‘Are you my true love?’

The cashier at Hope’s local takeaway scratched the back of his head as he tried to muster up a response. Was he Hope’s true love? Probably not, he knew this, knowing that fact hadn’t stopped him from pining over her for the past 5 years however.

Eli shrugged his shoulders and handed Hope her chips, giving her a weak smile and courteously telling her to have a good day. Hope rolled her eyes at his politeness and walked off, her combat boots leaving muddy footprints across the shop. Eli groaned internally and made a mental note to grab a mop.

Hope didn’t understand. Her horoscope informed her that she’d be meeting her true love today, her eyes scanned the busy street and sighed in despair. She considered her options.

1) Go up to all eligible bachelors.

She shook her head at this idea, how would she know who is an eligible bachelor?

2) Let her true love come to her

Hope bit her lip at this suggestion. If he was her true love surely she wouldn’t have to look for it, she thought. She nodded her head decisively and finalised her agenda for today. She’d let the universe work its’ magic and she’d sit back and enjoy the ride.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and spinned on her heel to see Eli standing before her holding a box. ‘You forgot your burger.’

Hope narrowed her eyes at the rugged boy before her, observing his faint dimple in the corner of his cheek and the wavy locks of his ebony hair that were now becoming dampened by the rain.

‘Are you my true love?’ Hope quizzed.

Eli smiled at the repeated question, he knew he could use this opportunity to ask Hope out, after all, he’d been writing those horoscopes for years.

‘Yes, I am.’