Meant to Be

Chapter I: The Reunion

I didn't know you were going to be here...

My eyes followed his movements very, very closely. The way his left hand gripped a can of lemonade, his right middle finger pushing the brim of his glasses. His mouth still moved the same way: though the music and distance made it impossible for me to hear what he was saying, I could hear his voice. At that very moment you turned and we made eye contact. Your soft and empathetic gaze met mine and for a second everything came rushing back, everything. And then I realized it was obvious for you that I had been staring for a while. I cleared my throat, awkwardly tried to find the balance between my legs and looked around for literally anyone else. Then you smiled and started to walk over and God I hope you're not walking towards me. But we make eye contact again and I know I have to escape. My feet start moving by themselves and I'm praying you get the hint that I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to you, but I don't.

    I move at the same ungodly speed that you always complained about keeping up with and at that very second I hear you call out the first syllable of my name, the rest is drowned out by music and the distance I'm putting between us.

Call it again. Come after me. I swear I'll stop right in my tracks.

    But you don't do anything. I don't turn around, you know I never look back: but I know you're just standing there with that same confused expression and your arms raised as if questioning the universe. I told you once to save your apologies for the times in which you really needed them so here's one: I apologize for running away.

    Lost in my own thoughts I crash into Jayleen. It was hard for me to place her in the timeline of our story but I remember soon enough-- she broke us up.

"Hey, you O.K.?" She grabs me by the shoulders and looks me directly in the eyes. Her mouth is still shaped like an upside down "U" and her voice isn't annoying but it's the kind you get tired of hearing after a while.

"Yes! I'm fine, I'm just," running away from my problems, " getting some ice."

"Oh okay, just wanted to check on you since you're looking a little red and out of breath..." She trails off in that same manner of being sweet whilst shady with every sentence.

I give her a tight-lipped smile and hum as I start to walk away.

"Hey! It was really cool of you to plan this! You should do Giovanna's wedding."

    I stop dead in my tracks, my blood runs cold, my skin feels likes it's going to fall right off my bone. If I lose focus for a single second I know my legs will give out and the throw up rising in my throat will explode right out of my mouth.

"Oh she's getting married!" I smile in that same fake tone of happiness I've mastered, "That's great! To whom?"  I ask a dangerous question that I do not want to know the answer to.

"Tyler." She spits out in that condescending voice I almost forgot existed, as if I'm supposed to know they're still together 10 years later.

"That's great! Have her look up the number and call or stop by the office!" I smile pridely.

I know whatever comes out of Jayleen's mouth next won't affect me because in this moment I'm reminded that I worked hard to get everything I ever wanted.

"Thank you! You'll do it pro bono right?"

I love this, this is my chance to be angry and petty and unleash a small amount of the raging emotions I have inside of me.

I smile and use that same condescending tone she did," Jayleen, sweety of course not. Pro bonos are for friends."

She doesn't look offended; she understands we were never friends, especially after what she did. But I never had anything against Giovanna, she was just associated with Jayleen so therefore we weren't friends.

I decide I need a nap and find Katie, my second in command, to tell her I was tired and ready to go home.  I make it out to my car where I finally feel like I can breathe.

I can smell your cologne before I even know you're there. It's like my heart feels you before anything else can happen.

I check for anything strange in the car before I pull the handle and that's when I catch your reflection in the window. My throat closes up and my stomach drops down to hell itself; just as I pull on the handle, ready to run away again, you call out to me.

"Eve." You say in that calming deep voice.

I almost turn around, but I'm caught up in the fact that you still call me that. After all this time, you still call me that.

"Hey." I smile, my eyes beginning to water.

Why are you talking to me?

" I don't know of a lot of people that people that plan their own high school reunion." You chuckle.

"Yeah, well," I don't want to have this conversation. " Carly teaches here now, we kept in touch and she asked if I could do it."

"So the event planning business went well. It's what you always loved to do. Who do you work for again?"

Why are we making small talk? Just tell me what you want.

"Nev Corporations." I decide that if I cut my answers short, you'll take the hint that I'm trying to go home.

"Nev Corporations...they own the bakeries around town, right? The same ones building that new hotel? The event planning among other things just seems like a bunch of odd investments."

"Yeah well the CEO just couldn't decide I guess."

I open the car door and start placing my things inside, hoping this conversation is nearing its end.

"That guy must be crazy rich! Funny no one ever sees him."

"Yes, the firm makes a lot of money but most of it is donated to the fight for climate change."

"That's so cool! Do you personally know him? The CEO I mean?"

Here's the best part of my life, the most satisfying thing I get so say. Granted, only a total of 5 people know who the CEO really is, not the pseudonym it is under, and I was happily about to make it 6.

"Yes, I know her. Call her ugly everyday in the mirror before I leave for work." I beam proudly.

I can see the gears turning in your head. We haven't said a word in 10 years, and the realization of who I am finally hits you. I take the opportunity of your state of shock to get in and start my car. You're still thinking by the time I put my seat belt on, so I finish the thought for you.

"Nev as in Genevieve, Tyler."

I pull out a business card for Event Planning by Nev from my wallet and hand it to you through the car window.

"Jayleen asked me to plan yours and Giovanna's wedding, schedule a meeting online and we can get started," I've avoided your gaze for most of the conversation, but part of me wants to see you now, I want you to look me in the eye for this next part," Congratulations by the way, I'm happy for you."

I hope you can tell it's a lie because I'll never admit it.