What are the odds for the power to go off In a restaurant?!. Three percent, five percent, nine at most. So, what about the odds for one of the fanciest restaurants in the city? Almost none. However, that wasn't how my luck worked. It had its own mind and ways. What triggers it is unknown. There were no rules. In this situation or any other, it was the same for my luck. Without a care for anyone. When it decided to make it hell, it could and would.
As in right now, everyone was experiencing my hell first hand. The wine was really cold against my chest. I took a handkerchief trying to maintain the damage, but it was no use. It was time to kiss my sweet blouse goodbye. I had spent a couple of nice hours with you. Rest in peace, my friend. I put the handkerchief back with a sigh, and looked around trying to take in the scenery.
I couldn't help but smile. What a sight.
Everything was pitch-black except for the moon light coming through the windows. It was barely illuminating the place but allowed enough to see. Everyone was getting angry, and the tension was obviously rising. People were annoyed at the irresponsibility of the restaurant's management. Some began to raise their voices, and some left. That wasn't the only thing to catch my attention. Our table was far more entertaining. Don't get me wrong. I wasn't a bad person. I just enjoyed that my irritating family was finally getting a taste from the same medicine or in that case poison.
They all seemed pissed, but the look on Daniel's face was something else. His face showed a variety of emotions, but he mostly looked shocked. His mouth hung slightly open. He snapped out of it when his gaze met mine.
"This isn't you, is it?" he asked, startled at the possibility. All eyes were on me, everyone listening intently to our conversation.
I shrugged. "Maybe."
He looked taken aback by my answer, hell everyone seemed so. "But...but I, I thought your bad luck only affects you." Stacy stuttered.
I raised my eyebrow in astonishment. It was my first time to see Stacy like that. They had quite the knowledge about my bad luck and what it was capable of (After all they had seen it all). I was immensely enjoying this, and it only got better when I saw fear cross their eyes.
I saw the fear growing in their eyes as I uttered my next words. "Not anymore."
I inched towards her, so she could see my face then I smirked. "You see, my bad luck has a little change of heart." I took my time before telling her the rest of it. "It acts on its own, any place, any time... and on anyone." I felt satisfaction when my words sank in and I saw the horror spread from her eyes to her whole face. I could live with that.
I was back to reality when the waiter, who spilled the wine on me, came back with a wet towel. He kept apologizing to me. "I, I am really sorry, very sorry." He kept shuddering, afraid of what I might do to him. I smiled in response; he looked confused for a minute then relief washed over his face. Relief and surprise, that is. I guess not every day he met someone like me. Ironic.
"Anything I could get you?"
"It's truly okay." I replied and took the towel from him. Before he could answer, another waiter approached him and started talking with him. I didn't need to listen to know what they were talking about. The situation was getting out of hand and they couldn't even get the backup generator to work. They had no idea what was going on or how to stop it.
My luck really excelled at what it does.
I took a heavy breath. It was time to end this. Time to control the chaos I was responsible for and contain my bad luck. I cleared my throat to get the waiters attention. "On second thought, I could ask for something." I asked for them with a smile. I was not giving up on my dinner. Not after everything it took to get here. Not going to happen.
The waiter was confused by my request, but he went to get it anyway.
It didn't take him long to return with what I have asked for. He gave me the candles I requested, still looking puzzled. I noticed that he wasn't the only one. Everybody was staring at me as I started to put a couple of candles on the table. My family looked terrified at the sight of the lighter that the waiter had given me. When I was about to light the first one, Megan interrupted.
"What are you doing?"
"Burning the table?" I replied innocently. I sometimes wondered how they had passed high school.
"Heather!" Selene warned.
I sigh. It was not worth it. Don't let them get to you, I reminded myself. "This happened to me before, several times... many times." All the time. I didn't explain farther to save myself the headache. If I hadn't got one already. I began to light up the candles, one after the other. When I finished the place looked more alive. I raised my eyes to look at them, I could see them clearly now.
"So, I always do that."
Somehow what I had done caught the attention of others. The angry voices began to die out gradually. I couldn't decide whether they were watching in mockery or was it something else. I didn't care either way. When I looked around I was astonished. Some of the tables were lit by candles, while others were asking the waiters for more. After a while the whole restaurant was lit by the candles. And as if in queue the band started playing soft music. It was the perfect atmosphere for a deliciously imperfect dinner.
"That happens to you, you poor thing." Or it was until Stacy opened her mouth. "My night is ruined." She sighs dramatically.
Seriously!
"Come on babe, our night is still long. Thanks to Heather." Daniel mumbled while kissing her cheek.
Of all what he said my ears caught one thing Our Night Is Still Long. That made my eyes widens in fear. I dropped the fork on the plate.
He did not just say that. Not those words. Not now.
I tried to push my fear away. I tried to breathe. I couldn't do either before my doubts were confirmed. I hadn't even taken a bite yet, when I heard someone behind me clear his throat. I turn my head around to find him smiling at me.
"Good evening Ms Owen, May I have a word with you?"
I guess I was not having that dinner after all. The story of my life. Condemned to never taste what I order. My luck made sure of that.
***
Aaron's POV
It wasn't going well. I was on the verge of losing it. I rubbed my jaw impatiently and looked at Uncle James knowing that he was watching me as if I was a ticking bomb. He gave me an apologetic look, as if it could help. The stupid dinner wasn't going well, exactly as expected. But I was forced to shut up and endure this awkward dinner. The couple in front of me seemed as uncomfortable as I felt. I already told Uncle James it was useless. Business didn't work that way. It didn't matter. I ended here anyway.
I averted my eyes trying to keep my calm, that when I saw her.
She looked out of place, caught up in her little bubble. She seemed to avoid everything around her as if it was the plague. Calculating every step she took, yet at the same time she stayed composed. She looked oddly familiar, and no one ever seemed familiar to me.
My eyes returned to Uncle James when he talked to me. I nodded at him, wishing this to be over. Couple of minutes later, we heard a crash. It had all of our attention, because a few seconds later all the lights went off.
What the...?!
Uncle James stopped a waiter to ask him about the situation. He seemed puzzled enough and ended up saying it was unknown technical problems, and then ran off. That was a first. Unknown. They weren't professional enough to deal with the situation. Let alone prevent it. Staying here for another moment wasn't necessary.
"Mr. Wright I apologize for the intruding, I could arrange to go somewhere else?"
"There is no need for that."
It was Mrs. Wright who answered me for the first time breaking the ice tonight.
"It's fine." she finished absentmindedly. When I followed her gaze, I was surprised by what I saw.
Candles...
The girl from earlier was lighting candles, while giving instructions for the waiter to do the same. In the matter of minutes every table was lit by a candle, ours included.
"Brilliant." uttered Mrs. Wright quietly, admiration leaked from her voice. "What a girl."
And I wasn't the only one who noticed. "Would you like to meet her?" said Uncle James.
I looked at him. What was he talking about?
"You know her?" said Mrs. Wright excitedly.
"Of course, she is a dear friend to Aaron."
Damn it, the old man had finally lost it.
"That would be nice." then she turned to her husband "Don't you think so, dear?"
"Of course, honey"
"Excuse me, then."
He stood up leaving me too startled, and before I could comprehend what he was doing. He was approaching her table and standing behind her.
He had definitely lost it...
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A/N
I am back, it took me long time but here I am. I will try to update regularly this time.
Special thanks to punk9writer for the awesome editing.
And for my friend Sahar94100, I hope it is a good surprise.
Don't forget to vote and comment if u like it.