It was a VERY strong wind that day, and I absolutely swear to god that none of it was my fault. Seriously, guys. It was the WIND that knocked my umbrella into that dork's face. And his coffee fell too, rolling away. I explicitly articulated my most SINCEREST apologies and how I was just as much publicly humiliated as him.
"What is wrong with you-- I'm Gabe by the way--," he took my gloved hand to shake before returning to his nuclear meltdown. "--And what is wrong with you, coming out of nowhere, a ninja slash cat monkey assaulting my vulnerability, battering me to a pulp, leaving me struggling within in an inch of my life. I have asthma, you brute. Precious people like me die from wheezing. How dare you."
"I am MIRANDA," I shrug at Gabe. "Guess I am TOO MUCH of a woman for you."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ06RtHNkjb
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVSGZU1Lrf
With the last word, I STRUT away. A minute later, it grew apparent he won't let that happen. He ran to my side, stammering and BLUBBERING like a fool.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVlQAOKhBf
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AL5hk4fid
"Now, just wait a gosh-darned second here!" Gabe raised a finger. I kept a straight face when inside I just wanted to LOL. "You still owe me coffee-- and for mangling my face-- who knows if I ever see you again."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHoW8RtHwc
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmulX4FoaJ
"I did not MANGLE your face! The wind did! Your face is not mangled, your face is perfectly FINE!" I huffed, realizing we stood outside the cafe. "I am being blackmailed and entrapped. I am not okay with it!"1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ1PufYaDa
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9k3jMZXjR
The clouds roared back, and rain shattered. I fought with the umbrella.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ14bJK9Tc2
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nbGdoLhzB
"So it's a date!" Gabe shouted over the hysteria. 1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKtAV4Sl4L
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4MVMyMeUX
"NO. GOODBYE FOREVER." I stormed off into the storm, wrestling with the umbrella and the wind. It took until the stoplight when Gabe ran up at the moment the wind grew VERY strong again. I swear to god, it was NOT ME the first time and it was STILL not me the second time. SMACK.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby6i8GMYxo
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIDh8vnKXX
The umbrella slapped Gabe ... again. I SHRIEKED in horror.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWQk2sNilV
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbWAJar6lK
"What is wrong with you-- ," Gabe said as the pedestrian sign lit up and chased me across the splashing street. "-- I think I'm bleeding! Am I bleeding? My poor mangled face. You may rob me of my coffee and my dignity but you can't get rid of me that easy, infernal murderess. A menace to society, I say! We are all in danger!"
"Then stay FAR away from me!" 1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WjvPvbzDQ
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEbYWfMBuE
Gabe took my gloved hand, and at that moment our hair rose. White lightning struck -- shocking us both. We keeled over, tased and jolted in waves until it was over. We glanced at each other with fresh and cooked eyes. Smoke steamed from our bodies. Boots were knocked from our feet. We marveled that we were electrocuted and somehow miraculously survived. I nodded, "Okay... Coffee sounds good right now..."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEL6PsNZsv
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5egE17Q5j2
"So it's a date, Miranda," Gabe said, pleased. "That is spectacular."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoolNz8kI1T
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ002d4ElKlS
"It is NOT a date," I insisted. "This is strictly normal and boring. People get hit by lightning all the time, Gabe."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41VNbxRgyu
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwkA9H6qiA
"And you're buying!" He pointed an accusing finger.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZmT4NmZVR
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTsRdiDpro
"No, if anything it is YOU who are buying," I bickered. 1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUwZGzOiRw
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPGtb8cbqn
"If I'm buying, ergo it's a date."1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiGyASs0D4
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8YUG0ogcz
"NOPE. WRONG. Regardless of someone buying, it is NOT--"1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWBxZOidRG
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6YEdocxzs
We got struck by white lightning twice and wound up in the hospital, in the same room, with a curtain drawn between us. We spent hours staring at the ceiling arguing whose fault it was and how awful the coffee were here.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0hTIEkJYa
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdoEPA9F52
Then his voice stopped. I looked at the curtain, hearing a droning flatline. I tore the curtain back. He was off the machine, leaning in for a kiss.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgAgpx9K9B
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ClmPSV6E5
"Kiss me?" 1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQqeBJDxpn
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ7GXoVL3w
It was so OBVIOUS he was going to be my husband.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSBnuYQJlO
So OBVIOUS he was going to be the father of my child.1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUQAcsjLMT
Gabe. That sweet dork. How can I not love him? 1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo66qwkYKJL
1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW99V6YczP
"No, you kiss me," I said. His eyes closed, as if to melt.
In our hospital gowns, we locked lips. And the rest?1132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouxxANfrYk
The rest was, as they say, a WEIRD love story.
