Revenge Part 2

Tall, dark hair, dark eyes-the perfect boy. He knows it too. You can tell. He has this air of confidence about him that most boys do not have-one that is envied by all the shy, nerdy boys you are used to hanging around with. You spot his tattoo almost immediately, the one that will tell you exactly what his soulmate will first say to him. It is written across his arm in small, but bold lettering. It’s almost too easy. You are excited about this one. You know he is not your soulmate. You know there must have been some mistake somewhere because you have become sure that there is no one out there for you. You were made by the universe as a joke. Even Mother Nature has to have some fun. She seems to have chosen you by dumping all the bad luck she can muster on your poor, innocent soul.

“What’s your name?” you ask in the most flirtatious way you can manage.

You see his eyes light up. He glances self-consciously at the tattoo on his arm and angles it away from you so you can’t see it. You pretend not to notice. Your eyes never leave his face. You have gotten good at this-too good. You raise your eyebrows at him questioningly, waiting for him to answer.

He seems to be thinking carefully about what he is going to say next. You watch as he scans your body looking for a hint of what to say. You know he won’t find anything. Your tattoo is tucked carefully away under your tight dress. He looks frustrated. You smile at him.

“I’m Matt?” he answers. You can tell he is unsure of his answer. He almost winces after saying it like he just ate something sour. He tries not to let it show. He tries to keep up the fake confidence that surrounded him just seconds before, but he can’t fool you. You frown for a second, but make sure it isn’t long enough for him to pick up on. No matter how many times you do this, you never stop hoping that you will be wrong and you will find someone. You still want there to be someone for you deep down.

You almost feel bad, but the emotion passes quickly. You give him another smile-bigger this time. An award-winning smile. A perfect smile. A reassuring smile. The same smile that has allowed you to fool people like this idiot in front of you again and again.

“I’m Cassandra.”

A fake name. You made the mistake of giving your real name before. You don’t think about how badly that went for you. You can’t think about it. Your mistakes make you nervous. You would rather forget them.

A broad smile flashes across his face. His teeth sparkle. He looks like he just walked out of a cheesy commercial. He thinks he found the one. His person. You smile back. This is the part you love the most-the part that makes you feel like you are finally getting even with the world. Everything goes wrong for you, why shouldn’t other people get to feel the same?

He grabs your arm and you squeal in surprise. You were not expecting this. You hate it when things don’t go according to your plan. His smiling face has all of a sudden turned dark. You wonder what is going on. How can anyone possibly change this much in a matter of seconds? Then, it hits you. His face was too familiar. You should have realized. You curse yourself for being so nieve. You are usually so on top of things. That perfect smile caught you off guard. You should have stayed far, far away from him.

The fear must be showing on your face. “Ah, so you remember me now?” he inquires.

You gulp. This isn’t what is supposed to happen. This never happens. You have been so careful, and here he goes-ruining all again.

He is the first person you ever liked. This was before you got your tattoo, of course. You realize you weren’t the only one who gave a fake name. Jeffery. How did he recognize you? How did he find you? Does he know you were trying to trick him?

“How are you, Cassandra?” His grip on your arm loosens and a relaxed smile returns to his face. He has you.

The way he puts emphasis on Cassandra sends shivers down your spine. You both know what your real name is. This is what you used to love about him-the way he could back people into corrners and force them to hummiliate themselves. You hate it now. He never used it on you before. It is easy to love someone’s trickery when you are never the victim.

You feel your face get hot and the fact that he and pretty much everyone else can make you blush so easily just makes you more emmbarrassed.

Then, everything stops. You don’t even get a chance to answer him. What a shame, you think, I could have had fun playing along with his games. You would never admit to yourself that you enjoy this outcome far greater. He leans in and kisses you right on the lips. The moment is so beautiful you don’t even think to question it. No one ever kisses someone who isn’t their soulmate. Is it possible?

He pulls away from you quickly, his eyes gleaming. “This is the second time you have said the right thing to me. We just didn’t know it at first. You have always been so careful about hiding your tattoo. You most certainly don’t make things easy, Issabelle.”

The use of your real name makes the butterflys start flittering around in your stomach. This is real.

“I have always remembered the first time we met because I was immediately enchanted by you. When I got my tattoo, I was overjoyed, but I didn’t know if yours was right. I didn’t ask because I was too scared I would be wrong. Then, about a month ago, I saw you at the beach. I finally saw your tattoo, and it’s perfect. It’s taken me this long to find you, but now that I have, we can both finally be happy.”

You sigh in releif. The rest of your life is finally here.

“How did you find me?” you ask.

It’s his turn to blush now. “I ran into a friend of yours a few days ago, and she told me you usually come here to trick people into believing you’re their soulmates. She said it makes you feel better and that you gave up on actually finding your soulmate years ago.”

“And you don’t hate me?”

“Of course not. We all do weird things when the world is mean to us. I completely understand.”

You smile. It is finally your time to be happy. Sure, you have some faults, but he’s fine with that. He’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. You know it is finally time to let go of revenge. You know you are ready.