Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 26 - Assumptions

"Hi guys!" someone blared behind Alan and Theo. 

Bianca and a friend contoured the table, bearing champagne flutes.  

"May we join you?"  

"If you must," Theo mumbled, a little too late. Bianca had already taken a chair.  

She eyed the unknown blond hunk sitting beside her and fiddled with a strand of her hair, sending him a flirtatious looks. 

"Who's the new friend?" 

Alan leaned closer to Theo.  

"I know I've told you to hook up with Bianca," he said, "but I'm not blind. You want to be with Mica, fine. So I'm thinking this could be a great way of killing two birds with one stone." Under the table, Alan wagged his finger from Abel to Bianca.  

That might work, Theo decided. If those two hit it off, not only he would be free of Bianca's nonstop chase, maybe he would get rid of Abel as a bonus. With that in mind, he decided to show Abel in the best light possible. 

"Sorry, Bianca. This is Abel. We've just met, but he's incredibly fun."  

Bianca cocked her head to take a better look at Abel. The chubby girl next to her giggled, saying, "More like incredibly gorgeous."  

Abel rubbed his neck but did not repress a grin. 

"Oh, really?" asked Bianca without averting her eyes. "Do you have a last name, Abel?" 

Bianca's infatuation was so obvious that Abel's could hardly disguise a laughter as he replied, "Yeah. Gentili."  

Bianca seemed to take it as a good sign and chortled along.  

Until Mica arrived.  

Giving Mica a stink eye, Bianca witnessed the girl she had just met take the empty seat between Theo and Abel. She saw, helpless, when both gaped at Mica. And horrified, Bianca noticed the effect that Mica had on Theo.  

Meanwhile, Theo realized he had just experienced what people call an epiphany. As Mica reclaimed her chair and presented him with a glance, it all became clear. He was convinced this encounter could not be a hiccup of fate. Each time Mica looked at him with a thousand springs in her eyes, his lungs balked for a second. With each titter, he tripped. A bit harder every time. Falling all the way for her was just a few slips away, he thought.  

As he learned that, time moved slower. The nervousness he was never quite aware of seemed to fade away into an inexplicable sense of calm. His entire existence split in before and after. In the past were the insipid, unremarkable years Theo had already forgotten. This evening, destiny bestowed a glimpse of a breathtaking future on him. It was as though the pieces of his life had finally fallen into place.  

His search was over.  

"Who were to say you'd secure a place at best table?" Bianca told Mica, swirling her flute before draining it with one gulp. "When we met in the restroom, I sure didn't." 

Theo and Alan exchanged a meaningful glance, which Bianca was not too tipsy to miss.  

"Are you enjoying yourself, Theo?" Her words were a goad tipped in accusation.  

"You know what?" He interlaced his fingers over the table. "I must confess that up to now, I have no complaints." Excitement shone from his blue eyes. 

"Good" Bianca said, although her pressed lips told otherwise. "Uh-oh!" She drove a hand to her mouth, her attention lashing to Mica. 

"What?" Mica blinked, lines of apprehension furrowing her brow.