Pickle, this story is about Talia and Rick. (That's right, Pickle, I know your heart just stopped.) For anyone else who comes upon this post, you can try to understand. Try.
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Talia was SO happy. It was today that she was finally going to confess to Asia Buckyfield that she loved him. Her heart felt as if it was about to burst into blames at any given second. Goosebumps formed on her arms and she constantly chewed her lip. Today was the day that Talia was going to let Asia know how she had felt for the past three years!
Talia sat inside Le Creme Brulee at 25 Mercer Street, eagerly waiting for her date to arrive. She had ordered a strong Black Tea for Asia, and a Green Tea for herself. Talia didn't really have a thing for tea, but she wanted her tastes to be more similar to Asia. After she had told the waitress what she had wanted, she took off her coat, hung it on the back of her chair, and began to settle into nervousness.
She sat next to the window seat and stared at all of the people who rushed by. No sign of Asia...yet. The coffee shop already had a few tables filled with young couples, their passion resonating from them. Talia awkwardly pulled out her phone and reread her last messages with Asia:
T: Hey! let's meet up tomorrow! ^^
A: Sure. What time?
T: Le Creme Brulee at noon?
A: I'll be there.
T: Sweet! ^^
Her eyes wandered over to a clock nearby and instantly noticed that it was already 12:15.
The waitress came over and apologized to her about the wait for the drinks Talia had ordered. Apparently, an influx of people had came in and were trying to order coffee-to-go. Talia accepted the apology and told the waitress that it was fine.
Anxiety taking in, Talia's finger hovered over the call button next to Asia's name. Would calling him right now be too weird? Was that too clingy? He was probably coming right now. Sinking into cowardice, Talia closed out of her messages, set her phone on the table, and continued to wait.
12:30.
The drinks finally came, and the rush of to-go customers disappeared as well. Talia stirred her drink and stared at an empty seat in front of her, the smell of Asia's drink fading away as it cooled down. Thirty minutes late and still no one? Talia erased her doubts and sipped some tea.
12:45.
The couples at some of the tables nearby have started to give her sad looks. Their eyes dart to her first, and then to the empty seat in front of her. Talia decides that if Asia doesn't show up in 15 minutes, she would call him.
1:00.
She calls without hesitation, and no one picks up the phone. Instead, she is met with his voice message. In a cheery voice, it says, "You've reached Asia's phone! Sorry I didn't pick up your call. Leave a message and I will get back to you." Even though he didn't pick up, hearing his voice made Talia feel stronger for some reason.
1:15.
The tea is all cold now. Talia couldn't even finish hers. A few of the couples finish up, walk by, and give her sad, sympathetic smiles. The waitress even comes by a few times to make sure she is okay.
Talia messages Asia before calling him again.
T: Hey, where are you?
1:20.
Talia messages her friend Selena, in complete disbelief.
T: Did he stand me up? :(
S: What are you talking about? :| Talia, where are you?
T: He won't answer any of my calls or messages... :(
S: Where are you right now?
T: Le Creme Brulee.
T: What should I do, bruh? x(
Selena doesn't respond.
Talia realizes by this point that for some reason, Asia stood her up. She doesn't even remember what it was that she originally had planned to do. The waitress comes by again, notices what had happened, and then asks her if she is okay. Talia immediately nods her head, embarrassed, as the waitress tells her that the drinks are on the the house today. Talia knows that that isn't true but takes advantage of this time to take her things and leave. The unfinished tea remained cold and lifeless on the table as she left the establishment.
She rushes outside, clearly in a fever. As she walked along the busy streets, she felt the tears slip from her eyes and roll down her cheeks. She hated crying, she hated it! And so she stumbled upon a less crowded street and sat down on an empty bench next to a lamp post so that she couldn't be seen. Wiping her snot and tears with the back of her arm, she sobbed like a lunatic to herself. No one batted her an eye, and Talia was more than fine with that. She fumbled at her purse to find her tissues, but to no avail, they were not there when she needed them the most. Just like Asia.
"Oh man, you really are a mess."
A familiar voice broke her thoughts, and Talia looked up to see a smug looking Rick, wearing a jacket and jeans. His hair was spiked up a bit as usual, and he did not seem the least surprised to see Talia here. He addressed her again despite her disbelief. "Holy cow, Selena was right."
Talia couldn't believe it. "Right? Right about what?" It was as if all of her sadness had been evaporated and replaced with fury. "What are you doing here anyway?"
Rick shrugged. "I was told you got stood up, so I came to find you."
Talia shot Rick a dirty look. "I did not get stood up, you snoop! He already left. I was just...just..."
Rick raised an eyebrow.
"My allergies are just really bad, okay?"
Rick rolled his eyes. "Whatever. We all know that you got stood up. Selena told me everything."
Talia's face turned a deep shade of red. "If you rely on Selena so much for information, then go bother her then!" She stood up and kicked him in the shin. "Stupid Rick! Stupid Selena!" As she ran off from the scene, she mumbled to herself. "...Stupid Asia."
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5:30.
Talia stared at the gallons of ice cream inside of a convenience store she was in. Ice cream was really nice. It didn't break promises or stand you up. Talia really liked ice cream ....but not as much as Asia.
She felt the tears start again, and she wiped her face clean with the back of her hand. She was going home.
Just as she exited the store without having bought anything, her phone started to vibrate. She picked up, expecting nothing, but then realized Asia had finally responded.
A: Hey, sorry about that Talia! I totally forgot about today. I ended up asking the girl I really like out! I have so much to tell you. I'll make it up to you! Next time we go out, drinks are on me! :)
A: How does tomorrow sound?
Talia stopped walking. Her heart stopped. This time, she let her tears fall as she crouched down. What are the odds that the same day she wanted to confess to someone that Asia would also do the same to another girl? Her tears tasted more salty and bitter than they had been the past few hours.
And yet again...
"Here."
A tissue was made into her hands and in confusion, Talia looked up. "Rick?"
Rick crouched down and looked her in the eye. "Stop crying over some deadbeat. Stop it."
"Asia's not a--"
A hand was clamped over her mouth. "Stop protecting him, you idiot. You look ridiculous." He reached over and took Talia's phone before she could stop him and then forced her to stand up. "Text him back and tell him no. Right now," he rolled his eyes again. "Seriously, take care of yourself better, would you? You have everyone all worried..."
Before Talia could completely register what was happening, Rick reached over and started to wipe her face clean with the tissue in her hand. It wasn't until he was about three inches away from her face that he froze. Talia remained as still as a statue with a fixed look in her eyes. What. Was. Going. On.
He cleared his throat and stepped back, just as Talia took her phone back and looked back at the message Asia had sent. Maybe Rick and Selena were right. Asia wasn't the one. Taking a deep breath and sip of courage, she texted back:
T: Sorry, I'm busy tomorrow.
"Hopefully for the rest of your life," Rick said, surveying the scene from behind.
Talia turned red again. "Stop snooping around! I..I can deal with this myself."
Rick smiled, and it sent shivers down Talia's spine. "I sure hope so."
Absentmindedly, she scratched her head and looked back down at her phone, not really sure what was going on. Rick called for her attention again by peering over at her. "What did you have earlier, anyway?"
Earlier? Talia racked her brain. "Tea," she answered firmly. "I had tea."
Rick made a disgusted face. "Tea? You don't even drink or like tea! Why did you go and do that?" When she didn't answer her, he finally understood. "Geez, you're an idiot. Don't go lowering your standards for some jerk."
"Asia's not a jerk!" Talia insisted. "He's just--wait, where are you taking me??"
Rick had found her hand and was leading her away. "The Talia I know really likes Hot Chocolate," he grinned. "Not some stupid tea. Drinks are on me!"
Talia couldn't help but turn multiple shades of red. Rick led her through the busy streets, his grip on her firm and reassuring as the city bustled with exciting couples in the backdrop of a amorous light.
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