The Timeline of Us
Michelle slowly sipped the water, looking over the menu and deciding what to get. She decided on some Penne alla vodka but decided not to order until her date got here.
Her date, she though to herself, was someone she never though she would every be with, but here she was waiting for him. He was someone she had once described to one of his girlfriends as "Just like my brother." Today she realized how big of a lie that was.
She sipped more water and went back to looking at the menu rather than awkwardly starting at the the couples sitting all round her. A few seconds later her phone buzzed and she saw she had received a text from him. The text read, "Don't leave just yet! I am almost there! There is so much traffic!"
She replied back, "Well you already made me wait 12 years, what's 12 more minutes?"
She smiled as she put her phone back in her coat pocket. 12 years, was it really true that its been 12 years that she had known him?
She knew him since before the first day of high school, when he moved in next door.
She had a crush on him since her mother has forced her to go and make friends with the new neighbor. She had gone over to say hey to him as he was carrying several cardboard boxes inside his new house.
"Are you going to Adams High?" She had asked.
"Yeah, good school?" He has asked in return.
She has said it was, and told him she would see him around. Even made a joke about how if he had a hard time making new friends she would pretend to be his friend...for a price.
After that, they didn't talk the much except some friendly hellos once in a while when they would see each other outside their respective houses or around school.
Sophomore year was when he had more of a reason to be in her life. He started dating one of her best friends Kelly. At that point, she was over her little crush. They saw each other everyday, never without Kelly but they did become actual friends now and she didn't even ask him to paid her.
Then Kelly moved that December and they no longer needed to wait for her to be around each other. By January of that year, her crush was back on, but Kelly was still her friend, so she didn't act on it.
Junior yeah consisted of him dating several girls, breaking up with them, then hooking back up with them again.
Senior year, they had their first kiss. It was during a house party, that Michelle was not invited to. She had gone to the party because one of his friends had called her to come pick him as he was inebriated. That day as she dragged him to her car he had a string of complements for her. When she had placed him in the passenger seat of her car, he looked up at her and leaned forward for a kiss. He didn't remember it, and they never mentioned it again until recently.
They decided to go to the same college.
In college he feel in love. Real Love. Her name was Ella and she was beautiful. He and Ella spent every waking moment together and just like with Kelly, Michelle also became Ella's really good friend.
They dated all 4 years of college, and Michelle also found someone she liked, his name was Andy, although they broke up as soon he graduated when she was a junior. He cheated on her with a coworker.
After college he proposed to Ella, Michelle helped him pick out a ring. That day was a fun one, they sent the day at he mall talking about the different job offers they were considering. They gossiped about their high school and college friends. They talked about their parents and they were getting older now.
He proposed to Ella. Michelle moved to New York City for a job opportunity.
Michelle now only saw Ella and him during the holidays. He and Ella moved in together. Michelle went on a string of dates and she found a connection with no one.
After 3 years of being engaged, he and Ella decided on a date to for their wedding. He came to visit Michelle.
They spend a whole weekend together. She dragged him to a Broadway show and took him to all the best desert places she loved. They ate dinner together and talked about his upcoming marriage.
That weekend Ella called her sobbing. She suspected that he was cheating on her with Michelle. This is when Michelle told her she saw him as her brother and that she never though of him like that.
They got married. He did not accidentally say her name at the alter like Ross did.
Michelle decided not to talk to them anymore, not because she was upset, but now it was too draining to be around them. She slowly cut off all contact and started dating again. She met Harry. He was a lawyer and very sweet. He was her first really relationship. They decided to move in together after 2 months of dating. She was in love for the first time since him.
Harry never wanted to get married or have a family. They fought everyday about this. Michelle moved out and found a job back in her hometown a year after moving in.
She saw him for the first time after a year outside her parents house. He said hey, so did Michelle. They didn't know what else to say but still wanted to spent time together so they went to the movies. They had never done this, at least not just the two of them alone before.
Michelle heard rumors that Ella was pregnant from college friends. Ella was, but it wasn't his baby. She ran into him again at a supermarket. After shopping together, she said goodbye to him in the parking lot, but he wanted to go get coffee because he has something to say. She agreed.
"I shouldn't have married Ella. I came to see you that weekend because I missed you. After you left to go to the city, something just felt wrong, always. I wanted to tell you how I felt that weekend but I heard you tell Ella this was nothing so I chickened out. I got married with so much doubt, we didn't make it past 3 month but you just stopped talking. I tried to reach out so many times but you just ignored me.
he finished with, "I think I've been in love with you since you told me to pay you to be your friend, we just never got our timing right. "
"I've loved you too Ryan" She said. She realized she could have made a move years ago.
They kissed. They hung out every day. He asked her to dinner for Valentine's day.
Michelle arrived early and waited for Ryan to show up. He was stuck in traffic.
He finally showed up.
"Took you long enough! This is technically our first date you know!" Michelle said when she finally saw her boyfriend walk towards her table.
"Sorry! So much traffic!" He said as he gave her a kiss and held her hands not letting go even after they sat down on their table.
Even though she wait 12 years to be with him, these 12 minutes somehow felt longer.
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