Dear Annebelle,

How do I get someone to love me? Even if he loves another man IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE HE BELONGS WITH ME AND THAT'S FINAL! We belong together! How can I change his mind?

Sincerely,

Planning the Wedding

Dearest Planning the Wedding,

Mon cher, it seems to me you've already told him how you feel. Sadly, sometimes love is cruel. It seems to me the one you love has found another. Tragic, I now, but don't despair! There's someone out there who's destined to be with you, and they might be closer than you think.

Best Wishes,

Annebelle

The game of the season, Alfred smiled at the thought as he sang along to the song on the radio. If they won this game, it was a straight shot to the finals, and soon, they'd be the champions. Everyone was counting on Alfred, their quarterback and undoubtedly their star player, to be the hero and win tonight.

Sure, it was a lot of pressure, but Alfred was ready. Adrenaline was already pounding through his veins as he pulled into the parking lot and walked into the locker room.

Alfred was always just late enough to get a pat on the back from everyone on the team as he made his way to his locker. But sometimes, it didn't always work in his favor. Namely, there was a certain Russian blocking his way when he reached it.

"Hello, Alfred," he said with his thick accent, a cheery smile hardly masking the look of distain in his eyes. "Are you excited for the game?"

"Of course, Ivan," Alfred said with an eyeroll. "Now would you mind getting out of my way?"

Ivan stepped to the side without a fight, but continued talking as Alfred got his stuff together. "I really hope you are prepared. You know if we lose tonight everyone will blame you, da?"

Of course he knew that! Besides, the bastard wanted him to lose- the second Alfred slipped up, the commie would come in and steal his quarterback slot. "No worries, dude, I know what I'm doing."

"So you say," The Russian said with that sickening smile, and walked away as Alfred pulled his #50 jersey over his head.

"How's the second most awesome player on the team?" Alfred laughed and turned to find his two best friends standing behind.

"Hey, dudes!" Alfred exclaimed, as Gilbert looked at him with a cocky smile, and Matthias struggled to get all of his hair into his helmet.

"Good luck out there, Alfred!" Matthias said with his signature goofy smile. "You win, I'll buy all the beer for party afterwards."

"That's what you said last time, and the awesome me had to loan you 20 bucks," Gilbert used his threatening gaze, but even he couldn't keep from smiling. They all knew this was going to be a great game.

"Well, good luck out there, dudes!" Alfred plunked the helmet onto his head and walked out onto the field, taking a deep breath and getting all the confidence he needed to win.

Alfred walked out of the locker room, through a cacophony of good job and great game as he tried to get to his car. But as he scanned the parking lot for his truck, his eyes stopped short.

There she was.

Alfred licked his lips in nervousness when she looked in his direction, and he found his feet moving him closer and closer, at an alarming rate. Deep violet eyes met clear blue ones and for a minute, everything felt… Right.

"Hi," Alfred blurted, and her eyebrows quickly furrowed. She obviously didn't expect to have to make conversation.

"Hello," she said after a long pause. She glanced over Alfred's shoulder but he didn't notice at the time.

"…I've never seen you here before. Is this your first game?"

She shook her head. "I come to all of my brother's games."

"Who's your brother?"

"Ivan Braginski."

"Alfred immediately gulped. Ivan Braginski? His biggest rival? Why did it have to be him… He immediately changed the subject. "So… What's your name?"

"Natalia."

"I'm Alfred." He reached over and shook her hand, her pale skin icy cold. She pulled away as soon as she could.

"It's… Nice to meet you." But it didn't seem so nice.

"So… Do you wanna go-" He was cut off when she darted across the field, to the distinctly tall figure of Ivan.

"…Bye." Alfred sighed, trudging back to his shiny new Ford pick-up, where Matthias and Gilbert sat expectantly on the tailgate.

"What took you so long?" Matthias asked, hopping to the ground.

"Yeah, we have an awesome party to get to!" Gilbert crossed his arms, annoyed.

"Sorry, dudes," I got distracted… Have you heard of a girl Named Natalia? Long blonde hair, purple eyes, really cute…"

"Natalia Arlovskaya?" Matthias asked wearily.

"You mean stabby chick?" Gilbert got more to the point.

"What?"

"Everyone says her last boyfriend dumped her… For a guy!"

"…So?"

"So! She went insane! Attacked them both with a knife!"

"Everyone says she got expelled and was sent to live in Russia with her grandparents." Matthias continued.

"I really doubt that, dudes."

"That's not it! She has some sort of stalker crush on Ivan."

Alfred was speechless. But his friend's warnings didn't sway his mind. He knew how rumors were, there were plenty going around about him, some more flattering than others. All he knew was, the rest of the night the only thought on his mind were those violet eyes… And it became his mission to go on a date with her.