Day 35 ~ Cracking the code

John found a piece of paper in his mailbox that read:

Caught up in Love
90 16 5
92 22 1
94 6 10
98 10 9

Immediately, he went to his bookshelf, and took his dog eared copy of Caught up in Love, and flipped through it.
“Page 90, Line 16, Word 5.” He murmured to himself. “I’m.”
He found the other words, since it was the same pattern, and finally looked at the message staring up at him. I’m sorry for everything.

A small smile escaped his lips, as he scripted his reply.
96 9 7, 99 2 5
It’s okay. 

Day 18 ~ Notes by Mary

About Caught up in Love
Written by Mary

Caught up in love by Jason Mordecai is a bestselling novel, that recently got adapted into a film. The story is about Peter, and Emily, two vastly different characters that no doubt fall in love with each other, and live “happily ever after”. Caught up in love is a novel that is considered better than Romeo, and Juliet, and has captured the hearts of people, old, and young, worldwide.

Of course, all it’s done for this town is make everyone so irritatingly lovesick. I’m extremely disappointed that novels that have been released after this bestseller have had romantic elements that are both cliched, and cringeworthy. I have little to no interest in this romantic bestseller, let alone the ripoffs that have been released afterward. It was book I hadn’t intended to read… Until John came along.

Day 13 ~ “Internet Cuts”

February 3rd, 2:12PM

John is calling…

Mary: Hi John!
John: Hey. I just finished my shift at work. Are you free?
Mary: Hmmm… Not right now. I’m studying for my literature exam.
John: Can I come over and help?
Mary: Are you really going to help?
John: Sure. I know everything about Caught up in love.
Mary: I’m not studying that.
John: Oh. Then I guess I can’t.
Mary: Well then. I guess you can come over then.
John: Sure. And Mary, I lo-

Call ended. 2:16PM

Mary: John? John?

Text from John (2:30PM): Sorry, internet cut.
Text from Mary (2:31PM): From phone calling?!
Text from John (2:32PM): Yeah
Text from Mary (2:34PM): I-
Text from John (2:37PM): Mary? Mary, you what?
Text from John (3:02PM): Mary, what happened?

John is calling…

Mary: Hi!
John: What happened?
Mary: Oh sorry, there was an internet cut.
John: On text?
Mary: Mhm.
John: Mary I lo-

Call ended 3:11PM

Mary: Oh boy it’s another one of those internet cut thingys.

 

Day 11 ~ Cafe Confessions

John, and Mary sat in a cafe. John had bought Mary, Caught up in love,  as well as the drink, and slice of chiffon cake that he had promised her.
Mary crossed her arms at him. “You lied to me.”
John feigned innocence. “About what?”
“There is no such character as Ross. Peter and Emily do get together.” Mary retorted.
John grinned. “See? That’s something you would know if you’d read the book.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “I didn’t need to read the book to know that.”
There was a short pause, as Mary ate a forkful of cake, and sipped on her tea. John leaned over, and slyly took a forkful of cake.

“Mary.” John began slowly, chewing on the piece of cake. “Do you remember when I asked you to give me a week to fall in love with you?”
Mary laughed. “Yeah. Why?”
“Mary… I think.. I think I’m in love with you.”
Mary sighed. “Out of all your lame jokes, John, this is running a bit dry.”
“I’m serious.” John insisted.
Mary sighed, and there was another silence between them.
“Sorry Mary.” John finally apologised. “I shouldn’t have rushed it.”
“Even Peter didn’t confess until the thirteenth chapter…” Mary said pensively.
“Should I have waited two days?” John joked.
Mary gave him a look.
“Alright! I was joking.” John held up his hands in mock surrender.
“Give me a week.” Mary said. “We’ll see.”
“Deal. A week then.”

Day 10 ~Love is a great adventure

John, and Mary were wandering around the bookstore, after Mary’s shift.
“Mary, you prefer adventure, and fantasy novels right?” John asked.
“Yeah.” Mary replied, “Why?”
John furrowed his eyebrow. “Then how come you don’t like romance novels?”
Mary narrowed her eyes. “You know why, John. I find them too predictable, and not the least bit exciting.”
John laughed, “But Mary,” he placed Caught up in love in her hands, “love is a great adventure. It’s probably the greatest and most exciting adventure there is!”
“Prove it.” Mary crossed her arms.
John leaned in close, and breathed on her face. “Only if you read that.”
“No.”
“Hmmm… what if I treated you to chiffon cake?” John attempted bribery.
Mary considered it. “No. You already ruined it for me anyway.” She put the book back on the shelf.
John picked it up. “I’ll buy you the book, a drink, and a slice of chiffon cake. Besides Mary, you haven’t even read it. How do you know I didn’t lie to you about it?”
“What would you gain from lying to me about the ending?” Mary asked, raising her eyebrow.
“Distrust.” John quipped.
“Exactly.” Mary replied, “Which is why you’ll be buying me a drink, a slice of chiffon cake, the book, and telling me why love is such a great adventure at a nice cafe.”
“Deal.”

Day 3 ~ Caught up in love

John, and Mary sat in a cafe, discussing their preferences in books.
“I love romance stories!” John gushed.
Mary grimaced, as she took a sip of her vanilla rooibos tea. “I don’t.”
“Oh come on, Mary! Caught up in love is a masterpiece!” John protested.
“Not really.” she shrugged. “It’s kind of predictable, which isn’t exciting. Not really my thing.”
John frowned at her response, sporting a white moustache from his latte. “Have you even read it?”
Mary passed him a tissue, and shook her head. “No. Don’t really need to. I mean, it’s super obvious that Peter, and Emily get-”
He interrupted her, clearly disappointed, “No they don’t.”
She looked at him with a surprised look. “They don’t?”
“Mary, how could you go to that party, without reading the novel?!” he exclaimed.
Mary sighed. “I was part of the book club. I’m obligated to-”
“You’re part of the book club, and you haven’t read that masterpiece? Mary… You are a disappointment to the book club.”
Seeing as he hadn’t wiped off his white latte moustache, she distracted him by leaning over, and wiping it off herself.

There was silence between them, for a while, as they both drained their drinks. Mary picked at the chiffon cake between them, but it was clear that neither of them were going to finish it. John considered leaving when Mary spoke up, though quietly.
“What happens to Peter, and Emily?”
“Sorry?” John looked at her queerly, “What happens to Peter, and Emily?” she repeated, actually curious as to how she had messed up her prediction of the ending.
“Oh Emily ditches Peter, because she figures that she deserves better.” John answered.
Mary felt that there was more to the story than that. “And?”
“And Emily ends up with Ross.” John continued. “They get married. The end.”
Mary stared at him. How could she have missed such a big character like Ross? Coming to her senses, she rolled her eyes, and commented, “That’s even worse.”
John shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong, Mary. That’s what makes Caught up in love such a masterpiece.”
“I don’t think so.” she replied.
John let out a belly full of laughter. “You don’t know anything about romance.”
She shrugged. “I suppose not.”
He smiled smugly, “Well I guess I’ll have to show you.”