The Engagement
A warm breeze shakes the trees gently. The sun struggles to shine through all the clouds. The smell of fresh flowers fills the air intensely. Leo sneezes a couple of times while sitting on the park bench. He covers his nose with his arm and then checks his watch. 11:55 am; he begins to tap his foot anxiously. After fifteen minutes of constant waiting, he begins to slouch. He digs in his pocket, gripping a small box, and pulls it out.
“Hey!” Shouted a friendly, familiar voice.
Leo quickly put the box back and stood up.
“I’ve been waiting all day; what’s the matter? Got lost?”
“Ha ha, very funny.”
Leo was finally ready to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Ava. They have been together for as long as he could remember, best friends turn partners. He figured now was the time to ask the big question.
Leo stood up confidently.
“So why did you want to meet here?”
“You love the park.”
“Yea, I do but you’re allergies.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She looked the way she always did when she was concerned.
Leo grabbed Ava by the hand and guided her to sit on the bench. She tucked her dress underneath her before she sat down.
He got down on one knee, and Ava’s face lit up. He pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it.
“Ava Hansley, will you-”
“Yes!”
Leo smiled.
He slid the ring on Ava’s finger, and she squealed in excitement. Leo stood up, feeling proud. Ava jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around him. They kissed so intensely that they didn’t even hear the small crowd clapping for them.
Leo and Ava looked around at the people congratulating them, smiling, but the moment was short-lived. Leo made contact with a woman in the far back of the crowd and realized who she was after a few moments of staring. Everything moved in slow motion as he stared into her hazel eyes.
“Let’s go.”
He put Ava down and then grabbed her hand.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Leo couldn’t speak. His throat was dry, beads of sweat formed on his face, and panic showed in his walk.
He practically dragged Ava out of the park. Unfortunately, the woman caught up with them at the entrance.
“Hi Leo”
Her voice felt like it echoed through his whole body.
Leo froze.
“Who is this?” Ava asked curiously.
“Nobody,” Leo snapped
“I’m nobody? That’s funny; I used to mean a lot to you.”
Ava grabbed her arm from Leo. She walked towards the woman.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Rain.”
“Rain? Like the rain?”
“Obviously”
Ava rolled her eyes.
“How do you know Leo?”
“Ask him”
The panic kept Leo still.
“Leo, how do you know Rain?”
He stood there trying to come up with a lie. After a few seconds, he mumbled a bunch of words that sounded like they were one word.
Rain chuckled.
Ava forced Leo to turn around and face them.
“Speak! Who is Rain to you?”
“She’s ummm… she’s…”
He looked directly at Rain; she smirked like she had just won a game.
“Leo!”
Ava’s face turned red; she tapped her foot, waiting for a response. She grew impatient after a few minutes and asked Rain again.
“How do you know Leo?”
“Leo and I used to mess around.”
Rain’s smile angered Ava. Ava knew what she was implying.
“When?”
“Freshmen year of college”
“Really!”
Ava looked at Leo; you could almost see the steam coming out of her ears. Leo felt his soul leave his body.
“For how long?”
“Six months”
Ava shook her head in disappointment. A tear fell from her eye; she wiped it away quickly. Rain wasn’t bothered that she was causing a severe problem in their relationship.
“Who are you to Leo anyways?”
“I’m his… well, I thought I was his fiancé.”
Leo broke his silence.
“Thought?”
Ava took off her engagement ring and handed it to Leo. She crossed the street and disappeared around the corner.
Leo was enraged that Rain had ruined his engagement.
“You had to tell her that! What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Can’t believe you left me… for her. She’s dressed like a Barbie doll. I thought you liked realism.”
“Fuck you. Ava is the realest person I know.”
“Riiigghhttt sure.”
