A TALE OF TWO LOVERS

OVERSIZED

I could still feel the slight stubble on my ear and the smell of dark chocolate still lingered in the air around me. I turned to lay on my back as my hands reached for the pillow, placing it under my head. He had a certain charm to him and I had been unable to get him out of my head since I got home yesterday. There was softness in his eyes and a bit of strain as if he was tired. The calluses on his hand didn't escape me as he placed his hand on the wall and I kept wondering why he seemed so disturbed. I breathed out a smile, unbelieving of the position I was in, constantly thinking of him as I got up for some fresh air. Maybe going out will clear my head, I thought as I went down the stairs.

My sister, Hayley and her boyfriend Brandon were in the sitting room watching a movie. They looked up as I made my way to the single couch, an attempt at clearing my head.

"We are planning on going to the mall. Wanna come?" Hayley asked as I took a seat.

"Yeah. I'll join you guys" I said, not missing a heartbeat. I realy needed the distraction.

They finished the movie and after thirty minutes, we were out the door heading to the mall. It refused to leave my mind how close he was to me and how I felt a pull towards him. I didn't feel unsafe, rather it felt nice and that bothered me. The warmth from his body as his face touched mine, the sound of his voice as he whispered in my ear and the jolt in my body when he zipped my bag shut. The scenes kept replaying in my head as if it was the first time, as if I hadn't been overthinking most of yesterday. We reached the mall, my head still replaying the incident when my phone rang. I walked a bit far from my sister as I pulled the phone out of my pocket to see Fiona's name on the screen. I imeadiately answered, a smile on my face.

"Where have you been??" I shouted at my friend through the phone making her hiss.

"Why?? What happened?" She asked.

Fiona and I had been bestfriends for three years and highschool had only been fun because of her prescence. We would visit the tower together, to watch as love was decided but she missed it and because of her, I've had that handsome 6 foot Max in my thoughts for over fifteen hours now.

"You just missed a drama" I said, vague.

There was silence for a moment after which I heard her curse loudly making me smirk. She spoke once again, her tone soft and full of curiosity.

"Tell me what happened and I promise I'll buy you a bar of chocolate" she said.

What a daredevil.

Chocolate is the one thing I love. I grit my teeth.

"Are you bribing me?? Aren't you the daughter of a policeman??" I tsked as I shook my head slowly, mock disappointment dripping from my tone.

She let out a laugh and I smiled.

"You drive a hard bargain, okay I'll give you two chocolate bars" she offered.

A juicy deal, one that anyone in their right mind wouldn't pass up, although a box of chocolate would be better but I dont extort friends.

Or do I??

A cheeky grin forms on my face and before I could juice another chocolate bar or two from her, she cut me off.

"Dont you dare try and get more from me. I can literally see the mischievous grin on your face" she said.

"What.. noo" I said, pulling the o longer than I should have.

"Tell me the drama and take two chocolate bars as payment. Accept while I'm being nice" she said with a firm tone.

"What is this, a business deal?? I'm I supposed to be the new guy in town and you the biker gang leader??" I asked, incredulity in my tone.

"Oh hun if that were the case, I wouldn't even pay you" she replied.

I should just tell her before she decides to get it out of me face to face. She has the ability to make me spill and I don't want to lose the chocolate.

"Alright fine. I'll tell you, my God you are scary" I said as I faked a shudder.

She just laughed as I narrated to her the incident in front of the tower I had just witnessed. Fiona and I also come together to the tower, either to just watch or to remind ourselves why falling in love would be a big mistake. People date one another but with a love measure that decides marriage, they tread lightly to prevent from falling in love but whose to say you won't fall in love??

I don't think one can control the heart and I believe we don't have any power when it comes to our feelings so landing my self in a position where my emotions are measured is a situation I'm not ready for. I don't think I will ever be ready. I don't feel the need to prove my feelings to anyone except the one I might fall in love with. Might?? What am I thinking?? Never, I mean never. Fiona reasoned that it mattered who you loved and whether that person valued the measurer and she was right. I didn't agree with measured love because I believed in sincere affection, loved thoughtful actions and the measurer sort of tainted that in my eyes. If I can't trust your actions without having to rely on a machine to break it down then what's the point of this relationship? Although I stay away from love, I wanted to experience it and it seemed as though it was close.

To become the one and only to the person you love, all you need is to get married and in order to get married, one needs to hold the permit from the tower. The entire process is a lot of work and if it fails, you just end up with a broken heart and no dreams or hopes.

"What?? He showed her his ring??" Fiona shouted, making me hold the phone away from my ear for a moment.

"Yes and honestly I never knew he was married" I answered, making sure to keep up with Hayley and Brandon

I had told her about the keeper showing the blue eyed maiden his ring, shutting her up completely and she was freaking out.

"The keepers are not to be messed with. Cant believe he passed the test" she said.

That only means he loves her more. What a lucky woman she is, whoever she is. The keeper didn't cross me as someone who would love so dearly and I believe that's why the proverb "don't judge a book by its cover" exists.

"Me neither. I was wide eyed when I saw his ring" I said, as we entered a cafe.

"Arrgh I should have been there" she complained.

"Yes, you should have. This should teach you to never ditch your friends" I scolded.

"I promise never to do homework due tomorrow again" she said, making me laugh.

"Tomorrow is your sister's testing right??" She asked and the blood drained from my face.

"Yeah. I'm actually at the mall with them right now" I shared and she hummed.

"Okay, then see you tomorrow. I need to finish tomorrows work to clear the whole day" she said

"Tomorrows work? You mean one shift at the restaurant?" I said, mocking how serious she was making it out to be.

" Shut up and Good bye" she said and I hung up

Tomorrow my sister and Brandon are going to undergo the test at the tower and I am beyond afraid. Marriage had always been her dream and she loved Brandon a lot. That is what bothers me and even if Brandon has made it clear that he loves her more, showing it multiple times and caring for her, the fear is still there. I grabbed a seat while Brandon and Hayley ordered for us and I watched the subtle show of affection. He made sure that she was happy, with a smile on her face and as they approached me with the drinks, he pulled a chair for her after placing the drinks on the table. Hayley had ordered cold coffee drizzled with chocolate for me while they each got mango juice.

"You look relaxed" I commented as I took a sip of the delicious drink and they looked up, the straws still in their mouths.

"Worrying won't help" Hayley said.

"Overthinking isn't something that can be controlled" I shared, wondering how they could be so relaxed while one encounter with Max has had me on overdrive since yesterday. I suddenly realized I hadn't scolded Fiona about the picture.

"We are thinking about it. Why do you think we are at the mall?" Brandon asked and I realised how unaware I had been.

I was so focused on clearing my mind that I hadn't asked or thought of why they were going to the mall a day before an important test.

"I'm sorry. I'm being inconsiderate" I apologised and Hayley smiled.

"He doesn't give me a reason to worry. Going to the mall was my idea. I'm the one overthinking" she asssured.

Brandon had stayed with Hayley since they first met in highschool. They were both graduating university and despite all the hurdles, he was always there. When our families disagreed on the compatibility of the two, he stood firm and I had never seen someone who was so sure of his decision like that. He was there when she was sick, visited when my parents were sick, took me to school whenever I asked and has also formed a friendship with my older brother Aaron who was in University in another state. Aaron is a year younger than Hayley and is only home during the holidays and yet Brandon made sure to connect with him. He feels like a part of the family and my heart calmed because he was calm. The fact that he was relaxed meant something and I felt bad for questioning something he was so sure about.

We finished our drinks and made our way towards the clothing section. I made my way to the t shirts as I had been wanting oversized clothing for a while and they went towards the men section. Hayley came back with a comically large light blue shirt and a snicker on her face.

"You wanted oversized? Here you go" she said, handing me the shirt that was basically a dress. It touched the floor and I regarded her with a stare.

"Very funny" I said and as she left, in comes Brandon with another comically large clothing, a pair of socks.

I squinted my eyes at him as he approached, a hand stifling his laugh and another pushing the socks in my face.

"Oversized socks. Just the type you love" he said.

"This could double as a trouser with how large it is and you guys know the oversized I meant."

"Wait" I said, coming to a realization "Did you guys invite me to do this?" I asked and Brandon tiptoed away from me but not before throwing the socks at me.

"You are the one with the wierd taste in cloths. Who wears oversized socks. Seriously Amanda" Brandon said, mock amusement dripping from his tone and I could help the unbelieving expression that carved my face.

"You are one to talk. You with the wierd hat collection" I said.

"Wierd? what do you mean, I don't understand" he replied and I smiled.

I made my way towards the hat section, serching for the wierdest design and it didn't take long before I found a hat with holes and another whose visor was on top rather than infront. I held the hats in front of him and his lower lip went out, an action he does when he was in deep thought.

"I have the visor one but the holes is a new one. Thanks for contributing to the hat collection Amanda. This is one of the reasons I value you" he said before snatching the hat and making hurried steps towards Hayley and I realized I had been played, again.

As we payed for our items, I came to the realization that I had no right to make fun of his hats since I was a sponsor to the collection.