"Gah, idiot!" She shouted to herself, burying her face in her hands.
"Why's that?" Asked Dakota's voice behind her.
Marian froze then stiffly got up without turning to face him. Her face was boiling red. "Ah-umm... I'm sorry, I just got a little excited, and, um..."
"Oh..."
Did he sound disappointed?
"Not that I didn't want to do that, because I totally did, but I had a speech, and, um, manners, and..."
Dakota mustered up his courage, grabbed Marian's hand, and spun her around into his embrace. Their faces were but an inch apart. "May I?" He asked with that crinkly-eyed smile she loved so much.
Marian could only nod, eyes wide.
---
That was to be the first (second?) of many of their kisses... or was it?
"Want to come over tonight after we're finished?" Marian asked Dakota hopefully.
"Sorry Sweetheart, I'm pulling another shift at the Blue Velvet after this one."
Marian's heart crashed into her chest. Things had been going great for a few months, but lately, Dakota was never around.
"I miss you," She said, head lowered, and Dakota looked up from his cleaning duties.
"Alright lovebirds, we open in five!" Shouted Dez as she walked through the dining room to inspect the kitchen.
Dakota looked down anxiously, but before he could say anything, Jeff brought him a few more fruits from the kitchen that he quickly had to unload.
Marian looked down, her eyes filling up with tears. She loved this place. She loved the memories they had here. But now... it was the most painful place in the world to be.
"I'll see you at your birthday party on Friday, right?" Dakota called to her from across the room.
"Yeah!" Marian replied cheerfully. She hoped her voice didn't crack.
---
"It's getting late..." Christy said sympathetically as she placed a hand on Marian's shoulder, "Do you want to blow out your candles now hun?"
Marian was trying to act cheerful for the sake of her friends, but she had the feeling they could see right through her.
They totally can.
"Sure!" Marian replied chipperly, "I can't stay twenty-three forever!"
Haven and Christy exchanged a look of concern, but Marian tried to ignore it.
"Here we go!" Shouted Marian, and her friends cheered for her. There was Haven, Christy, her husband Frank, Colette, Alice, and her husband, Evan, but where was her boyfriend? Where was the one she wanted most?
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Haven asked her a bit later over some cake, "Not getting too hung up on things?"
"Yes," Marian replied decisively, "Yes I am."
Just at that moment, Dakota burst through the door. He seemed to be in a great mood, but the tense atmosphere he created upon his entry dimmed his smile. Everyone was looking up at him from the table.
"Hey..." He said a bit awkwardly. He saw Marian's expression and walked quickly to her, "Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late." His hand rested on her shoulder. She simply leaned back against him. He saw a forest of eyes staring up at him. Trying to lighten the mood, he walked over to the cut cake on the counter, "Chocolate, huh? Is this your work, Haven? It smells great!"
"Ya wouldna known if ya woulda been here," Christy said saucily as stared straight ahead. Marian saw Dakota's shoulders tense. Everyone was eyeing each other at the table, and Marian made a gesture to try to calm everyone down.
"So, Birthday Girl," Dakota said warmly as he strode over to the table, "What did you wish for?"
Marian paused, eyes wide, and wasn't quite sure how to respond. Dakota realized that she had probably wished for him to be there and looked away. Everyone else suddenly found the table very interesting.
Eventually, Alice was able to steer the conversation in the room to a safer topic: Marian's lovely artwork. Her friends oohed and ahhed sympathetically. Dakota was very quiet the rest of the night.
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