A Grave of Roses

I threw the flour in. I didn't toss it, dump it, or put it in, I simply threw it. I was angry baking again, I had done it every time one of my four stressful, heartbreaking breakups occurred, I had done it when I found out that my political candidate hadn't won, and I was doing it again. 

Why, you ask? Well...it had to do with one of the members of the male gender, but doesn't it always? And he wasn't any boy, no, he was a romantic-handsome-eyesore-of-a-guy. He had dark wavy hair that was never too long, oh no, it was just right and ah, those dark and dreamy eyes were perfect: prove. me. wrong. 

His name was Antonio Caspian. Is there a more perfect name? Is there a more perfect guy? 

Well, what did my angry baking session have to do with him? 

Get this, I invited him the man of my dreams, to go to the Christmas Party of the year. He had the nerve to turn me down. I wasn’t a laughingstock I was the laughingstock at the office when my best friend told everyone. Yikes. So, there I was, angry baking.

So, what was my plan of action? It was pretend to be someone else, plan a party, and discreetly invite him, of course. What else could I do? But before inviting people I had to come up with a cover or a reason for the party. I already had about three-hundred cookies from a result of my angry-baking, so why not a simple Christmas Party, or better yet, a Cookie-Exchange? 

So, taking on the identity of a famous author named Zilla Babbitt, I invited over ten friends and Antonio. Each were to bring one dozen cookies and a small gift of the elephant exchange. The party was to take place the next day. Everyone was enamored with being invited to the home of an author, so they all quickly accepted, including Antonio. What would he do when he found out that I wasn’t Zilla? Ehh, who cared, I would have him on my turf then, he wouldn’t be rude and leave, and I would make him get to know me. Believe me, I have my ways. 

The morning of the party I cleaned and dressed and redressed and redressed and redressed until I had the perfect outfit, cute, home-y, and it made me look as if I were smart. If I actually was, we shall find out later, when we see if Antonio liked me or not. 

My best friend came first with a disgusted expression that conveyed she either was mad I was stealing any chance of her being with Antonio or that she disagreed with my way of getting Antonio. I like to believe it was the first reason. Then came a couple of my co-workers, another few close friends, and lastly…my knight, my cutie, my Antonio. 

He had the most adorable outfit and the most adorable confused face with a tint of annoyance. A dawn of realization came over him, making him more handsome. But what couldn’t make my Antonio more handsome? 

“So, you’re Zilla Babbitt?” He laughed. A dimple making its way into the list of things to love about him. He knew that Zilla was a real author, and that I definitely wasn’t her. 

“Mhm.” I couldn’t say anything else. 

“Here are my cookies.” He held a Ziplock bag up with some slightly burnt chocolate chip cookies. 

“Mhm.” I replied, staring into his eyes as I reached out and took them. 

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 We passed the cookies around, each taking more than a dozen, but the party wasn’t something to brag about. People politely chatted but just looked around the room confusedly. Everyone knew there was an ulterior motive to the cookie exchanged, and most people (except clued out Antonio) found it out when I couldn’t be pulled apart from him. I shadowed him, giggling at all of his jokes, taking on a serious air when he did, and picking out my wedding dress, picturing his hunky figure at the alter waiting for me, his eyes graced with love, love for me. Tears spring to his eyes as-

“Kristin? Kristin!” My best friend called. 

I quickly wiped the drool off of my lip and put on a scholarly face, hoping that he assumed I was daydreaming of smart-people things and not him. But oh, my Antonio would one day be only mine! 

“Kristin, you need to calm down. About everyone knows you are in love with him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he will be scared away sooner than later,” She said. 

“Am I coming on too strong?” I asked, oblivious. 

“No, but you are insane.” She scoffed and walked away. 

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At the end everyone had left except for Antonio and my best friend. I nudged her out the door with a smile and an angered kick. I walked back into the living room where my Antonio sat, looking a bit confused and slightly scared. But aren’t they all? 

“You know why I invited you, don’t you?” I said with an endearing smile. 

“I am assuming you are in love with me?” He said with a smirk. 

“Yes.” I uttered, excited that he knew the cause of the party. 

“I was…joking.” He looked adorably confused.  

Embarrassed yet intrigued, I sat across from him and stared him in the eyes. I must admit, I wouldn’t want to be in his position. A love-hungry woman trying to vie for his attention and openly expressing a life-long gratitude to his handsome face…yeah, it was a bit odd. 

“But I do think you are sort of cute…” He said trailing off. 

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I either wanted to live forever or die in a grave of roses. 

“Cute enough to go on a date with?” I asked sweetly. Ok, I know now I was too forward. But what could I do?

“Sure.” He said as if he was trying to crack a joke, but realized I was taking it seriously. At that moment, he realized how deep my pool of love for him was and how he was just about to dive in.