Hey guys. I've started this songfic project just for the heck of it. Each chapter will be a different song and whatever characters I think fit it the best. Hope you enjoy!
It was Christmas Eve, and it was snowing. Not the pleasant, big fluffy flakes, but those nasty wet little pellets that melt and make everything messy. Curly glanced up at the sky illuminated by the harsh sodium vapor lights of the supermarket parking lot. For his pains he received a face-full of the ridiculous precipitation. He sighed and yanked off his glasses to wipe them clean on his scarf. He stomped his feet to keep warm in the frigid air, then popped his glasses back on his face and hurried into the warmth of the store.
Curly picked up a basket and wandered aimlessly down an aisle. He weighed two loaves of bread in his hands, trying to decide on either French or Italian bread. From the next aisle over, he heard what sounded like someone frantically dialing a cell phone and shouting into it. Concerned, Curly peered around the corner to see if something was wrong. A young dark-haired woman in a red wool coat stood staring into a freezer case with a phone pressed to her ear.
"Yes, Nadine, it is an emergency! The cook has the night off for Christmas and I have to find my own dinner! All the restaurants are closed and this is the only store open that I can find. I simply cannot decide whether or not to get a Lean Cuisine Panini or the Healthy Choice Ravioli." She paused, listening. Whatever was said caused her to scrunch her face up in rage and she slammed the phone shut. After her tantrum, she went back to staring moodily into the frozen foods.
Gathering his courage, Curly snuck up behind the woman and lightly touched her sleeve.
"I'd go with the Ravioli." He said quietly. She turned abruptly and raised a hand as if to hit him, before pausing in confusion. For a moment she could only stare as he pulled his hand back. "Hello, Rhonda."
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
"Curly? Oh my- holy- Curly!" She flung her arms around him, but kicked the designer purse that was on the floor at her feet. She stopped just shy of Curly's shoulders and glanced down at the various credit cards and cosmetics on the tile floor. Curly looked bemusedly at her, unsure how she would react. When the expected fury didn't come, he began to chuckle. Rhonda, still staring at the floor, began to laugh as well. Soon both of them were laughing so hard that both had tears flowing down their faces.
"Curly, it's so good to see you." She said a few moments later as they both stood in the checkout line. The cashier scanned Rhonda's ravioli and Curly's lasagna ingredients. He dug in his pockets for a wallet, but Rhonda stopped him. Silently, she handed the cashier a Visa card and gave Curly a dazzling smile. He blushed slightly and turned away.
When Rhonda finished paying for the groceries, she found him fiercely examining a display of candy bars. She paused, unsure what to say. It had been so long since their brief, whirlwind romance in high school. Finally, she placed a slim hand on his shoulder and said
"Do you want to go get a drink?"
The bell on the door of Hillwood Fine Liquors rank shrilly as Rhonda and Curly tumbled out the door, laughing again.
"And then, then Sheena said 'You animal! and I said, 'No, that's the coat!" Curly laughed appreciatively, concentrating more on the puddles and not dropping the drinks. Rhonda continued. "I can't believe there is not a place left open in town."
"Well, it is Christmas Eve, Rhonda." Curly replied as they reached the car. Piling in, Rhonda turned up the heat full blast and they sat and watched the snowflakes melt on the windshield. He pulled out a bottle and handed it to her, which she took gracefully.
"A toast." She suggested. Curly retrieved a drink for himself and clinked it against her bottle.
"To being young and innocent- fifteen years ago." Rhonda smiled and took a swig. Curly glanced across at her and felt a familiar sadness welling up inside- an emptiness that had followed him since high school. Rhonda stared gloomily out the front window as she delivered her next statement.
"I got married, you know. A few years back. His name's Marcus and he's in architecture." Curly felt the bottom of his stomach drop out
"That's- that's great Rhonda." She glanced over at him, curious at his tone. "You must love each other very much. She smiled sadly.
"Well, I don't like to lie. You know, he's a great husband, he makes me feel safe. But still…" she sighed. Curly tentatively snaked an arm around her shoulder
"He's a lucky man." She smiled up at him. It was nice to look up, the last time she had looked down. "You know," Curly continued, "your eyes are still as blue as I remember." She blinked, tears suddenly collecting in the corners. A strange emotion flickered across their sapphire expanse, which Curly could not quite identify. Was it doubt? Or gratitude?
Rhonda pulled away from Curly's one armed embrace and dug in her purse for a tissue. She pulled down the visor mirror and dabbed at her mascara.
"Well, what about you? Are you still in that band? I saw some of your CD's in the music store the other day." She snapped the visor shut and looked expectantly at her bespectacled companion. He glanced at the floor, embarrassed.
"Not really. I loved performing, and the audiences were great. But I hated the travelling. I didn't like being away from home." He reached for his bottle, but had subconsciously drained it through the conversation. Beside him, Rhonda yawned and stretched. Curly took the hint and gathered his grocery bags from around his feet.
"I suppose I'll take my leave then, Rhonda. I'm glad I got to see you again." With a pang of sadness, he added another comment "Tell your husband I said hello and I look forward to maybe meeting him." With that, he crawled out of the car.
"Curly, wait." Rhonda called as she caught his wrist. He stopped and let himself be pulled into her car. Placing a hand on either side of his face, she kissed him tenderly. "I've missed you Curly. It was good to see you." She shifted back into her own seat and gripped the wheel. Curly stepped out of the car for a second time and closed the door gently.
Rhonda revved her engine and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving Curly to cough through the fumes. He waved slightly as she left, but she didn't see him. A memory came to him as her car disappeared from sight. The day that the most popular girl in the senior class of Hillwood High dumped her geeky boyfriend and left him crying on the school steps. Tugging his coat tighter around him, Curly angrily banished the memory. He flipped his collar up and began the long walk home as the Christmas snow turned into rain.
Anyone like to guess the song? Leave a review with the title or Artist and I'll give you a cookie if you're right! Song title will be posted with the next chapter.
Cheers,
Hatterlet