Love can Overcome Anything

Chapter 12: Destiny

Bridget woke up feeling a perplexing feeling in her body. She vaguely wondered why. It then hit her. Today was the day she would make her decision about Eric! Bridget jolted out of bed and froze. It was 11:30! She was supposed to be in place and ready at the café in 15 minutes! Bridget ran to her closet, where she carefully had chosen her outfit the night before. It was slim-fitting jeans and a snug white t-shirt. Beside her outfit was the Kickers jersey that Eric had sent her. Bridget grabbed her outfit and went to the bathroom to get changed. She took her comb and brushed her hair until it shined. She applied lip gloss and mascara. Glancing at the clock, she knew that she had only 5 minutes left.

Bridget walked back into her room. She took her cell phone and stuffed it in the back pocket of her jeans. She put the Kickers jersey in a bag. It was now time to go. Bridget screamed "I'm going to the cafe!" to her dad, but she doubted that he would care. Perry would just be in his room playing on his computer. Bridget grabbed her shoes and put them on. She walked out of her door and began making her way to the café.

While she was walking to the café, Bridget took out her cell phone and started reading her text messages. She had 4 of them. Reading, they said:

Bee, are you alright? I'll be waiting for you at home. Call if you need anything. From:Lena

Bee, I'm so excited! Your big day is here! Do you know what you are going to do yet? Reply ASAP. From:Carmen

Bumble Bee, if Eric hurts you, tell me. I'll kill him! Good Luck! From: Tibs

Bee? Why does Eric keep on emailing me and asking me about you? Why does he keep asking if you're alright and how you've been acting these days? Is there something happening between you two? From: Diana

Bridget decided not to reply to any of her text messages until she got Eric and her problem over with. Too busy looking at her cell phone, Bridget walked straight into the wall of the café.

"Ow!" Bridget said, rubbing at her forehead. She quickly glanced around her just to see if Eric saw her or if he had arrived yet. She spotted Eric from a faraway distance casually walking to the café with his hands in his pockets, whistling quietly. Bridget did not find this fair. There Eric was, whistling and being so calm while she was hyperventilating. Bridget made a dash for it just in case Eric saw her. She sprinted to the corner of the café, and crouched down behind a tree. This way, no one could see her unless they walk around the café and look down to the bottom of the tree.

Bridget put her bag that was holding the Kickers jersey on her lap and hugged it closely. Her heart was pounding. She peered around the corner. She saw that Eric was leaning on the front wall of the café and was glancing at his watch. He was wearing jeans that were not too snug and not too baggy and a shirt that was green. His hair looked a little ruffled. Bridget suspected that this was because he was running his hand through his hair. She smiled a little because she remembered that that was his habit whenever he was stressed, nervous, or worried. He still looked like his charming self. Bridget hugged her bag even more closely. She was so anxious. A bubbly feeling inside her body that she could not distinguish was making her giddy. What should she do?

Bridget took her cell phone out and looked at the time. It was 12: 15. Any minute now, Eric would be leaving. And as soon as she thought that, Eric looked around one last time, glanced at his watch, and began walking away. He seemed a little sad. His walk was a slower and his posture was a little crouched. Bridget looked at Eric again. He was leaving. She had to act now. Now or never. One mistake or wrong choice could ruin her life again.

Eric was now a short distance away from her. The bubbly feeling inside of her was gone. Why was that? Bridget wondered. Suddenly, it hit her. That bubbly feeling was a complete, happy feeling. It was a feeling whenever she experienced love. No wonder I couldn't distinguish that feeling. I had avoided love for 5 years now. Bridget panicked, put on her Kicker's jersey and started running after Eric. He was far away from her now. He couldn't hear her screaming his name. She ran even faster. She loved him. They were meant to be. She couldn't lose her chance.

Unfortunately, his bus arrived and he hopped onto it, leaving Bridget running. Bridget stopped running. She looked at the bus, which was driving away. She gave up. They weren't meant to be. It was like there were signs saying that Eric and her shouldn't be together. He was gone.

Bridget started crying. She had her chance, but she lost it. Slowly, Bridget took of her Kickers jersey and walked towards Greenrun Park. Greenrun Park was her favorite park. A place that was private, comforting, and quiet. It was filled with trees and grass. It was twice the size of her back yard. She had found it 4 months ago in the middle of the forest that lurked behind Greenrun Park. It was deserted.

Once Bridget arrived at the park, she started to run. Past the joggers, the elderly people strolling, the families and their picnics, and the kissing couples. She ran and ran until she arrived at her small park. It was her place. A place that always comforted her. She was glad that no one had run far and deep into the forest and discovered the lake yet. She made her way near the lake and sat down underneath a big tree. She pulled her shoes off and ignored her cell phone that had been ringing for the past 10 minutes. Annoyed with the ringing, Bridget took of her socks and stuffed her cell phone into them, then stuffed the socks into her shoes, which muffled the sound of ringing.

Silence was all that could be heard. Only her, the sky, the trees, the beautiful lake, the wildlife and the grass were on the planet right now. Bridget glanced down at her Kickers jersey, ran her hand through the fabric, and once again, she started crying. Once or twice she heard a ruffle behind her. Probably the birds. Or some annoying kid who's seeing me bawl my eyes out. By now, it's been 1 hour after Eric hopped onto the bus. She cried and cried until she couldn't stand looking at the Kickers jersey anymore. She grabbed the jersey, ran towards the lake and threw the jersey into the lake as far as she could. She heard a satisfying plunk and stared at it. Minutes later, she knelt down and continued crying.

Suddenly, Bridget felt two strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her in close. Then a deep masculine voice whispered comforting words in her ear, sending tingles and chills all through her body.

Bridget instantly stopped crying. In fact, she stiffened up and froze. She stopped breathing. She slowly turned her head and whispered "Eric?"

Eric chuckled quietly. He let go of Bridget's waist and turned her around. Bridget looked up at him. He bent down and gave her a deep, warm, loving kiss then said "Yeah Bee. It's me."

Bridget, who was still in shock recovered quickly. She questioned suspiciously. "How did you get here? I thought you were on that bus going off to some place!"

Eric grinned. He put his arms around her waist again and pulled her in close. "Well, after you didn't show up at the café, I decided to go to your house just to see you. I hopped onto that bus and was on my way to your house.'

"And then?" Bridget urged, her voice muffled because her head was on Eric's shoulder.

"And then I arrived at your house. Your dad answered it but he said you were going to the café" Eric replied

"Wow. Dad actually listened to me for once"

"So I was confused. I didn't see you at the café and your dad said you were going to the café. Then it all hit me. When I was in the bus, I thought I saw a glimpse of a very beautiful girl with amazing hair running in the buses direction. For a moment, I thought it was you but then I thought to myself, 'Why would Bee be running towards the bus?' So I decided that I was going crazy. But after your dad told me you were at the café, it all clicked. I knew that that woman I saw running was you"

"Go on"

"So, I went back to the place I saw you running and I walked along the sidewalk asking people if they saw a girl with beautiful hair run by. They all did. And they all pointed toward the direction of Greenrun Park. So I ran to Greenrun Park. I ran the whole route (4 miles) but you weren't there. It was then I heard water. I figured that a lake was near by and once before, you told me that your favorite place was near a lake. So I followed the sound of water. Then right in front of me, you were sitting under that tree crying. I stayed there, frozen, because I wasn't sure if you were crying because I was gone or because of something else. You looked so sad."

"So that was you I heard a few times while I was crying"

"Anyway, then, I saw you throw my Kickers jersey into the lake and that instant, I knew you were crying because of me."

"You saw me throw the jersey?" Bridget asked sheepishly

"Yeah, I did. Shame. It was a good jersey. Are you alright now?" Eric laughed.

"Yup. Would you call this destiny?" Bridget asked, leaned up and kissed Eric lightly on the lips.

He leaned forward and tilted her head with his hand and kissed her back. "No, I'd call it fate"

Bridget stopped the kiss and said "No it should be called destiny. And should we retrieve the jersey?"

"Nah let the fishes have it. I have tons more. And let's call this Destiny and Fate." Eric replied and once again, he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her in close and kissed her. Together they kissed for a very long time and neither of them knew that Bridget's cell phone had been ringing for the past 40 minutes and that the days ahead of them were going to be very surprising. Both bad and good surprises.