She Said No

She stared at her pumpkin spice latte set down beside her and frowned.
"Hey, I didn't order this!" she shouted at the waiter walking away.
"True, but I did."
The chillingly familiar voice reached her ears before he sat down in front of her.
"Hello again."
Tara sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"It's a free country, isn't it?" His smile was toxic. "Have it, I know how much you love pumpkin spice, it said so on you profile, remember?"

Tara created a dating profile about a year ago. It seemed like a harmless way to at least chat and flirt with some guys. Tara kept her profile fairly basic: looking for a love that will keep me warm like an oversized sweater and sweet pumpkin spice latte (because of course that's my favorite!) on a crisp autumn day; studying to be a nurse; and enjoys spending time with family and friends, and my cute kitty.

"Don't let that latte go cold, dear."

Her eyes flashed at him. "Don't call me dear, and don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do."

A few people looked over, he laughed with ease which made it seem ok so they retreated their gaze.

"Darling, then."

"I asked you to leave me alone."

"Oh, I tried, but you see," he lifted a thread of red string. "We are soul mates."

Tara bit her lip. The dating profile boasted itself of connecting people with whom their red string connected to.

"Just- just leave me alone."

"Tara, we're meant to be, like autumn and sweaters or your precious pumpkin spice."

"I can't. You're not the one, you can't be."

"Oh, but I am." His grin made her nauseas.

He was right. The red string bounded them together.

A flood of anxiety rushed through her. But what felt like drowning turned to feeling of crashing waves. Tara stood up.

"I said no."

He stood up and tightened his grip on the string. "You belong to me."

"No! I don't."

Everyone was glancing at each other, staring at them but averting their gaze slightly to disguise their intrigue.

Tara pulled back on the string and tore it apart with her teeth with one quick go, letting the thread drift in two to the floor.

Tara picked up the latte, "I said no," and left.