First Meeting
#1 of Spring
"Good news Mr. Larson, we have found a match for you in our database! Hm... how convenient, it looks like she was just in here." Science has recently discovered a gene that seems to be connected to finding a perfect match. Even better, this gene seems to be found amongst all species and genders. It is affectionately called the "Soul Mate Gene," and since it's discovery, many have been thrilled at how easy it actually is to find. A simple prick of a needle on the finger to collect a drop of blood, thirty minutes to an hour in a machine, and the gene is identified. The results are uploaded into a worldwide database, and the match can (eventually) be found, assuming the match has entered the database as well, "Hm, I was just about to call her in to go over her results. This will work out for everyone!"
Cedric raised an eyebrow, "Funny, I didn't see anyone else out there the entire time I waited. You sure she didn't leave?"
"Nonsense, she's been waiting patiently the whole time! Gertrude," he pushed the button on his intercom, "Please send in Rosetta."
Cedric sat patiently, looking out the window behind the doctor when he heard the door open, "Oh, hello doctor. Who is this?" She had a very sweet voice. Cedric turned around, then froze as he was overcome with fear. She was a spider (mostly), with her top half like that of a human (but with blue skin, white hair, and red eyes) and the bottom half...
She took a seat (somehow), "Well Rosetta, it would appear that we found your soul mate! Cedric right here is your perfect match!"
Rosetta lit up and had her hands by her face, "Oh my god! Really?! This is amazing! Uh... Cedric?"
His left eye was twitching, and his body was rigid, "Oh my, it would seem that while he is a match, he is also extremely arachnephobic... interesting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Since you are soul mates, you may actually be able to help him reduce this phobia easier than a doctor. So Cedric, looks as though you live near here, and even closer to Rosetta's place of employment. I suggest That you two go back to your place and get to know each other better."
Cedric was still petrified with fear, "O-okay... follow me..." He stood up, but was clearly disturbed. Rosetta stayed close by his side, smiling as they walked towards his place. She could tell all the blood had rushed out of his face, but she was determined to make things work. After a short walk, he turned down the walkway to a townhouse, "Please come in..." He unlocked the door and let Rosetta inside first.
"Wow! It's so pretty! It's way bigger than my apartment, and look at the art you have on the walls! Amazing!" She was awestruck by his townhouse. For someone who dressed like he did, Cedric sure knew culture. Everything was clean and in it's place, the carpeting was soft, the furniture like new. She stepped further inside and saw the kitchen, which was immaculate, and she had to ask, "How did you afford all of this? Did you just buy this place?"
Cedric clenched his fists and looked away from Rosetta, "Yes. A month ago. Just had everything refurnished and updated. Also, I'm retired. I have plenty of money to last me for as long as I live."
Rosetta didn't know how to react, "Amazing! You made enough money that you could retire this early! What did you do? What business were you in?"
Cedric walked over to his living room, making sure to always be facing Rosetta, "Nothing important. I'm not really sure what to do here so... what should we do?"
Rosetta put a finger to on her chin and looked up, "Hm... you have a big TV over there, how about we watch a movie? Come on, it'll be fun!" She walked over to a shelf filled with movies, then casually picked one off of the shelf, "Here, let's watch this. I'll put it in." She did so then turned on the TV, "Um..."
"Sit down. I will turn it on." She sat on the couch as he used a remote to get everything started up. Cedric then sat on the couch, as far from Rosetta as he could. He picked up another remote and turned off the lights. Shortly after the movie started, he felt Rosetta leaning her head against his shoulder. Once again, he was terrified to the point here he couldn't move, but since he was trying to be nice, he didn't jump away.
Over the course of the movie, Rosetta began to nuzzle Cedric softly and hugged him tighter little by little, which made him that much more uncomfortable. During a slow part of the movie, Rosetta mumbled, "We should get something to eat... like a pizza or something."
Cedric quickly stood up, "I'll order one. Sit tight." He walked to his kitchen then dialed a nearby pizza place. He placed the order, "It'll be a few minutes." He returned to his seat and did his best not to freak out.
Rosetta seized this opportunity Yes! She thought This is my chance! He may be afraid, but I can make him better! She got closer to Cedric and held him tight. Once again, Cedric had to try hard to restrain his fear.
About ten minutes passed, and the doorbell rang, "I got it!" Rosetta hopped up and answered the door. She paid for the pizza and set it on the kitchen counter, "Where are your plates?" Cedric pointed at a cabinet, as Rosetta opened it. She pulled out two plates, then noticed a metal box against the cabinet wall. Hm... this is odd. I wonder what he has inside? Old pictures perhaps? Well, I shouldn't ask him yet, we've only just met. She loaded up the plates and returned to Cedric's side. She glanced over and saw that he was eating, but only a little.
They finished eating and the movie ended, "Well, this was... fun, I guess. Not really a people person, so this was different." Cedric was now sitting in the lounge chair next to the couch, "Nice to meet you Rosetta, I mean it."
She smiled, "It was good to meet you to! So, I have a question, why did you go for the soul mate test?"
He looked down and thought hard, "Hard to say. It may be because I was tired of being alone. Always a ghost in the eyes of the people. Never staying in anyone's memory for any significant period of time. It's hard being lonely."
Rosetta's smile was weaker now, "I know what you mean. I was tired of all the bad dates, all the jerks. I've always had people around, yet they never really connected with me. Hey, you don't seem as afraid of me- OH MY GOD!"
Cedric jumped behind the chair and tensed up, "What?"
Rosetta was panicking, "It's so late! I need to get home!"
Cedric sighed, "Oh that's all. Come on, I'll walk you home or something." He walked over to the door, but Rosetta had already scurried over.
"You don't have to! I mean, if you don't want to..."
Cedric opened the door, "What kind of person would I be if I didn't? Besides, I'm faster than I look." They began to walk towards her apartment at a leisurely pace because Rosetta knew that even if she did get back late, she was a morning person who could wake up with even a couple hours of sleep and be ready to go. She looked at Cedric, who was looking up at the moon, "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Rosetta looked up, "Yeah... but I wish we weren't so close to the city. The light pollution blocks out a lot of the stars."
"I've seen the night sky without anything blocking it. Gaze into it long enough and you can lose yourself. It feels strange..." They both gazed up at the moon as they walked, and soon they were at Rosetta's building, "We're here."
"Huh? Oh, so we are. Wow... I just got lost in the moon, he he... well, maybe we can do something tomorrow?"
Cedric nodded, "Sure, not like I have anything planned. Here, my number in case you need me for something." He handed her a slip of paper, then walked away.
Rosetta looked at the number, then clenched the paper tightly and smiled, "Yes... I've finally found him... the one I've been looking for all my life." She went up to her apartment and made sure to put his number in her purse, "Gotta calm my heart down, I have to get to bed. Can't be tired in the morning!"
.........................
Cedric was walking home while he began to notice a new crowd coming out of the shadows, a crowd that was more like him, "Why is it that I no longer feel a desire to associate with these people? It wasn't all that long ago that I could work with them... now they disgust me. Why does life have to be so bothersome..."
"Hey, hey you! You wanna get high?"
Cedric sighed as he pulled out a knife, "No rest for the wicked..."