"What can I start you off with to drink tonight, ma'am?"

I look down at the options on the glossy menu, scanning over them quickly.

"Strawberry lemonade, please."

The woman nods and leaves without further comment. I sit the menu back down watching as the restaurant's ceiling lights create a glare on its surface. There's only a soft murmur within the restaurant despite the fact that every table is occupied.

I'm not surprised it's packed. After all, Devin and I had to reserve this table three weeks in advance. Unconsciously, my eyes drift to the empty seat across from me and swallow hard, trying to shake off the idea that seeps through me right now.

He'll show up. I'm a few minutes early anyways. With this in mind, I glance down at the time on my phone. It's 6:57, and our date was supposed to start in three minutes. For a moment, a twist of worry appears somewhere deep in my gut, but I'm quick to squash it into dust. There's no way he'd be late, he knows how important this dinner is to me.

To us, I suppose.

I close my eyes, trying to calm the worries that's trying to consume me.

"Can you believe it's been three years already?" I ask Devin while curling up on the couch.

I can hear him in the kitchen putting the dishes away. I turn to look as he enters the doorway, wiping water from his hands and onto his pants. The denim darkens from the liquid in splotches.

Devin moves away from the doorway and joins me on the couch, leaning back into the cushions. "Yeah, crazy."

"What do you think we should do?" I ask.

He shrugs and scratches the back of his neck, looking away. "I don't know. Whatever you want."

"Well-" I pause, trying to think of some way to celebrate the occasion. After all, three years is a big accomplishment. Most couples don't even make it past one! "-let's have dinner, and finding a nice seat by the window at a diner does not count. I'm talking about a nice dinner at a restaurant where we can have some privacy. Hey, what about that Carribean place on Mulberry Rd? I've heard that place is amazing. We'll have to make reservations though."

Devin nods along, "Sure, sounds great."

I'm pulled out of my deep revere of thoughts by the waitress. "Ma'am, are you ready to order?" Wasn't she just here two seconds ago?

"Oh, not just yet. I'm expecting someone," I say as I take a look at the empty seat across from me.

The waitress looks at me for a moment, obviously skeptical, but then nods, smiles, and walks away. I feel myself heave a frustrated sigh. Devin was always able to make other dates and functions on time -- other than ours. He knew how much today meant and we literally just had a talk about it yesterday, the day before, and honestly, probably the day before that too. I know I had been talking Valandria's ear off about it. She was my best friend and I knew I could count on her to be there for me when I needed her.

"So, you're wanting to impress Devin. Why? If he can't appreciate you in general, why would you even want to," Val asked as she handed me several dresses over the dressing room door. I had been trying on dresses all day and she hadn't complained once. This is why I love her. Now, her mouth, on the other hand, that is a whole different ball game.

"I'm not trying to impress him, Val. I'm just trying to, you know, have a few more sparks fly. He seemed really busy lately. He should relax and that is what our anniversary date next week is all about. Just us," I said while shimming into a tight black dress. It complained my body in every possible way without showing off too much skin. It looked just classy enough to pass for the restaurant we would be dining at.

"It just seems to me that you're going out of your wa- WOW." I could feel myself blush as Val stopped mid sentence to appreciate how the dress looked on me. I tried not to fidget as I held my arms out and did a little spin show.

"That's a good wow, right?" I asked cheerily.

"I say he isn't worth the trouble but holy moly, Rose, you look great. He should fall at your feet when he sees you all dolled up. Let's go find you heels," Val said smiling. Her words stung a little. I knew she always meant well, but sometimes she was right. I was just hoping all the effort for our anniversary would pay off.

The fact is that Val. has never liked Devin. It doesn't matter how hard he tries (if he even tried to try before)

"Ma'am? Are you sure you wouldn't like to start with an appetizer?"

I look down at my phone, but the screen is blank. No new notifications, despite the numerous calls and texts I've sent Devin's way. I lock the screen and look back up. The woman seems nice enough, but I can tell she's got a lot of tables and a lot more important things to worry about than the fact that my boyfriend hasn't shown up yet.

"Sorry I'm late, babe, traffic was a nightmare."

Finally! ... wait, since when does Devin call me 'babe'?

I look across the table only to have my gaze met by bright blue eyes, a stark contrast to Devin's grey ones. A mop of brown hair fell on his forehead in a messy but attractive fringe and his lips were curled into a gentle smile.

The man sitting across me is certainly not my boyfriend. The waitress smiles blindingly. "Welcome! What can I start you off to drink?"

"You got Dr. Pepper?" he asks.

"Sure."

"I'll take that then. Thank you." The waitress leaves, placated, and he leans over and whispers, "Hey, I'm Hunter. Just go with it, alright? Whoever didn't show up is a dick."

I can't help but stare as his ocean colored eyes return my gaze. I clear my throat and hold out my hand. "R-Rosalie. Thank you, but you didn't have to do that." I didn't know if I should give this complete stranger my full name, you never know nowadays.

Hunter takes my hand in his and he kisses my knuckles, something I would never expect Devin to do in a million years.

"But how could I not? For anyone to leave such a ravishing young woman alone is beyond help," He huffs and leans back in his chair, swiping the menu as he does so.

I reach for mine tentatively, as if anything more would startle the wild man across from me.

My eyes roam the options at least three times before I accept the idea that I won't be able to focus anytime soon. I sit the menu back down, catching Hunter's eyes as I do so.

"Don't see anything you like?"

I shake my head. "No, it's not that. I just, this is so strange."

His eyes move away in thought. "You think so?"

"Don't you? Didn't you come here with someone?" I knew nothing about the man before me.

He shrugs, "Just a couple of mates, nothing too fancy."

I look around the restaurant. This place practically oozes fancy. Hunter seems to pick up on my thoughts. He laughs lightly and sets his menu down. "I'm serious, don't worry. I can tell you're a worrier." Of all things, he winks at me.

Winks. This random man, who randomly sat across me and covered for my boyfriend, winked at me.

Wow.

"Let's just have a little fun, yeah?" Hunter says, closing his menu with an air of finality.

"Huh?" I say, my face scrunching up in confusion.

"Let's get out." He gets up and steps around the table as he adjusts his blazer before stepping beside me with his hand outstretched.

"Wha- wait what's going on? What-"

"C'mon! This place is kinda boring anyways!" He stresses, jerking his hand a little, gesturing me to grab it and go with him.

But I can't just do that!

"But what if Devin-"

"Who's Devin?"

"My...my boyfriend," I say softly, trying to ignore the knot of hurt and embarrassment forming in my chest. My boyfriend of three years stood me up on our third year anniversary. I want nothing but disappear from this place.

"Yeah? When was he gonna come?" Hunter asks, crossing his arms, his one eyebrow quirked up.

"Seven,"I drawal, the pit of embarrassment in my stomach deepening.

"Rosalie, darling" he speaks as he steps closer to me. He places one hand on the back of my chair and the other on the table in front of me, leaning closer as he did so. I immediately lean backwards, trying to maintain a decent distance between us. "It's 7:30," he states, "he doesn't deserve your patience. So-?" He slightly nods his head, "-let's get out?"

"But we already order-" I stop myself as I see both his eyebrows quirking up and a silent smile playing on his lips. He slowly steps back and offers me his hand once again.

I cast one last glance at the entrance before I grab his hand and let him pull me away with him.

Written by: ForeverFic & vividlylwt 

Edited by: _BeautifulRose_  & theamazinraw