True Fate

by Varadeaux, Shayna

  Aaron: Hey be there soon, sorry took so long.

  Leo: yea I don't care really, not your mom dude.

  Aaron: LOL Yeah bye.

  He wasn't sure if he should tell Leo about her yet. Although they shared pretty much everything until they had moved here into separate apartments. Leo was a ladies man all about business while Aaron was about the business and didn’t spend a lot of time looking for ladies.

  Aaron didn't even know what was wrong with him for feeling so drawn to a girl he just met. The image of this girl was an unstoppable force in his mind. She smelled like sugar cookies and home.

  How was that even possible? Aaron was having a hard time trying to figure out why he felt such a strong need to get to know her better? It was so much more than the physical attraction he usually felt with the opposite sex, it was all-encompassing. When he says need he definitely means as in need air to breathe. Everything else in life took a backseat to the earthquake that just rocked his core, also known as Nia. He figured the ridiculous fluttering he felt was what most called butterflies.

  'Butterflies! Seriously!?'

  Aaron wanted to know more about Nia than just the beautiful upturn of her nose and the gorgeous black hair that cascaded down her back. It occasionally fell in her face and it took every ounce of strength to keep himself from tucking that ornery strand behind her ear. He wanted to know more than her Hispanic and French Cajun roots.

  He thought she was so laid back, yet shy, smart and funny. Almost too good to be true, almost. He knew he would kick himself in the butt daily if he didn't see what would come of this, if anything. Find out somehow if she felt what he couldn't believe he was feeling.

  He pulled into his parking spot at their newly built office complex, grabbed his laptop bag and made his way inside. The tall blonde receptionist, Becca gave him his afternoon schedule and messages along with the presentation she'd copied for him. Tilting her head she studied him with her grey eyes and asked him about his goofy smile but he just shrugged it off. No need to get the gossip train going.

  He found Leo in the break room getting a soda, well dressed as usual. Even though they maintained a relaxed and casual atmosphere Leo was always dressed to impress. He was tall and well-built just like Aaron. He was Italian and could have been an Armani poster boy. His eyes were pale blue and sometimes a stormy grey, his olive skin made his eyes stand out. He had dark hair that he kept longer on top and wore the latest styles. Today it was wavy reminding Aaron of an Italian gigolo. He laughed but quickly recovered.

  "Hey man." Leo said.

  "Hey." was his response.

  "Are we still on for the game tonight?" Leo inquired.

  "Definitely, what time?”

  "My place, six thirty, bring a six pack." Leo responded with a wry smile.

  "Of?" Aaron asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "Beer of course." Leo responded non-plused.

  "And what am I supposed to drink?"

  Leo knew dang well Aaron didn't drink.

  "Oh, well get something for yourself too." Leo replied with a wink.

  Sometimes Leo could be so annoying but as usual Aaron let it go.

  "Sure man sure." he responded calmly, grabbing a soda for himself and heading to his office.

  Business had been good for them online and in Cambridge. Senior year was like a whirlwind. Between keeping up GPA's and starting the business they had little time to spare. They learned to sell their product well. Along with how to give the best demos to get the importance and convenience of "A Brighter Future, Today."

  They checked their demographics and that most of their business indeed came from the state of Texas. So the move after college made perfect sense.

  It cost them some friendships and even Leo's relationship with his longtime girlfriend. Their company was built on their blood sweat and tears as well as personal sacrifices. They learned everything you could possibly know about solar panels both stationary and portable, large and small. They've even gotten into the development of the panels themselves.

  Leo weighed his options and decided that they shouldn't have anything holding them back from the success he could see on the horizon. His job and school were stressful enough without an added factor of a peeved girlfriend. So the breakup was inevitable really. Maybe he was just done with her, Aaron was never sure with how nonchalant he acted like it was.

  They still have an office in Cambridge, a branch of their business that personally handles the people and companies who gave them their start. They have no intention of shutting that branch down, ever.

  The move was drastic especially with the climate change. Leaving Alice and Ava was a whole other dilemma for Aaron. They were so precious to him. He went home every weekend just to spend time with them, when he was at school. They were so sad that he was moving so far away. His home trips have been lacking so far, he hasn't been back yet. He was so thankful for video calls, seeing their smiles and showing him they got his random gifts that he sends to them.

  He loved to spoil them and they are good girls with good heads on their shoulders so far. Anna is raising them to be thankful for everything they have. Just because they want for nothing doesn't mean they shouldn't appreciate the little things. And they don't keep things they don't use, they give any excess away about every six months without any complaints.

  He was leaned back in his chair when he couldn't help it any longer. He texted Nia, quickly and hit send before he changed his mind. He punched in Becca's extension.

  "Talk to me." She said through the speaker.

  "Hey, Bec can you bring in my schedule for this week so I can take a look at it?"

  "Sure boss man, be there in a sec."

  Aaron shook his head laughing. She was most definitely a character.

  To his surprise Nia texted back fairly quickly that she would check in with work and get back to him.

  That was enough to make the already great day better. She didn't hesitate, that spoke volumes to him. Maybe she felt the crazy vibes that he did too.

  Putting a flash drive in his PC, she asked, "Anything else?”

  "No, that's it. Thanks." he replied in kind, she bowed and exited his office. He couldn't help but laugh at that.

  He did some stealthy maneuvering but cleared his schedule for the next day. Now to wait for Nia to let him know if she was free. He felt like it may be too soon, but the urge to see her again was just too strong.

  This was so unlike him really, Aaron was the confident, have anyone I want sort of guy and he played the game like a pro. Never letting on so quickly that he was interested. Or letting himself give in to any forever feeling like ‘love’. His days of heart on the sleeve were long since behind him.

  Aaron wasn't a player per se, he hadn't had a girlfriend since freshman year at MIT. He tried to do the casual thing but it got old real fast though his options never lacked.

  He made his phone calls and sent emails then went to what they'd deemed the lab to check on a few things. His pocket panel was coming along nicely, all the diagnostics were checking out just fine. A few glitches but it's to be expected with the design that folded like a paper fan. He was actually happy with the progress and made sure to give his tech crew a thumbs up.

  When it was almost five he ran out of things to do so he checked his phone again, nothing. He sighed, hoping he didn't scare her off with his trying to spend time with her so soon after they met. He could only hope she'd say yes.

  Aaron grabbed his things and stopped by Becca's desk to leave the flash drive, "Can you look that over before you leave? I made some changes." he said with a wink.

  "You sure you don't wanna tell me about that goofy grin yet?" She replied with a mocking smile.

  "Nope" he said shaking his head.

  "You got it boss man." She said and he grinned making his way outside.

  Becca was a joker she came with them from Cambridge, she was their first office manager and a fellow graduate. Happy about the move she insisted to stay on with
the guys. She was from Katy, Texas so for her it was just coming home. He couldn't get used to this humidity in the fall and the summers here, wow it was pretty stifling.

  Popping the trunk open he took out his gym bag replacing it in the trunk with his laptop bag. His phone buzzed as he was getting in the car, it was Nia and he couldn’t help but smile. At the end of that conversation he had energy to expend. He had impatience and anxiety to work out too. In Michigan he rowed to de-stress but here it was a rowing machine. They had a company membership and it was closer to home so he went to the gym to get his mind off of Nia for a while at least. One stop to drop off the presentation for copies and he was on his way.

  On the drive to Leo's from the gym he laughed at himself. Who was he kidding? It's like his mind has been branded with Nia. He stopped at the store to get the beer and a Coke for himself. It's going to be a really long night. It was no different once he got there he wasn't even watching the game anymore, not really. It was all just Nia, Nia.

  Was that green in her eyes mixed in with the brown? He couldn't help but scoff at his train of thought. No he was definitely not ready to tell Leo about her, definitely not yet.

  "Hey, I'm going to get going. I'm pretty tired." He said giving Leo a nudge. "Oh and I am taking the day off tomorrow. I already moved stuff around."

  Leo just grinned, "Whoever she is man, have fun."

  Aaron just glared at him then laughed "Night." He said as he chunked a deuce and was out the door quickly before Leo really had him figured out.

  Feeling hyper and fearing he'd never get to sleep. The excitement about tomorrow was all he had on his mind and not just because he would get to see her again. He had no clue where they'd be going and he liked surprises. Since he moved here he'd only been to places around his apartment and job. It would be a great change of atmosphere and good food he was certain. It was an amazing added bonus that his guide would be beauty incarnate.

  Parking in his spot in the gated parking garage he popped the trunk and grabbed his bags. Made sure to lock up the car and walked to the elevator then to his studio apartment. He fell in love with the Ballpark Lofts close enough to Minute Maid Park to hear all the sounds of baseball. Plus if he went to a game he could walk. Once inside he locked the door behind him and looked around at his place. It really could use some furniture he just hadn't had the time. Aside from the bed and his black leather Lazy Boy and of course the forty seven inch LCD TV. There wasn't much to it but it was nice just the same.

  He was still living out of a suitcase except his hanging clothes in the closet. Work had been everything he was about lately, maybe he needed to reel it back for a while.

  'She's going to love my place.’ he thought sighing, then laughed.

  The burgundy granite floors complimented the carpet in the medium sized bedroom was plush in all its beige glory. It had a nice kitchen which was important since he loved to cook. It was like a release for him. The bathroom was pretty nice too. He picked up the little bit of trash he had lying around and gathered up the dirty clothes to his hamper. He put the few dirty dishes he had already rinsed in the convenient drawer dishwasher. And all too quick there was nothing to occupy his mind except Nia.

  He grabbed a cold piece of pizza and a root beer and went to stare at his clothes. He was trying to decide what to wear. If he wore short sleeve she'd see his tattoos. What if she didn't like tattoos but he wouldn't want to hide them either. He had to be himself no matter what. He could wear a t-shirt and a thin hoodie and remove it when he was ready. Okay now, shorts or jeans?

  After solving his clothing dilemma he remembered he'd never sent his address to Nia. He set an alarm to send it at seven a.m. He turned off all the lights and willed his mind to sleep. What he ended up doing was staring at the ceiling while his radio played a song that was rather fitting. Use Somebody spoke volumes of what he was feeling right now. He definitely wanted someone like her. He smiled in the dark then he mercifully sank into black nothingness.

  Aaron jolted awake. His eyes focused and there was a girl sitting at the foot of his bed. He sat straight up startled at her calm demeanor. Her blonde curls cascaded around her shoulders like spun gold. He blinked and rubbed his eyes trying to focus. Her eerily blue eyes were almost transparent and patiently looking at him. Her lily white skin was stunning if not ethereal. She was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and converse. Her lips were a crimson red and her cheeks were rosy. She was smiling at him looking him over.

  ‘Hello.’, her voice spoke in his mind. "What the hell?” he said audibly. ‘Who are you and how did you get in here?’ He thought scooting further up in his bed. "It's okay." But he was clearly not okay with her intrusion. She frowned at him annoyed at his reaction to her then got up from the bed and motioned for him to follow. Aaron shook his head violently, "No way!" The girl was nearly pouting, 'No male had ever been so difficult.' she thought crossing her arms across her chest. She was trying to bend his will using her compulsion out of habit and it wasn't working but why?

  "I have some things I need to tell you, but I would like to get out of your bedroom. It would also be easier if you weren't only half dressed." Her blush deepening at the implications of that statement. Aaron nodded and said "After you, I will just be a moment." He told himself if he went along with the craziness he'd get rid of her quicker.

  The girl walked like she was floating but her feet clearly touched the ground. He quickly grabbed a t-shirt and put it on as he walked out of the room. He turned on a lamp and sat in his recliner. She was pacing and cleared her throat as a delicate voice spoke, "There is much to share and little time to do it in. I am risking much coming to you, Aaron."

  His eyes went wide at the use of his name.

  "How..." she cut him off with the raise of her hand as he decided to intently listen.

  "I come from a world within yours. I cannot tell you much more than that as I am not allowed. Your fate has been intertwined with that of another."

  She held up her hand again before he could say what was on the tip of his tongue.

  "The girl you have been fated to is someone new to your life. Now, I’m sure that is enough to give a good guess."

  Her smile was one that should have seemed sweet but seemed off to Aaron.

  "Are you talking about Nia?” he asked second guessing if should even be talking to this eerie girl.

  She clapped her small hands and said, "Yes. Now you must understand, she is unaware of her true identity and the identity of her mother as well, and that is all that I may tell you concerning them. I know that your instincts want you to believe none of this is real but I assure you it is indeed."

  Aaron sat scratching his head clearly confused but taking it all in. "I don't understand what you mean by fated. Is she my soul mate or something?"

  The girl laughed a tinkling sound, "I am not a fortune teller silly, I’m just a messenger. I am here to help though. I have instructions.” Her smile widened with the last part.

  "What instructions?” he asked with piqued curiosity but feeling more unsure than ever.

  "Well first of all you are to be with her as often as possible, she will need you very soon. And before you ask anything else, I will tell you everything that I can. If I do not address an issue it is because I am not permitted."

  Aaron nodded and bit back the questions, outrage and disbelief threatening to spill from his mouth. She gave a curt nod and continued.

  "I am bound by an oath to be a guide only, I cannot help per se. But I will do all that I can, I assure you. You are not permitted to speak of this to Nia or anyone else, until she has learned who she truly is through the proper channels. She is precious to so many and anyhow, you will physically be unable to speak of this.”

  She looked at him wondering if he was really taking it in one eyebrow raised as she assessed him.

  “Should you try to, your voice would escape you and you wouldn’t be able to form the words only embarrassing yourself. You are to protect her when the time comes for
it. I will come to you again at that time and bestow a mark upon you that will fully bind you to her. I will then seal the bond. The reason I am here now is because I need to begin your markings process. It will not hurt, I promise. But if you agree to take them you are agreeing to be bound to Nia as her Guardian. In doing so you will have supernatural abilities bestowed upon you. What say you Aaron Pierce?" she continued.

  The formality of her words weighed heavy on Aaron making him feel the gravity of the situation whether he believed what he was hearing or not.

  Aaron thought about Nia just then, if this is real he has to be there for her. He already couldn't stop thinking about her and this could explain the incessant need to be around her.