Stop Waiting for Prince Charming

I fixed my dress. Looked down the aisle. There he was. In a black tux, waiting for me at the end of the aisle. It seemed like I waited forever before walking down the aisle. I got to the end and looked at Ryan. God, he was goreous. The ceremony began and flew by. We got through the vows in no time and suddenly I hear the words "You may now kiss the bride." As I leaned forward Ryan disappeared and I opened my eyes to find myself back in my room.

"Dammit!" I screamed. "You stupid alarm clock! I was four seconds from Ryan Hartford kissing me!" In the corner in her Kitty-Kastel my cat, Eponine, began meowing repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, fine!" I mumbled with increasing volume and annoyance "I'll feed you!" I said with a giggle. She jumped down onto the floor and flowed me into the kitchen. She was a beautiful orange color. with white around her nose and mouth.I scooped her out some food and then made my own breakfast. Once I'd eaten I walked back into my bedroom and opened my closet, rumaging through it to try and find something suitable to wear. I finally settled on a coral colored top with white jeans and sandals. I put on a little make up before grabbing my purse and leaving for work. I worked in the coffee house below my appartment. It was quaint and quiet and I liked working there. I had to work somewhere and it may as well be here. There were three of us that worked there. Ryan, Marcus, and myself. We had loads of fun.

I arrived downstairs first as usual and, after unlocking the door, went to the back to get my apron. The back room was about as big as an office and had a computer, a desk, 3 lockers and a couch. I unlocked my locker and pulled out the blue apron with the words Hartford Coffee House printed in white letters. I had given it my own personal touch by adding pretty rinestones across the top and around the loop for my neck. I also had to wear a name tag. Mine was black with white letters that spelled out Lauren. As I tied the apron and straightened my name tag Marcus walked into the back room and greeted me.

"Hey Lauren!" he said warmly. He was one of the nicest people I've ever met. He had short curly brown hair and tan skin. He was always smiling and happy. I'd never once seen him sad. He was taller than me by an inch or two and had seriously toned biceps. He was one of my best friends.

"Oh, hey Marcus!" I said. The sentence came out squeakier than it was meant to. He laughed and pulled on his apron which was identical to mine (except it was lacking rinestones of course). He had decorated it with lots of pins and buttons.

"So how's Helen?" I asked poking him in the stomach. Helen was his girlfriend of 6 months (yes, I counted but only because he NEVER shuts up about her.)

"She's good. Well she's as good as she always is. There are some bad days..... Like when she asked me to take her pet turtle on a hike." he said seriously as I followed him into the front and began wiping down the counter.

"She made you go on a hike with her turtle?" I asked unbeileving.

"Well, lucky, I explained to her that if we took the turtle on a hike it would die from the lack of water and over excercise." he laughed.

"I cannot believe she makes you do this kinda stuff Marc." I said between laughs.

"Oh, Lauren, she made me sign a contract of 'appartment rules' when I moved in." he said as he turn on the coffee machines.

"So what are these 'appartment rules' that you must obey." I asked sarcastically as I walked around the front of the counter to wipe down tables.

"No singing in the shower, no wearing mens tank tops or visors, no dogs, no bongo playing, no phone calls after seven o' clock, no ski masks, or french toast." he listed

"No french toast?" I asked "Why?"

"She thinks it's a stupid way to make toast." he answered simply but he couldn't get through the statment without cracking up.

"What? Marc that doesn't even make any sense!"

"I know!"

"So then why are you still with her?" I asked with one eyebrow raised

"Because, I can't meet anyone." he said.

"You know that doesn't make any sense. I mean you're awesome, and nice, and funny...." I said.

"I guess-" he was cut off by the bells on the door jingling, indicating that someone had come in.

It was Ryan, gorgeous as always. He came in and walked to the back room quickly and greeted us without looking up from his iPhone. He was drop dead gorgeous. His hair was this perfect sandy blonde color, and his skin was super tan from frequenting the beach. He wore a tight blue v-neck that he totally rocked- oh my gosh, I sound like a 14 year old. Pull your self together woman!

"Um, Lauren?" Marc asked as he waved his hand infront of my face.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I was just-"

"Drooling over Ryan?" he asked with a smirk.

"Ugh! Is it really that obivious?" I moaned

"Yeah, you got it bad."

"Great." I said sarcastically

"He's not that great you know. You'd know that if you were ever actually listening to him when he talks instead of gawking at his face." he said with a laugh. I hit him with my towel before swinging it over my shoulder and walking to the sink to put the towel away.

Ryan came back out to the front and flipped on the switch to the neon sign that read 'OPEN' in red letters. While his back was towards us Marc mockingly made a kissy face and jerked his thumb towards Ryan. "Oh shut up." I said with a laugh. Ryan didn't talk to us much and when it was it was to give orders. It was his family's shop and when he flunked out of business school he was given the responsibliity of the shop. He resented his parents for it but he kept with it because it made him good money. Marc had told me this when I had asked him what Ryan's damage was. The only problem with Ryan is he either stays pent up in his office all day, or he din't show up at all. If he did show up and wasn't in his office (which was, as you can imagine, a very rare occasion) he was ranting to me and Marcus about productivity even though we worked perfectly. We never got a complaint and we never lost costumers. Which is why this place made so much money.

I knew that Marc thought i didn't pay attension to these annoying traits of Ryans but I did. And I'd tried to talk myself down but I couldn't I was hooked. I wouldn't go jumping to the conclusion that I was in love with Ryan Hartford. But I definatly had a crush on him. I know a 19 still has crushes. It's silly but, it's true. The weirdest part was that everytime that guy opened his mouth it aggrivated me. Everything he said was either rude, annoying, or stupid. This guy was full of himself in everyway possible. But, boy, was he easy on the eyes. And I don't know why but somehow his appearence made up for everything else.

"God he's annoying." Marc whispered to me when Ryan walked back into his office shutting then locking the door.

"Got that right." I said.

"I cannot believe you like that guy!" Marc said before walking to the register to serve a middle age wwoman in a hideous sweater and hat.

"Believe me, I can't either. It's like I'm only inlove with his looks." I said looking up into the air.

"It's not 'like' it IS that way." he said walking over to make the hat lady her espresso.

"You're right, you're right, you are so right." I said clearing all thoughts of Ryan from my head.

He laughed and I changed the subject again so we were back to talking about Helen. He had so much to complain about and nothing good to say. He deserved someone better. He deserved someone that didn't make him massage her cats instead of go to the movies. He needed anyone besides her. She was crazy. But Marc was one of those people that went out with anyone that would go out with him because he thought there was no one else out there for him. It was sad, and I wanted to help him. I felt like it was my duty as his best friend.

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Authors note:

HEY! I don't usually like to write these but I figure I should write one. I'm not exactly sure where this is going so just bear with me!!!