It was a VERY strong wind that day, and I absolutely swear to god that none of it was my fault. Seriously, guys. It was the WIND that knocked my umbrella into that dork's face. And his coffee fell too, rolling away. I explicitly articulated my most SINCEREST apologies and how I was just as much publicly humiliated as him.
"What is wrong with you-- I'm Gabe by the way--," he took my gloved hand to shake before returning to his nuclear meltdown. "--And what is wrong with you, coming out of nowhere, a ninja slash cat monkey assaulting my vulnerability, battering me to a pulp, leaving me struggling within in an inch of my life. I have asthma, you brute. Precious people like me die from wheezing. How dare you."
"I am MIRANDA," I shrug at Gabe. "Guess I am TOO MUCH of a woman for you."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8rGfwWl1c
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrI6Ga6b6G
With the last word, I STRUT away. A minute later, it grew apparent he won't let that happen. He ran to my side, stammering and BLUBBERING like a fool.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFVHWwP8kO
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk6T3JEJAk
"Now, just wait a gosh-darned second here!" Gabe raised a finger. I kept a straight face when inside I just wanted to LOL. "You still owe me coffee-- and for mangling my face-- who knows if I ever see you again."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbFCnocBbN
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKZGfz6WwR
"I did not MANGLE your face! The wind did! Your face is not mangled, your face is perfectly FINE!" I huffed, realizing we stood outside the cafe. "I am being blackmailed and entrapped. I am not okay with it!"1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsKgfyVeva
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJPs9GTdhu
The clouds roared back, and rain shattered. I fought with the umbrella.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO5JzWajBV
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbvZhhf6WJ
"So it's a date!" Gabe shouted over the hysteria. 1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBsvJTXe6Z
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6LkxeJgs9
"NO. GOODBYE FOREVER." I stormed off into the storm, wrestling with the umbrella and the wind. It took until the stoplight when Gabe ran up at the moment the wind grew VERY strong again. I swear to god, it was NOT ME the first time and it was STILL not me the second time. SMACK.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1dnaGtalX
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zLZ2k5fM5
The umbrella slapped Gabe ... again. I SHRIEKED in horror.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuiodLDx5r
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxNkbJHwY8
"What is wrong with you-- ," Gabe said as the pedestrian sign lit up and chased me across the splashing street. "-- I think I'm bleeding! Am I bleeding? My poor mangled face. You may rob me of my coffee and my dignity but you can't get rid of me that easy, infernal murderess. A menace to society, I say! We are all in danger!"
"Then stay FAR away from me!" 1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLjj3exZa6
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQtsOZmo3I
Gabe took my gloved hand, and at that moment our hair rose. White lightning struck -- shocking us both. We keeled over, tased and jolted in waves until it was over. We glanced at each other with fresh and cooked eyes. Smoke steamed from our bodies. Boots were knocked from our feet. We marveled that we were electrocuted and somehow miraculously survived. I nodded, "Okay... Coffee sounds good right now..."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkLKzlxguZ
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1eRegDDML
"So it's a date, Miranda," Gabe said, pleased. "That is spectacular."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgCiIHCqwE
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX7KezZdrQ
"It is NOT a date," I insisted. "This is strictly normal and boring. People get hit by lightning all the time, Gabe."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVQ6GdJhbz
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JX0qnYrgw
"And you're buying!" He pointed an accusing finger.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOB1FxIPNy
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCwkiuCYQc
"No, if anything it is YOU who are buying," I bickered. 1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiQovd0TJD
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa336iPg6mH
"If I'm buying, ergo it's a date."1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu15mUdC0P
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiCeq1VETP
"NOPE. WRONG. Regardless of someone buying, it is NOT--"1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBWPtog2gc
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98L4CJR8DV
We got struck by white lightning twice and wound up in the hospital, in the same room, with a curtain drawn between us. We spent hours staring at the ceiling arguing whose fault it was and how awful the coffee were here.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol7FYvyf5W
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5bAhw6aag
Then his voice stopped. I looked at the curtain, hearing a droning flatline. I tore the curtain back. He was off the machine, leaning in for a kiss.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOuXId59i1
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCXcGbifxv
"Kiss me?" 1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbPV0Wfv71
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssbq4u2DcG
It was so OBVIOUS he was going to be my husband.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFG0uT01Qb
So OBVIOUS he was going to be the father of my child.1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVLI5D0ByP
Gabe. That sweet dork. How can I not love him? 1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyfpNJPRSi
1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa8o2h3D1M
"No, you kiss me," I said. His eyes closed, as if to melt.
In our hospital gowns, we locked lips. And the rest?1416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1oPt3xvHU
The rest was, as they say, a WEIRD love story.
and then Add to home screen.