Lights and sound filled the air around Marley Rose, bringing out the timidness inside of her as she walked through the crowd with her head low and her arms folded across her chest. She didn't even know why she was here; being as her friends left her alone and she couldn't find them for the life of her. That left her to wander the fairgrounds in search of something to do that didn't involve her talking to people. It was the time of year for the Lima county fair, just mere weeks before school was going to let out for the summer, and the entire community came to show their love for anything American and patriotic. It's not like there was anything to do, seeing as most of the metal for the carnival rides was sent overseas to help with the war, and the food rations that were put into place made the concession stands very bland. It took a moment for her to find an empty park bench that sat in a clearing between booths, seemingly far enough away from the huge crowd that she might be able to breathe a little bit easier.
As she walked toward it, Marley could feel the eyes of people staring into her back. "That's the girl without the father," She heard a little girl say in a hushed whisper, to which her mother harshly shushed her. That was what she was known for in this town, the girl without the father figure and with a XXL mother. She was considered very strange among others her age, not that she minded at all, because one day she was sure that she would be away from here. A few weeks were the only thing that was separating her from New York City, since she planned to immediately move after graduation instead of going on the hunt for a husband like most girls her age. Honestly, even though this face may give her mother a heart attack, Marley was less than interested in finding a husband at the moment, and probably wouldn't be interested in a long time. Her only interest was in music, the emotions and freedom that came with singing was addicting and she had no plans on giving up her dreams to be some man's housewife.
She let out a sigh as she sat down, being sure straighten her plaid skirt before anyone could see her upper legs. She watched the different people walk by, waving their miniature American flags and dropping coins into the Salvation Army tin. "Day dreaming again, Miss Rose?" She heard behind her, recognizing the voice immediately as she turned around. It was Ryder Lynn, Lima High's own bad boy. There were rumors of him that went around every so often, mostly about him having his way with a girl or getting caught smoking behind the school library. It seemed like he was going steady with a new girl each month, and that he was more likely to be seen at lover's lane than within 100 feet of school. Every girl was attracted to him, except for Marley. That fact made him have a special interest in her, where he was either teasing her and calling her a bookworm or trying to get her to go on a date with him. Either way, Marley learned to ignore him.
She turned to face the crowd of people again, hoping to see her friends as a way to leave the situation. Ryder wouldn't have her ignore him, making it obvious by slyly jumping over the back of the bench and sitting by her, a charming grin covering his face. "Not daydreaming, just thinking." She answered back coldly, crossing her arms across her chest. It was boys like Ryder that made her glad that she was going to be in New York in a few short months, making her dream come true while they were stuck here to live the small town life until they died.
Ryder chuckled as he turned his body toward her with his arm lightly draping over the side of the chair, nearly wrapping around her shoulders. She shrugged her shoulders and scooted herself away from him, causing Ryder to make a playful hissing sound as if she just punched him in the chest, "Ice Queen." He commented with a laugh, "What's gotten your panties in a twist, doll face?" He said, making Marley roll her eyes and let out a sigh.
"I don't like being bothered by fat-heads like you." She snapped back at him, cocking an eyebrow and pursing her lips. That statement seemed to have offended him a little bit, but the infamous Ryder Lynn never backed down from a challenge, even if the challenge was getting a bluenose like Marley to go steady with him.
He scooted himself closer to her, straightening out his brown leather jacket and licking his lips before responding. "I wasn't planning on bother anyone, ma'am, especially a keen gal' like you." She said with a crooked smile and a hand running through his perfectly golden brown hair. Marley shook that thought away from her, convincing herself that his hair was just an ordinary brown. "I was just coming over to tell you the good news." He said with a shrug, knowing that it would peak Marley's interest.
She finally turned her head toward him, but slowly scooted farther away from him, but not as much a distance as the first time. "Is the good news that you're going to leave me alone until graduation is over with?" She said, trying to make her voice as cold as possible, but it was obvious that she was only using the mean words to cover up her real curiosity.
He shook his head and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, which by the small size and color of it Marley could only assume that it was a draft card. Her mouth fell open slightly at the sight of it, and at the thought of someone like Ryder at war. He'd always been a little dull witted when it came to things, but he was also hard boiled enough that he'd easily put himself in harms way just for the thrill. It wasn't like every other boy in their graduation class wasn't planning on leaving for the army too, it just took Marley aback a little more than the rest. "You're going overseas?" She asked, no sign of ice in her voice at all.
He smiled, not a crooked smile or a soft smirk that he used as a line to pick up dames, but a real smile, a smile that came from doing something good. "As soon as graduation is out of the way, I only get a few weeks of summer before I get shipped off." He said as he played with the paper in his hands, then proceeded to stuff it back into the pocket of his jacket.
She leaned forward toward him, her ponytail falling over her shoulder. "That's...pretty swell. Congratulations." She said, forcing her voice to fall flat and monotone. She returned her eyes to the group of kids playing tag a few yards in front of them, still twirling around their American flags around with glee.
He scooted himself closer to Marley once again, the girl now too tired of this game to scoot any farther away from him. "That's not even the good news." He said, raising his eyebrows as Marley slowly turned her attention back to him. He could tell she had a curious nature, whether it be by her interest in his vague statement, or her constant time spent in the library. "The good news is that I know exactly who I'm going to take dancing as a celebration of my drafting." He said, being sure that he didn't give her any clue as to who it was that he was speaking of. Marley turned her head and cocked her eyebrow, waiting for him to get to the punchline.
"I know this pretty ritzy joint a few towns over, and it'd be really swell if you could go with me, Marley." He said, giving her a shrug of his shoulders and a little had to admit that he was pretty spiffy guy, but Marley wasn't one to go out dancing on the weekend with guys like Ryder. The little voice in her head reminded her that this would be in celebration of his drafting, and that it might be the last time he ever went out dancing.
She bit the inside of her mouth as she thought for a moment, a little glimmer of light in his eyes as she didn't reject him automatically like she usually does. "Sounds..pretty neat. I'd be glad too." She said, chuckling a little bit at his wide eyes and dropped jaw.
"You're not pulling my leg, are you?" He said, suddenly a little bit cautious. It was to be expected, since her usual response was a form of "Thank you, but no thank you." She had to give him credit for his persistence, and she had to remind herself that she only had to do it once before she could go back to rejecting him. She shook her head, which made his smile grow a little bit wider. "I swear that it won't fall flat, Miss Rose. This Friday, I'll pick you up at...6pm?" He said, standing up and giving her a gentlemanly bow and nod. Marley forced a smile on her face as she agreed, and let out a sigh of relief as he turned to walk away, probably to brag to his friends about landing a date with the uptight Marley Rose. "What did I just get myself into?" Marley asked herself, letting her head roll back to look at the stars.