Serendipity

So It Begins

"I hope this isn't to forward of me, but could I have your number?" Patrick asks while intently staring at the ducks.

'Did he seriously just ask for my number?' Lucy mentally squeals.

"Sure let me see your phone," she says with a shy smile.

He hands her his phone after unlocking it. She punches her number in the dial setting and calls her phone. "There, now I have your number as well!" She adds as she hands his phone back.

"Thanks, Lucy. So, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to get coffee or something." Patrick runs his fingers through his hair making it stick up.

Lucy laughs but then looks down at her phone and sees the time, "Actually can you take a rain check? I'm supposed to meet Emma, well 15 minutes ago at this restaurant before the show. It's near the Hilton."

Patrick's face falls ever so slightly, but he smiles at her, "Yeah, totally, I'll hold you to that rain check! I should probably be on my way back to the hotel to get ready anyway. Actually, I'm staying at the Hilton."

"Well you could walk with me then... The place is literally a block away from it." Lucy suggests, her chest feeling tight. She didn't like it when he wasn't happy.

"That would be lovely." Patrick stands up and offers her his arm.

Lucy giggles, "My, what a gentleman you are, Patrick."

Patrick places his fedora on top of his head and grins. They head off in the direction of the hotel, Lucy falling more in love with Patrick and having no idea he's falling in love with her.

"So tell me about yourself Lucy," Patrick says to fill the silence.

Lucy doesn't respond for a few minutes and Patrick starts to worry he said something wrong when she takes a short breath and says:

"Well, my name is Lucy Michelle Arwell and I'm from Boston. I'm 25 years old and I'm an only child. I was raised by my mom. I never met my father, and no sympathy! From what I hear he wasn't much of a person to miss. I finished writing a book very recently and sent it to a publisher even though I don't think anything will come of it. I'm afraid of large bodies of water, I have asthma and anxiety. I don't really know what else to say..." she trails off and looks up at him.

Patrick was mulling everything she said over. 'She's so beautiful,' he says to himself noticing how her eyes changed from green to a vibrant blue under his gaze.

"Well, Lucy Arwell, I'm sure everything you need to know about me you can Google," he laughs.

"Patrick, I want to get to know you, not the Google famous you," Lucy frowns at him.

Patrick's heart skips a beat. 'She is an enigma, this Lucy Arwell.'

"You will, but for now, here we are," Patrick stops them in front of the restaurant Lucy is meeting Emma at.

Lucy sighs, "Well I guess I'll talk to you later, Patrick."

She smiles sadly and Patrick feels an overwhelming urge to protect her and make her feel happy all the time. He kisses her on the cheek and then steps back and blushes.

"I'll see you later, Lucy," He starts walking backwards, not wanting to turn his back on her. He bumps into somebody and after reassuring that they are alright he looks up and sees Lucy laughing before ducking inside.

--

Emma glares at Lucy when she sits down. "30 minutes late. This was going to be a nice dinner but no, you had to be late!" Lucy laughs at her berating and sits down with a huge grin. "Wait, why are you smiling?"