I walked out of the Art Gallery of Ontario and was in a good mood. I always enjoyed going to museums because it's always interesting to see how other people perceive of what art is. I looked around and began walking towards a nearby cafe. It was called "Art Square Cafe and Creperie". As I walked inside I realized how oddly cozy it was; there were quite a bit of people standing around and looking at the artwork that was displayed on the walls. I got in line and simply waited my turn. I quickly scanned the menu carefully. I was kind of hungry and wanted to treat myself to a nice cup of coffee. Once I had finally made a decision I practiced it in my head over and over again. I had to do this cause I for some reason have a hard time ordering food. It made me feel queasy inside, like when I was in school and had to say 'here' during roll call. I was the next person to order so I slowly made my way over to the counter to the smiling barista woman awaiting me. "Welcome to Art Square Cafe and Creperie, may I take your order ma'am?" I nodded my head and smiled back at her. Okay, here it goes, don't screw this up. "Yes, can I have the croissant macchiato." I then realized that I completely messed up and wanted to bash my head against the counter as hard as possible. "Sorry! I mean the croissant sandwich with a macchiato." She simply smiled while writing down my order. She probably thought I was an idiot. I'm so glad that Mr. Pine wasn't here to witness this. I know that he would never let me live this down. "Good choice, will that be for here or to go? Also, could you please give me your name ma'am?" I nodded my head again and said: "For here and Violet Pine." WhY DID I JUST SAy THAT!? I could feel my face heat up as I bit my bottom lip and clenched onto my brown purse. "That will be $7.50." I quickly unzipped my bag and pulled out my American bill-wow way to freaking go, Violet. "Do you guys take American bills?" It suddenly felt very warm inside. She nodded her head and took my cash. She then gave me back my change and I quickly shoved it into my bag not wanting to stand in line any longer. "Thank you, Ms. Pine, we'll bring it to you when your order is ready." I forced a smile while saying "Thank You." and quickly went to go look for a seat. I then spotted a small table next to a window and started to walk towards it. Could this get any more awkward?
"Violet, is that you?" I heard a familiar voice ask. NO, it couldn't be. I turned around and was face to face with none other than my one and only ex, Tony freaking Rydinger. I could feel my entire stomach churn in discomfort. "Tony!" I said with another fake smile. He, of course, looked good, just like the last time I saw him, and had that smile that used to make my heart flutter. He then went in for a hug that I didn't want but was suddenly forced into. He gave me a light squeeze and pulled away. "What are you doing here?" He asked while crossing his arms. "I could ask you the same thing. I'm here for work." I admitted to him. His eyes lit up. "Really, what a small world, so am I." I wanted to just turn invisible and make a run for it but continued to force a smile. "What a coincidence. That would explain the suit." I said while gesturing to his body. He nodded his head and scratched the back of his neck. "Oh, were you going to sit down?" He asked me while glancing over at the small table. I nodded my head while trying to walk towards it. "Awesome, I'll join you while I'm on my break." How nice of him to decide that. I quickly sat down and waited for him to do so as well. "So, it's been awhile since the last time I saw you. How's life?" Up until I walked into this cafe, just peachy. "Good, how about you?" He nodded his head and suddenly got this huge grin on his face. "Amazing. Wonderful. Spectacular." He then looked away for a moment and chuckled. "You're never going to believe this but I'm actually engaged." Someone please just shoot me now. "Oh, wow, congratulations. I'm happy for you." He looked up at me with this weird twinkle in his eye. "I didn't think I was going to find someone else after we broke it off. But this girl…." He then sighed while looking down. "The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one. She made my ears ring, heart pace, and knees buckle. She's...she's something really special." Wow, how nice. I suddenly had this bad taste in my mouth and wanted nothing more than to just purge. How did he not understand how uncomfortable this was for me? We dated for three years and he still didn't get me. "Well, I'm glad you found someone." He then sat up and his smile dropped. "Oh, I'm sorry that was rude of me." I sighed in relief, he finally got it. "I didn't ask about your dating life." Nope, nevermind. "How's everything been going for you, Miss Parr?" I internally cringed at how he addressed me. "Uh, about that-excuse me Ms. Pine?" And that was my cue to just throw myself out the window. "Yes, that's me." The waitress then placed my sandwich and coffee down on the table. "Please enjoy!" She said as she walked away.
Was that even possible at this point? I then noticed that Tony was staring at me. "What's wrong?" I asked suddenly concerned. "You're married?" i'M WHaT? "Uhhhh-this all suddenly makes sense now." He interrupted me. "It does?" I asked even more confused. He then had that smile reappear on his face. "You're acting all weird because your husband isn't here with you!" I then quickly shook my head trying to stop him but he just kept going. "That would also explain why you're so surprised that I'm engaged, and why you frowned when I said your maiden name!" I don't remember frowning. He then grabbed my left hand which startled me. "Where's your ring?" I quickly pulled my hand away from his grasp. What was wrong with him? He seemed so different, so much 'chipper' now. "Oh, I get it. You've never really liked jewelry. I remember when I bought you those earrings that one Christmas, you only wore them a few times. You really haven't changed a bit, Vi." I looked down at my plate of food and realized that my appetite was long gone. "And, you've changed quite a bit. Listen, Tony, I'm not-but for the better, right?" When was this guy gonna let me finish? "Hey, there's this ball happening tonight for my work, you should definitely come." Why wouldn't he stop talking? Goodness, in all of the years we dated he never talked this much. "I don't know, Tony. It's all so sudden-come on! It'll be fun and you can bring your husband- oh wait he isn't here isn't he? Cause you're here for work, right?" What could I do to make him stop? I just wanted some coffee and a sandwich and then go back to the hotel and hide underneath the covers of my very soft bed. I hate to admit it, but Mr. Pine would have gotten me out of this situation in a matter of seconds….wait a minute. That's it. "Actually, I work alongside him so he's here with me." Tony raised his eyebrows. "Really, well I would love to meet him. It's going to be at the Ontario Parliament building. I'll make sure to put you and Mr. Pine on the guest list." He then looked down at his watch and stood up. "It starts at 8:00. Get all dressed up because the dress code requires suits and gowns." He waved to me as he walked away. "I'll see you there." I waved back and replied with "Can't wait." Once he was out the door I looked at my sandwich again. What did I just get myself into?
/
I had just started to loosen my tie when the door slammed open. I turned around to see Violet who was red in the face and had wide eyes. "Are you alright?" I asked a bit concerned. She closed the door behind her and ran over to me. "I need you." Oh my gosh, Dr. Flos was right. "Excuse me?" She then started to pace. "I messed up and I need your help." I then sighed in relief. "What exactly did you do? Did you fight that religious woman by the entrance?" I said with a slight chuckle. "I wish! I went to the museum and walked around. Everything was normal and fine, and then I went to the cafe across the street and asked for a croissant macchiato!" A what? "And then out of nowhere, my ex pops up! And then he starts talking and talking and then he invites me to this party!" I wasn't sure if she was aware of how ridiculous she sounded but I just continued to listen. "And now he thinks I'm married and I need you to come with me." She was breathing heavily and I could only stare at her current bewildered state. "Why do I need to come?" She then crossed her arms and looked down at the floor. "Because I need your help." I then started to pull off my tie. "Okay, but with what?" Her face seemed to be turning even more scarlet as she avoided my eyes. "I need for you to pretend to be my husband." I couldn't help but laugh. She looked at me with disbelief which made me laugh even harder. This all was just too funny. "You really aren't the social type, Parr, and look what you've gotten yourself into." She groaned as I started to unbutton my shirt. "Please just help me!" I walked around the bed and placed my tie on the nightstand. "Why should I, Parr? Because you made it pretty clear to me that you could handle things by yourself." I turned around and saw her insecure stance. "I know but if you could just help me out this one time I would really appreciate it." She was only gone for over an hour and she already managed to be in a problem. "What do I get in return?" I asked while unbuttoning my sleeve cuffs. "Gratitude?" I shook my head. "That's not enough." She became quiet for a moment and thought. "Well, what do you want?" What exactly did I want? "I don't know, what do you have to offer?" She then scoffed. "Please don't play this game with me. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it." Oh, so now she was getting desperate, interesting. "How about I do this little 'pretend' thing with you and afterward whatever I decide on you have to do it no matter what. Don't worry, it won't be anything immoral." She sighed while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Fine."
-Later on-
After a few phone calls and a wardrobe change, I found myself waiting on Parr. She had been getting ready for over an hour and I was bored. I looked down at my watch again just to make sure that time was actually still going and not frozen like how it felt. I groaned loudly and walked over to her door. I knocked a couple of times, "Are you ready yet, Parr?" I could hear rustling in her room along with the sound of her quietly cursing. "Yeah, just give me a few seconds." She replied. I stepped back and adjusted my cuffs again for the hundredth time. "So, you never really discussed with me about your ex." I could hear her groan on the other side of the door and I couldn't help but smile. "That's because it was never your business." I then placed my hands into my pockets while leaning against the wall. "Well, it now is. So spill it." The door then opened and I'll admit, I was utterly shocked. She wore a midnight blue dress that was tight on her thin frame and had a high slit on her thigh. The fabric was silk since it shimmered underneath the lights of the room. Her hair was pulled up in a half updo like earlier today only a few strands loosely fell in the front of her face. I could tell she did in fact put on makeup but it was very light considering she didn't need very much of it. "What? Is it too much?" She asked insecurely. "No, you look um….good-" I quickly cleared my throat while standing straight back up. "He was my high school boyfriend. Then we broke up. That's pretty much it." She said while adjusting herself. "If that was it then we wouldn't be having to do this." I looked down at my watch again and opened the door. "It'll be over before you know it." She said as she walked out and I quickly walked after her.
Once we were in the limo she became quite fidgety. "Relax Parr, just think of this like prom. Only a very odd prom." She cringed and I couldn't blame her. I'm sure her prom experience wasn't that great, hell, I didn't even go to prom. "I'd rather not, also you need to address me by my first name and I'll do the same for you." Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. "You will not call me by my first name." She raised an eyebrow. "Then what am I supposed to call you?" I shrugged while combing back my hair. "Honey, sweetie, dear, love, handsome, anything except for my name." She then crossed her arms. "How am I supposed to introduce you?" Why was she making it seem like it was rocket science? "You say 'this is my husband' and that's it." I knew she wasn't satisfied with that answer but I was hoping she would be. "Is there a reason as to why I can't call you by your first name?" "Yes," I replied. "Are you going to tell me why?" "No." I could see the frustration in her bubble up. "So, you can call me by my first name, but I can't call you by yours?" If we continued to bicker with each other at this rate, people would really believe we were married. "Look, I'll call you dear and you can call me sweetie. Satisfied?" She sighed in defeat. "Fine, whatever works. People need to believe that we're a couple so this will do." I chuckled at her tone. "Sound a little more enthusiastic, Dear." She then cringed again. "You know you can't do that when we're in there." She nodded her head in agreement. "I know but I can't help it. It's weird." Was she serious now? "You're kidding me, right? You were the one that got yourself in this situation and dragged me into it too. Why? Because you couldn't say no to your ex. You really need to learn when to say no." The limo then came to a stop. "We're here, Mr. Pine." Our chauffeur said while rolling down the window that separated us. Parr's eyes widened in fear. "I have just decided that I don't want to do this anymore!" The doors opened and I got out. "It's too late for that, Dear." I could already tell that this night was going to be interesting.
Sorry for the cliffhanger but I hope to update very very soon. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I did because I personally thought it was really funny. Next one is going to have more laughs and sexual tension. Until next time guys!