She looked up to the figure casting shadow over her on the busy sidewalk. The crowds milled past without as much as a glance. City life almost ensures a level of inhumanity. People care so little for others she went unnoticed weeping against that stairway for some time. It wasn’t like her. She prided herself on keeping up appearances and never breaking down in public. She hated him, this man who acknowledged her existence, acknowledged her weakness. His eyes were cold, calm looking down on her. His arm outstretched offering her his hand. Before she could stop herself she’d placed her hand in his.
His hand was warm. Soft for a man’s hands and enclosed in around her hand timidly. A questioning expression crossed over those grey eyes as if to affirm her assurance. Without really thinking she nodded and he hoisted her to her feet. It was only then she realized she’d stopped crying. As if to have read her thoughts, a small soft smile graced his lips. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared and once again those eyes seemed without feeling boring into her own almost as if he was looking right into her. Again she hated him.
She must have grimaced as once again that faint knowing smile flashed over his face. Those eyes, so soft, so sad… His smile never touched them almost making them seem more miserable by comparison.
“Come,” His sudden voice startled her. He turned and started walking and she was following before she knew why.
‘What the hell am I thinking, who is this freak,’ she thought furiously to herself following in his wake. ‘No wonder he treats you like he does, look at you following some absolute stranger around meekly… I wander if she was a stranger… Is she someone I know? I bet it’s that…’ her thoughts were cut abruptly of as his hand tightened around hers. She stared at her hand bewildered, wondering when it was that he’d grabbed her hand. ‘Did he even let go?’ He walked closer to her as they passed through a thick crowd of people stopping in front of the crossing his musky scent seemed familiar but she couldn’t place it. He didn’t let go of her hand. The city was alive with people going about their business. Hundreds of thousands of people living hundreds of thousands of lives, all with their own problems. She felts so insignificant and small.
Her eyes drifted to her captor. He wasn’t an ugly man. He was off age with her, slightly taller than average with unremarkable dark brown hair threatening to cover his soft grey eyes. Those eyes were the only thing about him that could be thought of as a characteristic. She’d never seen quiet their like before. Even still, had he bothered to shave that morning no one would have looked at him twice herself included. He watched impatiently as the cars passed by seemingly on the verge of darting out. His imprudence was so male she once again found herself cursing him. Obviously not from the city as Perth’s occupants were generally used to the delays midmorning traffic ensued.
She was suddenly jerked forward as he leapt out onto the road ‘When did it change green?’ and she was pulled along once again. ‘Who does he think he is? I’m no rag doll to be pulled about as his will, I’ll tear him a new one,’
“Look,…” she began. His hand releasing her hand startled her into silence.
Off balance again, ‘his fault’ she tensed her hand still feeling the feint ghost of his touch wishing he had not let go. ‘No, what am I thinking, what the hell is wrong with you girl!’
She looked around to find out where he’d dragged her. ‘A coffee shop?, ‘ she fumed turning to him to scream abuse only to find he wasn’t there. Startled again, her eyes franticly darted about and finally rested on him speaking briskly with a waitress. The young girl was pretty and was barely listening apparently sharing her opinion of his lack of interesting qualities. The pretty young waitress’s eyes rested on her for a moment the quick assessment enough to warrant another inspection of her abductor as if to see for herself why she was with him. Evelyn was used to such attention. Modesty or not. She couldn’t deny she was very attractive. This guy probably assumed to try to pick her up but he’d find out soon enough what a rude shock he was in for. ‘Just as soon as I… Why am I delaying?’
She was seated across from him before she realized. He’d chosen a spot close by the water feature the soft trickle of water enticing an odd relaxing ambiance if that was at all possible with all the sounds of the city choking them. His eyes were taking turns between studying her and the waterfall without speaking. The silence hung heavy suffocating her. She wanted to scream out loud but couldn’t say a word. For some reason unknown to her she was his willing hostage. Minutes passed in silence and gradually she began to ease into the silence once again focusing on her hands trying to remember his touch. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’
The waitress finally brought out two cups placing one in front of each of them. “Extra Marshmallows for the lady as you ordered sir,” she said in a bland uninterested voice once again eyes passing between the two strangers as if to affirm the reason of them being together. Eve was desperately wishing for that answer herself.
“Marsh mellows? What the hell makes you think I want Marsh Mellows?” She growled at him. He recoiled into himself and looked as if she’s slapped him in the face. The serving girl took that as a sign for leaving and darted back with a hint of a satisfied smile on her lips. Those soft grey eyes looked wounded and lost.
With a sudden jerk she realized those were the first words she’d spoken to him, words in frustrated anger. Worse still, she actually did like marshmallows. Frantically she tried to think of something to say to take it back. Moments passed.
“Strange isn’t it? Even with all this commotion around us, something as small and insignificant as that sound has a calming effect.” He mused out load.
Following his gaze to the water feature she took it that he was talking about the sound of water falling. ‘Did he hear what I said? Damn Him!!’ She had to bite her tongue from repeating the same mistake instead taking a gulp of the cup in front of her.
Warm, thick soft chocolate tantalized her throat as she tasted the hot chocolate. Again she was taken with unreasonable anger. That he should assume she’d want hot chocolate grated her almost as much as him being right.
“Thank you,” she managed.
He smiled that smile of his, the warmth reaching his eyes faintly and she caught her breath in the realization that her heart fluttered at the sight. ‘You silly girl, your life is already mixed up enough as it is. Your love life is in some serious trouble and this is no time to start anything’
.
His smile dissolved once more and he watched her unblinking in that questioning manner. She tried to no avail to rein in her thoughts fearing that perhaps he was somehow spying in on them. ‘What am I going to do? He confessed so I can’t just leave him but I can’t stay with him either. He said he loves me… I want to see him… Just finish the drink and leave,’ It was something about those eyes that changed her mind. This stranger had already seen her break down and here she was trying put on a brave front on as if to pretend nothing happened.
She let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back into the seat. She wanted to trust this man; she wanted to confide in him. There was a level of safety in talking to strangers that you can never have with people you know. Tell a friend in confidence and they would swear to keep it a secret but then tell someone else telling them to keep it a secret and before long everyone knows. Confide in friends only what you would risk everyone knowing. She would never see this man again and he could tell anyone he wants and all they would know is some girl said whatever.
“Would you stay with a girl if she cheated on you?” she asked.
The unnerving silence held with those eyes looking right through her. Finally, his gaze refocused on her watching her carefully. “It’s difficult to say,” He began, “If she kissed man or slept with him and even then there’s no clear defining reaction or reasoning.”
‘Well, that was a waste of time’ she thought bitterly. He’d answered her question without really answering anything. ‘Maybe he’s studying to be a politician’
“Either way, your boyfriend is a fucken asshole! Forgive him or not you need to decide on your own but if I can advise on any particular part. Kick the fucker in the balls at least once,” he said bluntly.
Eyes wide she stared at him astonished. Unable to believe she really heard right. She replayed those crude words he said so matter-a-factly over and over in her mind as if to make herself believe he’d really said them. Abruptly she burst out laughing. A pure unhindered laugh filled the courtyard. She hadn’t thought she could laugh again and thinking that she laughed all the more. His eyes were wide with shock probably thinking her mad which only fuelled her laughter to new levels. Finally she started to settle down and wiping tears from her eyes she finally managed to say “You’re insane, complete psycho,”
“I’m a psycho?” he cried indignantly, “You’re the one that’s lost it! You’ve got the whole place staring.” She looked around and was surprised to see how many people jumped and suddenly seemed to be looking anywhere but at them.
Returning her focus to her strange crude companion she once again reassessed him.
“Thank you,” she said slowly. “For the hot chocolate,” she finished. He had that amused knowing smile again but this time she didn’t begrudge him that. People returned to their papers and own conversations and she relaxed into the silence taking her time to form the right words she wanted to say. Then began.
“I’m not really the sort of person to cry in public. My mother always said it’s a manner of class to keep our affairs private. Although I don’t see how she’d have any problem keeping rein on her emotions considering she doesn’t actually have any, plus we aren’t the richest family so I don’t see why she’s so ridged and formal anyway. Never the less I’m used to a level of dignity so what happened earlier… Should not have happened and will not again. I just needed time to build my resolve so don’t think I’m some common…
I haven’t… That is I’m waiting for… It’s not that I’m particularly religious or anything, it’s just a family tradition that we er… That we wait for marriage. He understands. At least he said he did. I mean I know he wants to. Like obviously, he’s a guy right. So what he did, I guess stands to reason after all, men are adulterous by nature. But I thought he was different you know. Not just another man. We’ve always had this sort of bond. He’s civilized and popular and gorgeous and intelligent.
He even has the right family. I was so alone before I met him trapped in a world of empty friendships and family obligations. I hated the confines of my birth and the ridiculous dated demands my mother placed on my life. I’m not some stupid submissive obedient wife my family expects me to be. I’m my own person you know. But he gets all that, and somehow all what I must endure was worth it because it means I can be with him. He somehow justified and clarified my existence just being who he is. Damn him.
We’ve already had our futures mapped out with the help of our families which annoying as it was, we were happy with because nothing would come in-between us. We are as good as married. For the love of god our engagement was set to date. Yer, I know what you’re thinking both people shouldn’t plan to get engaged it should happen like in the movies and be all spontaneous and everything but life isn’t like that. Our lives were all tied up in strings and as horrible as that was I was prepared to endure anything because it meant I could be with him. Even if I told my mother what happened, I don’t think she’d care. She’d just take his side and force me into a loveless marriage like hers was.
What choice do I have? I hate him for what he did but I can’t stop loving him as well. I want to just forget everything go back to the way it was and as ridiculous as it sounds I wish he didn’t tell me. It hurts me to be angry at him. This pain, this betrayal. I’m suffocating.”
His embrace was warm and tight yet reassuring. She held him desperately clinging him her tears soaking into his chest. ‘When did I start crying again,’ “Please don’t let go,” ‘when did he?’ He’d crossed the distance to her as soon as she started crying. Without interrupting her he’d knelt down to her and gathered her up in his arms. They stayed like that, a spectacle for any who cared to watch but neither really cared.
If her mother could see her now she’d never live it down. None of that mattered because right now, this moment this man, this stranger was her everything to her. Caught up in a world of pain and turmoil she was confused and hurt and he was a beacon of light. A life boat in a sea of storms. She let herself go into his sure embrace. She tried to form more words but nothing came out but inaudible splutters. She eased away from him gazing up into those uncertain eyes. ‘Why is he so kind?’ He didn’t let go of her and she watched his eyes hesitatingly stray to her lips his cheeks colouring with an embarrassing thought. Amused, she smiled at him delighting in the way he blushed and almost burst out laughing when he realized she knew what he was thinking and flushed a deeper crimson. She unlocked her arms from around his waist and slipped them under his and around his neck pulling him down closer to her face. Entranced she watched his eyes focus and then refocus knowing his mind was going a million miles per hour. She gave him only moments before pulling him the remaining distance. She closed her eyes as she kissed him.
He was hesitant, unresponsive if only for a second before he returned her kiss. It tasted of the salt from her tears and bitterness from his coffee. His hands pressed against her shoulder blades pushing her tighter into his kiss and she inturn tightened her grip around his neck. Finally he pulled back and she hated him for it. It was then she’d realised what she did. She ripped her arms free and shoved him with all her strength in his chest. He stumbled back off balance knocking into the table. She turned and fled not looking back.