Signs and Songs

Chapter 1

Mayari checked her phone for the nth time that day. For some reason she was hoping that the guy she went out with last night would actually shoot her a message the next day. It doesn’t happen quite often but she is hopeful today.

She is a moderately attractive woman. Her brown hair with natural bouncy curls falls right down her waist. Her brown eyes are captivating and her lips, she was told, was soft and kissable. But despite her good looks and intellect, she was never able to really capture a man’s heart. Never. In. Her. Life.

“That guy is not going to text. Give up,” says Dina. Dina is her friend and co-worker at XYZ & Associates Law Firm. They went to law school together and are actually sorority sisters. “Guys are intimidated by strong women. I mean, the weak ones are…so good riddance.” she continued.

“Geez this sucks,” says Mayari. “I guess I’m going solo at your wedding next week.”

“Oh oh oh!!!!! Jacques’ family and friends will be here for the wedding and I am sure one of them will get your attention”, Dina says excitedly.

“The question is…will one of them be enchanted by this?” Mayari gestures with her hands as if presenting herself.

“Well if they don’t, we can always get them drunk.”

“Ew that is a very problematic statement s***h suggestion, Dina. How are you a lawyer?”

“I was just joking!!!” Dina says defending herself. “Anyway, Jacques and I are going to dinner tonight. You wanna come?”

“No.”

“Okay then. That was not a sincere invitation anyway. It’s going to be a date.”

“Oh I changed my mind. I’m going,” Mayari smiles. She had been their official “third-wheeler” since they got together and sometimes even calls them her “parent-friends”

“I knew it. We will pick you up at 7. And please be on time, you know Jacques hates it when you take long.”

“That was one time!”

---

Mayari got off work and went to yoga. She needed to release the negativity after what could be her 56th failed date for the year. She isn’t exactly actively looking for a lover but it bums her out that all her first dates never made it to the second. Sometimes they don’t text after the first date, but more often it is her who does not reply to their text messages.

She took a quick bath and got herself ready. She was putting on a black low-cut top when Dina texted that they are already close. She put on a mild perfume and headed out.

“Why are your t**s out?” asks Jacques.

“Good evening to you too.” says Mayari.

“Baby, your friend’s t**s are out again,” Jacques told Dina.

“Sorry Jacques, we can’t hear you over the sound of your strong French accent,” Mayari teased.

Jacques is Dina’s French boyfriend. He was actually Mayari’s Tinder match about five years ago but she did not like him “that way” and felt that he would be more suitable for Dina so she tricked Dina into going to the movies with Jacques by giving her the ticket that was meant for her. And although one might argue that it was rude and immature, it turned out to be the best thing she had done for the both of them. They ended up falling in love and Mayari spent the last five years being their mediator when they have small fights.

They got to their favorite seafood restaurant and the waiter led them to their table. They ordered the same thing they have been ordering for the past five years.

They were discussing the details of Jacques and Dina’s wedding when a man walked up to their table.

He was a tall man, standing at about 6 feet, and had a scruffy beard that Mayari thought suits him perfectly. His green eyes pops in contrast with his jet black hair. Mayari wondered how it would feel to run her fingers through that magical hair when she was pulled back to Earth and her thoughts were interrupted.

“Mayari, hi.” The man flashed a smile that left Mayari grinning like a child.

“Hi, Rick. It’s so good to see you” says Mayari.

Through her peripheral vision, she could see Dina rolling her eyes clearly unamused.

“You know my friends, my mom and dad, Dina and Jacques.”

“Yeah, I do. Hey guys.” Rick fist-bumps Jacques and says hi to Dina. “You know, Mayari, my friend is having a party this Saturday night, it’d be great if you could come.”

“Of course, yeah!” Mayari says in a heartbeat.

“We have final fitting on Saturday,” reminds Dina.

“No, that is in the afternoon. We’d be finish by at most 5pm.”

“Sweet. See you then,” says Rick before he walked back to his table.

While Mayari is still grinning, Dina shakes her head in disbelief.

“Unbelievable.”

“Baby, I have a feeling you don’t like Rick,” Jacques says.

“Damn right, I don’t. That guy asked Mayari out over 10 times in the past 6 years but never actually showed up.”

‘Hey, he does sometimes.” Defends Mayari. “But only when there is a group hanging out, never just the two of us.” The sadness in her voice is apparent.

“What a d**k!” exclaims Jacques. “You are a tiger in the courtroom but a doormat person in real life!”

“She is, she is a doormat! But only to that sucker.” Dina wonders. “I don’t know what you see in him though. He’s an asshole who strings you along, leads you on sometimes, and bam! Crushes you just like that,” Dina motioned as if swatting a fly.

“Hmm. If I had known you like walking red flags, I would have hooked you up with my brother.” Says Jacques.

“If your brother looks anything like you, I am gonna pass. I don’t exactly have the hots for a real-life cartoon.” Mayari quips making fun of Jacques look. He is not an ugly man but Mayari doesn’t find his features appealing. He is a tall, thin man with grey eyes and curly ginger hair. He has a long face with a nose that is slightly too big for it. It reminds Mayari of a bird’s beak.

“Ohhhhh hahahha. You are gonna eat your words” warns Jacques.