Everything Happens For a Reason
By Mahna Mahna
Chapter 1
The Pizza King was as crowded as ever that day, filled with teenage friends and young couples enjoying a late lunch. One of these couples sat in a booth near the back corner, unaware that today would bring about a change for them. Their names were Daria and Tom.
"You know what I just realized?" Tom said, putting down his pizza.
"The phrase 'chicken fingers' is misleading?" Daria quipped.
Tom smiled. "Besides that. We forgot to check out the pizza in New Town."
"Oh," Daria said, looking away uncomfortably and picking up her pizza again. "Well, I guess you'll just have to send mine package-air to Boston."
Tom cocked his eyebrow. "Won't that be a little messy?" Suddenly, his eyes grew wide with realization. "Oh, Daria…no."
"Yep, it's official," said Daria, trying not to sound as disappointed as she felt. "I didn't get into Bromwell."
"I'm really sorry," Tom lamented. "And after my parents wrote such a glowing recommendation, too."
"Shocking, isn't it? I'm such a loser, even a nod from the Sloanes couldn't help me."
He frowned in annoyance. "That's not what I meant."
"Good, because I'm not a loser. And even if I didn't go to the right prep school or pull the right strings or donate a wing---"
"That was my uncle!" Tom insisted.
Daria looked away in thought. She suddenly felt something like a snap or a shock. It was hard to describe, but at that moment, she knew what she had to do. "Listen," she started calmly. "You're a smart guy and a good student. I'm sure you deserve to get into Bromwell and I wish you every success there."
"Well, that' s a nice thing to say, even if that 'Daria-voice' of yours makes it sound like a kiss-off." Tom shrugged.
For a moment, there was just silence. Then, Tom realized where this was headed. Oh no. "Wait…"
"I think we should break up."
"What?!"
From several tables away, a man echoed his sentiment.
"What?! What in the good name of Blarney just happened there!?"
Some of people sitting near the man looked at him in surprise, then continued to stare because of his and his partner's strange attire. The man who made the outburst wore green clothes from head to toe, including a green fedora, and his partner wore nothing but a white toga. But then again, that was normal clothing for the residents of Holiday Island.
"Whoa…Pat…. chill out, man," Cupid said, picking up his pizza and taking a bite.
"I will not 'chill out'! What did you just do!?" St. Patrick's Day demanded.
"Dude, what did it look like I did?"
"You…" he pointed at a strange looking metallic device on their table. "…you used that thing to make Daria and that lad--"
"Tom," Cupid corrected.
"Right, you used that to make them break up."
"Exactly. The Breakup BB Gun. So what's the problem?"
"You're an idiot, that's the problem. Look…. let me get this straight…. so a year ago, you went through your wee computer matchmaking thing---"
"The Passion-Pilot, yeah."
"…and found what you said was Daria's match, correct?"
"Correctamundo."
"And then you have him go out with her best friend, which I still don't understand. Then you have them break-up and get back together. Then you have them break up again?!" St. Patrick's Day said incredulously. "What is wrong with you?"
Cupid lazily put down his pizza. "I'm just trying to make her happy."
"Riiigght…. the lassie sure looks ecstatic." He gestured over at Daria and Tom. "I've never seen such long faces."
Cupid sighed. "I know they're upset now, but I've got this all planned out. It' s all part of a process. Everything happens for a reason."
"I sure hope so, laddie."
"You don't need to worry." His voice suddenly took on the smooth, low characteristics of Barry White. "I've got it together, baby… I've got it together…."
"Would you knock it off with the John Wayne impressions?"
Cupid grinned and shook his head. "Sorry, Pat." He suddenly spotted Daria getting up from her and Tom's table. As she trudged out the door with her eyes to the ground, Cupid smiled sadly. "Everything happens for a reason. You've just got to trust me."