What is meant to be
will be
Chapter 9
"You can stop me right here," Tim said, pointing ahead. Surprisingly, no teasing or ridicule had come from the others. When the ridicule he expected didn't come, it made him more uneasy, wondering if they were saving their jokes for the next rehearsal. Maybe it would become the main topic of their amusement. Still, when Jax finally stopped, Tim braced himself, expecting someone to tease him as he got out.
"See you guys later," he said, debating briefly whether he should invite them in.
"Sure, Tim. See you later, and keep that voice warm for the big day, okay?" Jax said.
"Yeah, man, see you then," Paul and Martin added.
Tim slid the door shut and turned to Mary, who was sitting up front with Jax. "Well, good night," he said with a smile.
"Good night, and sleep tight," she replied, smiling back.
"Thanks for the ride, Jax."
"Don't mention it. So, which house is yours?"
Tim felt a surge of panic, worrying that he'd have to invite them inside. He hesitantly pointed to a small, shabby house across the street that had broken window frames. "That's my place," he said. "Do you want to come in?" Inside, he was praying they would turn him down.
"Sorry, not today. We need to get some sleep—big day tomorrow, you know," Jax said.
"Okay then," Tim said, smiling with relief. "Some other time." He stepped back, watched the van make a U-turn, and then crossed the street, disappearing into his little, worn-down house.
The day of the concert had finally arrived. As usual, Tim went to work, closing up at 5:00 p.m. The show was scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. and continue until dawn. Earlier, Tim had called his father's friend, Uncle Lex, to let him know he would be at the concert. He had already told Uncle Lex—his father's lifelong friend—about joining the band and the upcoming performance. Uncle Lex had promised to ask his wife to stay over and look after Tim's father and sister during the evening.
The concert was set to take place at the Cunubry University Auditorium. Since Tim was coming straight from work, they had agreed he would meet the band there. He was expected to arrive before six o'clock so they could rehearse a little before the show.
After reaching the college, Tim started searching for the auditorium. He was excited but nervous, worried that he might get stage fright during his first real performance. As he tried to imagine how big the crowd would be, he noticed a large stone monument near the law school. He paused to look at it. The stone was about four feet tall and read: CUNUBRY LAW SCHOOL, BUILT JULY 7, 1950.
Tim came to a halt, the scenery suddenly feeling far too familiar. He had definitely stood here before. He let out a frustrated breath, realizing he was just pacing the same ground over and over.
Standing there with his hands on his hips, he finally took in the full beauty of the campus. Lost in thought as he walked, he hadn't noticed the well-paved roads, lush green fields, tall shady trees, or the massive brick buildings. People of all ages filled the campus. There were graduating students in purple gowns and caps clustered together, surrounded by family and friends celebrating the occasion.
"Excuse me," a voice from behind interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Tim murmured, stepping aside, thinking he was in the person's way.
"Haven't we met?" the stranger said, stepping around to face him.
A sudden jolt of recognition raced through Tim. He couldn't trust his own eyes. "You—that night…" He tripped over the words, his voice caught in a nervous rasp. It seemed impossible, yet here she was: the same girl from two nights ago, her blue eyes just as striking as he remembered.
She smiled brightly. "I thought it was you! I was over there with my friends when I saw you coming. At first, I wasn't sure… Then you got closer… And even then, I still wasn't completely sure it was you. My—my, I never thought I'd see you again," she admitted.
The words "Neither did I" got stuck in Tim's throat. He was stunned, overwhelmed by surprise, and captivated by her remarkable beauty. She looked even more stunning than he remembered; her smile was heartwarming, and her blue eyes seemed to shine with an extra sparkle. Her confident, cheerful appearance now stood in sharp contrast to the distressed image that had haunted his memory.
Like many of the students around them, she wore a graduation gown, making it clear she was among the graduates.
"So, what are you doing here? Know someone who's graduating?" she asked.
"No, I—I…" Tim stammered, as he often did when nervous. "I'm here for the concert."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was trying to find where it's being held."
"Why didn't you ask someone?"
Tim scratched his head. "How silly of me… It didn't even cross my mind."
She smiled and gestured for him to follow. "Come on, I'll show you."
As he walked a few steps with her, Tim asked, "Your leg—I hope it's much better now?"
"Oh, yeah," she said with a gracious smile. "It's pretty okay, see?" She paused and wiggled her right foot. "I really appreciate what you did that night; it was so kind of you. Sorry I was grouchy at first—hu, transferred aggression, I suppose…"
"It's okay," Tim replied. "I wasn't hurt at all, and honestly, I didn't do much—just got you a cab."
"You… you did more than that," she said softly. "You kind of restored my belief that not all men are… that bad."
Tim felt touched, as if she had just awarded him a medal of honor. Yet, he couldn't help wondering what that guy had done to make her distrust men so much. "Oh please, you're giving me too much credit," he said timidly.
Her eyes shifted to the side, then met his with a charming glance, accompanied by a warm smile.