An Awkward Meeting

"It is a pleasure to meet you…" his voice trailed off, unsure of what to make of this situation.

Her smile widened, but her eyes seemed perplexed as of what to do next. His sockets mimicked her own state of puzzlement.

'What on Earth should I do?' he thought frantically to himself while he continued to dumbly stare at her, 'What was I thinking? I should have never put myself in this predicament! What was I going to do? Make small talk or ask her out for some coffee?' But before he could answer his questions, Parker decided for him.

"Well it was very nice meeting you too, I should probably be going…" she concluded awkwardly as her shining eyes adverted downward. Kenneth merely nodded in defeat.

'Well I guess that's that. Here's to the most awkward meeting ever!' he thought dramatically as well as miserably.

When she slowly stood up to take her leave, the same ankle rolled once again and caused her to fall forward. Without thinking, Kenneth darted to catch her. As soon as he reached her, she fell with a gasp into his boney chest. His skeletal hands held both of her bare arms for a moment as she leaned into him.

'She's so close…' Kenneth thought almost hungrily as he took in her sweet, intoxicating scent and savored the feel of her warm, soft skin against his wiry fingers.

Only after a second, though it felt like an eternity of bliss to Kenneth, Parker looked up at him in bewilderment and he quickly apologized as he put her back on her feet.

'Ugh I am no better than those brutes!' he shouted to himself, 'What has come over me? I must get a hold of myself… For she must be entirely terrified that my revolting carcass made contact with her…'

But before he could make a mad dash to the woods in utter disgrace, Parker quickly grasped his boney wrist in order to steady herself.

At this, Kenneth froze.

'She's touching me', he thought in amazement as she picked up her dropped shawl, slowly gathered her bearings, and looked up at him once again.

Her green eyes glowed with curiosity and kindness, "Why do you keep apologizing?" she asked innocently.

Kenneth was absolutely speechless by this simple question.

'Does she honestly not notice or care that I am a monster?' he wondered in his shocked state and finally managed to answer, "Well, because… you see… I am…"

"Different?" she finished.

He nodded slowly, "Yes…"

Her eyes that still swam with kindness were now tinted with a kind of sadness, although her lips fashioned a sweet smile.

"Well, I am different myself", she said with a small, musical laugh in her voice.

Kenneth was dumbfounded.

'You're dreaming Kenneth, this cannot possibly be real' one part of him stated in denial.

Then another side interjected,' There's no way you could dream this up! She's too wonderful to ever be imagined! She must be real…'

As he continued to argue within himself whether or not the girl was real, Parker than shifted her gaze to his long skeleton hand. Once Kenneth snapped back to reality, he realized that she was now studying his boney fingers.

In this moment, he couldn't help but think 'Why doesn't she run away and scream like a normal human being?' as he intently observed the way she calmly examined his eerie claw.

When she appeared to be done, she looked up at him once again as her sheer curiosity and awe swelled on her beautiful face.

"Would it be terrible if I asked you to walk me home?" she asked almost pleadingly "I can't deny that I'm still a little shaken up and I'd feel much safer if you walked with me."

Once again, Kenneth was positively flabbergasted as this angel stared at essentially a demon with a smile.

'Well I guess the only thing to do is accept that this girl is far from ordinary' he thought as he tried to eradicate his astonishment.

Finally, Kenneth composed himself enough to answer in a smooth Skellington tone, "Not at all, I shall gladly escort you home."

Her smile broadened and revealed her pearly teeth and charming dimples at the corners of her luscious mouth. He couldn't help but stare at her virtuous face for a moment more as her breathtaking eyes sparkled, but then he quickly turned sideways and grandly gestured her forward.

"Lead the way, my lady", Kenneth said in his most gentlemanly-like demeanor.

Parker giggled her compelling laugh, and she released her grip on his wrist and slowly walked into the direction of her house.

'Thank goodness I inherited my father's charm' he thought with relief as he took to her side and walked with her down the damp road.