Fall For Me

"Where are you looking at?" I asked as I took few steps towards him all the while feeling the pulse rising bit by bit with the mere proximity.

"Towards the mirror....I wanted to see you, " his voice raspy and my heart filled up with happiness for it was the first time ever he opened up to me and let me know what he wanted.

"Me? Then look here. Why search for me in the mirror when I am so close...near you, " my hands itched to touch him and slowly but cautiously I raised my hands up wanting to hold his face.

He was still avoiding my gaze as he kept on looking towards the direction of my dressing table mirror on my left side. I wanted him to look towards me. Even though he was facing towards my left side still, I could see his eyes glistening from under those glasses.

"Keith..."I was just about to hold his face when a ray of light hit my face and my eyes squinted involuntarily but as the light faded away and my eyes adjusted to the surrounding, I was disheartened almost immediately to find him gone. He wasn't there any longer. As always he was gone.

I pressed my lips tightly as I recalled the moments he had ruined like this previously. He chose to flee away every single time when I tried to get near him.

"Is this what you feel for me?" I muttered as I felt my lips trembling and the corner of my eyes stinging.

"Words..." a gasp formed out of my mouth when I heard the voice from behind me.

It was him. He didn't leave this time. He was right behind me.

"Can't really describe what I really feel for you, Vienna, " his calm yet gentleness in his voice made me ball up my fist trying to control my emotions.

"Then why? Why do you always go away from me..." finally letting the words that I had kept buried inside me dig its way out of me. Even though my voice broke down in the end still I managed to control my posture of standing straight instead of falling down on my knees.

"It's because..." he whispered and wrapped his hand around my waist and slowly pulled me to him. My back pressing up to his hard chest as he lowered his head down to my ear and spoke seductively "I'm afraid that I would lose control over me and my senses because it is what that always happens when I'm around you."

The old woman's eyes scanned me up and down before looking back at the long pink dress with polka dots that she picked out from the showcased wardrobe of the store. She had a satisfied smile on her face and she adjusted her vintage cat eye glasses and muttered to herself "I think she would like this one. It's pink and feminine, " and even though it was meant for her to mutter I could hear it perfectly well for, I was standing right next to her trying to search for a dress for a party.

As I heard that, I looked back at the dress that she was holding and I assumed she might be buying it for her granddaughter or someone she knew but clearly, she was having problems on selecting an appropriate dress and it was she looked in a state of dilemma.

For the second time, she looked back at me through her glasses and back at the dress and I assumed perhaps I had the same height and figure for which she had been trying to imagine the dress fitting well on the girl for whom she was buying it.

Her state of confusion made me want to help her and it was what I did. Without even thinking if I was being noisy or not, I opened my mouth as I turned towards her "Do you think I can help you with something?"

"Um. Yes, if you don't have any problem, " she smiled and I nodded at her.

"What's the occasion?" I asked as my eyes fell on that pink polka dots dress. I cringed internally when the dress reminded me of my prom night.

A few years ago, when I was sleeping peacefully at night having sweet dreams of having a great time with my date on the prom night, I was disturbed by the constant ringing of my phone and groggily I woke up and licking the braces on my tooth, I searched for the phone in the dark irritated but when I read the name on the caller ID I was literally shaken up to the core.

The ID displayed Skipper Jones.

I was stunned and excited to the core to see that the school's most popular girl was calling me, a nerd with whom no one ever wanted to hang out. Neither was I attractive nor was I good at anything except studies. It was even a shock when this guy asked me out to be his date for the prom night.

It was like a dream come true.

"He-Hello?" I heard my own excited voice as I picked up her call.

"Alvis?" I heard her melodic feminine voice and I found myself pinching my arms making sure it wasn't a dream.

Skipper was the school's most popular girl as everyone in the school knew her for being a star kid. We had heard that she was a daughter of some famous theatre actress and that what made her even more popular in the school even though she was also the leader of her cheerleading group. She was a Queen and we all... especially girls like me were like nonexistent in the school.

Everybody liked her, every guy wanted her and every girl was jealous of her for she was not only beautiful but she was supposed to be a star in the new future all thanks to her mom, whom we never saw.

I had never imagined her single call would make my dreams burn into ashes because the girl whom I admired the most and wanted to befriend, turned out to be the one who ruined my childhood.

I was subject to the jokes and everyone laughed at me whenever they saw. It was Skipper for whom I managed to embarrass my date and it was why he chose to abandon me and go back home while I sat there alone in the hall watching all other couples dancing and laughing, especially looking at me.

Skipper managed to trick me into wearing a vintage gown out of them when the theme was clearly a modern one. I was too naive to believe her when she called in the middle of the night to tell me that the theme was changed and being super excited that I was even talking to her, I believed her and even though there was only one day left for the prom I searched for a vintage dress and wore it to the prom, gradually surprising my date and even myself when I found I was the only odd one out, not even pleasantly cause I looked like a clown.

The embarrassment I felt that day was still fresh in my memories and no matter how much I tried I could never forget it.

Currently, the pink polka dress reminded me of my yellow polka dots dress that I wore to my embarrassment for the prom.

"Is it for her prom night?" I asked and the old lady nodded her head.

"I see..." I heaved a sigh as I took the dress from her and put it back in the hanger.

"I think...she would like this one, " I picked up a wine red off-shoulder tulle dress from the same section of the dresses "more than that one, " I said indicating the previous dress.

"Oh, my!" she gasped as she took it from my hand "How did I miss this lovely?" she beamed with happiness and watching her smile, made me smile feeling contended that she liked my choice.

As I walked out of the shop, I sighed as I looked at the amount of shopping I had done just to prepare myself for the night. But then my eyes fell on the old lady who walked out happily with the dress that I chose for her in her hands towards the exit.

Skipper Jones.

I could never forget that name. She was the reason why I tried my best to forget my school days because every time I thought about it, my mood always turns down. It was only because of her why I stopped trusting people blindly and chose Law over medicines as my career.

But then this decision of mine was like a blessing for my father who wanted me to join his law firm after him. Not wanting to disappoint him, I focussed on my career more than dating and it was the sole reason why I found myself alone in this stage of life.

"Yes, Dad!" I answered once I reached my dorm room and kept the shopping bags down on the floor.

"Sweetie, please make sure to be on time okay?" he said and I giggled as I fell back on my back on the bed.

"Dad! I'm always on time, " I said as I checked the time on my watch to read it four in the evening.

"I know. But you know they want to meet you, not me. It is why I'm making sure you reach on time my little bear, " he chuckled at the end which made me groan at him.

"Dad! Please! Don't call me that!" I hid my face in the pillow as I heard him laugh at the of the end of the phone.

"By the way, I have heard that Miss. Leila Devlin is also going to be present there in the event. She is specially flying down all the way from Toronto just to meet you, " my father's words surprised me as I found myself attentive all of a sudden.

"What? Really? You mean the company's owner THE LEILA DEVLIN is coming just to meet me? Me?" my voice raised up in the end and in response, I heard him laughing.

"Yes, she is, " he replied.

"But why would she bother do this?" I muttered but as if he heard me he replied in a duh tone "Because you my lovely daughter, helped me solving the most complicated case of the Devlin's construction company and being the thirty-one percent owner of the company she wants to meet the one who saved her company from going in loss."

"Big deal dad! I just helped you in your case, why does everyone want to meet me now?" I huffed in the end.

"Exactly my baby Baboon, you are only in the fourth year of your Law, yet you managed to point out the keyhole in this case which no one noticed and it was why my law firm was awarded a prominent place in Devlin Corporation. It was all because of you. So Thank you, I forgot I never thanked you, " he laughed at the end.

"Dad seriously? Baby Baboon?" I scoffed at the endearment name that he used for me.

"Out of all the things I told you, you heard the thing that you wanted to hear. Didn't you?" he asked and I rolled my eyes as I turned around on my bed staring at the roof.

"So, when she heard about this she was keen on meeting the one and it was you. She is keen on meeting you, " dad continued while I hummed in response.

"I don't know why but I have this gut feeling that I am about to face something terrible, like something terrible is going to happen to me. Do you understand what I mean?" I said and heard him sigh.

"Why do you need to make things sound so complicated? Always?" he said in an accusatory tone.

"Dad, please! The inner future lawyer in me is kicking in. It's her feeling, not mine, " I complained.

"Okay! Fine! I give up my little Buffalo, " his endearments made me scream in annoyance.

"Everything is going to be alright. Okay? Don't worry just make sure you be on time. My clients are here... I gotta go. Bye my pumpkin..." he said and disconnected the call before I could throw a fit on him.

This was my dad. He had thousands of names for me every time we talked and as long as I remember, they are worst endearments I had ever heard. Let's not forget about the time when he called me names like 'Baby Vulture, Peahen, and Joey out in public.

But this was it. I got off from the bed to get ready for the evening as I had to drive an hour or more long road to reach the venue.

So better be early than late...

Little did I ever imagined that this meet up would turn out on getting a marriage proposal for none other than the mysterious second owner of the company by his sister Miss Leila Devlin.

If I had known I would've never showed up in the first place.

Watching my life's big decision being taken up by my dad had me shattered for a minute because he wished me to have an arranged marriage with the nowhere to be found Mr. Keith Devlin, Miss Leila Devlin's only younger brother about whom we had only heard in the news only by his sister claiming him to take over the company after her.

"See? I told you. I am having a bad feeling about all this from the beginning but you never believed me!" I found myself annoyed at the situation as I barked like an angry dog into the phone.

"But look at the bright side! You will be engaged to the most powerful family in the country, Vienna and it will be a big deal for our firm too!" Dad replied from the other end.

"And moreover I don't want to upset Aaron. You know he is my childhood friend and he wants the same thing as his daughter, Leila. He wants you to at least meet his son before taking a decision. We are not forcing y-"

"Wait a minute! We? What do you mean by we?" I said but then realization hit me "Oh my god! Dad, I can't believe you! So you all had this from the beginning? You tricked me!" I huffed at him.

"No, I didn't my baby Rottweiler"

"Dad!" I yelled.

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry. Listen, baby, please at least give this a thought. I know you are not seeing anyone and this is why I agreed on this when they put this proposal before me. I just want you to meet the guy. I promise, if you don't like him, I will end this on my own. But please, at least meet him for once, hmm?" he asked and even though I wanted to argue more, I gave up when I heard inhaling deeply. He was having problems with breathing.

"Dad! Take your Inhaler!" I cried out and he coughed.

"Don't worry sweet cake. I have it with me, " he replied and that made me sigh in annoyance.

"Why do you not take of yourself dad? It's time for you to stop thinking about me, "

"No, you are actually wrong at this point! It's actually the right time for me to start thinking about my baby girl, " he replied and I knew it was pointless to argue any further.

"Okay fine! I will meet him!" I said and I heard him gasp but before he could speak I chose to intervene as I continued "But you have to promise me that if I don't like him...it's the end of discussion. We will never have the same topic ever again. Promise?"

Without even thinking he replied beaming with happiness"I promise, my green Grasshopper, "

"Dad!"

"This better be good or I swear-" I could feel the tension growing up inside me as I looked at myself on the mirror of the washroom.

So, finally I was in the restaurant ready to meet the guy named Keith Devlin. Finally after five days since the party where Miss Leila Devlin and her father Aaron Devlin bombarded their wish on me of wanting me to see Keith, I am here to meet the man.

I can't believe this. Damn it Dad!

According to Dad's conditions I have to meet the guy, try to know him more like analyse him and think about their marriage proposal. Dad clearly told me that if I didn't like him he would never pressurise the topic ever again on me. And it's not like I'm not in any relationship or something, so why not give it a try?

But what if the guy is just like those rich spoil brats out there? Driving luxury cars, drinking, smoking, spending times with babes, like those typical brats as they show in television series?

"Oh my god! My life will come to an end! I don't want another Skipper Jones in my life. No! Just no!" I slapped my face thinking about Jones. She was enough for me to remember her till my death. And don't want another one in my life.

The ringing of my phone brought me out of my thinking state as I fished the phone out of my pocket to read the caller ID displaying 'Dad/Home' over it.

"Have you reached there on time my baby Raccoon?"

"Dad first of all why do you always forget this that I am never late and what baby Raccoon?" I scoffed at him rubbing my temple in agony.

"No, I was just making sure of it. Has he reached their yet?" he asked and I shrugged my shoulders but remembered he couldn't see me "I don't know. I'm in the washroom, " I replied as I looked at myself in the mirror. A girl came out of the toilet and washed her hands beside me while I focused on my phone call.

"What? What are you doing in the washroom? What if he shows up and doesn't find you there?" he panicked and that made me roll my eyes.

"It's only eleven. You told me that he would come right at eleven thirty, if you don't remember, " I said reminding him about it.

After I had met Leila, she had informed my dad that Keith had flown down specially to meet me and he wishes to meet me in the restaurant right at eleven thirty in the noon and that is how I ended up here thirty minutes earlier preparing myself for the Q and A round.

"But what if he is there just like you? Earlier?" Dad asked and at that moment I wanted to hit my head hard on the wall until I die of brain haemorrhage.

"So what? The time was fixed to Eleven thirty. It doesn't matter if he comes first or not. I will show up right on the decided time. I have to go, bye" I said and hung up on him before he could ask ask anything else.

My dad acts more like my mother. I don't blame him though. After I had lost my mom in an earlier age, he has been pampering me and had given me the love of mother. I know he loves me but sometimes its just too much to handle.

I looked back at myself at the mirror. I was wearing a brown vest over a black jean and I had my full sleeves Jeans jacket on. Nothing fancy! But it was how I liked to dress up. I was comfortable and I believed the guy should know about my choice at the very beginning.

I bet if Dad saw the choice of my clothes, then he would yelled at me like hell.

Picking up the phone I was just about to pick my purse when out of nowhere the woman standing beside me picked up my purse like a flash and before I could analyze what was going on she dashed out of the washroom pushing the washroom's door hard.

"What the-"

"Hey!" I was right behind her running after her, as she ran pushing past people out of her way.

"Thief! She took my purse!" I yelled after her and I noticed as the guards who were standing at the entrance looked at her and as I shouted they were alarmed and right on their feet to catch the green haired woman right before me.

"Thief!" I yelled and both of the guards jumped upon her catching her right at the entrance of the restaurant. She yelled and fought against them while I continued running to them but I watched as all of a sudden the teenage girl hit one of the guard on his groin and taking it her cue, she got herself free from the other guard and ran towards the main road.

The girl didn't even notice the bus coming her way when she stopped right in the middle of the road looking terrified as she watched the speeding bus towards her. I had no idea when my body worked on its own and I was already running towards her and the next moment I hit from the behind and together we fell out of the bus' way.

If anything at that moment I could feel was the pain on the side of my body when it came direct contact with the road. But thankfully, I had managed to save both me and the girl as we fell on the side of the road unharmed. She closed her eyes petrified and sobbed afraid of the situation. From the corner of the eyes, I watched as the guards who had my purse came towards us.

"Hey, you!" I called the teenage girl who refused to look at me as she sobbed too afraid to even open her eyes.

"Look! You are alright! Nothing happened. The guards are coming. If you want to save yourself get up and run, " I said as quickly as I could and like a flash, she removed her hands from her eyes and looked at herself first searching for any injuries and then she looked towards the way where the guards were running towards us crossing the road. She looked back at me for a split second before getting up and limping away of our sight towards an alley.

"Are you alright? Miss?" one of the guards asked me and I watched as the other stout one, made an attempt to run after her but I hissed and cried holding my leg that made him stop.

"Are you alright?" the stout one asked as he came next to me and held me by my arms helping me up on my legs.

"I'll go after that brat!" the stout one said but I stopped them.

"No! I mean she is gone. I think she would have gone very far for you to catch her now. Let it be, " I said and inspected my body for any injury.

"At least you have my bag, " I said and took it from the other guard checking for my belongings.

"We must say, you are really brave, " the stout one said and that made me chuckle.

"You saved that brat and that unthankful brat just ran away without even thanking you, " he scoffed at the girl and I shrugged my shoulders at him.

"No probl-"

"What in the world?" I yelled when I checked the time on my phone. It was already past eleven thirty. Hurriedly, picking up my purse I ran back towards the restaurant, checking the road for any vehicle.

"Shit! Dad's going to kill me, " I muttered walking inside the restaurant back to the reserved seat. Fortunately or unfortunately for me the seat was empty and at the very moment, I had multiple questions running inside my mind.

"Wait! Did he show up or not?"

"Or did he leave when he didn't find me here? Shit!" I cursed under my breath and got up from the seat and hurried up towards the receptionist.

"Excuse me?" I asked the blonde lady behind the table.

"Yes, ma'am? How may I help you?" she asked and I asked her about Keith to which she replied he hasn't shown up yet.

"Are you kidding me? Like seriously? I was called up here only to be ditched? What the hell?" I thought as I went back towards my seat wanting to have a lunch.

Why leave empty stomach?

I was just about to take the seat when my phone beeped. It had a text notification from an unknown number and it wrote.

I'm sorry. I can't be there at the moment. I am really uncomfortable in public places but I'm near you. If you don't have any problem can you come and meet me on Devlin's building which is in the walkable distance from the restaurant? The building is under construction and I was here for inspection but then thought of calling you here. If only you don't have any problem.

The text message didn't have any signature and I assumed it was from Keith himself.

I replied back:

Sure, Why not? I'll be there as quickly as I can.

-Vienna Alvis

Unlike him, I made sure to add my name at the end and hurried out of the restaurant towards the building that I already knew was near the restaurant. I had to cross the alley and sure enough within ten minutes, I reached the under construction building. I saw as the workers were on lunch break as they had their lunch and I walked past them and went directly inside the building. I had to ask several workers were Keith was and they told me he was waiting for me at the terrace of the building.

As the building was still under construction, the workers saved me from climbing all the way eleven floors up using the stair by giving me a ride on their temporary lift that was only built for the construction work.

"Thank you, " I said once I reached the last floor where I was supposed to take the stairs to reach the terrace.

"No problem ma'am, " he said and left.

I stared up towards the stairs and took a deep breath in.

"It's okay Vienna. You are already here. You can do it, " I muttered and took the stairs up. Each and every step I took I felt even more nervous thinking more and more about him.

What would he say?

What would he be like?

I thought about it again and again and as I reached the final step I looked around searching for him when all of a sudden my eyes fell on a person standing at the edge of the terrace.

"Oh my gosh!" I cried and before I knew it the person who had his back faced towards me turned around but lost his balance and then for the second time of the day I found myself running. My body acting upon its own. The guy stumbled and then everything felt like a slow motion as I witnessed the poor guy falling backward and he jumped, too late for me to even reach him. But I never gave up. I sprinted as fast as I could wanting to save him but then when I reached the edge, he was already out of my sight.

Terrified I had tears flowing down my eyes as I held a hand upon my mouth and as I had already imagined the worst I walked as slowly as I could towards the edge thinking that I would now see his body motionless on the ground. Each step I took, I felt as if my heart would burst any second out of anxiety.

"Oh my god!" I sobbed and peeked a little but to my absolute shock, there was no one.

"What?" I heard my own confused voice as I looked down and surely there was no one. I could see the workers eating their lunch peacefully but not a trace of the guy who fell off the building before me, a few seconds ago.

"What happened? " I asked to no particular one.

As I continued searching for him, his body in particular all of a sudden I felt a presence behind me and like a bolt of electricity I turned alarmed about the presence and for the third time in the day I screamed petrified to find the same guy, in same clothes who fell off the building safe and sound as if nothing happened right before me.

But the weird part was he was glaring at me through his glasses which gave me chills running down my spine.