Her Destiny by Monica Murphy

changed, even Evan has said so. But I had to. I had to grow up.
    There was no choice.
    A light flickers in the distance, the glow of a tiny flickering orange flame coming from a lighter, and I sit up straight, squinting into the darkness as I watch someone approach. I don’t like being at the bus stop alone at night but I’ve gotten used to it for the most part. Someone from the restaurant usually comes with me and I like the company. Makes me feel safe.
    But not tonight. Tonight I’m alone and it’s freaky, especially when I know I’m not alone. I have no idea who this person is but I wait for it, bracing myself.
    My heart starts to race as the flame disappears and I see the red cherry glow of a cigarette as the stranger inhales. I wait, breathless as the person approaches. I can tell he’s male. Tall, with broad shoulders and an easy going stride. The horrible, fluorescent glow from the dim lights overhead shines directly on me, making it hard to see beyond the feeble light. The man comes closer, discarding the cigarette he just lit which strikes me as odd. Why waste one of those when they cost so much money? Such a filthy habit anyway but still…
    And then he slowly comes into view, the light shining directly on him as he comes into the shelter, illuminating his every handsome feature. My throat goes dry as he stops just in front of me, a giant grin on his face when he kneels down so we’re eye level.
    “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he says, his deep, familiar voice shimmering through me, making my heart trip over itself.
    Making me clench my hands into fists at my sides. Fury rises within me, threatening to overwhelm, and I can barely keep it together. I can’t believe after everything he did to me, those are the first words he says to me. “What took you so long?” I ask sweetly through clenched teeth.
    Just before I draw back my arm and hit him square in the jaw, knocking him right on his butt.

 
    November 12th, later that night
     
    I’ m lying flat on my back on the wet sidewalk, clutching my stinging jaw as I stare up at Reverie in wonder. She looks surprised too, staring first at me, then her fist as if she can’t believe she just hit me.
    I can’t believe she hit me either.
    Pressing my hands against the ground, I brace myself and sit up, my face close to her knees encased in black pants and I briefly wonder if she’ll lash out and kick me. She looks amazing, though I know she’s pissed—not quite sure why—and cold and in shock. I didn’t mean to scare her. Hell, I didn’t mean to make her so mad.
    “What in the world are you doing here?” she hisses, her eyes narrowed, her long blond hair wild from the wind and the dampness in the air. “And since when do you smoke? ”
    “I told you I’ve been looking for you.” I stand up and settle on the bench beside her but she scoots away, taking her warmth and scent and everything that I crave about her from me. “And I only smoke occasionally.” Like when I’m nervous, not that I’m going to admit that.
    “It’s been over three months, Nick,” she says with a little grimace, my name coming from her voice the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Too bad she’s looking at me as if she wants to slug me in the gut. I’ve never seen her so upset. “Where have you been?”
    “Let me drive you home and I’ll explain everything,” I suggest, my fingers itching to touch her. Her hair, her face, her arm, anywhere I can grasp hold of her, I want to. I need to. Having her this close after not seeing her for so long is driving me absolutely crazy.
    The bus chooses this precise moment to pull in front of the stop, the hiss of the brakes loud in the otherwise quiet of the night. The doors swing open and the driver peers through the opening, his expression full of concern. He’s an old guy with bushy white eyebrows that are so low over his eyes I almost can’t see them. “Hey Rev, you’re early tonight.”
    The freaking bus driver