When Destiny Collides

New Acquaintances & Last Minute Details

Zeke's POV

More time had passed and and in a few weeks time school would be starting.

More and more people around town actually took the initiative to come up and try to get to know me. I felt famous, apparently I was the talk if the town, but that isn't always a good thing.

But I had managed to make a new acquaintance in a cute little redhead that went by the name of Maddie. She and her father had come by the house to talk "business" with my dad.

"I have to walk my dog, care to join me on a quick trip to the park?" I asked trying to save her from the boredom that followed my dads meetings.

"Sure." She said happily as she hopped up out of the chair she had just sat in. I grabbed Bronx and his leash and we headed out.

Since i had recieved my drivers permit I decided to drive us to the park because I didn't want to have to make her walk the whole way to and from. We got out and Bronx did his business and then we let him run around while she and I took a seat on an empty bench.

"So how do our dads know each other?" I asked.

"They're childhood friends." She said as she pushed her red locks behind her ear. She was cute for sure, and considering the fact that I hadn't heard from Becka since moving out here I was beginning to think I was single.

"So." I said turning on the charm, I lightly grabbed a stray lock of hair that was blowing in the dry breeze. "Where do you get this pretty red hair from?"

She looked down and smiled as a blush crept across her dimpled cheeks. "Um, my mom has red hair."

I smirked, I could have fun with this girl. But the fact that our fathers are friends complicated things a bit. I released it and it flew around until it joined the rest of her hair.

"So, I heard your gonna be 17 soon." She stated. "Me too."

"Cool, my birthdays September 2nd." I admitted.

"Mine is September 4th." She admitted. "17th birthdays are pretty big around here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well a lot of different cultures celebrate a persons coming Of age in different ways, here a lot of people in both The town of Avee and The town of Paycos celebrate when a teen turns 17." She filled me in.

I had remembered reading somewhere that in Texas your a legal adult at 17, so maybe thats what she was talking about. Although if I'm not mistaken I think the 17 year old has to be done with school as well.

She moved on to the next topic and then we fell into a comfortable conversation.

. . .

A couple of weeks passed marking a whole Month since I moved here. Maddie visited often and I even found myself calling or texting her from time to time. She's a sweet girl who is easy to talk to. The fact that she has a pretty face and a great personality really helps too.

"So," my dad asked with a slight grin. "You asking Deacon's daughter to be your date tonight?"

"Who?"

He chuckled, "Maddie, the little redhead that's been following you around for the past couple of weeks."

I rolled my eyes, it was too early to deal with my Dads encouragement, he hardly hid the fact that I had become friendly with his friends daughter. I'm sure he expected us to date, get married, and have kids so they could be weirdly related.

"I don't know." I admitted, as much as I didn't want to show up stag and be uncomfortably alone, I also didn't want to give people the wrong impression of going with Maddie. She's an amazing girl I can't help but see her as just a friend and unfortunately I know she likes me as more than that.

"Well I guess that smart. Keep your options open son."

The rest of the day people were in and out of the house as last minute details were ironed out for my parents engagement party tonight.

After a while I started getting ready, in my new suit I put on some cologne and then looked myself over in the mirror. It was the same guy I had always seen, I smirked at my reflection as I tried to build myself up in hopes that it would make tonight less awkward. I had decided to go alone, I knew I would regret the choice later.

. . .

Delilah's POV

"Well he hasn't exactly asked me to go with him yet but even if he doesn't I want to look my best." Maddie rushed out.

I felt bad for her, she had been spending all of he time these past couple of weeks with the elusive Zeke Parker. From what she had told me they had become close.

But the fact that tonight was his parents engagement party and he had yet to ask her to be his date showed that he didn't like her as much as she thought.

It seemed to be clear to everyone but her.

"So, what if he doesn't ask you to be his date tonight?" I asked carefully, I didn't want to hurt her feelings, I love my little cousin and would kill anyone who hurt her.

"Well he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet so if he doesn't ask me to go with him tonight it's no big deal, I promise we'll more than likely hang out at the party anyways." She replied optimistically.

"Maddie, honey, I just don't want you to get your hopes up about this guy ok?" I had to tell her my thoughts, I would rather she get hurt by my words than his actions.

"What do you mean?"

I sighed "well Mads, it's like my Dad always tells me. Why go chasing after boys we think are good enough when the Fates will give us our own perfect mate."

She let out a low sigh, "I know, it's just that he's really cute and nice to me, and not because I'm the Alphas daughter because he doesn't even know about any of that yet."

I nodded my head, I could understand where she was coming from now, the lives we lived as The Alpha and Betas children may be a blessed life but our gift was also our curse; In the sense that we never knew if people liked us or liked what we could do for them.

I helped Maddie into her cute Pale pink party dress and then she helped me into my red cocktail dress. We did our hair and makeup, added shoes and a few accessories then we joined our family members as we all made our way to the party.