Fiction

Waking up as she turned over in bed, Alana looked at the man beside her and just stared at him. He wasn't attractive. His nose was pointed and too big, his lips were thin and he was balding. Thinking to herself, she knew it was his inner beauty that made her love him so much. Dan had been her steady boyfriend for two years. Leaning over, she kissed him gently on the lips. Putting his arm over her, he pulled her close, and kissed her passionately. For the next hour, they made love. He was so tender and yet, sexy in his lovemaking. Hungering for more, Alana let herself go to feel all the welcome sensations going through her body.

Jumping out of bed at the sound the doorbell, Alana headed for the shower, and Dan put on shorts to answer the door. A delivery man stood holding a beautiful dozen yellow roses in a crystal vase with pink ribbon. Dan was puzzled, but said "thank you" and gave him a five dollar tip. Baffled as to the flowers, he couldn't resist reading the card. "Alana, you make me breathless for more." The card was signed "J".

A feeling of dread, anger and hurt filled Dan's mind. He took the flowers and sat them down, as he headed for the couch to let himself gather his thoughts before he approached Alana. Thinking about their relationship, he was surprised Alana would stray from him, except that he knew he was not as handsome. With her flowing blonde hair, athletic built body of 135 pounds and beautiful skin and face, she was definitely a very attractive girl. He knew, on the other hand, that he was not an attractive guy. Sometimes, this did bother him. But short of having plastic surgery, he was not able to change his appearance. Not the features that mattered the most, that is. His nose, mouth, facial features and balding hair were unattractive. When he was with Alana, she made him feel like the most handsome guy on earth, and he loved her so much. Wishing she would have been honest with him about dating other people, he was heartbroken.

He knew one thing for sure; he didn't want to lose her. His life would be so empty without her. The one carat diamond ring he had bought last week was sitting in the dresser drawer at his apartment. Waiting for just the right time to plan a special event to give it to her, he wished he had not procrastinated. Would she have accepted the ring? Who is this "J" person? When would she have found the time to meet someone else? They talked every day and saw each other at least every other night.

Alana, stepping out of the shower, dried off with a towel, put her makeup on, dried her hair and got dressed. As she came downstairs, she said smiling, "Who was at the door?" Looking up at her, Dan had tears in his eyes. Alana, seeing the distress in his face, ran to him. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?" Hugging him, and worried, Alana didn't know what to think. Then she saw the flowers.

She had made one foolish mistake. She had gone to an after work party, and a handsome, funny and classy guy named Jack asked her to dance. She was so flattered and thought it would be harmless for just one dance. He took her in his arms, and they danced the entire night. Walking her to her car, she realized he had talked about himself all night, but didn't know one thing about her. Caught up in how handsome he was, she agreed to go to his apartment for a cup of coffee. His apartment was filled with trophies from his sports past in baseball and football. The furniture was modern, and the apartment had a "cold" feeling. No warm and cozy contributions were made by him when picking out his furniture or bedding. She was curious to know what he would be like in bed. Before she knew it, she was finding out just how well Jack could make love. He took a nosedive in that department. He took no time for foreplay, and was rather rough. Sex lasted for about five minutes. Not caring if she had been satisfied or not, he turned over, said goodnight and went to sleep.

For the first time in her life, Alana felt used. As she curled up on her side, she began thinking about the evening. Conversation had been just about him, lovemaking was just sex and not loving at all. Realizing his beauty was only skin deep, she wanted to run back to Dan. She had to admit that she now realized that Dan truly was handsome in her eyes, and Jack could not begin to measure up to the person Dan was. She felt horrible, and hoped that Dan would never find out. Her heart felt heavy at the thought of hurting Dan. She vowed never to make this mistake again.

As Alana was looking at the flowers, she immediately thought of her indiscretion with Jack. Surely, she thought the flowers could not be from him. She had not given her address to him, nor had they talked about where she lived. She wasn't even sure Jack had her last name. Fear gripped her heart. She was afraid to look at the card Dan was holding in his hands. Looking at his face, she feared the worst. Taking the card from hands, Alana's hands shook. Dan hadn't uttered another word, and just kept his head down. He didn't know what to say, he was so upset. He was afraid to find out what it meant.

Reading the card, Alana began to cry. Shaking, she didn't say anything at first, and tried to think of what to say to Dan. "Dan, after work two weeks ago, I went out with some of my co-workers. A man named Jack asked me to dance. I did go to his apartment. It meant nothing. I don't even know why I did it." "Was he handsome?" Dan looked up at her and asked. It was like a bucket of cold water had just washed all over Alana. She knew it was exactly why she had spent the evening with Jack. Dan had cut right to the heart of the matter. She knew her answer would be crucial. "He was handsome, but only on the outside. I didn't care for him at all, and couldn't wait to run back to you. I'm so sorry. If anything, it confirmed my love for you. You are handsome to me, outside and inside. I promise never to let anything ever happen like this again. I will be true to you forever. I learned that I only want you, Dan. I love you. Please forgive me." Alana was heaving she was crying so hard. She felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest at the thought of losing Dan. Dan was crying hard now too. He was devastated to learn that she had opened herself up to another man.

"Part of me understands, Alana. I know I'm not handsome, like other guys. But I have to know that the person I spend the rest of my life with loves me and sees me as the only one for her. Can you truly say that you feel this way about me?" Alana walked over to him and took his face in her hands and looked directly into his eyes, "Yes, Dan. I can say that you are the only man I will ever love. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to be true to you." Dan grabbed her and held her tight. He believed her. Alana was so relieved, but knew she would have to deal with Jack, so that he didn't contact her again.

Dan left to go home, as it was getting late, and they both had to go to work the next day. Alana called the flower shop Jack used to order the flowers. They provided his address and phone number. She called him. "Hi, Jack, this is Alana." "Were the flowers beautiful?" "Yes, they were, but I'm not interested in pursuing a relationship with you. I have a boyfriend, and I'm sorry that I mislead you. I don't want to see you again, and wish you the very best." "What do you mean? Why did you sleep with me, if you had a boyfriend?" Jack was angry. No one ever turned him down. He considered himself quite a catch, even if for just one night. He was a wealthy stockbroker, and knew he was handsome. How dare this girl call him and treat him like a one night stand. That was his line. "I'm sorry. I have never gone out on my boyfriend, and I don't intend to ever do it again. I love him. Please honor my request and just leave me alone." Alana didn't give Jack a chance to respond, she just hung up the phone.

Feeling relieved, she sat down and fell asleep. Feeling like she was dreaming, Alana woke up to a knock at the door. She ran downstairs and opened the door to a white carriage with three men standing in front of it playing guitars and singing select songs from the film "Dirty Dancing". Dan was in a tuxedo and smiling. "Alana, will you marry me?" Alana ran to him, and stood up and led her to the carriage. The horse drawn carriage took them around their neighborhood. She couldn't help but stare at the beautiful diamond ring he had placed on her finger. She would never again take for granted that fact that Dan's inner beauty made him beautiful on the outside as well in her eyes. She was the happiest she had ever been.