conference?” It was like the information wouldn’t process in my head.

“Yes. And up until I was run over by you I was not looking forward to it.” He once again extended his arm. “Shall we?”

“Indeed we shall.” I hooked my arm with his.

As we walked through the doors and into the auditorium where our orientation would be starting he added. “I still would love to have your number.”

This conference was already worth it.

Lyndsey

Micah burst into her tiny apartment and immediately went to flop down on the couch and groan. From across the apartment, in the kitchen, Lyndsey laughed as she wiped down the table.

“What was that for?” She called over.

He groaned again, his eyes closed while his hand searched blindly for the tv remote. “I’m done.”

“With what?” She didn’t pause in her cleaning. If she stopped every time Micah came over she would never clean up anything. She half watched him with a laugh, continuing to stuff more dirty dishes into the sink in the process.

“Ha!” He yelled, having found the remote. “I’m done with dating. It hurts too much.” He turned on the TV.

“What happened to Shannon? I thought the two of you were great together.”

He slumped, flipping through the channels so fast he couldn’t possibly know what he was skipping past. “I did too. Apparently she didn’t. And decided to show me instead of telling me by showing up to our date with another date. She stole my reservation I had made months ago.”

“At least you didn’t have to pay for their date. That’s a plus.”

He groaned again. “Well, in any case, I am done.”

“Works for me.” She admitted. Lyndsey had finished cleaning up as much as she was going to for the time being and went to go join her bestie on the couch to wallow with him.

He sat up as she came over. His focus was completely on her even as the TV still flicked through channels. “Why does my lack of dating life work for you? Aren’t you supposed to have some random friend I’ve never met who you think would be perfect for me so you have to set us up now that I’m single?”

“Was that your thought process for crashing into my apartment like a bear and flopping over here as if your life was over?”

He laughed. “No. And again, why does my recent painful and somewhat traumatic breakup work for you?”

She shivered as his blue eyes focused solely on her face.

“We’ll have more time to hang out.” Lyndsey shrugged her shoulders and purposefully kept her eyes glued to the TV.

“How will Grant like having me around? The last time I dropped in he was here and didn’t take too kindly to the idea of me being so comfortable at your apartment that I hadn’t even had the good manners to knock.”

She could feel the weight of his gaze.

“I remember that.” She gave a sort of half-hearted laugh. “It’s funny the odd tidbits we remember after something happens. What I remember from that night was how he held me close the entire time you were there. I’d thought it was sweet at the time.”

“At the time?” Now Micah sat up completely and turned off the TV. “What happened?”

“I thought this was your pity party, not mine.” She hedged.

Picking up the pillow she had thrown to the floor when flopping on the couch she hugged it close.

“Yeah.” He leaned in and gave her a hug. “I changed my mind. What’s going on?”

Shaking her head she couldn’t get it out. Her mouth opened several times and still, no words came out. Micah sat there on the couch next to her, waiting. He was close enough to provide a hug or whatever if needed. Yet he held back. Probably because he knew her better than anyone and was waiting for her to crack and confess what was wrong.

She sighed. “Grant broke up with me.”

“What? Why?” He growled. “The idiot. Do I need to go beat some sense into him?”

That brought out a real laugh. “No. In fact, that would probably make him feel vindicated on why he broke up with me.”

That brought him up short. “Why would me beating on him make him feel justified in breaking up with you?”

“He thinks you and I are secretly dating. Which would mean he thinks I was cheating on him with you.”

“What an idiot.” He growled again, then a smile lit his face once again. “I can still go wail on him for a bit, if it makes you feel better. Who cares what he thinks.”

Sighing, she leaned over to lay her head on his shoulder. “I’d rather sit here and watch a movie with my best friend.”

“That I can do.” As he settled in to hold her he turned the TV back on. “Action or cheesy sappy romance?”

“As much as I know you want me to pick a romance I think I’m in the mood for action, just not a bloody one.” Lyndsey snuggled in closer. No matter how many boyfriends flaked out or quit the relationship, Micah was always there to snuggle with after.

“I can work with that.” He began flipping channels again and she closed her eyes. His solid comfort was exactly what she hadn’t realized she’d needed. It was only when the movie ended that she realized she hadn’t watched any of it. The entire time she had been soaking in his strength and confidence as well as his acceptance of who she was. She didn’t have to pretend or keep up appearances with him. He knew her.

Blinking her eyes open she looked up at him. He was passed out with his head tilted so far back his mouth was gaping open.

She laughed a little and his head popped up as his eyes blinked rapidly. “Movie done?” He muttered.

“Why have you never asked me out?” She whispered.

That got his attention immediately. He squeezed her tight with the arm he was already holding her with.

“You must like me at least a little if we’ve stayed so close all these years.” Her voice grew smaller. He didn’t answer. “Nevermind. Forget I asked. Let’s just call it my hormones running rampant over my heart and things just coming out.”

He shrugged but didn’t look her way. “I’ve been waiting.”

She stilled. “For what?”

He smiled sheepishly for a second then looked away again. “For you to notice me.”

Cordelia

“Ms Cordelia. Your uncle and fiancé are in the study awaiting your arrival. One more anxiously than the other. Would you like to join them or should I stall for a few minutes so that you can change into a dress?”

Cordelia stopped to smile at her old friend. He may have merely been the old butler to her family but to her he was one of her dear friends. “Are they dressed that formally, Jeffrey? I did not even know Rhett was coming today.”

“Very formal Ms Cordelia. If I could hazard a guess I would say that you might be going out to dinner together. But knowing your uncle and your fiancé my odds are on the Cheston Gala. I had not heard if your aunt had accepted that one.”

“Thank you. My aunt may or may not have but Rhett most definitely did and I completely forgot. I’ll go change as quickly as I can. Do they know that I have been out?”

“No, Ms. Cordelia. I may have misled your uncle to believe that you were still getting ready for the evening. Something about your unruly hair.”

“Perfect.” She dashed upstairs to change into whatever dress she found first. Instead she discovered her new cream silk gown elegantly laid out on her bed. Knowing her aunt, she must have been looking for her and figured to move the process along by setting out everything she would need.

As soon as she was in the dress and her hair was done, with lightning speed, she rushed to the study doors. Jeffrey was waiting for her there with a gloved hand on the doorknob.

“Beautiful.” He gave a small bow.

Having grown up in the overly large mansion she was accustomed to the formality her uncle demanded but the rebellious streak she had never really managed to squash reared to life as she flitted in before she could be announced. Both her uncle and fiancé turned to greet her. Her uncle with a scowl at her lack of manners and Rhett with a relieved smile.

Unlike her, Rhett held his true personality in check around her uncle. Her esteemed guardian was too influential to not. However, she was family and could get away with more.

“Cordelia.” Her uncle growled, not marring his carefully crafted pleasant smile. “It is not becoming of a young lady to keep a guest waiting so long. Even more so when it is your fiancé and future husband that is the one doing the waiting. When you are married you will be expected to always be directly on hand for whatever you husband may require of you.”

Cordelia covered her own scowl with a graceful curtsey. “Yes, uncle. Please forgive my tardiness. My hair just would not cooperate and I could not bear to see you disgraced by my untoward appearance.”

He appeared mollified at least a little by the explanation, ridiculous as it was.

Rhett crossed the room and bowed over her hand. His low tone set her nerves on fire. “Unruly hair indeed. You have been dearly missed, love, and” his voice grew louder so that her uncle could hear, “may I be so bold as to say that you are as lovely as ever.”

He softly and slowly kissed the back of her hand, as if giving her a promise of more later.

When he straightened he turned back to her uncle with deference. “We must be going if we are to make it to the Gala at a proper time.”

“Indeed indeed.” Her uncle practically clapped his hands with glee. “We will be following you shortly. Once my own wife is ready.” He leaned toward Rhett as if he were whispering a great secret to him. “She requires a lot more effort to appear comely these days.”

Rhett nodded but Cordelia could see the tightness around his mouth.

“We will look for you.” Rhett bowed and reached out his arm for Cordelia to take.

Once out of the house both Rhett and Cordelia heaved a sigh. “His unkind remarks are getting worse.” Rhett stated with a surprising lack of emotion.

“Really? That wasn’t so bad.” Cordelia hated feeling like she was making excuses for him because she had no doubt that her uncle was quite demeaning about her aunt’s appearances.

“It was what he said in private.” Rhett’s scowl spoke more than his words. “Someone needs to take him to task. Tonight I found myself longing for the day where I would no longer waiting around to please him so that I could stop his hateful words.” Rhett was usually far too even tempered to respond to her uncle’s snarky remarks.

He stopped as they neared the car and pulled her sharply to him. “I have been waiting patiently for this.” He swooped in for a kiss that left her near swooning. When they were once again headed to the awaiting car he smiled over at her. “Now, where were you when I arrived? I know you don’t take that long to get ready so you must have forgotten about the gala.”

“I did. I was over at Josephine’s house. Her dog just had puppies. And they were absolutely darling. There was this black little snuggler who was begging me to never leave. So I may have lost track of the time and almost lost my sense of reason as well.” She pouted his way with a smile. “I want a puppy, Rhett.”

He chuckled and hugged her. “I would give you one right this very minute if I didn’t think that your uncle would find some way to be rid of it before morning.”

“Why do we have to wait so long to be married?” She sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder, careful to not mess up her delicate curls.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “If it was up to me we would already be married. But these are the hoops we must jump through to receive your uncle’s approval.”

“Stupid approval.” She shot him a grin as he opened the door. “If we didn’t need it I would say to forget him and be married this instant.”

“I love you Cordelia. Any wait will be worth it if it means I will be married to you for eternity.”

She huffed with a smile directed up at him. “Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I can wait.”