"You."

His expression of surprise and disbelief matched mine perfectly and his words, also drowned in his own throat, made a perfect chorus with mine.

It was him! Suddenly I could remember him vividly. He was the man of my dream! How could he really exist?! Was he famous or something like that?

"Uh… Do we… do I know you? I get the feeling I've seen you somewhere before," I asked cautiously as the color of my ears gave away what my memories were.
"I… I don't think we really know each other, but…"

His entire face was painted pink and I wondered what kind of thoughts were crossing his mind. They certainly wouldn't be as weird as mine.

"Nevermind. Here, your ring."

His voice, as I hadn't heard him do anything other than moan (or rather growl sometimes), I couldn't be sure it was the same, but it was familiar, familiar and terribly exciting to me.

He carefully reached out his hand to me, offering me the ring of evil, and despite wanting to get rid of it, I decided to take it back just to discover what his skin really felt like.

I gulped and let my hand slowly folded onto his palm, basking in the almost rough feel of his skin. Then my arm stuck to my body again and I looked at the ring in displeasure.

"Hey, it's true that it's none of my business what you do with your ring, but… there are always better options than to make a fish split on the inside with that huge boulder."
"For example?"
"Well… without thinking too much about it, it occurs to me to give it away, sell it… travel to Mordor and throw it into a volcano…"

I couldn't help but laugh at his proposal and a beautiful smile invaded his face.

"No can do. It definitely would bounce on the edge and hit a Hobbit's eye."

It was he who laughed then. Opening his rib cage widely, without qualms of any kind. A laugh big and gratifying just like him.

"You are right. You need to find a plan D," he said rubbing his forehead.

Guilt suddenly appeared when I realized that I had hit a… stranger? and, instead of apologizing, I had yelled at him.

"I'm sorry. I've hurt you?"
"Don't worry. I will survive."

"But it is really red," I replied slowly sticking out from under his blonde, long, messy bangs.
"It's okay, I'm fine. I got a thick skull."

I smiled at him, not quite sure what to say to prolong that conversation that I never wanted to end, I put the ring back in the box, and put it back in my pocket.

"Fine then. I'll come up with a plan D."

Maybe plan D could include going for a drink with him and… and maybe I was getting more excited than I should. As much (and incredibly pleasant) as I had dreamed of him, I didn't know him at all. He seemed like a nice guy, but so did Hans. It is true that the energy they gave off was completely different, but… I wouldn't be that fool again. I'd learned the lesson.

"Well, I…" he said interrupting my thoughts. "I guess I should start working."
"Oh sure, I… Work! Oh, my God! I'm going to be late!"

His eyes widened as his expression inevitably reflected amusement by my… attitude? clumsiness? Anyway, by me.

"I'm really sorry about the hit and stuff, okay?"

'Ask for his phone number! Ask for it!'

"No problem."

I tripped over a plank on my way back by the dock, pulled myself together quickly as I heard a half-suppressed laugh, and turned around, regretting that I hadn't listened to the voice in my head.

"Bye!"

I ran on my way to work, trusting Elsa to be compassionate to a woman on a tough day like that. Yet, that very thought, made me realize that, for pretty obvious reasons, that day no longer seemed bad at all.