Writing Prompts

Prompt #18) It Was Too Late

Roberta stood outside the theater, adorned in red and black. Arm in arm with her date, his opposing hand takes the one in his arm, causing her to look up at him.

"You okay, Robbie?" His voice was cool and smooth, like butter. She could feel his warm skin through her dark, sparkly laced gloves.

"Yeah, of course, why wouldn't I?" She plastered a white smile through her ruby red lips.

"You just look a lil' pale." He admitted. "I've never seen you were so much makeup before... at least, not like this."

She patted his arm. "Don't worry about me."

Her eyes fell to the steps before the entrance of the theater, making sure to pull up her dress as to not trip, revealing her dark flats.

Noticing, Roberta's date blurted, "Oh, and, uh, thanks for wearing flats."

"No problem, Milo." She followed his lead down a hall, where there was a line of people waiting to take their seats. "I wouldn't want to damage your ego too much now, would I?"

"Well, you did almost kill me when we first met a few months ago," Milo chuckled. "But I was the stupid one, startling you while you were chopping apples at my cousin's party."

Roberta nervously laughed along. "Yeah... you were the stupid one..."

The usher at the door led the couple to their seats- front row seats.

"Milo, I thought that you said that we didn't get good seats?" Roberta recalled, her heart beat picking up pace. "As in, we'd be in the back," she eyed the growing crowd, "where nobody would see us."

"I know," Milo smirked and squeezed Roberta's hand. "It was a surprise, just for you."

He brought her hand up to his face, pressing his lips to her knuckles.

"How... thoughtful," she mused, her eyes softening on his face.

"I know how much you love the theater, since you talk about it all of the time," Milo explained, "besides, I wanted tonight to be special."

Roberta took careful notice of how his free hand went straight to his coat pocket, her breath startled, causing her hand to fly to her chest.

"Robbie?" Milo took a seat beside her, caressing her fingers in his hand. "Is everything alright?"

Staring into his eyes, Roberta hesitated to speak. "Yes, yes, I am," she said frantically, slipping her hand away from his. She smoothed out her dress and her curled, dark hair. "Better than I'll ever be."

"Why don't I help you with your coat-"

"No," Roberta spoke immediately. "It's just so chilly in here. I'd rather keep it on than catch a cold." She then shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Milo raised an eyebrow, "Alright, then." He placed his arm around her shoulders naturally. "As you wish," he winked at her.

Roberta smiled and placed her head on his shoulder.

She could hear his heartbeat, allowing it to steady her own. Her hand subtly roamed the inside of her coat, gracing a dark, heavy object that she was familiar with. Her fingers lingered the trigger, tears beginning to tug at her eyes.