The Fated Mate

ost fall from her hand while she clear up the mess in front of her "What the heck is this?" she said, with annoyance, tossing aside the brush, her fingers covered with dark paints. She cleaned her ha

e, alongside Katie. It was quiet and reflective, a place she could get out of the crowd and think, try zeroing in on something other than her racing thoughts. There was a rich, heavy aroma of coffee that had thickly scented the atmosphere, soft and warm lighting that almost made it a haven. All of a sudden, she noticed a man who sat alone in a dark corner, his dark clothes melding with the shadows. He sat upright, eyes fixed on some point beyond her. And when their gazes met, a flash back sudden occured on her mind, she felt something primal and magnetic. It wasn't just attraction; it felt like an invisible thread tugging at her chest, pulling her toward him. She couldn't explain it. Katie elbowed her, and she was startled. "Earth to Lena. You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost. Or, I don't know, your dream guy?" Lena blinked, forcing herself to look away. "I'm fine. Let's just get our drinks." But while they waited, Lena couldn't help but glance back at him. He hadn't moved, still staring at his coffee as though waiting for something or someone. Katie sipped on her cappuccino and looked over the rim of her cup at Lena. "On a serious note, I'm starting to feel the chills. At least ask him what kind of coffee he's drinking, or something." Lena's heart skipped a beat. "What? No! I'm not talking to him." "What's the most terrible thing that can happen? Katie continued to press. "You're only staring at him from across the room, making it ultra obvious. Go introduce yourself before I do it for you." Lena groaned. "I am not mooning over some random guy, Katie." "Uh, yeah you are," Katie teased, leaning in with a mischievous grin. "At least make it worth it. What if he starts quoting Edgar Allan Poe? I'm calling dibs." "Let it go, Katie." A few more minutes of Katie's playful teasing and Lena stood up with her coffee in her hand, making her way toward the exit of the coffeehouse. She tried not to let any thought of the man in the corner enter her head, eyes upon her but then again, within that gaze, she just felt he knew her; yet that was impossible, wasn't it? As Lena stepped inside the studio, it felt even colder than usual. Thoughts flew inside her head and the studio was too far