She didn't know why the look in his eyes hit her like a ton of bricks. There was a sort of yearning, a deep burning longing that struck her hard and fast. Even though he was across a room full of people, and even though she hadn't seen him in three years, she had caught his eye as soon as she stepped into the room. And now she couldn't look away.
John, the boy she had loved a while ago. She couldn't remember if she still did, but as their eyes held each other, she could feel the familiar wrenching of her heart and gut. They had been in love, yes. And the summer they had finally confessed their mutual love for each other and had been in a blissful state of togetherness had been heavenly and much too short. But then he had moved away without any sort of explanation. He had said goodbye and left her, all alone and empty.
But now he was back. He was sitting at a booth in that crowded restaurant with three other people, whom she could not focus on enough to recognize. They were all chatting and laughing a bit loudly, at home with the bustling atmosphere of the place. He alone was sitting upright, mouth still and closed, eyes fixed on hers.
She was able to tear her eyes away when she was jolted back to reality by a tug on her arm. "Come on honey, they can seat us now." Her date led her gently to the table the stewardess was leading them toward. She could feel John's eyes follow her and her cheeks burned, but she kept her head down and followed her date. She had been burned once and would not fall for the same thing again.
They were now seated. A waiter came by to get their drink orders. Her date ordered some wine for them both, and she smiled and nodded her agreement, only half engaged in what was happening at the moment. She could feel John's eyes boring into her back. "So, what kind of work do you do," she asked her date, trying to distract herself. She glanced behind her, at the booth across the room, and caught John's eye. She quickly turned around.
"Well, I'm really into stocks... I'm just an accountant, but I think I have a real knack for these kinds of things, you see." Her date started to talk excitedly, encouraged by her smile. She nodded along to his words as he went on, still only partially listening. The waiter came by with their wine, and set up the ice beside the table. He popped open the cork, but the bottle slipped from his hands, tipping and spilling all over her date's shirt and lap. They both jumped up with a small shout of surprise.
"I'm so sorry monsieur, madame, I am so very sorry. I will clean that up for you right away. Oh, Monsieur, your shirt! Please, please come with me, I will try to help you get the stain out. Please, right this way, monsieur." The waiter, desperately dabbing at the deep red droplets on the man's shirt and lap, frantically ushered him away to the bathroom and he followed, too surprised to speak.
She sat back in her chair, a little frazzled. Her date was gone now, and she was sitting at the table alone. A man pulled out the seat beside her. She looked up, startled, at John's serious brown eyes staring back at hers.
"Charlotte."
"John, what are you doing here?"
"I had to come speak to you, as soon as I saw you come in. I just had to speak to you."
Charlotte shook her head. "No, John, please leave. You saw that I was with someone, and he's going to come back soon. It'll be rude if I'm here chatting with someone else when he comes back."
John smirked. "That French fry? Charlotte, you and I both know you're better than that. You deserve better than that."
"I'll have you know," said Charlotte curtly, "Brian is a very sweet man. He's kind and wholesome."
"Boring," John snorted, rolling his eyes a little. "You were bored out of your mind, I saw it. Come with me, Charlotte." John leaned in closer to her. "Please."
He looked at her with steady eyes. "I need to explain myself and I won't forgive myself if I don't."
"No," Charlotte shook her head, disturbed. "Please, John. Please leave. I can't."
John looked down. "Charlotte, I... Okay. I'll see you around, I guess." He walked away quickly back to his booth and, after a few minutes, left the restaurant entirely.
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