The Meet-Cute Anthology

Ambrose and Florence | The Story

She knocked on his front door, shivering with tears blurring her vision; she shouldn't be at her rival's home. In the pouring rain, Snow was expected in the next few weeks. It was freezing and here she was in just leggings and a sweater. She was leaving herself vulnerable to attack for being here... but she had nowhere else to go, she needed the one person who had been there; one way or another. Ambrose had always pushed her to be better. Yes, they fought and debated, sometimes pestering but it was all to push the other to be better. The door opened to his shocked and baffled face.

    "Hi, Amby." she croaked. His nickname came out as though no time had passed since they were young.

    The door further opened as he stepped to the side letting her inside the formal foyer. "I know I shouldn't be here. But I had nowhere else to go." Her head ducked in shame and embarrassment as she spoke just loud enough for him to hear.

    "What happened?" Ambrose asked softly. He knew she didn't need loud voices or any lectures. Her tearful eyes met his worried ones before she broke down. Ambrose quickly gathered her in his arms and moved them to the living room.

    Ambrose spoke soft, comforting words in her ears while rocking her back and forth. The fire crackled in the background and rain pelted the windows. Ambrose quickly reached for a warm knit throw blanket to wrap her in.

    Once she had calmed down, Ambrose asked softly, "Florence, what happened? You can tell me."

    She slowly and tiredly looked at him and spoke in a small, timid voice, "My auntie kicked me out. I have no home." Admitting this brought another bout of small sobs and big tears.

    Ambrose knew her parents had passed a few years previous as they were well known and liked in the small town; her relationship with her auntie wasn't the best.

    Ambrose gathered her back in his arms, pressing kisses to the crown of her head and rocking her. "Flor, look at me. You have a home... with me always. Forever always."

    Florence pulled back and looked at him with big blue puppy eyes. "Forever always?"

    They had made the promise up when they were younger, she didn't think Ambrose remembered. Ambrose nodded and didn't get a chance to speak before she pulled him into a bone-crushing hug; her head burrowed into his neck and legs around his waist. They stayed in this position until Ambrose insisted he makes a mug of hot tea.

    kissing her hair, Ambrose walked into the kitchen while Florence stayed wrapped in a blanket listening to the fire crackle and soft jazz music she hadn't noticed but smiled at and continued playing from the speaker on the mantle.

    Once he came back, Ambrose brought Florence back into his arms and gave her the mug. Ambrose reached for the remote and turned on her favorite movie, Beauty and the Beast, the animated version.

    Ambrose continued rocking Florence until she had melted into his embrace and fallen into a deep slumber. He traced her features as though this was the last time he would see them.

    He wasn't letting her go again. He did it once and learned his lesson. Their beings were made of the same stars and their souls were forever destined to love and admire each other.

    Ambrose's last thought as he succumbed to sleep was that he loved her more than life, and would set fire to the world at her command but let no flames harm her.