One Shots (Formula 1) - REQUESTS ARE CLOSED

Rescuer - Marcus Armstrong

Vivian walked towards the new restaurant in the city. A guest was leaving, he was holding the door open for Vivian. She politely thanked him and entered the place. There were many excellent reviews on the new restaurant, it was worth a try. Vivian looked at herself in the window, which reflected like a mirror. She was wearing a new dress, she was feeling beautiful and couldn't wait to show it to her boyfriend. It had been a long day at the university, Vivian was glad she had some time off.

"Good evening, how can I help you?" The waitress plastered a smile on her face.

"Hi," Vivian said and gave the waitress a genuine smile. "My boyfriend is waiting for me. He is already here, if I'm correct."

The waitress nodded. "Do you know the reservation name? It makes it easier to bring you to the table."

"Yes, of course. Let me look it up," Vivian replied and opened her purse. She grabbed her phone and looked up the note.

"You look beautiful, the dress fits you well," the waitress complimented. "Date night?"

Vivian looked up and shyly smiled. "Oh, thank you," she said. "Yes, we are celebrating his promotion at work," she explained.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you." Vivian was scrolling through the WhatsApp chat of her boyfriend, but she couldn't find the reservation name. "I can't find the reservation name, but I believe it is Vivian at 19:30," she said doubtfully.

The waitress nodded and looked through the reservations. "We have a reservation at 19:30 on the name Vivian, but nobody is checked in yet..."

"Ow." Vivian swallowed hard and checked the last message she got from her boyfriend. It said 'reservation at 19:30'. "I think he is late, I will wait. Thank you."

"I can walk you to your table? You can wait for him there."

"If that's possible," Vivian weakly smiled. The disappointment was flowing through her body. He had one job, just one job, and he couldn't do it.

"Absolutely, follow me, please."

Vivian followed the waitress to the table and ordered a glass of red wine. She looked around, everybody was enjoying their dinner and having a good time. Vivian bit on the inside of her cheek and looked at the time: 19:45. Her boyfriend would go to the restaurant straight after work, so he asked if Vivian could go to the restaurant herself so they would meet up there. It made Vivian impatient, and frustrated. She grabbed her phone and texted her boyfriend.

-

Vivian
Hi, where are you? I'm waiting for you at the new restaurant xx

-

She looked at it; it sent, and it was delivered. That was it, nothing more. Vivian threw her phone on the table and took a big sip of the wine. Her eyes were plastered on the entrance, hoping her boyfriend would show up. Every time the door opened, a sparkle of hope went through her body, but twice as much disappointment came back when it wasn't her boyfriend.

Forty-five minutes later, he still didn't show up. Vivian looked around while finishing drinking a glass of water. She made eye contact with a few guests, who arrived at the same time as her. A few of them had apologising looks on their faces, others felt sorry for her. She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away. How can someone make you feel so miserable?

After a few more minutes, more people started to notice Vivian. She was sitting there by herself, and she was waiting, but it didn't look good. The same waitress who guided her to the table, walked passed her.

"Hey," the waitress said, surprised. "He still hasn't arrived?"

"No," Vivian said and plastered a fake smile on her face. "He is on his way, there was a crisis at work," she lied.

The waitress nodded, she could see things were...off. "Is there anything I can get you? It's on the house."

"Can I have another glass of red wine, please?" Vivian didn't want to be desperate, but she was.

"Of course, coming right up."

"Thank you."

Vivian looked at her phone, she would give him another ten minutes, or she would leave. Tears formed in her eyes, this couldn't be true. She tried to call him multiple times, but he wouldn't answer. Vivian blinked the tears away and looked at the entrance again.

"I'm sorry for being so late, love." A guy took place across from her at the table and gave Vivian the glass of wine she had ordered. "Traffic is crazy right now. And the crisis... Pfew, awful. I'm terribly sorry," he loudly explained and made sure everybody around him could hear it.

Vivian raised her eyebrows at first, but squeezed them together after realising what he told her. This was odd...

"I'm Marcus. Just go with it, alright? Whoever didn't show up, is a dick," the guy quietly added. "People are staring at you for sitting here alone, waiting for over an hour, being miserable. I can't let you go home with that reputation."

"I'm sorry, but..." Vivian looked at the glass of wine and back at the guy named Marcus. "Thanks," she said and gave him a soft smile.

"Who didn't show up?"

Vivian looked around her, and for some reason, the people around her didn't look at her with apologising looks anymore. Some of them were relieved, a couple of them were still trying to figure the situation out. "My douche of a boyfriend," she breathed and took a sip from her wine. "Look, you don't have to do this."

"I've been here since the moment you walked into the restaurant, and I'm feeling so sorry for you. People were staring at you, it looked bad."

"How about your dinner?" Vivian was confused.

Marcus took a sip from his beer and widely smiled. "My friends are leaving," he said and pointed at the exit. His friends looked at him, and Marcus gave them a nod.

"Look, you really don't have to do this... I should have known better."

"Your boyfriend is a douche, and I'm just trying to save you from all those nasty prejudices," Marcus said. "And don't throw it on yourself..." He was trying to get her name.

"Vivian."

"...Vivian. Whatever his reason is, dump it, end it, call it off. He shouldn't treat you like this," Marcus continued; the tone in his voice was severe, but also playful.

A soft giggle rolled over Vivian's lips. His use of tone was somehow amazing. "Yeah..."

"You don't deserve this, Vivian." Marcus smiled. "What do you want for dinner? It's on me, you can order whatever you want," he offered and got the menu card. "I fully recommend the chocolate cake, but that's dessert, but you can also have it as a starter. I'm on a diet, but that chocolate cake is amazing." Marcus opened the card.

"You're my lifesaver," Vivian said and put her phone away. She leaned forward so she could see the card.

Marcus was explaining the card, making recommendations and pretending he knew about he was talking about. Vivian looked at him and smiled, he looked adorable. Her eyes fell on the waitress, who gave Vivian a nod. Vivian gave her a thankful nod and looked back at Marcus.