Happily (N)Ever After?

Beginnings & Ends

     Several days had passed before Valerie realized she hadn’t had much contact with her friends. Between her 5 AP classes, the art class she was taking at the community college, and her two jobs, she barely had time to breathe. Not to mention her phone had recently lost a battle with the washing machine. She didn’t think much of the whole thing, though. If there was a real emergency or crisis, she figured Julia would find a way to get ahold of her.

      Val tucked away her AP Physics notes and put on her apron to prepare for her weeknight shift as a waitress. Wednesday nights were always a toss up between super slow and super busy, but the cash tips were nice to have when they came around. She finished her work in the back, rolled silverware and distributed several to-go orders before the hostess, Jessica, alerted her that she had a table. She grabbed a menu & silverware and headed to section 32A.

    “Valerie Bakeman?” the mysterious blonde guy in the back of the booth asked. She had no idea who he was, but she knew he was extremely attractive.

    “I’m sorry...I don’t think we’ve met.” Val confessed, embarrassed yet intrigued. The blonde guy smiled crookedly.

    “I’m Travis. Travis Carmichael? We had like, every class together in the 7th grade...”

    “Ohmigod! That Travis!” Val felt herself blush. She had had the hugest crush on him in middle school before he moved to Texas. “Travis Carmichael..Wow, I mean, you look so different!”

    “I’m going to take that as a compliment..” he replied. Travis was always classically cute, but braces removed, 2004 highlights grown out & gone, and once-baby-fat turned into muscular physique, he was even cuter than he remembered. Not to mention he’d shot up more than a foot in height. Puberty had done wonders for this kid.

    “It was.” she said almost too quickly.

    “And you..You look..You’re really pretty. Not that you weren't always pretty. Cause you were always...pretty. Yep. Uh. Did you get contacts?” he stammered, attempting to put his words in the right order. Regardless, Val was now pretty positive she was bright red.

    “Yeah, I’ve had them for awhile now. But, you’ve been in Texas right? What brings you back up here?”

    “Actually, my sister got married this weekend.” he replied. Of course he’s visiting, Val thought to herself with disappointment.

    “That’s great!” she said anyway.

    “Yeah, it was a blast. I’m really happy for her.” he said sweetly, “But, I will be moving back up here soon anyway.”

    “Really?” Val asked, probably just a little too eagerly. But quite frankly, she was just trying to refrain from dancing across the restaurant.

    “Yep,” Travis began, “I actually got offered a basketball scholarship to MSU.”

    “Wow, look at you, superstar.” She smiled.

    “It’s not really that big of a deal..” he said bashfully.

    “Yeah it is! I know people who would die for an opportunity like that.”

    “Well, I must confess I do feel rather badass...” he smirked.

    “I would too! Congrats.” Valerie said.

    “Thanks,” he blushed.

    “...Did you want something to drink?” she asked, realizing she was actually supposed to be waiting on him.