Scribble

The Ultimate Writer: Round One

The next four chapters are my entries in "The Ultimate Writer" contest, which has not yet been fully judged. But I hope you enjoy them!!

Round One: Write a romantic cliffhanger.

I paced nervously up and down the hallway. Liam was meeting me here to drive me to the cafe. 

Liam was my older brother. He was home for the holidays and since Mom worked most of the time, he was stuck driving me places. To make up for it, I bought him the guitar he'd been coveting, with a bit of help from Dad.

I heard the car pull up and grabbed my coat, the gift, and my wallet. I would hopefully not have to pay, but you never could tell.

Before Liam had even gotten out, I was buckling myself in. "Come on, Liam, step on it!" I urged. "I'll be late!"

"Chill, Macy, okay? You'll be fine." Liam drove leisurely towards the cafe while I bit my nails and watched the clock anxiously.

We got to the cafe with five minutes to spare. I threw my door open and jumped out, pushing through the doors. I scanned the crowded area and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't here yet.

Still, I was tense as I sat on a bench checking my reflection every so often. My hair didn't stay in high ponytails well, yet that was what I had chosen for today's date. Idiot.

As I was making sure my lip gloss hadn't rubbed off onto my teeth, I saw a blond boy walking down the street. My heart started beating loudly.

I stood casually by the door waiting for him to come in. My hands were sweaty around the neatly wrapped present I had brought for him. I wiped them on my coat as the bell above the door tinkled cheerily. "Hey Joseph," I say shyly.

I hadn't seen him for a week; we'd talked on the phone sometimes but mostly just texted. He was wearing a festive sweater over probably his usual band T-shirt. He was holding a gift bag, which he hid behind his back when he saw me looking at it. "Hey Macy," he said coolly.

I smiled at him hugely, biting my lip a bit to rein it in. Joseph grabbed my hand and guided me to a table in the back.

I sat and we were soon handed a menu. "Joe, what are you getting?" I asked, chewing off most of my gloss.

He scanned the menu, then his eyes alighted on something and they lit up. "Waffles!" he said, with all the excitement of a little kid.

I giggled, again. "I guess I'll have French Toast then. We'll have breakfast for lunch."

Joseph grinned. He reached out and tucked a strand of my long white-blonde hair behind my ear. "Sounds perfect," he said softly. I blushed and looked down at the table.

A waitress appeared, all bubbly and cheerful. "Hey, I'm Kylie, what can I get ya?" she said warmly.

"I will have the blueberry waffles, and my girlfriend will have the French Toast."

"Um, could I get powdered sugar with that, please?" I asked, smiling.

"Sure things, darlings," Kylie left, scribbling on her pad.

Joseph grabbed my hand and held it for a few seconds, then let go, blushing. "I- um, I brought you something," he mumbled, holding the pretty little red bag out to me.

"Yeah, I got you something too," I held the green and blue present out to him.

I lifted out layers of wrapping paper and discovered a pair of silver earrings, twisted in a beautiful design. "Oh, I love them!" I exclaimed and reached across the table to half-hug him.

He tore open my present next. "Macy, really?" he asked, looking at me.

"Yep." I grinned. I had given him a box of waffle mix and the newest COD game; his two favorite things.

"I love you," he said seriously and kissed me on the cheek.

I giggled nervously and twirled a bit of hair that had fallen out. Then I looked up, since the bell above the door had just rung again.

My heart stopped.

Shoot. It was Kieran, my other boyfriend. And if he saw me here eating lunch with Joseph. . . Shoot.

"Um, I have to use the restroom, okay?" I got up and raced into the ladies' room.

I stared at myself in the mirror. My big gray eyes stared back as I tried to think up a solution. At least Kieran and Joseph never talked much. . . less of an issue then. But how could I prevent Kieran from seeing me? We weren't exactly hidden, even if we were at the back of the room.

"Crap," I muttered under my breath. "Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap."

Slowly, I reapplied mascara and stared at myself for a few more seconds. "Ugh," I muttered. I would have to escape

I took out my phone and set it to fake call in one minute. Then I pushed out the door and hurried back to the table, ducking my head.

"Sorry, Joe. Girl stuff. I wanted to tell you-" My phone rang, Perfect timing. I answered it with an air of fake importance. "Hey Liam, what is it? But I'm with Joe!" I pleaded for effect. Then I sighed. "Fine. I'll be waiting outside. But I have to use the restroom, okay?"

I ended the call and said, "Okay, Liam says I really have to go, but I need to tell you something first. I just actually do need to use the restroom, okay?"

I ran back to the bathroom before Joe could object. I had to make a real call. "Liam, I need you to pick me up right now." I said when he answered

"Kay, Macy. Calm down, I'll be there in two minutes."

"Make it one!" I cried and hung up.

I paced for a few more minutes until I was sure Liam was outside, then left the bathroom.

"Joe, Liam called again, I really got to go, oka-"

"No. Not okay, Macy." Joe said frostily.

I turned. Joe was sitting across from Kieran, who had taken my place. They were both glaring at me.

Shoot.