"Reunion of Sorts"

Chapter 2:

The next day at the Book Cafe, Beth was working the counter. Even though her job title made her more apt to work in the back, checking inventory and such, she liked to come out every so often, see how her employees were handling things, and to interact with the customers.

She saw Luis walk through the double doors. He seemed to be taking a break from duty, being in his officer uniform. He placed an order of coffee with one of the employees.

"Hi," he nodded to her, sitting down in a seat right in front of her counter.

"Hi yourself," she smiled. "I'm glad you're here. I wanted to ask you something."

His eyes twinkled in curiosity. "Shoot," he said.

"I was wondering if you got a letter in the mail yesterday from Harmony High?"

"Yeah, I did. Why do you ask?"

Oh how she hated this game he played! Answering a question with a question. She was aware that he knew full well which letter she was talking of, but he still played clueless and nonchalant. Why? She doubted she'd ever know.

"Well I was wondering if you were going to go to the reunion," she responded.

"Of course I'm going. After all I was King."

"Is that the only reason you're going?" Beth couldn't help ask. It seemed like a lame excuse to show up.

His face contorted into an annoyed frown. "Does it matter?" His eyes bore holes into hers.

She fumed silently. "Well I guess not," she shrugged. "I was just thinking that we could go to the high school reunion together. You know, for old time's sake." She chuckled nervously. She didn't know why with Luis, talking to him was like their first chance meeting. So anxious and consious of her posture, her words, how she looked.

Beth cleared her throat when he didn't respond. He was looking at her so intently that it caused her to gulp down the lump forming in her throat.

"Beth, of course I'd go with you," he said seriously after a full minute of silence. His eyes locked with hers and she could feel him looking into her. Into her soul. He had that capability even after things had gone sour among them and it still caused a shiver to rise from her spine.

"Ok, great," she smiled. "Thanks, Luis."

"No problem, Bethy."

Bethy. It had been in a long time since she heard that word escape from his mouth. "You haven't called me that since ..." Her voice trailed off as she awkwardly realized what she was saying.

"Since high school. I know. Bye beautiful." Sending a wink her way, he grabbed his cup of coffee, tossing a few dollars onto the table.

Beth watched him leave, feeling a renewed sense of desire for this man. Her eyes followed him just until he was out the door.

For a minute, she contemplated going after him, tapping him on the shoulder, causing him to turn around. She would then capture his lips with hers, and they would get back together and shortly after they would be planning for marriage.

Maybe that's a little far-fetched, Beth admitted to herself. But I'll never know unless I go after him. Besides, the way he was looking at me was so intense. It was the similar expression I'd get from him when we used to go out. Maybe he wants me back....

"Chad, watch the counter a minute," she called to the young, black employee.

She rushed out and there stood Luis, his back to the door. He was talking on his cell phone, and paid no attention to the noise behind him.

"Hi babe," Beth heard him say into his cellular.

And two seconds later, "I'm good, Sher. Do you need me to come over again tonight?" Beth saw him laugh lightly. "Yeah, I miss wrapping you in my arms before we fall asleep, too."

He continued to talk, but Beth no longer listened. Her face sunk into oblivion as she quietly and regretfully returned to her Cafe.

Another discreet rejection from his part. It shouldn't have hurt as much as his first major one, but it did. She loved this man and wanted nothing but to be his again. She had stayed in Harmony all this time. Even after his outright rejection of her, she still remained. Hoping, praying, wishing for another chance to fall into her lap. There were so many things she wanted to do with her life - have a family, raise kids, have a career. But she, ten years after those wants were first wished upon, had yet to check any of them off her list.

Working as manager of a Cafe that brought in $45,000 per year wasn't the kind of career choice she had striven for, or still strived for for that matter. She had all the money she needed, with nothing to spend it on.

She wanted to be a world-famous writer, with two kids, a boy and a girl. But those things didn't seem to matter to Beth if she couldn't have them with a tall, dark and handsome husband named Luis.

{a/n: thanks for the reviews y'all. Glad to see there are some Belu fans out there. I assure you things will get more interesting in the later chapters. Next up: Luis and Beth head to Harmony High for their class reunion. See what unfolds. . . .