Destiny's Fates

Chapter 13

“James!” I gasp. “Where did you come from? I thought you had already left.”

“I was using the bathroom; I hope you don’t mind.”

I shook my head, “Not at all.” I sat down on the couch and let Cherry drop onto the ground at my feet. She scampered away to her toy basket and brought out her antler to chew on. I glanced at James, “Sure we can talk.”

James moved and sat down on the couch next to me. “I know this must be strange for you. Three guys from your past show up and tell you that they are basically your soul mates, and that there is a 4th one that is missing. Suddenly you are plunged into this unknown world. You took it well though Doll.”

I hold eye contact with James, with his beautiful blue eyes that always reminded me of the ocean. His eyes were always my favorite part about him; the way they turned light blue in the sunshine, and a stormy dark color when he was upset. “Honestly, it might be because I think this is all a dream and I am going to wake up tomorrow and none of it will have happened. That, or it could be that I am in shock.”

“Whatever questions you have, I can attempt to answer.”

I take a deep breath. “Okay, for starters. How do you get assigned to a female? Is there like a Fate bootcamp for boys? Did my dad remember being a Fate? Did he know who you, Derrek and Chris were?”

“Those are your starting questions, Doll?” James raised one eyebrow. “I am not sure how we get assigned to a female. No, there is no bootcamp, just a strong connection to our Assigned. I didn’t find out what it meant till High School, and it made complete sense as to why I was so attracted to you. Far as I know, Rogue’s remember being a Fate and who was their Assigned. There isn’t really a way to recognize other Fate’s, so I don’t believe that your dad was aware we were your Fates.”

“Okay. If you were so attracted to me, why didn’t you come to college with me like we had planned? How did leaving for the Police Academy work into the potential chance for marrying me?” Did he know how hurt I was? I had planned out everything about freshman orientation. We were going to sit together during all the lectures and eat together so we didn’t have to feel so alone. I had even written down all the codes for my classes so that way he and I could have as many as possible together. We would find a church to attend, and he would pick me up every Sunday morning. At least, that was what I wanted.

“I hated to leave you like that. I really did Doll. But I knew that you would meet your next Fate at College, and I didn’t want to confuse you. I had to give Chris a fair shot, just like Derrek and I had with you.” James edged closer to me, “I wanted nothing more to hold onto you and never let you go.”

“How did you date Hailey then when we were in High School?” Did he know that was the only reason I didn’t ask him out? I didn’t want to be the reason he broke up with her. I didn’t want to be the “other girl.”

“I was already her boyfriend before you showed up in Missouri. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by dumping her for you, since you had no clue who I was.”

“So you led her on? That doesn’t seem like the James Howell I remember. You were such an honest, but kind, guy.”

“Trust me, she was just using me to make the guy she liked jealous. I guess we were both using each other. Not that it makes it any better Doll.”

I nodded, “I understand.” I did the same thing in college trying to make Chris jealous. I wonder if he was, and just never showed it. “Why do you call me Doll?”

James laughed, “When being a Fate and having an Assigned was explained to me, all I could think about was how you were basically a doll, being passed around till you found your home with one of your Fates. I started calling you that to remind myself that my intense attraction to you was because we were Fate. It held me back from professing my undying love for you the first time I spoke to you. I guess it stuck. It honestly slipped out this morning without me even thinking about it. Habit, I guess.”

“Wow, you thought of me as a real doll, instead of as a person.” I suddenly noticed that all the brochures were folded. “Did you fold those?” I asked, gesturing toward the brochures.

“We all did, right after you left for the kitchen. Oh, Derrek also took the trash bag out since it’s dark.”

“Thanks, but you guys really didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s not a big deal.” James glanced down at his right wrist, where he wore his watch, then stood up. Why does he wear his watch on his right hand if he is right-handed? It’s getting late, I should get out of your hair.”

I glance at my own watch, which reads 8:30, and stand up. “Okay, I guess I’ll shoot you a text when I text Chris to come over?”

“Well, I was wondering if I could take you to Church in the morning. For old times’ sake?” James grinned.

All those Sundays in Bible Class when he was in love with me, and I had no idea. James saw me a whole lot more than any of my other Fates had. We went to school and Church together, plus we were both on the Cross-Country team. Walking behind James to the front door, I clear my throat. “Actually, I don’t go to Church anymore.”

James frowned, “Why not Doll? You lived for Church and Worship in High School. I think you were the only girl I knew who had a purity ring.”

“Mom and Dad were killed on their way to meet me at Church. They got hit by another driver. It’s just hard for me to understand why God would allow them to die like that, on their way to worship him. I haven’t returned since that day.” I met his eyes, “Don’t tell me I am going to Hell please. I had enough people tell me that at the funeral. ‘Your parents would still want you to come to Church Destiny.’” I quoted the last bit with the air quotation marks and a super high-pitched voice. “I just never was able to attend again, knowing that Sunday before the accident was the last time, I would ever sit with them again. I always hated sitting by myself at Church.”

“Doll, I would never condemn you to Hell. I will see you in the morning then.” James gives me his normal smirk, then turns around and opens the front door. “My number hasn’t changed since High School if you still have it.” James says over his shoulder, walking out the door.

“I do. I will see you tomorrow.” I gently shut the front door behind him, and then lock both the handle and the deadbolt. “Come on Cherry, let’s watch some TV.” Cherry follows me to the bedroom. Please let this all be a dream! I am screwed up enough without adding being part supernatural, alien, whatever a Fate is to that.