Author's Note: School ends soon, and I have five chapter stories in the oven. In the meantime, here's one of my prize stories for Layne Muffin, who won third place.
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At the Beginning
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He remembers the first day all too clearly, lifting boxes from a moving van to the thirtieth floor of the nicest penthouse suite in town. He doesn't mind hard work – especially for the Lady – but he does mind being told how to do his job.
And considering her gentle, welcoming nature, the Lady certainly has quite a temper.
He reflects on the first day from the living room couch, staring out the glass patio doors to the city beyond. He is tired of this. Tired and frustrated. No matter how he feels about her, there's only so much he can handle, and this is a little too much.
He hears her rustling from past the bedroom door. She isn't packing – knowing her for so long gives him that insight – it's more likely that she's pacing, like a caged tiger. He's always been the one holding her down, keeping her from her true destiny. She's too good for him, and he knows it.
Sometimes, he isn't sure why she stays.
He waits for a long while before she emerges from the bedroom they share. Her hair, brushed and pulled back into an elaborate twist, glints in the late afternoon sunlight. "What's the occasion?" he asks weakly. In so many ways, she is unpredictable.
She smiles in that benign way that she has, forcing him to let down his guard. "I thought it would be nice to go out for dinner," she says. "Pearl… I know we have our differences, but I don't want to give up. Do you want to start at the beginning?"
He can't help but smile back at her, the one girl he's loved. "That sounds like a good idea," he replies, standing and taking her by the elbow. "What did you have in mind?"
"I heard of a nice place downtown. I think you'll recognize the chef…"