Waiting For Fate

Chapter Five: Too Soon

Mark.

No.

Not yet.

"Hazel?" He said, his eyes conflicted with eagerness and a bit of confusion.

Stumbling slightly, Jillian steadies me. "Mark."

We stared at each other ,stunned at the sudden meeting. He looked at me absorbing every aspect of me. He started from the roots of my curls, to my chest that was only more exposed with this dress, then along my stomach to my legs. He slowly came up to my eyes and stayed there.

We stood there as I watched him, his hair was cut in the same military cut as I left. Then his shoulders that were only broader and arms stronger and more defined. His lean chest only made me catch my eyes. Going back to his face, catch my eyes as I see Ian's eyes watching mine.

"Hazel, you look absolutely amazing! I knew yellow was a great color on you." Layla says popping in front of Mark.

Focusing on the subject at hand, I smile back. "So its fine? Maybe a touch up in the chest-"

"You are not concealing those! Either way they couldn't be controlled." She winked, giggling.

"You sure maybe just-"

"No!" She smiled and turned me around. "Go get dressed we have to go get another dress for tonight."

"Tonight? whats tonight?" Please don't let it be the rehearsal dinner , I thought.

"The rehearsal dinner." She smiled and winked. "Plus, you get to rehearse with Mark who is walking you down the aisle." She smiled, seeming completely oblivious to the tension between us.

"Okay. Lemme go change and we'll head that way." I smiled "But I walked here-"

"I'll drive you! Now go!" She hurried me away, smiling as she turned to look at Mark.

Nodding, I walk quickly to the dressing room and unzip. Pulling on my clothes, I try to calm my heart down.

It was bound to happen, Hazel, i thought. Just too soon.

Yanking the curtain open with the dress in hand, I walk outside to the lounging area. Mark was talking on the phone, smiling. Walking quickly to Layla, I say, "Layla, I only have a babysitter for Ian until two-"

"We'll take him with us." She smiled at me.

"Us? As in just you and me right?" I said, panicking slightly.

"Yes, just us." she smiled, but obviously curious from my panic.

"Okay. I'll make a phone call to him right now." I smiled and turned bumping into Mark.

"To who?" He smiled, causing my heart to catch in my throat.

"Uhm. I- Someone." I say walking around him and softly gracing his arm as I walk away, only causing me to shiver.

Letting my heart calm down as I walk outside, I grab my phone and hit Ashley's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ash."

"Hey, how's the fitting?" Ashley said.

"We will talk about that later. I have stuff to tell you. Can I talk to Ian?"

I sat there and looked inside at Mark. The new Mark. The Mark that i had no idea about. Yet, the Mark that was still the same.

"Mom?"

"Hey, Mister. How are you?"

"Having fun. Jake was teach me Halo." He said in a cheerful voice.

"Really? Looks like you'll have to teach me when we get home." I smile at the sound of his happiness.

Looking up, I see Mark on the phone staring at me. "Ohhh! We can play Spartans against Elites and have rocket launchers and spikes."

Laughing as I continue to stare at Mark, "Definitely. Honey, Im going dress shopping again and I want you to help me out, okay? We are going with the lady we met yesterday."

"The pretty one?" He said, his voice curious.

"Yes the pretty one." I smile looking down. "So get ready okay?"

"Okay, Mom. Love you." Ian said with a sincere loving voice.

"I love you too sweetie." I smiled as i look up and see Mark in front of me. "Bye sweetie."

"Bye Mom." I heard as the line went silent.

Hanging up, I don't lose eye contact with Mark. "So, um who was that?"

"Uhm. It actually was my date to the wedding." I said. Cringing inside from nerves, I knew I wouldn't and couldn't hide Ian from Mark any longer. I couldn't let it go on any longer.

"Oh. Well that's good. I'll get to meet her then." He smiled, being playful.

Rolling my eyes, I laughed. "No. Him. And You'll love him as much as I will."

An emotion strolled through his eyes, and left before I got a good look at it. "I suppose so."

Standing there awkwardly, I looked down as silence filled the street. The tension from five years of no talking seemed to bloom at that very second.

"Hazel, can you just look at me for now?"

"Mark-"

"Hazel." His voice seemed confused and pleading. "Please."

Aching, I looked up and saw Ian's eyes looking at me. "What Mark?"

"What happened? Why did you go?" His voice was obviously begging for an answer.

Not answering, I just stare at his eyes. The answers were all there, and practiced thoroughly, but I didn't feel it was the time.

"Mark." I said, with emotions that probably exposed my repressed feelings for him.

"Please-"

"Hazel! We gotta go!" She smiled walking behind Mark.

Sensing the tension she looks at Mark to me, she looks between us, until i break the eye contact and smile at her. "Okay, ready?"

"Ready," she smiled at me, but from the look I knew she would ask about it later.

"Okay. Bye Mark." I smiled and waved as we walked away. Getting into her Kia Soul, I look back and see Mark staring at me.

Staring back at him I let myself feel the love I tried to repress for five years.

I knew that I couldn't go back from this, and things would be different after meeting him again.

It was just too soon to process.