misty autumn

 Chapter 1

This was a mistake, a very stupid mistake.  Ella knew meeting up with Diego was a terrible idea to say the least and her stomach turned constantly by the though she said yes.  But it was to late to  now, she agreed to go to dinner with him and there was not going back at this point.

“What am I getting myself into.” She whispered to herself as she closed her eyes and fell backwards on to the stiff bed.
Their saga played through her mind like a broken record.  Sure they were just friends now, but friends was easy to do being thousands of mines apart.  Now that she would soon see him face to face was the term “friends” going to be as easy as before? Ella doubted. If the way she was currently feeling was any indication, this was going to be a long dinner.

“Why should this have such an effect on me?” She questioned out loud “We were over years ago, its JUST Diego”.
Ella scolded herself for even letting him know she would be in town for business.  What was she thinking? Was she even thinking when she hit send on that text message weeks ago?  Ella concluded the answer was undoubtedly, NO.

Rolling over on her side she looked at the tacky digital clock sitting on the nightstand next to the bed and groaned.  Five more minutes until Diego would pick her up for dinner.  This was going to be a disastrous evening indeed she thought.
Rolling off the bed Ella glanced at herself in the mirror once more.  She had been ready for over am hour out of nervousness.  After changing about five times she had settled on her favorite white empire waist dress, a perfect choice to beat the South Carolina evening heat.  She matched the flowing dress with a pair of strappy heels embellished with New Zealand crystals.

Peering at herself closing she added a few finishing touches of a silver necklace and candy apple red lip gloss.  Pressing her lips together she heard the inevitable knock.  Butterflies went on a rampage inside her.  Ella took a deep breath and walked cautiously to the door.  Placing her hand on the cool metal handle she put a smile on her face and pulled the door open.

*    *   *    *    *

Diego drove silently to the holiday inn express off the highway.  He had lied to Jane, telling her he was going out with a few friends for the evening.  Not that he felt guilty about the situation, she just wouldn’t understand his need to see Ella again.  She would be infuriated.  A few months back she found a picture of them together at St. Tropez and questioned him about her.

“Is this that chick on your myspace friends.” She demanded shoving the little treasure in his face.
“Yeah that’s her, that’s Ella. Where did you find that?” He asked grabbing the picture from his hands.
“Who is she and why is she in this photo with you?”
“Well we sort of dated about four years ago.”
“Why do you still have it? Four years ago is a long time.”
“Exactly so why are you asking?”
She didn’t really know how to reply to him. “I want it gone.” she said firmly.
“Whatever.” Diego sighed as he walked away from the argument.
He cared for Jane, but she was demanding and nagging.  He wasn’t even sure why he had put up with her as long has he had.  She was a cold fish that he wasn’t really able to deal with anymore, but for certain circumstances waited the relationship out.

The Holiday Inn Express was in view, its ominous lights shining in the parking lot as he pulled in.  His heart was pounding.  He counted down the days for Ella’s arrival.  She had told him she would be in the area for a business meeting.  Taking the opportunity to see her again he set up a dinner date so they could catch up.
“Right, catch up… good one Diego.” He mumbled while putting his black GMC truck in park.

He sat in his car for a moment.
“Ella.” He whispered.
Her name rolled off his tongue and enchanted him. She enchanted him.  Even though they had broken if off years ago, she was never from his thoughts.  She he had dated a few women since her, but they all ended the same.

Sliding out of his tuck he shut the door and walked toward the hotel entrance. Walking thought the automatic from doors he asked the woman at the front desk where room 103 was located.  Once she pointed him in the correct direction he was on his way down the hall.  Coming up to her room he paused, was he ready for this? Ready to see the woman you never ceased to haunt his every thought.  Yes, it had been to long.  He knocked at the door and waited patiently for her to answer.

Filed under: Nothing I've Ever Known on August 10th, 2008