TITLE: The loneliest weekend of the year TYPE: Self Para MENTIONS: @connorj, @katiemcmorgan WHEN: Saturday 15th February SUMMARY: Cassie is stood up on Anti-Valentine’s Day
If Cassie were to be honest, Valentine’s day was one of the worst days of the year for her. She had never been asked on a Valentine’s date, not seriously anyway, nor had she ever successfully asked anyone to be her date. Maybe February 14th was just destined to be a terrible day for her, but, since arriving in Aramore, her Valentine’s curse hadn’t seemed that bad. Because now she had Anti-Valentine’s Day, and while Valentine’s Day was still the worst day of her year, Anti-Valentine’s Day was the best.
When Cassie woke on Saturday, she’d felt exactly like a kid on Christmas morning. Valentine’s Day had been rough, to say the least. But she’d gotten through it by spending the day in the shop working on her latest designs and then cooked herself a nice meal before heading to bed early. Thinking of today had been her main motivation and now it was finally here.
When she’d first arrived in town, all those years ago, Cassie hadn’t known anyone and she’d been afraid of making friends. She’d heard good things about the Scots, and she’d been so confident about coming out here until she’d actually arrived. It had been tough for her to approach people, especially in a village so small where she was sure everyone was talking about the strange new girl who’d arrived with no job and no future.
Then Anti-Valentine’s Day had happened. As luck would have it, she got blessed with the perfect partner - prim and proper Katie McMorgan, who was looking for any reason to not be prim and proper any more. The two had clicked immediately and shared an amazing day that would define their friendship for the years that followed. From their first hot chocolate in the Riverside Cafe, to jumping off the Fairy Falls into the Fairy Pools below, it was a day that neither of them would ever forget.
Every year that followed was as successful as the first, and each year she made another friend that she kept along the way. That’s why she was excited about this year. She’d already met Aiden, a new guy in town. But maybe he’d have siblings, with whom she could become friends. Or she’d heard something about some new Americans? Either way she was excited.
At 9:30am, she was in the marketplace. She had a hot chocolate in hand, as was usual for Cassie, and she could almost feeling her skin tingling with anticipation against the takeaway cup as she looked around in excitement. The minutes seemed to feel like eternities, ticking past ever so slowly as more people started to enter the square. There was Andrea, from Nailed It!, her son Lucas trailing (most likely) unenthusiastically behind her. Noah was here as well, with his children. She wouldn’t mind if she was paired up with any of them. They always had fun and she was sure they could have a great day.
At 10am on the dot, the mayor clambered onto their temporary pedestal to announce the pairs. They started by wishing everyone a happy Anti-Valentines Day and saying that they hoped that everyone had had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Truthfully, Cassie was barely listening to a word they were saying. Her mind was filling in the gaps using her knowledge of the previous years as she glanced around in excitement.
Then they started listing the names: Melina & Katherine. Audrey & Noah. Lucas & Finn. The list went on and on and on, until it seemed like her name would never be called. But then, finally, Cassie & Connor. She paused, just for a second. She’d barely spoken to Connor, but that was what this was all about, after all.
Her eyes darted around, seeking out his tousled brown hair and steely blue eyes. People everywhere were pairing up now; some people were laughing. Some people were awkwardly chatting, hands rubbing at the back of their necks.
She couldn’t see him.
Maybe he was late? Yes, that had to be it. There was a lot of snow between here and the farm, Cassie had seen it herself when she and Katie had gone out into the woods just last week.
He must be late.
He had to be late.
A nearby bench was calling to her and she collapsed onto it, clutching her now-cold chocolate with both hands. Her brown eyes searched the square desperately, seeking out Connor’s sloping gait; looking for the familiar sight of the fruit crates he seemed to always have with him.
Nothing.
Her eyes leapt to the town clock, reading the 10:30 displayed there with disbelief. He was coming. The square was almost empty now. Everyone had made their decisions and drifted off to wherever they were planning to spend their day. Everyone but Cassie.
She got to her feet, determined to have a wander around to pass some time while she waited for Connor to arrive.
Her feet automatically took her to the Riverside Cafe. A couple of temporary workers from nearby villages had been called in for the day so that even Melina and her team could take part in today’s festivities. Cassie wasn’t surprised to see many of the pairs had flocked to the cafe. A warm discussion in from the cold was a great way to start the day; it also made the perfect opportunity to plan what they were going to do next.
Cassie had planned to take her partner here - Connor. They would have a hot chocolate and share some brownie, before setting off to brave the frosty world outside.
Or that had been the plan anyway.
She continued around the Market Place, dipping onto a back street to pass the Folklore Theatre. Part of her wondered if anyone would be attending the showing today, or if Arthur had closed it to participate in Anti-Valentine’s. Most of her was wondering where Connor was.
Before she even knew she had reached the main square again. Still no sign of Connor. Her eyes darted up.
11am.
She finally had to accept it. He wasn’t coming.