The Story Teller

Make Sure

There was an awkward silence where there was simply nothing to say that passed awkwardly between them. You should feel the tension ricochet when I get up from a chair or open my mouth, but that's another story for another time.

Ricardo was dressed in a white turtleneck and white jeans, immaculately pure, with a blood red coat. His hands as white as his shirt and colorless, but that was probably the trick of my old eyes. His hair was beautifully black, his eyes olive brown with a faint stubble decorating his upper lip and chin. He had beautiful heart shaped lips, although his heart hadn't seemed as beautiful to Elena.

She finally stopped studying him and demanded. 'What?'

So, you might have been thinking that this story is about as cheerful and lovely as Cinderella or Rapunzel, but Elena was anything but cheery when she's not around children. Elena had been known to be sexy and fierce, and though Ricardo knew she was a virgin, rumors were that she took that ferocity to her bed. Elena was a goddess who could make her thoughts a temporary reality and could make your very mind betray you. She had beautiful long curly black hair. Delicate hands that could only carry butterflies and could caress feverishly, with a mouth so sharp and yet a mouth so pure.

Ricardo could do nothing around Elena except think of this. He looked at her glare condescendingly and could think of nothing but how she would have looked so beautiful had she been gazing lovely at him. Ricardo himself was not bad at all. Quite a young handsome fellow, with the power to assess any situation, with the power to know every weak point and every strong point, the power to adapt.

Even with all this, Elena had always thought that he was a dumbass.

Mind her language. She's still young.

Ricardo gazed at her. 'So, you walk them every day?'

'Yes, I do,' she spat. 'Do you have a problem with that?'

Ricardo smiled, unfazed. 'I was just wondering whether I could walk you home?' He smiled. 'It is quite dangerous late at night.'

'So, you can meet my parents and laugh and jolly with them, I don't think so. Besides, as you already know, I have company.'

'I could join you?' he asked.

'No.'

He sighed. 'Why, Elena?'

'I don't want you there.' She gritted her teeth. 'Now I have to stay with the children...'

'Look, Elena. We are getting married. There's no getting passed that. Instead of hurting yourself trying to avoid it, can't you just...'

'You think I want to get married to an idiot like you?!' Elena seethed.

Ricardo was getting annoyed. Why was she being so difficult? 'Yes.'

'Then you are a bigger idiot than I took you for.'

'ELENA!'

Silence. Ricardo saw Elena faintly smile. He seethed.

He finally sighed. 'Your mother brought us together in love and faith, hoping we would grow and love each other, and I accepted because I wanted to give us a chance. I want you to be happy with me, Elena. And I just asked you to walk with me and you are screaming at me. You aren't even giving me a chance.'

She sighed. 'You just...annoy me.'

He sighed as well. At least her voice had gone down. 'Would you enlighten me on how I do that?'

Ricardo's heart raced, waiting for her answer. If he knew what he was doing wrong, he could fix it, maybe she could love him, like it was meant to be...

'It's not you. It's my mother. She didn't do this in faith and love. She did this because you're... you.' She made a sound, like a laugh with a sigh.

It made Ricardo smile. 'What is so enticing about me?'

'I don't want to get into details.' She stated immediately, making Ricardo laugh.

'Aren't I... sexy?' he asked nervously.

Elena's eyes became as big as saucers. Of course, it was only in his love life that he would make mistakes. He smacked himself upside his head. 'Forget I said it.' He demanded.

Elena burst out laughing. Ricardo was even more embarrassed. 'You're very sexy, if that's what you wanted to hear!' then her face became serious. 'But I don't want to get married right now. It's not about you. I told my mom I wasn't getting married anytime soon. She knew that, but she brought you anyway. That's why I don't like seeing you. I can't lie, you would make an amazing friend, but I never want to marry you.'

Ricardo felt his knuckles squeeze together. It was difficult for him, not knowing every outcome, not knowing what to expect, and this rejection angered him.

'Of course.' He felt like steam was coming out his ears. 'I'll leave now.'

Ricardo's feet clicked as he walked, and his head knew he would be back, he calculated that much, because he knew that being the smartest guy in the world needed some benefits, and Elena, the most beautiful woman he had seen and heard of, had to be one of them.

He would make sure of it.