⤷ “ Unexpected love “ 𝜗𝜚 —. ݁₊ ⊹ Violetta & Marcus
marcus and violetta's story began with a spark-- no, it didn't. it started with a palpable friction that was orchestrated by their well-meaning, totally not blindsided couple-friends kamei and bryant. violetta, the ever so passionate victoria's secret worker (she's only there for the free stuff) came to the initial dinner with a high horse on standby and skepticism since marcus had just entered the dinner venue. marcus, the aspiring author who's making a name for himself in orange county, los angeles county, and now riverside with his books. marcus is a physical and mental embodiment of everything she avoided. busy, cold, silent, wearing baggy jeans, and long hair for a guy. she doesn't know why she hates guys with long hair, but boy does she. the first dinner date was a high-key disaster marked by the immediate and pointed disagreements over appetizer choices and tipping etiquette. when marcus asks her pretty impulsive order, violetta snapped back at him.
"relax, marcus. it's just food. my motto is; order what sounds good, figure out the logistics later, book boy." marcus only replies, "logistics, violetta, are the foundation of a stable and successful future… incl-including dinner." yet, a faint undeniable interest lingered in the air that was heavy and dense that their friends immediately capitalized on.
this ongoing tension escalated into an inciting incident which was pretty poorly disguised as a non-refundable weekend log cabin reservation that was too sudden and a suspiciously coordinated illness claimed by kamei and bryant which forced violetta and marcus into a four-day solo retreat to avoid losing the deposit and to not get taken off the list. the initial hours of their trip were a study in enforced silence and pretty awkward opposition. when violetta instinctively wanted to pull over for a roadside antique shop, marcus tapped the lcd screen of his car.
"the gps says we arrive at 4:30 pm, not 5:30 pm, you dimwit. we have a strict check-in window, violetta. no time for scouring for a piece of vintage ass that you'll make even dustier on the shelf." obviously this ticked her off but she didn't want to raise the already boiling hot tension in the car. so she sighed and said, "you plan the life right out the weekend. get a life." after hearing that, marcus also was ticked and didn't want to say anything to raise tension, so he clings stubbornly to the pre-planned schedule while violetta simply sought out local knick knack spots and other things that are appealing to her, setting the stage for their inevitable conflict.
the slow burn that had been long awaiting its ignition had just ignited when marcus' "perfectly" planned itinerary with "no flaws" crumbled as a flash flood closed down the main road, leaving him completely exposed and vulnerable behind the road sign, a fallen tree, and a 40 minute drive still ahead of him outside of his comfort zone of spreadsheets and clocks.
"i… i didn't account for this probability. now what the fuck do we do." violetta, pretty unfazed by this since she only wanted antique items, pointed to a rickety sign at the side of the road. "we take the old logging road. no schedule, no gps. just trust and the balls to do it. you should actually try it." she took the wheel of the cat, navigating through the chaos that was the flash flood and showing marcus her chaotic flexibility/"superpower" was just resilience. as they shared dinner later that night after getting to the cabin, he listened to violetta discuss a past vulnerability she had herself. he didn't offer a solution to it, just a simple profound reassurance.
"it sounds like you're real resilient, violetta. that isn't chaos. that's strength." the growing respect marcus had started to transform their initial mutual annoyance into a deepening sense of necessary connection. the moment arrived on their final morning, marking the peak or climax of it all. starting on a really meticulous-- yet annoyingly simple drawn return map, marcus finally saw the rigidity of his own life reflected on the lines he just didn't really want to accept. he looked directly at violetta, closing the map and setting it on the coffee table next to them alongside the pen.
"this map is wrong. wrong as hell. the trip isn't over. you are the one variable i never could have planned for in my agenda, and that's why…. that's why i need you to stay with me, violetta." her eyes softened, seeing the cold, silent, and pretty arrogant author choose a pure and unplanned feeling over all, and i mean ALL of his predetermined data.
"are you sure, marcus? i don't come with a contingency plan.." marcus doesn't hesitate. "i'll write one for us. we can figure it out." marcus leans in, places his hand on top of hers, and gives her that look. she returns the look, and they press their lips against each other. their kiss sealed the agreement to let their spontaneous connection define their path forward.
their return home was a silence but charged agreement to continue their so called "unplanned" destiny together, the quiet holding hands during the drive home speaking volumes. marcus solidified his commitment to his new life by making a final and pretty symbolic gesture. when he got to her apartment complex, he didn't just say goodbye. instead, he reached into his pants pocket, pulling out a single and spontaneously purchased ticket. he hands it to her smiling from ear to ear.
"jazz festival. saturday night. no spreadsheets involved. none. i assure you." this ticket, a complete break and complete game changer from his usual self signaled the start of a relationship where is grounding nature and her inspiring freedom would perfectly complement each other, proving that the best love stories are the ones you never see coming.
