Rose in a book
Summary: Having faced only disappointments so far, Tecna's belief in love and destiny only diminish by the day resulting in her agreeing for an arrange marriage. Will a chance encounter with an orange haired coder having the most adorable smile she's seen change that? Still reeling from her heartbreak, Musa's annoyance with men is only increased when she crosses path with storm i.e. Riven. Will this be a calamity that wrecks her further or a paradise that she's waited her whole life for?
A/N: This is my most ambitious project so far and I'm immensely proud of the way it turned out (after several revisions and rewritings). The recent spurt in Tecna authors has inspired me to finally post this chapter. Hope you enjoy it and refer to the bottom for more A/N.
I don't own Winx Club or the song Everything has changed.
Chapter 1: Everything has changed
'Doable'.
Tecna remarked to herself as she replayed the events of the evening and the days leading up to it. It was one uneventful Sunday morning when she received her parent's call. She knew that it had to be something important for they had chosen to video call over texting which was their preferred and most commonly used means of communication.
"Tecna dear we have one question to ask you. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Mother we've been over this already. I do not have a boyfriend or any love interest for that matter."
"Well it's good news then, isn't it Magnethia?" Her father had exclaimed.
"Tecna dear, we believe it's time you get settled. Since you do not have anyone in your mind, we've found a suitable match for you. His name is James and he is the son of your father's oldest friend Jeremy. You'll like him."
And that's how she ended up meeting James or Jerry, as likes to be called. She still remembers her friends' excited faces when they were informed about this new development in her life.
"Dawling, this is not how you meet the love of your life!"
"Stella! That's not what you should say. And who knows he might be the one. Her parents did mention that they would be compatible together." Flora tried to reprimand her bubbly blond friend.
"All the best Tecna, I hope you find long lasting love and happiness."
"Geez Bloom, she's not getting married already. And we will vet him before things get serious." Layla asserted.
"It's a scam. Marriage is a scam." An awkward silence engulfed the group call and Flora was quick to change the subject to take Musa's mind off her marriage, or more specifically her recent heart break.
The past few months had been hard for Musa. All the fighting and drama until she finally decided to call it quits. And though Tecna never fully understood love or romantic relationships, she agreed that being alone was better than being with someone who chips away your mental peace with every breath. She just hoped James wouldn't be that way.
He wasn't. Or atleast didn't seem to be. After two days of texting, they had agreed to meet for dinner at a restaurant of his choice. The evening went well. The food was okay, the ambience was okay and so was the company. She had met James no, Jerry once when they were kinds so the initial conversation revolved around getting reacquainted. Tecna's dad owned a software company and Jerry's dad a hardware manufacturing company, so naturally both sets of parents had high hopes that the union would work out. It would strengthen the friendship and wouldn't hurt the businesses either. To say that the businesses would actually benefit from this union would not be an exaggeration. And based on preliminary assessment, Tecna felt it was not a bad idea. He had no vices (not any that were very apparent anyway), no annoying habits, had similar views regarding work and family and was not overtly romantic. Which was alright because she was not a very romantic person either and it would be a recipe for disaster if she were to end up with a partner who expected grand romantic gestures while she could not even flirt. Therefore, sum it up the match was okay. And doable. Not having a reason to disagree mean that you agree, right?
Her reverie was interrupted when a single rain drop fell from sky and landed on her already cold cheek as she was on the pavement walking her way home.
It was beginning to rain and the necessity of finding a shelter became more compelling. Clutching the bag tightly as if it would save her phone from enduring water damage, she scanned her surroundings for shelter. The bag felt slightly heavier than usual. Oh yes, it had to be that book Flora brought for everyone. The girls had planned on going for a movie the next weekend which was adopted from a book. Flora insisted that everyone should read the book before watching the movie so that they could 'appreciate the delicate chemistry between the protagonists and the mysterious ways in which destiny works' whatever that meant. She secured a copy of the book for each one of them. As if Tecna would read like the Flintstones. She didn't have anything against books but her tablet was more efficient for storage, marking and portability. Books demanded maintenance and upkeep for which Tecna had neither the time nor the patience.
Soft yellow lights caught her attention and headed towards it's source. It was a small establishment which could have been straight out of an 80s movie. The dim lights, stone walls and wooden furniture, gave the coffee shop a vintage feel. There was faint music playing in the background. Tecna's arrival was greeted by a faint bell which rung when she opened the door and two young waitresses scurrying about the small premises fanatically trying to fulfill the ever increasing orders from the waiting customers. Tecna scanned the room in hopes of finding a decent place to sit where she could dodge the setting storm. One end of the room was occupied by a group of teenagers, all 15-17 of them huddled in a large circle causing a cacophony of laugher and screams. Always a lover of quiet, she'd like to stay away from that group. Seated not very far away from the group were an old couple well in their sixties sipping their coffee and giving noisy teenagers the occasional reprimanding glances. Two middle aged couples were enjoying their coffee and snacks at tables near the entrance. Luckily, she spotted a vacant seat at a table at the far end of the cafe which was occupied by a…umm Laptop?
"Excuse me miss, could I have a table for one please?" Tecna questioned one of the passing waitress, though even she knew it was pointless.
"I'm afraid we're full. You could maybe wait for some time till one of the customers leave." She said apologetically. Like anyone would step out in this storm.
"What about the Laptop…sorry…the seat there?"
"That gentleman seems to be waiting for someone. A date perhaps. But considering that it's been hours and he got so bored he actually started to work, I have a feeling that he has been stood up." Her voice bore some sympathy and maybe some pity too. But her main take away was that the seat was vacant after all.
"Oh that's great." Tecna said, maybe a bit too quickly ignoring the gentleman's tough luck. "What I meant is maybe I can give him company." She tried to sound less rude.
Approaching strangers in a café for seat was not exactly Tecna's style but it had been an exhausting day and all she wanted right now was a hot cup of coffee to drown her miseries. Also, the man seems to be occupied, he won't bother her and she won't bother him.
"Excuse me, can I join you if you don't mind?" Tecna asked as she stood in front of the 'Laptop', trying to sound as polite as possible.
The laptop's screen was lowered to reveal a pair of hazel eyes covered by red rimmed glasses and orange hair. All the person replied was "Umm"
"It's raining outside and the café is packed so.." Tecna felt the urge to explain herself in order to not come off as too forward and give him a wrong idea but the boy seemed least interested.
"Umm…oh yes. Of course please" the boy stuttered as he lowered the back of the laptop giving Tecna a chance to look at his face. He seemed to be in his early twenties, maybe a year older than herself. He had pale skin, orange-brown hair which matched with his orange hoodie. He was not muscular like some of her friends were, but the muscles in his arms seemed well defined. In her opinion, he didn't look daunting or aggressive ...he looked more like…cute? Maybe. She gave him a soft smile as she settled on the comfortable seat across him. He welcomed her with a slight nod and a goofy smile of his own.
"Wow that's the latest Zen 4, they just launched it yesterday." She couldn't help but notice the laptop the 'Boy' was working on. She wanted that laptop for herself but it was difficult to get your hands on something that was in such high demand especially when it was launched just a day ago. She wondered how this boy managed to secure it.
"Umm.. yes it is." Is all he said shifting his gaze to her for a moment while his fingers were still typing. Not much of a talker huh? Well that's perfect. While he was engrossed in his work, she noticed how fast his slender fingers were typing, as if they were gliding over the keyboard in a rhythm while his eyes remained fixated on the screen in front of him. His glasses gave a partial refection of the black green screen in front of him. If Tecna had to guess, she'd say the boy was typing a code of some sort.
The silent observation was interrupted by the waitress who asked for her order.
"One coffee with extract shot of vanilla please."
"One extra strong espresso with a pinch of cinnamon please." The guy requested. Judging by the three empty cups on the table, this was his fourth. The waitress noted their order and carried the empty cups on her way back.
"Too much caffeine can increase the chances of developing dementia and alzheimer's." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. Now why was she talking to this stranger again? She didn't know either. She just felt kind of compelled to tell him this, or something to get his attention, which was strange coz she never did that.
"I am aware." This time he lowered his laptop screen to see her. "But I'll need coffee if I want to finish my work today. And it's the perfect beverage in this weather." He said pointing at the glass wall adjacent to their seats being assaulted by rain drops from outside. "It's strange to have such heavy rains this time of the year."
"Yeah, nature has mood swings too." She tried to be humorous only to remember that her sense of humor was as good as a lobster's flying skills.
"Hmm… that could be the reason." The guy said with a slight chuckle. Was she imagining it or did he find it funny? Maybe he was just being polite.
"And maybe strange things do happen when the universe is out to torment you." He was quick to add. "Sorry I was just talking to myself. Today hasn't been great. I got stood up. And then I got a call from work for a 'small issue' which I've been working on for three hours now." She could sense a slight disappointment in his tired voice.
"At least you got the new Zen4. I waited in a line for 4.5 hours yesterday with no luck. My feet still hurt." As much as she tried not to, Tecna was still eying the gadget with longing eyes and the owner with a slight feeling of jealousy.
"Uuu that's bad." The boy gave her a sympathetic look. "Actually I've had it since a month now."
"No way." She gasped loudly in disbelief earing a reprimanding glare from the old couple. "That's not possible. They just launched it yesterday. Even the dealers receive it only a few days prior to the official launch."
"It's possible when you work for the Company." The boy said rather abashedly. Tecna couldn't help but notice how lips formed into a small shy smile while his eyes were beaming with pride as if his work really meant a lot to him.
"Really! Wow!." For a moment Tecna was awestruck. This new version was most awaited because it had major up gradations in the OS. And to be sitting in front of the man behind those changes, well if that wasn't awesome then what was?
"You must be one hell of a programmer." She blurted involuntarily and blushed on the words escaping her mouth. "I saw you coding." She signaled towards the laptop with a sheepish smile she did not realize she was donning. She felt like a child who had to now come clean about her mischief.
His shy smile widened into a nervous laugh and he ran his fingers through his orange hair. "I try my best." To say that she was not impressed by his exceptional abilities and humble demeanor would be a lie. A steaming cup of her favorite beverage, a quiet corner in a comfortable café and an intelligent companion who had one of the best smiles she had ever seen, her day had just reached a whole new level of interesting.
"That's fascinating." She said intriguingly. Her teal eyes charged with curiosity. At that moment the waitress arrived with their orders.
"Some mini sandwiches and something for the lady please." He requested the waitress.
"Ohh nothing for me. That's not necessary." She shrugged off politely.
"I could use some company. By the looks of the storm, it seems that we'll be here for some time. And might as well eat before they run out of food." He gestured towards the noisy teenagers seated at the far end of the restaurant having at least a dozen plates on their table.
"Sandwiches." She smiled at the waitress.
"So, you seem to know a lot about computers and programming." He asked inquisitively. In the twenty something years of this existence he had learnt that pretty girls usually liked to talk about fashion or movies. Rarely do they know about programming or stand in hour long queues for the latest laptops. She was different and that was something he was damn sure about.
"It's my passion. I'm a programmer myself I design websites. A freelancer"
"Sounds fun."
"Most of the times it is. It actually depends on the clients you deal with, and some of them are very fussy."
"Colors and font?"
"Oh don't get me started." Tecna continued by sharing some of the funny incidents and ridiculous demands made by her clients. He seemed genuinely interested and Tecna was glad to fine someone who actually understood what she was saying. It was a luxury she did not have even with her closest friends. She knew that they loved her to death but they didn't understand a word when it came to her work. This boy however was different. In so many ways. His knowledge, the inputs he gave, the way he spoke about computers and technology, like they were sacrosanct to him. And the way he smiled, with eyes and his lips. She would almost blush when he looked into her eyes and he would too when she would slow down pause and take a small breath, before blinking an unknown feeling in her stomach away.
"And then there was this customer was like 'natural pictures of blue roses' and I'm like 'are you serious! You cannot have natural blue roses!' "
"Not exactly. There's a way. I'll show you." The boy said with a slight smirk. He called the waitress and ordered a blue lagoon soda which was quickly served to them. He pulled a white rose from his jacket which Tecna assumed was for his date who didn't show up. He slit the stem in a steeper cut with the fork on the table and placed the white rose in the bright blue soda. "Let the magic begin." He said ceremoniously.
"Are you sure this will work?" She giggled. Which was strange coz when did she ever giggle?
"Positive. I have seen my friends do it all the time in school." He said with an innocent childish grin. The mention of his childhood brought back font memories where each day brought new adventures and new learnings. There were no clients, no legal hassles or the social pressure to date. Not to mention the constant nudging from his parents and friends to find 'the one.' They only meant good but after numerous disappointing experiences, he was losing trust in the concept of 'true love' and 'the one'.
"It was said that girls like preserving flowers, leaves that kind of stuff in books. So, some of my friends would trap innocent roses in the pages of books and gift it to the young girls who's heart they intended to capture." It never made sense to him. Why would a girl want flower? It's not like she could eat it or something. But his friends did have a tendency of projecting behavior that grossly deviated from logic and common sense, so was no surprise they would want to do such silly activities.
"Did you ever try it?"
"Lolz never. I was sure the girl would hit me with the same book, so I kept my distance." He laughed as he recalled his various previous misadventures with girls, causing Tecna to laugh as well. Whoever said that laugher was contagious, wasn't lying after all.
"Feels like a myth now. There is nothing one can do to make to make a girl happy."
"No offence." He was quick to add, on realizing that he was complaining about girls in front of, well a girl.
"None taken. Girls can be … difficult." Some of the things her friends did, never made sense to her either so at times she did feel a little sorry for boys.
"I know some guys who had to do some really insane stuff to win their girlfriends. One arranged for fireworks in front of her balcony on their one-month anniversary. Another one sent her flowers everyday till she agreed for a date. One of them booked a whole restaurant on their first date."
"That's crazy. Like mills and boons crazy." He said with astonishment. Tecna chucked at how his eyebrows shot up at the new piece of information. But when you think about it, all the stuff that her friend's boyfriends did was straight out of a cheesy romantic novel.
"Looks like I'll have to download one of those novels and make notes." He joked.
"Let me save you the trouble." She pulled out a rose printed book from her backpack. "Here this is a copy of Serendipity. It's a bestselling romantic novel which has been turned into a movie. One of my friends gifted this to me a few days ago and I'm confident I'm not reading it anytime soon. Or ever. It's about the mysterious ways in which destiny works or something of that sort." She explained as she handed him the book.
"You don't believe in destiny?" He enquired taking the book in his hands, his eyes were studying the cover.
"It's a miracle I still believe in love. Well not the world-is-pink-and-I-can-jump-off-the-cliff kind of love, but yes a little bit."
"Your friends seem to be super romantic."
"Which only makes it more annoying. I mean they are just so obsessed with love. Like everyone has to have a true love or a soul mate. Theykeep setting me on these stupid blind dates. It's so annoying. The dressing up, the make-a-good-first-impression. And they interrogate me about my dates like hungry journalists. It's too much pressure."
"I agree. And if it doesn't work out then the 'there's-someone-else-out-there-for-you speech'. It sucks being the only single one in the group."
"I second that. You are never invited to group dates or to Valentine's Day shopping. You usually don't have much to contribute to group discussions coz they are either gushing how their boyfriends are spoiling them or discussing relationship issues." Tecna didn't mean to sound bitter but it was true. Sometimes she felt left out because so much of the other girl's lives revolve around their boyfriends.
"Don't even get me started on Valentine 's Day. The guys always put up a show and I'm their working crew. I've never been in a relationship yet Valentine 's Day is the most stressful day of the year for me." He complained with a childlike annoyance.
"No way." She said in part laughter, part disbelief.
"Yes way. I have to make sure that the singers reach on time for singing 'their song' and that 200 candles are lit in her room coz it's their 2nd valentines' together and I'm also in charge of printing a customized fairytale book which captures their love story in colorful cartoons. It's only a miracle they have not asked me to be their waiter...yet. If I ever have to be a waiter it will be for the girl I love, nothing less than that." He said with a firm determination which Tecna found amusing.
"I'm sorry for laughing but that's kind of funny." Laugher was just involuntary by now. To be honest every emotion and every reaction felt involuntary for the past few hours. Tecna had spent her life keeping her emotions in check, restraining her reactions, all of which seemed to be slipping down the sewers with every passing minute, just like the raindrops outside.
"I know, my life is tragic comedy." He said smiling. She took another moment to appreciate his face. Not that he looked extraordinary or extremely handsome, but there was something about him which was drawing her towards him. Like he had a magnetic field around him which she was losing herself to.
"I'd buy tickets to that." She threw her head back in another fit of laughter causing her companion to do the same.
The waitress arrived at the dimly lit table to collect the used plates and serve a fresh round of beverages and if she hadn't known better, she would say it was old friends catching up and discussing the good times rather than two strangers who were forced to kill time together curtsey the raging weather. The previously dead silent table was now filled with laugher and warmth.
"What say we raise a toast?" He proposed raising his fifth or sixth coffee cup of the day. He has lost count by now. Like he lost count of the times he felt overwhelmed with excitement and joy. Or the number of times he found himself paying attention to the freckles on her face only to circle back on her pink lips and how they curved to form a beautiful smile. It could be the caffeine talking a toll over this mind but he felt warm and comforted. Like a cozy winter afternoon spent under thick quilts. So, in a very uncharacteristic boldness he decided to celebrate the moment for the twenty something years of his existence had taught him that moments like these were rare and fleeting.
"I don't see why not. But what should we toast to?"
"To bind dates." He said cheekily, for had his date not abandoned him, he would not have the pleasure to be in the company of the girl who actually understood his jokes (and laughed at them too, which was a bonus) and didn't crinkle her nose at his quirks and nervous blabbering.
"To blind dates. And heavy rains." She said raising her glass and reflecting on the path that led her here. For if it wouldn't have been for the wretched rains, she would be at her apartment, curled up in a corner with her zpad watching one of her old favorite movies. With a glass or two of wine of course.
"I don't mean to sound creepy, but you're very different from other girls." He tried to sound as genuine as possible. He didn't know if his voice expressed his admiration the way he imagined it in his head, but the last thing he wanted was to freak this amazing stranger out.
"The good kind or the weird kind?" She asked playfully.
"The wonderful kind. The kind any guy would be lucky to be with." He said genuinely, looking straight in her eyes. Tecna couldn't help but blush under his gaze. She was not used to compliments. Sure, there were those shameless flirts who called her hot or sexy but no guy ever called her 'wonderful'. Her heart was beating in an unusual rhythm, faster and louder than it normally did and her eyes were looking straight into his, trying to find any malice or lies. Her blush only deepened when she found none and saw deep admiration and truthfulness instead. For her time stopped momentarily while looking into his hazel eyes. It may have been only a second or two for the rest of the world, but it felt a lot more to her. A hell lot more. Are strangers even allowed to make you feel that way?
A\N : Wow, you reached here ! Thanks for your patient reading. Some thoughts I wanted to share with you:
This is intended to be a full-fledged story and I have the plot more or less planned out in my mind. However, updates will be subject to availability of time and the response to this chapter. Even if I don't proceed with the story, this chapter can be read as a one shot.
For Musa and Riven fans, their plot line is undergoing some major changes and hence I'll need time for updating that.
A heartfelt thank you to The Thorned Rose, TecnoFan34 and SailorWestMercury for encouraging me to roll up my sleeves and get working.
If you enjoyed the fic and would want to read more from me, then please let me know your thoughts in the reviews. Your encouragement fuels my passion for writing and motives me to work harder.
Hope you all are doing well!
Ciao
