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.