Repitition of history

Sean took a deep breath and dialled. He nervously tapped the sideboard wishing she would hurry up and answer. 6 rings. 7 rings. 8 rings. He nearly hung up when Tasha answered sounding breathless. “Hello?”
“Oh, Tasha, hey. It’s me.”
“Oh hi Sean. Sorry it took me awhile to answer I just got out of the shower.” Sean could picture sitting on the edge of the bed wearing only a towel. Her long dark hair dripping down her lean back, onto her shapely arse. Or perhaps she wasn’t wearing a towel, and merely sat there naked. Sean scolded himself for thinking that way. It wasn’t making matters any better. She was after all his best friend’s fiancé.
“Sean? Are you still there?”
“Err sorry Tasha, I just got distracted. Um, I was thinking, how about we go out for dinner tonight, as your last night of freedom. Well with me anyway. You fly out tomorrow, and I won’t be able to make it to Fiji for the wedding”
“Oh Sean, couldn’t you take a week off work?” she pleaded. Sean almost gave in but he couldn’t leave now, not with this contract so close to being finalised.
“I can’t Tash, you know how it is.” Tasha sighed.
“Yeah I do. Well okay then, I’d love to go to dinner with you.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at eight okay?”
“Okay then, I’ll be waiting.” Sean hung up and let out his breath. Now if only he could make it through tonight he’d be fine.

Sean arrived at exactly 8:00 and Tasha was ready for him. She let him in and walked upstairs to get her shoes. Sean sat down on the couch and rubbed his hands together. He nervously looked around and his eyes rested on a bunch of roses sitting on the dining room table. Each was perfectly formed and the colour of blood.
Tasha came back down the stairs and smiled at Sean. “Ready?” she asked.
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?” Tasha laughed. “Well we should be going,” he said. “The restaurant won’t stay open forever.”
They arrived at the city’s finest restaurant and were seated at a table where they could look out over the ocean. “Buenos Tardes Señorita,” the waiter said handing Tasha a menu. “What would you like to drink Señor,” he asked Sean. Sean orded wine for both of them, and the the waiter took their order. As they waited Sean watched Tasha as sahe talked. The way she moved her hands when she spoke with such grace. The way her hair caught the light just so, and made her look, if possible, so much more beautiful. How her perfect lips formed each word, and how they glistened when she had just taken a drink. He was going to miss her when she left. Even more when she came back with her new husband.
Tasha continued to talk throughout dinner. When the waiter came to ask if there was anything else they wanted Tasha declined, and suggested a walk along the shore. The moon was full, so there was a lot of light to see by. They walked to a seat and sat down. Tasha leant her head back and looked up at the stars. “Can you tell the future from the stars?” she asked Sean.
“No,” Sean replied. “They cannot predict the future, only tell stories of the past.”
“Tell me one,” said Tasha snuggling closer to Sean’s warmth. Sean put an arm around Tasha and pulled her closer. “Well, do you see that group of stars up there,” he pointed to a small cluster. When Tasha nodded he carried on. “That’s Prince Ian. He was the heir to the throne, and owned all the riches in the land. But he wasn’t happy. He never wanted all the fortune, only someone to love. He grew up with his best friend Jack. They were always out on adventures and could hardly be separated. Until one day a new girl moved to the town. Jack fell in love with Elizabeth the moment he saw her and the feeling seemed mutual. When they were old enough Jack and Elizabeth agreed to marry the coming summer. Prince Ian had always been around, and watched them fall in love. He was happy for them on the surface, but he didn’t feel it in his heart. The truth was, over the years Prince Ian had too come to love Elizabeth.
On the night before the wedding Prince Ian went to visit Elizabeth. He didn’t mean to, but he told her how he felt. Elizabeth burst into tears and revealed that she loved the Prince too. But it was too late. She couldn’t call the wedding off now. Prince Ian felt his heart break and it never mended. He never found another woman to love, and died a cold lonely man in his bed. The stars show Prince Ian pining for his lost love.” There was a silence after Sean finished his story. “That’s so sad,” Tasha finally whispered. Sean nodded. She sat up and looked Sean in the eye. “It’s a bit like real life, isn’t it?” she said. Sean looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Look Sean, I know how you feel about me.” Sean didn’t know what to say.
“I…err-”
“Don’t deny it Sean. I'm female, I have this little thing called intuition.”
“So? It doesn’t matter does it? You’re going off tomorrow to marry my best friend, and there’s nothing I can do is there?”
“But Sean, can’t you see what I'm saying?” Sean looked at her confused.
“No.”
“I love you Sean. I have since the day we met, and I always will.” Sean was shocked.
“But you never made a move Sean, and Mark did. I'm sorry. I made the wrong choice and I can’t change it now.” Tasha leaned in and gently kissed Sean then got up and walked out of his life forever.