Crash Into Me

Chapter Five: Alli

I crouch down onto the familiar patch of dewy grass, placing the dozen white roses delicately down in front of me at my knees. A sense of emptiness and closeness simultaneously fill my heart.

"I met someone," I whisper lightly, as a soft smile curves its way across my face. "He's kind of perfect...Charming, smart, and...well, he's also a looker," I laugh quietly. Clouds begin to darken the sky at an unpredictable pace and thunder rumbles hungrily in the distance.

"He asked me out on a date. Tonight actually. He's taking me to La Bella. Remember we wanted to go there for senior prom, but it was a little out of our price range?" I snicker. My mind wanders back to that night..the night...the one that changed my life forever. I remember the beaming flash of headlights seemingly appearing out of nowhere; the intense earsplitting clashing sound of metal hitting metal; the blaring incessant horn that still fills my eardrums; and that blood curdling scream. The scream of sheer terror. The scream of impending death. Droplets of water splash the cement at my feet. I look up to the sky, thinking that it might be rain, before brushing my face and realizing that it's actually my tears.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry...It should have been me, not you," I tenderly touch the headstone, the cold granite sending chills down my spine. I shake my head, sniffling, as more water droplets appear before me. This time I can feel the lukewarm rain grazing my shoulders.

"I love you. I'll always love you. Always together, never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart," I recite our favorite saying, kissing my fingertips before extending my hand out to touch the headstone. More thunder rumbles, louder this time, and the rainfall intensifies, pelting down on my head. I try uselessly to cover my head with my hands and clumsily rise up from the ground, teeter-tottering for balance. Running awkwardly with my hands over my head, I make a break for it back to my old beat up fawn-colored Toyota Camry. Flinging myself into the driver's seat, I fumble with my keys before starting the ignition. My phone lights up in the cup holder to my right and my eyes dart toward the screen. I wipe my hands dry on the fabric seat before picking it up to read the message.

Eli's name pops up on the screen. I'll be there at eight. I have our reservation set for eight-thirty. See you soon.

My heart flutters and comforts the previous moment of mourning. I reply back. Eight is perfect. See you then. Simple and to the point. I put the car into drive and make my way out of the empty parking lot, feeling hopeful and surprisingly better.

***

Later that night, I hear the doorbell ring just as I'm putting on my other black suede high heel. Trying not to trip, I walk toward my apartment door. You got this. I give myself a quick pep talk while glancing briefly into the mirror for one last quick look. My dark chocolatey brown hair is done into some soft wavy curls that fall down to my exposed lower back. The velvety red lipstick feels foreign on my typically naked lips and my silky red dress that was hiding deep in the darkest depths of my closet doesn't look half bad. I squirm uncomfortably at the sight of the plunging neckline, but Lisa, one of my coworkers, insisted that it was "gorgeous," so I straighten up and take a long deep breath before reaching for the handle.

I see Eli, looking up from the ground at the sound of the door opening. A wide smile fills his cleanly groomed face. I cannot believe a man as sexy as him wants to go on a date with me.

"You look..." he begins, incredulously, shaking his head and gesturing toward me for head to toe. "You're breathtaking." His charcoal grey suit fits him flawlessly and his typically messy brown hair is lightly gelled, taming his loose waves.

I smile, tucking my long hair behind my ear. Breathe. "You don't look half-bad yourself."

He laughs amusedly, reaching out his arm for me to wrap mine around. "Shall we?"

I nod my head, pulling myself closer to him. We make our way toward his Mercedes before he opens the passenger door. I carefully slide into the light leather seat, trying not to flash him my red lacy thong. I'm pretty sure he still caught a glimpse though because he clears his throat and adjusts his collar, before grinning at me and closing the door. My cheeks flush yet again. I debated whether or not I should wear my never-worn lingerie that still had the tags or my comfy normal stuff. I don't expect things to go that far, but knowing I look presentable underneath this dress gives me a reassuring sense of comfort.

"So, have you ever been to this restaurant before?" he asks, turning on some slow-paced music as he drives out of the parking lot.

I shake my head, "No, I always wanted to go though." My stomach is a jumble of nerves and I have no idea how tonight is going to go. My mind flashes to later as I wonder if we will have our first kiss...or maybe more...

I think he can tell I'm nervous because he says, "Hey," looking over to me and placing his hand on my knee. I feel a rush of warmth and electricity travel through the rest of my body and my knee jolts slightly. I look up at his warm almond-shaped eyes. "Relax. We're going to have a good night." I can feel his eyes looking into me and I gulp quietly, nodding my head.

"Ye—yeah," I nod again, biting my bottom lip softly, "We are." He moves his hand from my knee to my left hand, entangling his fingers into mine before pulling out from the stop sign. 

I look over at his face, not feeling like I have to instantly look away for the first time. My eyes work their way down from his thick dark eyebrows to his deep green eyes. Glancing a little further, I stare at his pillowy, soft-looking lips and chiseled jawline that casts a shadow over his neck. His biceps fill out his fitted jacket. He turns to look at me, catching me staring, but I don't look away immediately this time. Instead, I smirk before turning to look out the window. He grabs my hand harder and brushes our hands against my thigh as my heart rate picks up.

"I wish I would have met you sooner," he says quietly.

I turn my view from the Dallas skyline back to him. "I think we met right when we were supposed to," I grin as he returns the same longing smile with a nod.