Blizzard of Love

Zap. With the sound, the lights in the train station went off. I sucked in a deep breath, at least I had charged my phone and could let people know that I was safe. Or at least that’s what I had thought until my cell showed me that there was no service, no way to let anyone know where I was or that I was safe.

My eyes traveled across the large room to find that others were coming to the same realization, the fear that was written across their faces was palpable. In this day and age, it is always a shock when cell phones stop working. When I was a kid, cell phones were something that science fiction made up. Now we have all turned into zombies by them.

“MY FOLLOWERS NEED TO KNOW I’M ALIVE!” A whiny voice screeched from the other side of the room. It took everything I had not to scream for her to shut up. There was some natural light coming in, and I could just barely make out who it was. Candi Crane, one of those people who have no talent but somehow became popular on YouTube. My ex-girlfriend had loved her and watched her videos incessantly. “THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. MY AGENT WILL HAVE WORDS WITH MANAGEMENT!”

Because you know it’s the train company’s fault that there was a blizzard outside. Even though I’m only a few years older than her, I was much more mature than she was. I moved to a more secluded part of the station so that I could have some peace. If I was going to be stuck here, I might as well try and get some sleep. Everything else would wait.

Just as I closed my eyes and dreams promised to fill my conscious with happy thoughts, I was startled awake by that same screechy voice. Only this time it was much closer to me. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”

“Do you know who you are?” The words slipped from my mouth before I knew that they were there. She tossed her blonde hair back, pursed her lips, and put her hands on her hips. It was almost as if she were daring me to continue. “You have some little internet show on a platform that allows anyone to post their videos. You’re not Mariah Carey or someone with any actual talent. You say outrageous things and post the links online. Anyone with half a brain could do that.”

“That explains why you don’t do it then.” The look on her face told me that she thought that was a clever retort. The self-satisfied smirk was enough for me to want to punch her in the face but my parents brought me up better than that,

“You know this little diva attitude suggests that not only are you an only child but probably very spoiled. Your parents gave you awards or rewards even when you didn’t deserve them. Underneath it, all though is a terrified little girl, who is still seeking the approval from someone. Maybe you need validation from a former boyfriend or something.”

“Way to go Dr. Phil.”

“Actually, I’m Dr. Eric Dell.”

“You don’t need to pretend to be a Doctor for my benefit. I think going to school is a waste of time. I’m a millionaire with no debt. You can’t afford to buy a cup of coffee.”

“So you’re a financial expert now? Why would you think that I was broke?”

“You’re taking the train instead of flying.”

“So are you. I happen to have a fear of flying, so I take ground transportation as often as possible.”

“Me too. My dad was killed in a plane crash when I was younger. My mom did her best, but there’s only so many times you can meet a new ‘uncle’ before you start to wonder if love really exists.”

“It does. I had once, or at least I thought I did. I asked her to marry me; she asked to have sex with my best friend. A tale as old as time.”

“Oh good, you are straight.” The puzzled expression on my face must have relayed the message that I was confused. “This is the part where I tell you I want to kiss you, right?”

Her forthrightness took me by surprise. I was even more surprised when she leaned in and our lips connected. Shocks of electricity shot through my body. Never had I felt like this before. After we pulled out of the kiss, “What happens now?”

“Well, we exchange phone numbers and go on a real date. I don’t mind traveling to you if you have a practice because I can film my show anywhere. In fact, it might be fun to film from somewhere exotic, where are you from?”

“Detroit.”

“Great! I always wanted to go down south!”

“Detroit is in the Midwest.”

“Whatever. Wait you are single right?”

“Yes. Have been for a long time. What about you?”

“Well technically I have a boyfriend, but he’s more into dudes now.”

“We can’t date if you’re already seeing someone else. That’s not ethical or something that I would do.”

“He’s pansexual. Right now he’s holed up in a cabin with his boyfriend. He and I were only together to get more attention for our shows. Once the cell phones start working again, I’ll tell him our arrangement is over. He’ll be happy to go public with his guy.”

“That’s all very confusing. How can he have a girlfriend and a boyfriend? And what is pansexual? In my day we had gay, straight, and bisexual.”

“Yeah, you guys were really into labels.”

“You do hear yourself, right? How do you not hear the irony in that sentence?”

“Shut up and kiss me again!” Once again our lips connected and everything felt right in the world. It was as if we were the only ones who mattered.

This was just the beginning of our story.