True Fate

by Varadeaux, Shayna

  She got out of the car and sighed with a stretch eyeing the hammock that hung under two pecan trees about six feet from the swimming pool, just waiting for her and a book. That was her second favorite spot. She absolutely loved October, it brought the breeze and gave them a break from the scorching hundred plus temperatures that they usually had.

  She helped her sisters with their bags and they went inside. It looked like an old movie to Nia. Her mother clearly spared no expense on their dream home. It wasn't opulent but, old plantation meets comfortable, livable spaces. The wood floors were a deep mahogany and strewn with rugs. It was quickly becoming home. Nia carried the bags upstairs and left them in the hallway, she didn't really know whose was whose anyway.

  She opened the door to her room which she loved. After all it looked like a library with a bed in it. Her mom searched high and low for the black and grey baroque wallpaper that graced her walls. The four poster, queen sized bed took her like a second to pick out! The long black material draped at each corner fully enclosed the bed if she wanted. Her bedspread was black with red throw pillows and white ones too.

  The built in shelves were her mom's surprise reveal when she showed her the finished project. They were a semi shiny black and just perfectly matching her bed and her heavy antique desk.

  If Nia could claim an obsession she indulged in, it would be her book collection. She had her favorite classics like Bronte, Austen, Shakespeare, and her favorite book in her collection was Camille by Alexandre Dumas, she treasured that book. It was a beautiful pristine edition and her most valuable possession to date. And then she has a collection of Young Adult books they are her absolute favorite genre! Dystopian and Paranormal are second followed by her newfound love, New Adult.

  Her Twilight signed special editions are on display behind glass which gets her laughs from newcomers but she couldn't care less. Her battered copy of The Host sits by her bed, along with Clockwork Prince, which is what she'd been currently reading. She is obsessed with her manga and her Emily Strange!

  Her walk-in closet slash dressing room was a little wrecked but she would clean up before bed. Kicking off her favorite pair of black and white checked Vans, she threw her black hoodie over her vanity chair. The door to her black tiled bathroom was open and she decided to shower. Nia put the shower in waterfall mode then ventured back into her room to turn on some music, loving that she didn't have to blast it just to hear it in the bathroom anymore. The speakers in her dressing room, bathroom and bedroom were her dad's gift to the entire house on her nineteenth birthday.

  Nia stripped down and threw her clothes at the hamper missing it by an inch, as Mazzy Star began to flow through the speakers. Fade Into You was her absolute favorite. Stepping into the shower she moved under the warm stream of water and couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to Aaron. Switching the shower to rain she wondered how soon he'd get in touch with her. She could picture his deep blue eyes and the way he bit his lip with his dimple showing itself when she made him laugh. She wanted to do that a million more times. Whatever this was going on between her and this stranger, she was definitely willing to find out.

  Nia had always been reluctant when it came to guys having her fair share of boyfriends but they only wanted one thing and she wasn't about to give that up to just anybody. The moment they figured out she wasn't going to put out they were full of excuses as to why they needed space.

  Why on earth do guys have to be so ridiculous about breakups? Nia mused lathering the strawberry shampoo into her long hair. I mean couldn’t they just say what they meant for God's sake! 'It's not you, it's me' was her least favorite cliché. She couldn't stand the softened blow. Just say I'm sorry I had no idea you weren't willing to let me take your virginity and I need a girl who wants to. Ugh...

  She knew for a fact she'd never been fully in love before although her relationship with Jude in her senior year sure came close. But she was in love with him and he was pretending very well too. She was snowed and had her heart handed to her on a silver platter on her prom night. Watching him leave with a random girl was world shattering. She hadn't even given a guy the time of day since then, but after meeting Aaron she felt her heart melting a little and her carefully constructed wall beginning to crumble.

  Drying off she heard her message tone ring and wrapped her towel around her to go see who texted. It was her mom.

  Mom: Hey sweetie can u please bring Lena 2 me n pick up our dinner on your way? Going to be a late night w/ this inventory ;)

  Nia: Sure :) no prob.

  Mom: K thanks n I ordered Italian. It's under my name

  Nia: Of course mom see you soon <3

  Dressing in her jeans and Texas A & M sweatshirt she ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back in a smooth ponytail. She grabbed her bag, MP3 player, keys and phone and went downstairs.

  She found Lena in the kitchen with her teacup Chihuahua, Viggo. Yes, Viggo because she was absolutely obsessed with his character Aragorn on The Lord of The Rings movies. She didn't want to name him Aragorn, so she opted for Viggo Mortensen. The entire family called him Viggo though. He has full reign of the house until they leave, then its kennel time.

  "Mom said I'm supposed to take you to her, she has inventory late tonight." Nia said checking the caller ID on the house phone.

  Lena put Viggo in his cage petting him then securing the latches, "I know, she texted me."

  "You ready then?” Nia asked getting a water out of the fridge.

  "Yeah let me grab my stuff." Lena took off upstairs.

  Nia's phone buzzed yet again and she wondered what mom forgot to tell her. But it wasn't mom.

  It was Aaron.

  Aaron: Had a great time today, wondering if u were free tomorrow? I kind of took the day off hoping u might be free.... =)

  Nia felt like a fool but hopped up and down a few times with a giggle.

  Nia: Let me check in with work... I'll get back to you ASAP! ;)

  She typed with shaking fingers laughing at herself.

  She looked up at Lena coming down the stairs with a backpack and a smile on her face.

  "What was all that craziness about!?" she asked Nia.

  "It was Aaron.” she replied with a smile.

  Lena's eyes went wide, "Wow, he sure didn't waste any time," then she giggled right along with her on their way out the door.

  Nia locked up and left a note just in case dad came home earlier than expected.

  She opened the garage door revealing her precious baby. She got her 2013 Dodge Charger with a HEMI on her nineteenth birthday she put the down payment all by herself. Her dad helped her locate the perfect one too. She loved the Mini Cooper her parents got her when she was sixteen but American Muscle had always been her favorite. Her dad didn't care though he was proud of her for doing it for herself and for her choice in American cars.

  She ran her hand across the side of the sleek black body then unlocked the doors and reminded Lena to fasten her seatbelt and they were on their way.

  Her phone rang through the speakers and she pressed the button on the wheel to answer it.

  "Hello?" Nia said.

  "Hey!” an all too familiar voice rang through the speakers.

  "Hi Rhea." Nia replied.

  "What's up, girl?" Rhea said while crunching on something rather loudly.

  "Will you please stop chewing in my ear?" Nia chuckled out, "You are so gross, Rae."

  Lena gets an evil little grin and blurts out, "Rhea hi! Guess what!? Nia's got a boyfriend!!"

  Nia smacked her arm, while Rhea's crunching stopped and she choked out a garbled, "What?" and proceeded to start coughing.

  "OMG! Are you okay?” Nia says in a concerned tone, "and no, I do not have a boyfriend. Jeez I just met him!" she exclaimed.

  Clearly recovered Rhea asks "Who are we talking about here?"

  Lena answers before Nia gets a chance, "His name is Aaron Pierce or Peters or something and he is so cute you should totally see him!"

  "
Okay, okay, enough." Nia interjects.

  Rhea laughs, "Okay and when were you going to tell me about this?” she says in a pouty voice.

  "Actually I was going to see what you had planned for the rest of the day. I'm coming to town to leave Lena with Mom. It's an inventory night.” Nia explains.

  "That's perfect! Dad is leaving in like thirty minutes he'll be overnight at the docks.” She told Nia.

  "Awesome! Sleep over then?" Nia asks.

  "But of course darling.” Rhea shoots back.

  "Oh, and Nia...” Rhea adds.

  "You will spill everything and I do mean EVERYTHING!” Nia laughs and says "Bye!"

  Of course she had every intention of telling her absolutely everything even the strange charge brought on by his touch. Maybe Rhea can help her make sense of the feelings she's been having. She couldn't possibly be this drawn to a complete stranger.

  Lena asks if she can DJ for the rest of the ride and Nia doesn't mind. She's lost in her head anyway.

  Parking in a spot in front of Zio's they get out to grab the food. Once back in the car Nia turned the radio down. Driving in the city takes a little bit more concentration.

  Once they made it to her mom's studio they parked around back next to Margie's Chocolate Porsche Cayenne and Amarie's red Jetta. Inside they found her mom, Margie and Amarie laying out a plan for their inventory team. Lena hugged their mom then went to sit at the break room table waving at Dana their mom's assistant on the way. Nia kissed her mom's cheek and explained her plans for the night while giving Dana a hug.

  "Don't forget to call your dad and let him know where you'll be. He is the worry wart after all." Nia nodded knowing she needed to call him anyway about the work schedule.

  "Okay mom I will. Love you! Bye Lena, bye Amarie. Bye happy inventory team.” Nia said waving both hands. They all responded in unison, "Bye Nia!" She laughed all the way out the door.

  She really was glad her mom has a great staff. It wasn't always that way but her mom was a lot happier now that she finally has people she can count on.

  Rhea's condo wasn’t far from the design studio. The studio is on Fannin downtown and she lives on Webster and Bagby. Nia stopped by the store on the way, they would need ice cream and snacks. She ordered Pizza while she was waiting in line. Then she called her dad.

  "Hi honey, is everything okay?" Vince answered with a smile in his voice.

  "Yeah dad everything's fine. I'm assuming you know the rest of our family is at the studio till late tonight?"

  He responded quickly, "Of course, your mother said they may even end up breaking out the sleeper sofa's bed. I told her to stay at a hotel if they needed to though."

  Nia laughed, "And what are your plans Pop?" she giggled, he always hated it when she called him that.

  "My plans are getting some sleep in my office after work so I can do the night shift with Al, we have that huge import from China coming in. He's coming to help me oversee it. Maybe you and..." Nia cut him off, "Already taken care of dad. I'm on my way to Rhea's now."

  He laughed this time, "Good, good. Could you do me a favor honey and ask Al to bring some cards and maybe even the poker chips? So we're not just staring at each other all night."

  "Will do dad, be safe. Oh! I almost forgot. Would it be okay if I take the day off tomorrow? I'll make it up, I swear!" Her dad was silent for a second but quickly recovered.

  "Sure honey, I don't see why not. It would give us a chance to give Suzy a dry run before she has to do your job while you go off on this road trip. And Adam too I suppose. Are you sure he can do all of Rhea's jobs? I can just hire a temp." Nia thought about it for a minute.

  The girls had known Adam Foley since fifth grade and the three were pretty close. "Rhea will be in the rest of the week making sure of it dad, promise. By the time we leave he will be a Rhea clone." Nia said laughing.

  "I sure hope so.", Vince replied.

  "Well I have to go baby girl. You be careful out there and y'all lock that door up tight after Al leaves. Remember to call me if you plan on going anywhere. I don't want to lose my girl."

  "Of course daddy. I love you."

  You could hear the smile in his voice again when he said, "Love you too Nia, Bye."

  She amped up the radio because her MP3 player had gotten around to a great song for the story she'd have to retell to Rhea. Crash Into You, it was perfect!

  Pulling into Rhea's is always like going home. She didn't even have to pack because she has an entire dresser full of clothes and a section of closet that's hers. She even has a shelf in Rhea's medicine cabinet, toothbrush and all.

  Once at the door she took out her spare key and went inside. Al was asleep in his recliner and Rhea was shushing her pit bull, Dallas.

  "Honey, I'm home.” Nia teased.

  "Ha, ha.” Rhea answered in a sarcastic tone.

  "I ordered pizza already, should be here in fifteen." Nia explained putting away the goodies she'd brought.

  "Oh, wow. Ice cream huh? This Aaron guy must be something." her best friend said coming over to inspect the bag on the counter. "Oh, man! There's chocolate and pickles? This is serious!" she exclaimed laughing.

  Nia whispered "Shut up."

  Rhea grabbed her hand and drug Nia up the stairs to their room. "It's time for you to spill!"

  Chapter 2

  Aaron was definitely dazed and confused after his impromptu lunch with Nia. In all his twenty two years he had never experienced anything like that before. He was glad they called him to tell him his watch was ready for pick up. He had been dreading going to the mall, but that lunch made all of that a distant memory.

  He had seen her on a bench, back against the wall with her knees up in front of her. She had a thick book resting on her legs in her hands. She was so concentrated on it only looking around occasionally. He caught himself staring and wanting to see what she looked like behind the book and her hair. She had the silkiest hair he had ever seen, black looking but maybe dark brown from the way the light shined a deep red through her hair, he thought. From where he stood in the shop he could see her kohl rimmed eyes, they were stunning.

  Aaron was wondering what color they were when a faraway voice said, "Sir."

  Snapping out of his musing he took a look at his now ticking watch. It was a gift from his father, his mom Miranda had bought it for his dad on their anniversary. It was one of his most prized possessions. Aaron smiled thinking how happy she'd be knowing he had it and wore it often, and now it was good as new. He glanced at the engraving on the inside before slipping it on and fastening it in place. It read Eternally Yours with a heart beside it.

  Missing his mom was an everyday thing but he believed that everything happened for a reason even if you couldn't figure it out. Paying for the watch repair he noticed the mystery girl had moved.

  He took the receipt and was out the door quickly in search of that face he wanted to see more of. He saw her heading for the food court and he stopped to look at a kiosk while she took little time deciding where to eat he supposed. Aaron’s plan was to look from afar and admire. Perhaps he would get up the nerve to say hello or something like that.

  Aaron got in line behind her but not too close, when she abruptly turned looking at the phone in her hand like she loathed it murmuring about stupid auto correct. He looked down for a second so she wouldn't notice him staring and, smack! She'd run right into him!

  Once their eyes met he knew this was no chance meeting, and then she spoke and he'd never loved the sound of a voice more. When she asked if he'd join her for lunch there was no way he was going to say no.

  The whole time they were there they talked and laughed. It was like they'd known each other forever and they were just catching up. It was a strange sensation to feel like this about someone who was a complete stranger, but who was he to judge what he couldn't explain. The crazy thing was, he didn't really buy into the whole "fate" business, but now he wasn't so sure. Time flew by and Aaron realized he was taking a really long
lunch at that moment he was really glad he was the boss.

  Besides, Nia was worth it.

  Aaron wasn’t going to be able to forget this girl anytime soon. That was for sure! After meeting her sisters he had to think fast. He could almost feel her slipping away. So he used being new in town and working all the time as an advantage. He would need to enlist a local, even if said local was a beautiful girl to show him around. He was glad she’d agreed to exchange numbers.

  They parted ways and he was certain he'd be getting in touch with her sooner than later. It just depended how long he could hold back his overwhelming need to see her again. Aaron just couldn't stop thinking about Nia on his way back to work. He texted Leo after putting on his seatbelt.