Fate Intervened

Captivated

AMY

I do not quite understand what just happened. One minute we were talking and the next minute he is gone. Did I say something wrong? How could I have said something wrong? We have barely spoken a few words. I know he looked a little bit nervous but I was nervous too. Then it must have been something I did.

I am so captivated by this man and I really wish to have spent a few more minutes with him. He seems like such a humble human being and someone that you could have a great time with. I wonder if I should follow him out the door and ask him what I did wrong? But then again I would come across as needy or desperate.

I feel a sudden sadness coming over me and even a hint of disappointment. How can this man have such a hold on me? I barely know him. I shake his thoughts out of my head and put my focus back on the good book I am reading.

MIKE

I walk to my car as fast as I can. I know that I have left some pills in the glove compartment just for in case. I struggle to open the door with my keys as my hands are still shaking. This is never a good sign. I finally get the door open and grab the pills, drinking two of them immediately.

I sit down in the car for a little while feeling that I might faint but luckily I stopped it just in time. I throw my head up against the car seat and know that I have messed up big time. I wish it did not have to happen when I was with her. I hope that I get another chance to show her who I am and that I am interested in her. Of course, this time I will definitely take my pills before I see her again.

I sit a little while longer and think of ways how I can run into her again. I want so badly to go back into that bar and talk to her again but then she will have questions and I will not have answers for her.

I do not want to scare her before she even got to know me. I have had so many women that ran away from me before I even got to know them. I do not want to go through that kind of pain again. I just did not know that her beauty will have such an effect on my heart.

I start the car and make my way back to my Grandpa's house. I have messed this opportunity up now. I have to go back to the drawing board.

I arrived at my Grandpa's house and an unfamiliar car is in the driveway. This is not the same car of Brandon that came this afternoon. Does my grandpa have visitors that come often?

I get out of my car and walk to the house. To my surprise or shall I say not my surprise, Penny sits on the couch. Of course, she found a way to weasel herself into my life once again.

"Oh, Penny, what a pleasant surprise"

I tried to make it sound as sarcastic as possible but she just does not have the capability to understand when I am sarcastic.

"Mike! I know right? There you are. I have been waiting for you for almost two hours now"

I look at my Grandpa sitting on the corner couch looking like someone has hit him with a baseball bat. He clearly does not enjoy her company. But my question is why does he keep up with her company?

"Grandpa?"

"Son, why don't you have a seat and keep this young lady company?"

I can not believe that my grandpa wants me to entertain Penny but he is irritated with Brandon? He does not want people around him but for some reason, Penny is okay.

"Grandpa, are you okay?"

"Yes, of course, Mike, why would I not be okay?"

His mouth says one thing but his eyes say another thing. I am really struggling to understand what is happening here. I slowly sit down on the couch still staring at my grandpa.

"So, Mike, what have you been up to?"

Then my attention shifts to the insufferable Penny and all her questions.

"Not much Penny. What is so important that you feel the need to come to my Grandpa's house?"

"You have always been so funny, Mike. I have been coming to your grandpa's house often"

I almost break my neck while turning my head towards my grandpa. What does she mean she comes here often?

"Grandpa?"

I try not to sound too surprised by asking my Grandpa about her remark.

"Oh, yes, she comes to me at least two times a week. I really enjoy her company"

Something is going on here because my grandpa enjoys nobody's company.

"Okay, I do not know what is going on here but what are you doing here Penny?"

"Well since you asked, I was wondering if you are coming to the reunion?"

I fell back on the couch as I know there is no way that I'm going to the reunion especially now that Penny has invited me personally. She will not leave me alone for one second when I am there.

"Penny, I know the reunion is very important to you but unfortunately, I am busy that weekend"

AMY

I am still sitting in a booth, reading my book when someone walks up to me. I have not lifted my head yet but I see it is a man by his shoes. I hope with my entire heart that this is the mystery man whose company I enjoyed. Then I look up and I am extremely disappointed at the man standing in front of me.

This is the last man that I wanted to see. Couldn't it have been some sort of long lost friend? Or the waiter or the owner or somebody that wants to come and complain to me about something? Anything? But seeing this guy.

"You got to be kidding me, right?"

I can not believe the nerve of this man appearing next to me. I am sure that I made it clear that I never want to see his face again after he was dared to date me. I look into his face and I just want to slap him.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?"

"Too much to ask? Uhm…let me think…Yes, that is too much to ask. Now if you would please excuse me"

I open my book again and start reading, wishing that he would just go away. But I do not get that kind of luck. He takes his seat across from me.

"Michael, I am sure I said that you must leave now, or didn't you understand it? Should I draw a picture for you?"

He just chuckles and then smiles at me.

"You must know that that was just a joke and we were kids"

"Wait let me guess, you are going to say that you didn't know better and I can not blame you for when we were just kids?"

"Yes, that's exactly it"

"Do I look like somebody that cares?"

I start to get up when he grabs my hand to sit down again. He looks around to see if anyone can see him and then he whispers.

"Do not be like that just sit down and talk to me for a little while"

I feel a bit of fear filling my heart but I do not want to jump to conclusions, that this could be a fearful situation. I try to pull my hand out of his but he holds on tight to my hand. So, I sit down, unwillingly.

"Release my hand now. I am not your property"

"Yes, you know but you could be?"

This guy is obviously delusional if he thinks that I will ever date him. There is no way in hell or heaven and I will even get close to this man. I start to feel very uncomfortable as his hand has not left mine yet.

"If you do not take your hand off mine right now, I am going to scream and make sure everyone knows what you are doing"

He then quickly releases my hand as it is obvious that he has a reputation he needs to uphold. Then I stand up and walk away without even looking back once. I haven't had many men in my life that like to abuse women but I do know the signs of someone who will and I am not going to hang around to see what happens next.

I make my way out of the bar as quickly as possible and get into my car locking the door behind me. I take a deep breath and try to calm down. I look at my hands and it is shaking. I realize that I need to stay away from Michael as much as possible, otherwise things might get ugly. I start my car and then make my way back home.

MIKE

I am sitting in the most uncomfortable conversation of my life. My stubborn grandpa is entertaining one of the most irritating women I have ever met in my life. I know that my grandpa does not like any other people but why in the world will he keep the company of this woman. I tried to end this conversation and get her out of the door but she is an impossible woman.

"Penny, it is getting late and I really need to go to bed. Can we talk about this at some other time?"

Of course, there is no way that I am talking about this again. I have made up my mind, I am not going to the reunion. This is but only a taste of what I will get the entire night at the reunion. But what bothers me the most is that grandpa wants me to go.

I finally get her out of the house and then close the door behind me. I take a deep breath and then walk towards my grandpa.

"Okay, out with it. Why would you ever entertain a woman like that? I thought you hate people?"

My grandpa stands up and looks at the floor while trying to escape my question.

"No, no, no, you're not going to get away that easily. What is going on?"

He looks up at me into my eyes and then shakes his head turning around walking to his room.

"Grandpa? Come on?"

"It is none of your business"

"It is all of my business when you want me to go to a reunion with Penny of all the people in the world"

My grandpa walks even faster towards his room and I know if he gets in his room and locks the door, I will never know the truth.

"Grandpa, do not be like this, tell me the truth!"

He makes it into his room despite all my efforts to stop him from entering his room. I hear as he locks the door from the inside and I know I will not get to the bottom of this, today. I chuckle a little at my grandpa for being like a teenager and then just shake my head making my own way to my room.

I lay down on my bed and I can not seem to get that beautiful woman out of my thoughts. I have only spent a few minutes with her and it feels like she has consumed my entire being. I just wish that I didn't have run out on our encounter.

"Damn you, Mike!"

AMY

I get home into my room only to find an envelope on my bed. I look suspiciously at the envelope as I know that nobody knows that I am here. I open the envelope and then I see the invitation.

Well, this could only be the work of Penny Johnson. Not another reunion. There is no way that anyone is going to see me at that reunion especially after what just happened to Michael.

I put the envelope next to my bed and then get ready to have a good night's sleep. I fall asleep with the thought of that encounter I had with the man that has enticed my senses.

I wake up the next morning with the smell of breakfast in the air. I am led by my nose to the kitchen and then enjoy the company of my dad and brother. Suddenly the doorbell rings. My brother gets up and opens the door.

Then I hear a familiar voice and desire shoots to my chore.

"Hello, It is Brandon, right?"