Marie swept back a lock of wavy hair behind her ear as she glanced down at her watch. "Damn," she muttered to herself as she picked up her pace. She quickly weaved through the congested streets while silently screaming at herself for spending too much time getting ready. She suddenly came to a halt at a corner and waited for the oncoming traffic to pass.
She glanced around and took in the surrounding crowd and the local shops and stopped when she saw her reflection in a nearby store window. She examined her reflection and was quite satisfied with her finished look despite only having a limited selection of clothes to pick from. She was not planning on going to a nice restaurant so due to lack of resources, she settled upon a black a-lined shirt with black stretch pants. She picked a strand of white hair from her black shirt, then scratched away a tiny stain from her black pants and was once again on her way down the streets.
"Damn," Marie muttered once more as she began to walk even faster, her feet barely touching the ground. It confused her why she was in such a rush to meet Remy. True, Marie didn't want to be late but she also wasn't looking forward to this either. It wasn't like she didn't enjoy his company but she had spent the whole day dreading and trying to find an excuse as why not to go on this date.
It was not like she didn't have any dating experience, in fact she had made several but she just hadn't kept any. Many times she would call and cancel with a date and other times she had gotten as far as reaching the restaurant to only turn around and leave her date alone in the restaurant waiting for her arrival that never came.
But she didn't always feel this anxious. Her nervousness arrived with a fresh bouquet of roses Remy had sent her that morning. He sent her a card with it that stated when and where they would meet for dinner. And ever since then, she had been fighting with herself whether she should go or not. A part of her wanted to go, to be with Remy. She enjoyed his company and whenever she was with him, she seemed to forget all her cares in the world and just enjoy being there.
But the other part felt that she was getting too close. In the past, Marie never came into direct contact with her 'muses'. She was several feet away, watching and observing them. But with Remy, she was smack dab in the middle and overwhelmed with everything. She hadn't written in her book in the past three days. And this was actually a date, not just walking around the streets telling stories, but sitting in a fancy restaurant across from one another. She was getting too close to Remy and it scared her more than she wanted to realize.
Marie shook her head to clear her thoughts away. She would be arriving to the restaurant soon and her thoughts were making her fluster and that was definitely not how she wanted to feel at that moment. She ran her hands through her hair as she turned the corner and halted when she saw "âme accouple", the restaurant they would be meeting at.
It was a quaint place that was elegant but not too fancy. It had a courtyard that segregated itself from the busy streets by a thick, aged stonewall covered with ivy. Marie stopped and peered over the wall and gasped when she saw the legendary brown trench coat, but more importantly the man sitting in the chair with the trench coat draped behind him.
And there he was, tapping his forefinger on the black tablecloth to a rhythm only he heard. Marie didn't have to see his face to know that he was growing impatient. And she was thankful that she could only see the back of him or else she wouldn't have been able to handle anything else. He looked down at his watch then ran his hand through his hair as Marie watched his shoulders lower when he sighed.
Marie looked down at her watch that read 8:23. 'Ah'm only 23 minutes, Ah'm sure he won't mind. . . . Ah just can't leave him sitting there looking all helpless.' she thought to herself as she took a deep breath and started to walk towards the entrance of the courtyard. The only problem was that her feet wouldn't follow.
Marie tried to convince her feet to move, 'Come on. This is not a date. He's just your friend. Look he's probably gay, Ah mean the boy's hot, dresses well, and takes care of himself. . . he's probably not interested in yah anyway. Besides this will be great for the book. Plus yah'll have fun tonight.' But no matter what reason or excuse Marie tried to use to convince herself to go, her feet still would not move.
'Christ Marie, what the hell are yah doing. Whah the hell can't yah just go and enjoy a nice dinner with a nice guy?' But she didn't have an answer. She stood silently against the stonewall pleading with herself to just move but couldn't. She stood and stared at Remy who was still drumming a beat on the tablecloth. Marie was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't notice Remy turn around and look towards her direction. Panicking Marie ducked and squatted down on the ground.
She was too busy praying for Remy not to have seen her that she did not notice the people walk by giving her strange looks. Despite the people in New Orleans to be accustomed to spontaneity and madness, it was not often one would see a nicely dressed pretty girl squat on the ground, mouthing words to herself with her eyes closed.
"Y'all right dere, child?"
Marie opened her eyes. There before her was a charming black woman with streaks of gray in her hair, wearing a dark green trench coat. Hooked on her arm was a middle-aged man with a brown beard that had a few strands of gray through out, wearing a black trench coat.
"Looks, like de chat has got de fille's tongue," the tall man remarked.
"Stop it, where are yo'manners," the woman scolded.
The man started to search his coat pockets. "Must have left dem in mon ot'er coat," he smirked causing the woman to roll her eyes.
"Do y'need some help, hun?" she asked once more.
Marie shook her head and looked down trying to hide her embarrassment. "Nah, that's ok, Ah was just-uh-fixing mah shoes." She added as she adjusted her black heels, as if to prove her point.
"Sure do hate dat when it happens," the woman nodded skeptically, "I swear, it must have been a man who invented high heels; no woman in her right mind would invent such a torturous device.... I'd like t'see a man try t'walk in dem." She added with a laugh causing Marie to smile.
"Yea, but dat don't stop women from wearin dem, now does it?" he smirked, "Y'alright den?"
Marie nodded, "Yea, and thank yah for being so kind." Marie stood up and smiled while she twirled her ring with her fingers. "Well Ah'm sorry for having tah keep yah, but Ah appreciate yahr concern."
"Always a pleasure t' help a belle fille." He leaned in and kissed the back of her hand.
The woman rolled her eyes, "Y' tryin t' make me jealous."
"I do de best I can." He smirked.
The woman once again rolled her eyes, "Save de charm for some one who it'll work on." Then she turned to Marie, "Well, hun, I'm glad y' alright. Never could stand a pretty thing like yo'self look so down about. Just be careful out there, especially from le type bizarre like 'im," she said as she motioned to the man with her thumb.
Marie laughed. "Will do. Well goodbah," she added while she walked away from the couple, the restaurant, and Remy.
- - -
Marie spent the next hour wandering the streets. The whole time she tried to decode and analyze her actions and thoughts but got nowhere fast. Marie then decided to rest. She came upon a stone bridge, which overlooked the crowd below. She leaned on it with her elbows and watched the crowd. Feeling secure that she was alone, she let her emotions get the best of her. She held her head with her hands and mumbled to herself, "Whah do yah always do stuff lahke this? Yah left him by himself. . . . Lawrd knows if he is still waiting for yah there. How could Ah do that tah him, when all he's been is just nice tah meh. . . . child yah are crazy." She exhaled deeply and continued, "Ah don't even know what Ah am doing anymore. Ah'm such a mess.""Oui, mais I like messes."
Marie jerked her head up in shock, not only shocked because she could have sworn that no one was around, but also because the person standing next to her was Remy, the very man that caused her personal conflict.
'Oh, man, Ah'm fucked. Ah don't even know how to talk myself out of this one.' Marie thought as she tried to regain her voice. "Remy...uh....Ah was Ah mean...umm....Ah tried but uh.....Ah'm sorry," Marie finally said as she hung her head down and watched the roaring crowd below, trying to loose herself in it.
Remy nodded. "Alright, chere. Just got worried bout y' t'ought somet'ing happened. Dat's why I was on m' way t' yo' hotel t' see if y' were ok. But den I saw y' on de bridge when I looked up," he stated as he motioned to the crowd below and continued, "So I t'ought t' come and see if y' were ok. Are y' ok?"
"Remy Ah'm so sorry. Ah didn't mean, Ah was on mah way but then...uh..Ah'm so sorry. Ah should have called. Ah didn't want you sittin by yahrself. Ah'm so sorry."
"Dat's fine chere. Just promise me y' won't do dat again. I was by myself for so long dat I was getting on m' own nerves," he smirked. Marie tried to smile without it seeming like it was forced but failed. "I know, I know. Poor attempt for a joke, but I was just tryin t' lighten de mood," Remy smiled.
"Remy, whah yah being so nice about it? . . . Ah stood yah up and here yah are being all concerned bout me, and trying tah crack jokes tah make smile. . . . Yah're not lahke most guys. Most guys would be pissed and never talk tah me again." Marie said as she twirled her ring around her fingers.
"Well like I told y' from de beginning, Remy ain't like most guys. I'm one in a million," he remarked while he stood up and motioned to himself.
"That's for sure. Ah so sorry Ah didn't mean tah-"
"Shh, chere, y' tell me tomorrow what happened, when we're both thinking clearly." Remy interrupted.
Marie nodded and Remy continued, "Well since the beginning of our night was well somewhat disappointing, how bout we start over and go somewhere else, hein?"
Marie hesitated. This was exactly what she tried to avoid. And since he was standing right in front of her, he was a lot harder to avoid and she had no way out. Marie gave a half-smile and nodded as she told herself to suck it up and go through with it. It was the least that she owed him. And they were both on their way down the street.
"Well, y' do look tres belle t'night, chere," Remy commented as he gave her an appraisal look.
"Thank yah, and yah don't look half bad yahrself," Marie remarked, also giving an appraisal look.
"Well I do dress t' impress," he smirked.
They both shared a laugh, and continued down the lively street.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, chere." he responded as they turned the corner.
"Hmm...well have yah noticed dat for the past two dates, all we have been doing is walking around the streets. Yah are a cheap date, LeBeau." Marie teased but quickly scolded herself for saying that they have been on dates. This was exactly what she kept away from, and now her she was saying exactly what she was afraid of yet it was so easy to have it slip out that she almost did not notice. 'Once again, Marie, yah opened yahr big mouth and said something before yah think.' Marie scolded herself as she waited for Remy's reaction.
"Dates? Y't'ink dat we went on dates, chere?" He asked as he stopped by the curb causing Marie to do the same. He looked at her for her reaction but she lowered her head hiding her face from his.
"Well," Remy laughed, "I'm glad dat we're finally on de same page. For a while dere I didn't think y' wanted to. But as for a cheap date, y' are right bout dat. Just don't be alarmed if I start picking up change off the streets," he teased back causing Marie to laugh, partly for his joke, but mostly out of being relieved that he didn't spazz out for Marie reading more into their situation.
At that moment, it started to pour. The rain came down so hard, that it was difficult to see more than three feet in front of you. As the crowds of people were rushing to seek shelter in nearby stores, Remy and Marie just laughed as they stood in the rain.
"Ah thought monsoons only occurred in the jungle." Marie smiled as she wiped away some of the rain from her forehead.
"I didn' t'ink it was suppose t' rain t'day. It hasn't rained dis bad in a long time." Remy smiled as he looked down Marie who was now soaked. "Y' soaked t' de bone. Here, take m' coat, chere," he said while he started to take his trench coat off but was stopped by Marie.
"No, no. Keep it on. Ah always love it when it rains, specially when it hits mah skin. Always makes me feel so alive," Marie laughed as the rain came down even harder.
The two stood under a street lamp that was giving off a soft glow, with the rain pouring down. This was a true moment. The moment many wait their whole lives for. The moment that seemed to happen only in movies. The two knew this, and did not move for they were taking in every detail as their way of not letting the moment pass.
Marie loved the way Remy looked in the rain. His hair messy and wild, his clothes clinging to him in all the right places, his grin that seemed to make her problems disappear, and his honey colored eyes. The way he looked at her, making her feel that he truly cared about her. Marie hadn't felt like that in a long time. It was a feeling she craved, and it always seemed to be fulfilled when she was around Remy.
And Remy loved the way Marie looked in the rain. She just looked breath taking. But most importantly, he loved the way the rain sort of brought her to life. She was laughing, smiling and dancing in the rain. And it made Remy feel more alive than he had ever felt.
Remy leaned in and brushed with his thumb a strand of wet hair behind her ear. He stepped towards her with both hands on her cheeks. They stared into each other's eyes. Yes, this truly was a moment. Not just a moment but the moment. The moment where everything and everyone around you becomes a blur, and the only thing in focus is the person standing before you. These moments were the rarest. Marie's heart began to beat faster and faster as the anticipation of the kiss grew. Remy sensed this and leaned down and just when their lips were about to touch, a car sped by splashing the two with mud and water. They both let out gasps of surprise as the mud was splattered on them.
Remy leaned his forehead against Marie's, "I swear, I will find out who was in dat car and kill 'im." He continued as he looked in Marie eyes, "Looks like our luck just ran out."
Marie laughed, "Nah, Ah think it ran out days ago."
"Oh y' t'ink so do y'?" Remy teased back as he wiped a smudge of mud off her cheek.
Marie nodded as she bit her lip, but before Remy knew it, Marie kicked a puddle of water at Remy causing mud to splatter on his face. Marie loosened herself from his grip and turned running down an alley with her laughter echoing the streets.
Remy smiled and yelled after her, "Now, don't go starting things y' cant finish, chere. Take m' advice, y' better run, chere." Remy called as he began to chase after her down the alley. Remy skillfully avoided the puddles of water as he ran full speed. Just when he thought victory was in his grasp, he saw Marie's body collapse onto the ground.
Well, I know I haven't updated in awhile but I was just busy with school and all the work that comes with it, but I 'll stop myself from making any more excuses as why I haven't updated lately, lol. But good news, I promise to update a lot sooner, here's a hint, the reviews help motivate me to write, so more reviews more motivation = faster update, so everyone's happy, lol!
I know I said that this date would be dripping with Romyness but when I started to write about their date I just couldn't go any where with it, so I decided to have Marie have conflicted feelings bout it. But I did put a lot of Romyness in it, but it's probably not the kind you were looking for but at least its there, lol, and sorry if it was a tad rushed but you gotta do what you gotta do, lol.
The next chapter will deal with Marie's "mood swings" (if you haven't noticed she changes her mind a whole lot), more Remy and Marie bonding, and a little bit of this and that.
I really hope you guys like this chapter! It took me a while to write it bc I wanted u guys to be happy with it, lol. I'm so happy you guys really like the story!!! I love reading your reviews, comments, critiques, and helpful advice! Thanks for the reviews guys, positive reinforcement does wonders for my self-esteem, keep it up, lol. You guys are the best! If you guys have any ideas or comments feel free to tell me.
So do a "Ebert and Roeper" and tell me if it's a thumbs up, down or just if- y. Well basically just tell me what you think and believe me when I say, I am not above begging for reviews, lol!