The Promise

three

Year 2014 - Spring:

"Come on, come on," I say to myself under my breath. Starting my car was at least a five minute episode. It wasn't a piece of junk by any means, but I've always had the worst luck when it comes to cars. Once, I waited for hours on the side of a highway for triple A to tell me my transmission was shocked. That was a nightmare.

I turn the key one last, desperate time, hoping to finally get somewhere.

I hear the engine roar to life and I shout in triumph, quickly buckle my seatbelt, and pull out from my driveway. Since it's Friday, I decide today would be a good day to stop for coffee before heading into work.

I make my way to Starbucks and when I finally get there, I shut off my car and pray to the car gods that it'll start again when I leave.

I walk in, making my way amongst the crowd of busybodies and order my mocha frappuccino.

After nicely paying the barista, I turn around and survey the room. All I see are busy people, trying to get on with their days. Everyone around here has a mentality of "go, go, go"; never stopping to smell the roses.

"Eleanor!" The barista calls out, interrupting my thoughts. Eleanor... that's the name from the invitation. It couldn't be a coincidence. How many Eleanors do you run into in today's world?

A petite woman about my age starts making her way through the crowd. Long, brown locks frame her rounded face. I envy her slightly tan complexion and her toned legs. Her sundress fit her perfectly, hugging her in all the right places. Self consciously, I look down at my own work clothes. My pencil skirt was wrinkled and my blouse was loosely fitting. I looked like a slob compared to her. I watch as she approaches the counter, beams at the worker, and walks out the door. I continue to watch as she climbs into her car, starts it up with ease, and goes on her way.

I don't realize how badly I'm staring until I'm awoken from my trance by my name being called out. Embarrassed, I walk to the counter, quickly mutter a thank you and walk out of the store with my head down.

That had to be her. Louis' Eleanor.

I get into my car and begin the process of starting it up, suddenly wondering why I even wanted coffee in the first place.

---

"Hey, do you want this?" I ask Sophia, walking into our cubicle. I hold out the lukewarm frappuccino I barely took two sips from.

"Hell yeah!" She says excitedly and freezes. "Wait, I'm confused. Why'd you get coffee if you didn't want it?"

I try to think of an excuse or a way around the subject. "Um, I just didn't feel too great after I got it," I lie and quickly add, "Hey, by the way, what are we doing tonight? It's your turn to choose."

Sophia and I, being the total besties we are, hang out every Friday night. It's been a tradition since college. We take turns choosing what we do each week and today is her pick. I, personally, almost always choose a movie. Usually, Sophia wants to go eat somewhere.

She stops sipping my coffee and breaks eye contact with me. "Yeah, about that..." She pauses and looks back at me. "I was wondering if my choice this week could be to do nothing?"

I stare back at her, blankly. "Nothing," Not once since we started our Friday night ritual have we ever just done nothing. I mean, some people may classify an all-night Dave Franco movie marathon as nothing, but I had a feeling that wasn't the nothing she was talking about.

"I sort of, maybe, kind of, have a date." She bites down on her lower lip, looking anywhere in the room but at me.

"What? With who?" I ask, confused.

Sophia used to date a lot the first year of college, but they never really lasted long so she gave up. After one particularly atrocious date, she decided all men were pigs, except Dave Franco, of course, and would always go on and on about how unreliable they are. So, you bet I am awfully curious at her sudden change of heart.

"Adam," She replies, biting back down on her lower lip, waiting for my response.

Adam, Adam.. I rack my brain, wondering where I recently heard that name.

And then it hits me.

"Adam!? That idiot from the elevator? Might I also mention the eighth floor?" By now, I was feeling heated. My face is probably so pink right now.

"You don't even know him, he's actually really nice, Lydia. Maybe if you actually gave people chances instead of judging them so quickly, you'd have a date of your own!" She says the last sentence with so much hatred, I almost believe her words.

"I'm just looking out for you. And, by the way, there are six other nights a week you could've made a date for. We had plans, Sophia. We've had plans together every Friday for the last few years. I didn't cancel on you when my dog died and you desperately needed some girl time after getting fired from a job. So, I'm kind of wanting to know why you plan on canceling on me now. "

"I can't believe how selfish you're being. I've hung out with you every Friday for three years. The least you could do is let me have this one." She retorts, crossing her arms over her chest.

Before I say something I don't really mean, I get up from my chair, walking through the maze of cubicles to get to the hall of the building.

I sit down on the floor against the wall next to a dusty artificial plant. I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. Inhale. Exhale.

In reality, I was probably making a big deal of nothing. I didn't particularly even feel like hanging out with Sophia tonight anyway. I just can't stand those jerks from upstairs, and I know she's gonna call me tomorrow complaining about that Adam guy. She'll say he was rude and looked at other girls the whole night and tried to split the check and blah blah blah. It happened every time, and this date will be no exception.

After a few minutes of weird glares from men in suits walking down the hall, I stand up, smoothing down my skirt, trying to regain some composure. I walk back to our cubicle where I see Sophia on a call.

I walk over, plop down in my chair, put on my headset, and answer line two.

"Customer service, this is Lydia. How may I help you today?"

---

I manage to get through the day without talking to Sophia, and, sure enough, I make it home by 5:30, just like every day and make my tea. Nothing changed. I decide to order Chinese takeout and watch movies all night.

By 9:30, I'm stuffed full and in the middle of my second movie. I'm interrupted when I hear my phone ring in the kitchen. I pause the movie, lift all the blankets from my lap and take a look at the caller ID. Sophia, of course.

I answer, and before I can even get in a simple hello, she's already talking. "Listen, Lydia, I know you're mad at me, but before you say anything let me say this: You were right."

I walk back to the couch, holding my phone to my ear and take a seat. "Alright, what happened?" I ask, genuinely intrigued. Everybody likes being told they're right, right?

"Okay, so I walk into the restaurant, and I see him standing at the bar. So, I go to him and say 'hey, Adam' and, GET THIS, he says 'hey, um, Sarah, right?' The bastard didn't even remember my name!" she says into my ear.

"Aw, Soph, I'm sorry!" I say, not really knowing what to say besides 'I told you so'.

"Shut up, you don't have to fake sympathy for me. I should've just listened to you in the first place. I'm sorry!" she says. I can hear her radio playing softly in the background as well as loud car honks from angry drivers. She had probably just now left the bar. I smile knowing she called me immediately after the incident.

"I know you're already driving, so just come over. I'm in the middle of watching Dear John and need my best friend to cry with me." I say, laughing.

A/N: Hey, guys!! I hope you like it so far, I promise the story will come together better soon. Thanks for reading! :)