Fate. Love. Broadway.

Chapter 1

        “Riley, you do realize that it’s unlikely he’ll fall in love with you just by looking in your eyes, right? You’re not actually crazy?” 

“Yes, Megan, I still have some sense of reality left in me. But you do realize it’s possible, right?”

“Well, yes-“

“Then shut up and let me dream.” 

Riley and Megan were squished up against a metal blockade, awaiting the actors of the musical they had just finished watching. Screaming thirteen year olds were all fighting for front spots. Luckily the twenty-two-year olds legs were stronger and faster. They had sprinted out of Hamlet: the Musical straight to the stage door and waited for the guards to put the gates in front of them. Playbills were out, ready to be signed, and cameras were on and set to selfie-mode. 

Hamlet: the Musical was Riley’s favorite musical of all time. It was a combination of everything Riley loved: Hamlet, musicals, and Elliott Isaac Harris. Elliott Harris was an actor only one year older than Riley - yet was already on the rise to Broadway legend status. And Riley was hopelessly in love with him.

In fact, she was so convinced it was true love that the only thing she asked for her birthday were tickets to see the show. She went as far as to guarantee her family that if they gave her anything else, she’d sell it for money to buy tickets. She had spent three and a half hours getting ready. She wore her nicest dress, curled her hair to perfection, and made sure every stroke of her mascara brush went exactly how she wanted. She was determined to have the moment the love of her life realized he loved her was perfect.

Okay so maybe she was being a little overly hopeful. But he just had to love her. It was fate. She’d never felt this way about another human before, so it had to mean something.

Right?

The actors came out one by one, slowly moseying around and taking pictures and signing things. Finally, the door opened for the one actor they had all been waiting for. Elliott. Him. 

He was even more glorious in person. At least, that’s how Riley felt about him. He smiled his famous, heavily dimpled smile at the crowd, gave a little wave, and began making his way around. Riley’s heart pounded hard in her chest, her brain went fuzzy, her mouth was numb. She stared with a dopey look on her face.

Megan whispered in her ear. “Don’t be disappointed if he doesn’t do anything, okay?” Riley just nodded and waved her off. There was magic in the air and she knew that something was going to happen. 

Elliott approached them, looking at Megan. She was before Riley. He scribbled a messy signature on her playbill, posed for a picture, and muttered a goodbye. 

This is it. My whole life is going to change in three seconds. He’ll look me in the eye and say-

“Hey there.” he said, smiling at me.

“H-hi! I’m Riley.” she stumbled, quietly.

Elliott took the playbill and scribbled the same signature on the front, right under the title of the play. Riley took a quick photo with him and quickly turned around, catching his eye. 

His warm, copper and molten chocolate eyes stared into her desperate, dark forrest green eyes. “Well, nice to meet you Riley. Thanks for coming.” He turned and moved onto the next stuttering fan.

Riley’s heart crashed. It was as if someone dropped a fragile glass sphere from miles above Earths surface, letting it shatter on the cold concrete of Manhattan. Megan placed a hand on Riley’s elbow and tugged her away. 

Once they were around the corner, Megan pulled her best friend in for a hug and squeeze tight. “At least you met him…” she muttered, knowing how heartbroken her friend was. She had felt the same way about Johnny Depp last year until she came to her senses. Unfortunately, Riley learned the hard way. 

“Come  on,” Megan said, pulling back. “I knew this might happen, so I stocked up on your favorite gelato when I went to the store yesterday.” 

Riley looked down at the signature-covered playbill she was still gripping in her hand. “Sea salt caramel with the chocolate and caramel truffles?” she murmured, knowing gelato, sad movies, and crying on the couch was the only way she’d move on. 

Megan looped her arm through Riley’s. “I got ten cartons.”

“We’re going to have to get more at the store.”