The Swan

Unrecognizable

Eve was startled but didn't show it. She didn't feel like having a confrontation at the moment. She reminded herself that she was not the same girl from high school.

"Well, Maria. Long time no see," Eve decided to show Maria she was different.

Maria's eye brow perked up. 'I know that voice!'

"Eve? I thought you left town after graduation," Maria had a glint in her eye as she remembered what she did to her. "I'm surprised you had the guts to show your face in the city."

'Same old Maria, I guess'.

"Well, that was 10 years ago. I've moved on," Eve smiled, trying to be nice.

"Mm, right. Anyway, what are you doing in town now?"

"Visiting my family. Is that a problem?"

Maria smirked. "Oh! You've developed an attitude. I thought you might be here for the reunion."

"The reunion?" Eve played dumb. She was going of course. But she didn't want Maria to know that.

"Yeah," Maria stepped closer to Eve in order to intimidate her. "Don't bother even trying to come. There's a reason you didn't get in invitation. We don't want the likes of you there," Maria smiled sweetly. She turned and started to walk away. She stopped and turned back to Eve. "One more thing. Stay away from David, he's too good for you."

Eve watched Maria walk away. 'How does she know David?'

***

David stood at the window looking out over the pristine lake next to his apartment building. The Lofts was one of the more expensive apartment buildings on the west side of town. He had always dreamed of living in a building like this since he was a little boy. But he knew his mom did the best she could raising him. He knew how much she struggled and he would never complain.

He loves the lake. It was mostly transparent with a blue hue. He liked how it seemed to sparkle like diamonds.

David turned from the window and walked to his kitchen to grab an apple from the pantry. He keeps finding himself thinking about Evelyn. He fantasizes about her during the day and dreams of her at night. David was confused because he loves Maria. Doesn't he?

David met Maria six years prior while running on the beach.

....

Six years before

David enjoyed running on the beach, feet hitting the water with each step. He had his ear buds in listening to his favorite music from his phone when he was suddenly hit with a beach ball.

"I am so sorry!" David heard a woman telling him as she ran up to him.

"Luckily it wasn't a hard ball," David joked, catching his breath. The woman laughed. She had an infectious laugh. "I'm David," he held his hand out.

She brought her hand out and shook it. "Maria," she smiled shyly.

....

David stood there remembering that day and didn't hear Maria coming in their apartment.

"Hey babe!" She strolled in with several shopping bags. Maria set the bags down on the sofa and walked over to hug and kiss David. "Have you had a good day today?" Maria asked. She decided not to ask about the woman he had coffee with a few days ago. She also didn't mention seeing her earlier that day.

"I've been able to rest today. Did you enjoy shopping?"

Maria nodded, then kissed him again. "Let me wash up, then I can start on dinner," she started for their bedroom.

"Actually, let's go out. We haven't had a proper date lately," David felt guilty for his recent thoughts and wanted to make it up to her in his mind.

***

Eve walked out of the jewelry store delighted with the pieces she just purchased. As she was heading to her car, her phone rang.

"Hi gamma!"

"Hi dear! how are you doing?" her grandmother asked. Eve smiled.

"It feels weird being back. Seeing all of the little shops and restaurants we use to go to," Eve responded as she put the jewelry bags in the trunk of her car. Her grandmother didn't know about the revenge she planned to take while back home. She just knew Eve wanted to take a pro-longed vacation following the reunion. She told her grandmother she was getting ready to write a new book and wanted to make it based in Glenwood. So she needed to come back to do research for the book.

"I sure hope the school reunion goes well dear. I still don't think you need to go. After everything you went through back then..." Her grandmother didn't go further, but Eve knew what she was referring to.

"I'm ok now gamma! Really. I want Maria and everyone else to see how successful I am," she said.

After graduation day ten years ago, Eve fell into a deep depression and became suicidal. She attempted it but her grandmother walked in just as she took an entire bottle of pills. She was rushed to the hospital and her stomach was pumped. The ER doctor said if her grandmother hadn't been there, Eve would have died. She took enough pills to kill at least three people. She then spent two months in the stress center to heal.

Eve shook the thoughts off, returning to the conversation.

"Well, I know you are much stronger now and I'm so proud of you!" Her grandmother responded. After a few more minutes of talking, they said bye and hung up after making plans to watch a movie together that night. As Eve was putting her key into the ignition, she looked across the street and saw David walking into the restaurant with none other than Maria. 'Why were they together?'

***

David pulled the chair out for Maria before taking his own seat. The waiter came by and handed them each a menu before taking their drink orders. David ordered them each a glass of wine.

Maria was talking about some plans for their wedding she had thought of, when David saw in his peripheral vision a stunning woman walk in to the restaurant. His heart leaped. 'It's Evelyn' he realized. 'Why does she have to be here tonight?'

David tried his hardest to ignore the woman of his dreams, literally, by looking at Maria. He hadn't heard a word of what she said, but she didn't seem to notice. He glanced back over toward where Evelyn was a moment ago and didn't see her. 'That's good. She won't be a distraction'. He then turned his attention back to Maria.

***

Eve saw David eyeing her when she walked in, but she pretended not to see him, even though she felt her heart race and cheeks flaming. The host took her to a seat across the room from David and Maria, but she could still see them. She received her menu from her waitress and ordered a glass of water with lemon. She looked down at her menu while also glancing at David's table. She knew what she was going to order already.

Eve looked at Maria and felt an instant hatred for her. It was like fire. It fueled her resolve for revenge.

She had her head down when she noticed David standing and walking toward the back of the restaurant. She kept her head down and pretended not to see him. Once she was sure he was out of sight, she contemplated following him. The restrooms were back there.

Eve decided to go with it and stood up to also walk to the restroom. She strolled leisurely back and didn't see David. She thought about what she could do to 'accidentally' run into him. She walked into the women's restroom and was thankful nobody was in there. Then she turned and cracked the door open to peer out.

***

David finished washing his hands and opened the men's restroom door. As he walked out of the restroom, he saw the women's restroom door open and was startled to see Eve. She looked up with surprise on her face.

"We meet again," Eve smiled at him. "It really is a small world!"

"Hi! It certainly is. What are you doing here?" David asked, kicking himself for asking such a stupid question.

"To eat," Eve giggled. "Actually, I haven't been here since I was a teen coming here with my family. I wanted to take a trip down memory lane," Eve responded. "Are you here with anyone?"

David cleared his throat. "I'm here with my fiance, actually," he reluctantly answered. He saw surprise on her face.

"Oh, I had no idea! Congratulations! When's the big day?" Eve asked, surprised. 'So that's how Maria knows him'.

"It's actually in about six months," David had to force excitement into his voice. He realized, just then, that he wasn't feeling the excitement. It startled him. Shouldn't he be happy and looking forward to it?

***

She sensed he wasn't exactly excited and wondered why.

Suddenly, Eve heard a gasp. She looked over and saw Maria glaring at her. There was fire in her eyes before she quickly covered it up and acted nonchalant. "There you are, hon!"

"Oh, hi! I just ran into a friend," David felt guilty all of a sudden. He also felt disappointed that he was interrupted while talking to Evelyn.

"I see," Maria walked over and put her arm around David's. She was shocked when she realized he casually withdrew. "Hi, I'm Maria, David's fiance," she emphasized the last part.

"Hi, I'm Evelyn," Eve responded, holding her hand out.

"It's nice to meet you," Maria said before turning to David, completely ignoring Eve's hand. "We should probably get back. Our food might have arrived." She glared at Eve and pulled David away from her.