A Hundred Days to Our Wedding

2

*

"Dale! Jones!" I yelled as I barged into our small, yet comfortable and affordable five bedroom apartment. The living room was silent and empty and fear gripped my heart even more.

Tossing my shoes in the air, I sped up the stairs like there was no tomorrow.

"Dale, Jones!" I called once more, making my way for Dale's bedroom. My fingers were crossed behind me with hope that they were in there.

I pushed open his unlocked bedroom door and ran in, breathing a sigh of relief as I saw Dale seated by the edge of his bed. He seemed to be okay and all built up sensation of worry disappeared.

"Dale! How do you feel? How did you-" I began, ready to ask all questions, all at once but got cut by a familiar but constantly distant feminine voice, Renee's.

"He's fine, calm down." She said, a little bit less emotional than normally. Renee was twenty, and one could describe her as the cold 'William'. In fact, when we were younger, a lot of people referred to her as a witch. It had always been that way.

She was constantly gloomy and craved nothing but isolation and solitude, all the time. That was more reason why she didn't share that much of a close bond with the rest of us. Yes, there was the love but it would be quantified numerically if love was allowed to be.

In fact, when we lost our parents two years ago, she moved right out of the house.

"Renee?" I called, unsure of her presence in the room.

She ignored my call and walked in, holding a tray, with a cup that had steaming content, on it.

"I came visiting." She explained, setting the tray on the table. "And lucky, I had my inhaler with me". She said.

Renee, like Dale, was asthmatic as well. They got it from my grandfather, according to my mother.

"Oh". Was all I blurted. I quickly handed Dale's inhaler to him.

"How did it happen though?" I inquired.

"I choked on Jones' -" Dale started to say but then he stopped. His eyes widened and he shared a scared look with Renee.

"That doesn't matter, does it?" She said, handing the cup which content I now recognized as chocolate, over to Dale. "At least now he's okay. That's all that matters."

"Where is Jones by the way?" I asked, just being aware of his absence.

"Why do you look all messy?" Dale changed the topic, sipping out of his tea.

"Weird story, forget it." I scoffed, remembering earlier on incident.

"How was your visit to the wedding shop?" Renee sat on the bed beside Dale.

I took my jacket off, feeling like I was taking the filth off of me. "It was...okay. In a way, I guess."

"Let me guess, you were unable to make a choice." Renee asked, lying on her back now.

My eyes followed as Dale put the half empty cup on the tray. "Not exactly. But with Jace around, you know how things get, don't you?"

"Nice."

"Do you want some?" Dale chuckled and I snapped my head in his direction. Just then did I notice that I had my attention fixed on his hot chocolate.

"No. I'm good." I smiled. "I think I should go change, if I stayed one more second in this clothes, I'll eventually throw up."

"No one wants to see you barf, please." Renee rolled her eyes. She moved further up the bed so she could comfortably sleep on it.

"You just came by to say hello?" I voiced my thoughts. It was shocking. Not that she didn't come visiting every once in a while, it was just very rare.

"Well,you guys are siblings after all." She shrugged, pulling the covers over her head.

I nodded and proceeded to leave the room to freshen up. On my way to my bedroom, a reminder that I ditched my best friend rang in my brain.

"Darn." I shook my head and brought my phone out to dial her.

She answered on the fourth ring and I held my breath in, waiting to know her reaction.

"Lana are you okay?!" The panic in her voice actually calmed me down and I sighed in relief.

"I am."

"What on earth was that about? Why did you leave in such a hurry?" She asked me, the tension seemed to have lessened though.

I opened the door to my bedroom and instantly felt its warmth. It was dark because I always made sure to keep the windows closed every time I was not present at home. "Dale had an attack and his inhaler was with me."

"Oh my God, is he okay?"

"He is. Let's talk later girl, I need to freshen up." I dismissively told her and didn't wait any minute before hanging up.

It wasn't until later that evening that Renee left for her condo. I was making dinner of fried eggs , Dale's pick. He wasn't so young, well at seventeen years he wasn't but being the last child, I guess I just spoiled him with the mindset that I owed him the eternal role of parents.

"Jones isn't home yet and his phone won't go through". I spoke, flipping the eggs in the frying pan. "Are you sure everything is fine?"

"Yeah. Everything's okay. He'll be back soon." He shrugged. He turned a dining chair around so he could sit on it, facing me.

My phone beeped on the table and I asked him to bring it over. It was a text from Job.

Quickly I put down the spoon and took off my cooking gloves.

"Can we see? Like right now?" The text from him read and the smile on my face flipped upside down. Without wasting time, I proceeded to dial him. I put the phone up to my ears and nodded in Dale's direction. He got my unspoken message to turn the stove's heat off.

The minute his phone rang, he ended it, successfully leaving me worried.

Immediately, my phone beeped. Another message from him. 'Can't talk, can we see?'

Like he expected me to say no with such built up tension.

"Yes we can. Where should we meet?" I texted him.

"I'll drive to Sam's. Let's meet there."

Sam was a bookstore owned by Sam McFrey. We used to hangout there a lot. It was where we first met. Even though the owner passed away and it was later converted into a game store, Job and I were already attached to referring to it as 'Sam's '.

"Dale I need to drop by somewhere quick. I'll be back soon." I told my brother without looking at him while I texted Job a 'yes'.

"Is something up?" He seemed concerned. He came to stand before me and tried to search my eyes for any sort of problems.

"I'm not sure." I told him truthfully, "but I hope all is fine. I'll be right back, I promise."

I walked to the door and went in the garage to check if the car was there. We referred to it as 'the car' because we all shared it. I had little faith it'd be there because with Jones's absence, one should not expect much. He was practically lazy with his legs.

I sighed in disappointment and hurried back to the house to get my purse.

Sam's was closer to my house and was actually at a trekking distance but I wanted to go with a vehicle considering how worried Job had seemed. The minute I got to our street, I changed my mind. The weather was so cool and inviting. Cars were speeding past and the breeze refreshed my mind.

I reduced my walking pace as I paid attention to a teenage couple making out at the other side of the bridge.There was a bench there specially made for couples who came to enjoy that view.

There was this river beneath the bridge that was sight to sore eyes by this time of the night.

The two young lovers were constantly sucking on each other's lips and neck and it was kind of intimidating.

Memories of my first teenage love came crying back in my head. I was only fifteen when Drake Simmons had confessed his love for me. I had always been the girl that no one paid extra attention to so initially, I had no feelings for him, but I accepted him with the mindset that he was the first boy to ask me out.

Things didn't end so well, I found out he was only using me to get to my body because back then, he'd heard a rumor that I was virgin,and he'd confirmed. Foolishly, I gave him what he wanted and was left heartbroken and even a little bit traumatized.

It was all thanks to my mother that I got emotionally and mentally healed.

I was drawn back to reality when I hit someone walking in the opposite direction. The motion caused my phone to fall out of my hand and over the bridge. My mouth opened wide as I heard the splash sound it made as it landed in the river.

With my mouth still widened, I hurried to look over and see for myself that I wasn't daydreaming.

"No!" The bass voice exclaimed from behind me. "I am so sorry, swear it!" He said. His voice sounded so familiar. I turned around so I could look at him.

"I didn't mean- I was so engrossed in my phone that I didn't know someone was coming " His apology sounded so genuine but I was not phased, I needed further communication with Job.

"That was-" I started but stopped as instant images of the dirty splash on me, earlier today, played in my head. That was why he sounded so familiar. He was the driver.

"Wait," I squinted my eyes. "It was you. You were the driver from today, were you not? You-"

"Oh my gosh " He widened his eyes in realization. "You didn't seem so okay at that time."

"I'm fine now." I pouted, "my phone. I need it, I can't believe you let it fly over a bridge."

"I said I didn't do it Intentionally."

"All of my contacts, everything is gone!"

"Look, I'll buy you a new one if it'll make you feel better, I'm sorry,really."

"I can afford a new one, it's just-" I stopped, closed my eyes and shook my head. "You know what? It's fine."

"It is?"

"Never mind about it." I nodded. The main reason I wanted the conversation to end was because I needed to see Job as quick as I could.

"I feel really bad, I want to make it up to you." He said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

I shook my head again and resumed walking. "There's no need to worry. Thank you."

"Can I at least know your name?it's the second time today that I have caused you unknowing trouble." He followed behind me.

"Lana." I answered casually.

"I'm Spikes."

"Spikes?" I frowned.

He chuckled at my comment, "it's a nickname."

"Nice knowing you Spikes." I increased my pace. He seemed to increase his as well.

"Are you perhaps headed somewhere that might require my help?" He asked.

"Look," I paused walking , "in as much as I'd love to stay back and have a little chit chat with you, I really have to go. Someone's waiting for me and I have no means of communication."

He seemed to buy it. It wasn't exactly a lie. Job could be waiting for me.

"If fate helps us meet again, I promise to make it up to you." He sighed and turned on his heels, "it was nice seeing you, miss Lana."

That title was another thing I couldn't wait to drop. I fancied respect . Imagine having to say, "it's Mrs Lana to you!" How I wished I could fast forward time and be a bride tomorrow. It wasn't impossible but we had so many things to do before the wedding.

I looked back to catch a glimpse of the awkwardly named man and funny, he did the same. Even in the dim lighting, I could make out his body figure. Why I had the feeling that I would meet him again, I had no idea.

*

I had been at Sam's for about thirty minutes now and there was still no signs of Job anywhere. I wondered why he was taking so long. So many things ran in my head. Had he been in an accident or worse?

What if he had come before I did and had left in my absence, that would be even worse!

As sweet as Job was, he was a man with questionable temper. He held grudges worse than women, malicious as could be. That was why I rarely got in his bad side. He just have really needed my presence to have called me out by this time of the night.

Left with no options, I decided to head back home.

*

I woke up the next morning in discomfort. I knew it had a lot to do with the day before. Losing my phone, Dale's asthma, not meeting with Job.

His house was the first place I needed to be. Lucky for me, I wasn't one of those people who had to leave for work early in the morning . I owned one of the biggest stores in the whole of Los Angeles. It had everything in it. Groceries, electronics, hair materials, everything!

I had staff that managed it in my absence. It was our source of livelihood, run on the inheritance left by our parents.

I hurried my bathe and ran to my closet to pick clothes out. The weather was cool and the clouds seemed to be dark. It was hard to tell if it was going to rain or not.

Since it was a bit cold, I put on a brown hoodie jacket and tight pants and helped myself with a black converse.

I knew my siblings couldn't be awake just yet especially Jones. He came back home a bit past midnight and neither boys would give a valid explanation.

I made them breakfast and put it in the microwave, so it stayed warm, and then left a note on the breakfast table that directed them to where their food was.

I knew I could easily take the car and drive there but working out was my daily morning routine and so I decided to use jogging as a substitute.

*

By the time I got to Job's house, I was partially out of breathe and had to pause for a little bit whilst holding my knees to self support myself.

It took me about two minutes to gather enough energy to knock on his door. Just like me, he didn't fancy doorbells. To him,they, like farts, made unpleasant sounds. To me, they made people lazy to knock, which to my siblings, was an unreasonable excuse but I was totally fine with that.

It took the third knock for him to finally open up . He hadn't even bothered with knowing who was at the door. He had an unpleasant and unwelcoming look on his face as soon as he saw me.

The sky was definitely promising a rain now so I pushed my way inside to avoid being victim of a downpour.

The interior of his condo was neat like always. Even though he said we'd move to a larger apartment when we eventually got married, I low key wished we'd stay here instead.

The tension with which he slammed the door behind me made me flinch in fear, snapping me into reality.

"Job is something wrong?" I asked, knowing very well that it was such a stupid question to ask in such a situation.

"Is something wrong?" He frowned,"that's what you're going with?"

"Listen Job, I know you're mad. I'm really sorry, I did try to get there yesterday but-"

"But what Lana?" He moved closer, closing a few inches between us. "What if I had been in trouble and extremely needed your presence?"

I moved a few steps backwards and let out a loud scream as thunder clapped loudly outside, causing every bone in me to tremble with fear. The rain had begun and it wasn't even coming down friendly.

"Job cool down, why are you acting so mad? You canceled on our meeting yesterday and I didn't even-"

"Wow! As if I didn't call to let you know why!" His voice was raised by now and he was waving his hands dramatically in the air.

"Well you didn't give me the chance to!" I yelled just as equally. He was being difficult. He wasn't even giving me the right chance to defend myself.

"You know what?" He lowered his voice and placed his hands akimbo, looking at his feet,"get out."

I wasn't sure that if I heard right. There was no way he had just asked me to leave. "Excuse me?" I said with my eyebrows furrowed at him.

"You heard me right Lana. Get out of my house, right this instant."

I gasped and stood there in shock. "But it's raining outside Job, you can't expect me to-" I said. He didn't let me finish talking. Instead, he gripped my left shoulder tight earning a frightened shriek from me. He pushed me in the direction of the door and yelled once more, "out, now!"

"Job you can't be serious." My voice was barely audible now. My lips had begun to whimper and I didn't know what to do. He moved closer and opened the door on my behalf.

I proceeded to beg for his mercy but he pushed me outside with such irresistible force. The door slammed even louder than before, right in my face and I gasped in fear of being soaked.

The rain was hitting me harsh. I banged furiously at the door, wailing on the top of my voice. "Job please open up. I'm sorry okay? If that's all you need to hear? I couldn't contact you, I lost my phone!" I cried but then it seemed, all to no avail

The rain seemed to add more tension to its fall, as if that was even possible anymore.

I fell down to my knees before his door and sobbed into my palms. I couldn't believe it , Job just shut me out without bothering to listen to as little as an explanation from me. He better than anyone knew that I'd do anything, especially being there for him.

It was painful but I chose to ignore it. I always did and so I was going to apologize when i was sure he'd calmed down and was ready to listen to me.

I stood to my feet and wished more than anything that I'd brought a car with me.

I watched as I walked, as everything seemed to be a little different as the rain poured. There was the coffee shop we stopped by every morning. I once dropped a mug and had its content spill on me. How embarrassing it had been for me.

In my absent mindedness, I didn't notice the car that pulled up, drawing parallel with me

It took a moment, but the driver eventually came down with a black umbrella and weirdly, sunglasses. I wondered why though.

"You again?" Spikes called with a grin.

All of a sudden, the sound of his voice spiked anger in me. He was the reason behind my missing phone, giving me no access to contact Job last night.

I chose to ignore him and instead, resumed walking. All of a sudden, his umbrella came over me as he followed from behind, ignoring the rain that drenched him in my stead.

"Why are you in the rain all by yourself anyways?" He asked.

That did it for me as I flared up in intense anger.

"What an ironic question!you! You are the reason behind my present wretchedness. You brought this upon me and then you have the guts to ask me why I'm in this? You set me on fire and ask how I burn?" I yelled.

My yelling was mostly to be blamed on the loudness of the rain, but then again, I was equally pissed off.

He seemed quite surprised by my newly introduced attitude because he took off his sunglasses.

"Wow, what did I do? I've only known you a day?"

"Exactly. A day of causing me trouble. First you get me extremely dirty and then lose my phone!"

"Funny, we were both equally to blame. The first time, you ran in front of my car without warning and the second time, you didn't pay attention to the road as we walked. So, this is pretty much your fault as well."

He spoke, not even in one bit harsh and it dawned on me that he was right.

Not having any comebacks for him, I scoffed in anger and resumed walking. Still, he didn't stop there, he kept on coming behind me.

"Why do you happen to be every where I go?" I stopped in my tracks.

"You are the one that needs to answer that question. I am in fact here to see someone too."

"I don't care." I clapped both hands together. "Just do me a sweet favor and stay out of my life." I sounded pleading and I really wished he would. I made a move to resume walking but stopped right at the sound of clapping thunder.

Flinching in fear, I gripped him tight for self support.

My eyes remained closed for a while until realization that I was in another man's hands dawned on me. With a gasp, I pushed him away from me. The force and his non expectations at my reaction caused him to move back a few inches, and his umbrella flew out of his hands.

Great, neither of us had a way to stay warm now. I should have just taken his umbrella and left him in peace. How sad could my life be?

"This is all your fault. If you would have just let me be when I told you to, none of this would have happened, trust me." I said, deciding it best to blame him for this.

My heart still weighed heavily from Job's actions and I was glad that my tears had been hidden, thanks to the rain.

"I still see no reason why you're over reacting-" He began to say but I didn't let him finish instead, I resumed walking.

He gripped my wrist and that did it for me, I couldn't control it and reflexively, my hands went up and slapped his face.

He held his face in shock and I didn't make things seems like I was startled by my own actions. I instead, increased my walking pace, ignoring the rain's hard and intense drops on me.