It's About Time
Chapter 1: The Meeting
They were all dancing. Pogue with Kate, Caleb with Sarah, and Reid with some chick he picked up at the bar. Only Tyler was at the table, sipping a Coke and watching enviously at his friends. He quelled an upcoming tide of jealousy as he watched all the couples on the dance floor swaying to a slow song.
Pogue had been with Kate for 2 years now and they were still as close as ever. Caleb and Sarah had met a few months back, but they'd gotten tight very quickly. And Reid…well, Reid was Reid, and he took out any girl he wanted, no strings attached. Tyler had always been shy around girls, especially those he liked, which made it hard for him to talk to them. Most guys thought he was a wuss, but really, Tyler was deeper than that.
Behind his clear and bright blue eyes was a patient kind of longing. Behind the ocean-like shine was a man who was waiting for the right time. He was willing to wait until he was really old, if needed, to find the girl who was destined to share his heart and hold his hands. Tyler was a patient man, and he believed that patience achieved more than strength.
Tyler shook out his dark hair with his hand and closed his eyes for a while. He opened them with a start when he sensed that someone was watching him. He turned his head to the side and spotted a group of girls checking him out and whispering to each other. Tyler sent a polite smile their way and their whispering doubled. He looked away uneasily and sipped his Coke again. Truth be told, Tyler had sent many girls' hearts racing with his really, really gorgeous blue eyes, soft looking dark hair, that beautifully toned body of his and his delicious voice. Not to mention the gentlemanly way he talked and acted. Many girls would throw themselves at his feet and that was exactly what Tyler didn't want. He wanted girls to be demure and sweet, affectionate and kind. He was an old-fashioned guy. So even if he participated in Reid's panty-bets, he didn't make too much of a habit of checking out girls in that way.
Finally fed up with the whispering and staring from the girls' table, Tyler got up and shrugged on is coat. He left a text message to Caleb saying he left and headed out into the cold December night. He stood outside for awhile, just breathing in the nippy winter air. Then he took out his keys and went for his truck. He drove around a bit, not really knowing where to go until he found himself in an old children's playground. In his childhood he hadn't exactly been to many playgrounds, preferring the comforts of his room and just reading for hours. That explained his being an introvert. Slowly Tyler got out of the car and sat at an old swing. He rocked back and forth for a while, enjoying the silence of the still night and the memories that flooded his mind. He sat there for more than ten minutes when he heard a little rustle and turned toward the sound. Surprisingly, he saw a girl standing a few feet from him with a sheepish look on her face. Before Tyler could react, she said softly,
"I'm sorry. I meant to walk slowly so I wouldn't disturb you. I guess I stepped on a twig." Tyler couldn't help but notice how wonderful her voice sounded: like the soft tinkling of chimes from a distance; very soft and melodic but still clear.
"No it's okay. I was just sitting around," he said, now taking in the sight of her light brown hair flowing around her shoulders, her clear complexion, and the lovely pink hue of her full lips and cheeks. He couldn't see her eyes from where he was sitting, but they sparkled with a little twinkle even in the dark. The girl smiled slightly and moved back.
"Well, I should go. I'm sorry again for disturbing you," she said in the same sweet voice. She turned to leave. Before Tyler could think of being shy, he surprised himself.
"Wait, don't go. It's nice to have someone to talk to. Sit with me a while?" he asked, extending his hand before losing his nerve. His mind was screaming at him, saying that this was a stranger he knew nothing about. But another person in his head told him it was okay. The girl looked at his hand, then back at him for a moment of hesitation. Before she could change her mind, she placed her tiny hand in his much larger one and stepped toward him. He stood up slightly to guide her steps since rocks and tree branches were all over the ground. Once she was seated on the swing beside his, Tyler took a seat again and resumed his rocking. He stole a glance at the girl and saw that her eyes were a lighter blue than his. The girl turned to him and smiled.
"I'm Tyler by the way. Tyler Sims," he said, extending his hand to her again. This time she took it with no hesitation.
"Annie Harbor," she said. Tyler held her hand a little longer and she didn't pull away. Tyler smiled at her. Hello Annie Harbor. So nice to meet you.