Disclaimer: Don't own it. Don't even want to own it. Unfortunately, among all things I got to own now are pledgets (is it the right word? Do I even care?) I got on my Christmas. I am still laughing.
I mean, I've always dreamt of that…
AN: It's been a month or so, hasn't it? I could've updated earlier but:
1). I was too lazy…
2). Presents. I mean – presents? Twelve of them. And after I'd bought them, I've been too tired and lazy…
3). Important people to meet. Important works to write by 6th of January (still not written…)
You wanted it longer, Nerian? You have it. Still working on length.
When mother is screaming behind my back to get off the computer because I am wasting her money, it's harder, though.
And complex! WHY? Well, yes, some, but everyone has them! And life does sucks. It has some moments though.
Young and handsome, you say?
And thanks to all the reviewers (all 4 of them, ehehe; Karie, Liuda&Gaster…You, M., don't matter :).
And while it's not a blackmail of any sort, because sooner or later I'm going to update, when I get more answers – whether it's praise or critic (because I want to improve!) – I am more motivated to do it sooner.
Dedicated to – you!
A Girl Who Touched Me
By
Ta-dah!
2:15 p.m.
Clattering.
He could hear it as clearly as chatting, giggling, scratching, tapping, coughing, whispering and furtive kissing. He was becoming weary of it, honestly. This was the main reason why he could not focus on his extremely important task he brought with him, he tried to convince himself fruitlessly. Why shouldn't he? Being quite foreseeing, he knew his next hours would be spend by sitting, staring blankly at the wall and being all nervous and sweat. So the most logical move was to bring his work with him, a joyful distraction it was.
He cancelled all of the appointments for today - the Prime Minister of Perun could certainly wait.
The intricate road of petite writing was trailing through elaborately rough paper, so that his calloused fingertips were getting dry and he was forced to bring them to his lips occasionally, and the look in his eyes was becoming more far away every minute. Even the smell of pretentious (oh, so okay, it wasn't exactly pretentious, it was feminine and intoxicating, but it was giving him a blasted headache right now, and he much preferred flowery whiffing scent than this) was infuriatingly transparent to him now.
He took a sip from his cup of black coffee, feeling hot liquid circulating in his insides – he savored this state, being aware of the movement of fluid inside his body – it was inexplicably reassuring and pleasant.
But not now.
He sighed and shuffled with the papers.
It was their fault he couldn't bring himself to pay attention to his work, doubtlessly!
2:30 p.m.
He rubbed his eyes violently, feeling hot prickles wash over them, along with relaxing sensation, and looked up from his, stone-cold now, coffee, raising his lithe arm to call the waitress.
Smiling (she tended to close her eyes when she did that, so he was quite afraid of the future of his coffee in her palms), she walked up, with a clank set porcelain cup of godly beverage, and calmly walked off, already giving him her 'Associating With a Customer' talk during his first order and no further attempt was shown. Though, he liked her enough - she had many sterling qualities – was rather pretty, had nice soft throaty voice and was oblivious to his position in business world, furthermore – hadn't shown an ounce of interest in his marital status!
He looked longingly at massive glass doors from his place, sheathed deep inside this cozy café. He was seated in leather half-flabby armchair, which smelled of oranges of all things, and before him was a polished oak coffee table. Viewing the whole room, he noted that spots like that were common around here, and seatings by the walls had comfortable-looking couches to lie on – which teenagers (that probably should be at school, he added) gladly used. Even though it was early, the coffeehouse was full of businessmen on lunch, young mothers who left their children at home, chatting joyously, relief clearly written on their faces. Luckily, none knew him here, and even if, none would believe it was him, not here, at least.
He leaned his chin on his hands, and squinted light blue eyes that his sun-tan seemed to bring out lovely, and that he often used against older strict businesswomen to get what he want.
'Charming' they said with a giggle.
'Man whore' his rivals exclaimed. Oh, so what?
He leaned his chin on his hands, and squinted light blue eyes that his sun-tan seemed to bring out lovely, although in the interior the light was dim and smoky, the air smelled of magnolia incenses and tasted vaguely like cigarettes he tried once because people said (people said, that term must have been used in olden times, when earthli-, no, not a good choice of words…) it rid of nervousness, but all he did was feeling like shit afterwards, and, besides, he didn't really see a point in polluting one's own body.
Walls were painted deep vibrating warm bronze, artistic people's who had a habit to come here paintings hang there – some of them were definitely eye-catching, so he decided to purchase them.
'Yes, this place is ideal', he thought, enjoying the taste of a perfect coffee' droplets on his tongue.
2:55 p.m.
'Was he ready for this?' a fleeting thought dabbed his mind, and the possibilities started to rotate in a hypnotizing whirl.
Really, sincerely, genuinely ready?
2:58
Well, possibly not, but she just pushed the door open.
She glanced to browse the café, with small smile plastered on her face while he moved nervously to the edge of the armchair, ready to walk over – despite the sinking feeling in his gut – but she was already there.
His heart struggled to get out of his wide chest, and his fingers gripped tightly a leathery material – and magically, his mind – myriads of connected axons and dendrites – suddenly was focused only on the harsh texture of leather under uncountable amount of epithelial receptors.
She grinned and snuggled in chair in front of him, crossing her legs. Her eyes – they were different from the last time they met, somehow, like a pack of bricks had been all of the sudden crushed onto her back, but yet, they were sparkling merrily, in all their amber brightness. She seemed to be – he tried to find the exact word for a while - …relieved?
The feelings he experienced at that very moment were too stormy to comprehend – he was genuinely contented, yet his palms were still sweating slightly, and were warming with every minute. He became apprehensive about picking up the cup, imagining it would surely slip from his fingers, and making a fool of himself would be unavoidable.
'Yes, black coffee, please? And…ummmm….maybe apple-pie with whipped cream, and sprinkled with cinnamon?' She ended eagerly.
'Coming right up, Éclair. But, hey, remember about calories!' the pretty waitress half-seriously scolded her, eyeing her with kind indulgence.
Éclair just laughed nervously in response.
'Geez, I was never good with all those things, you know?' she said conspiringly, sighing.
'…Yes, I can imagine.'
'I should be offended, shouldn't I?' she said teasingly.
And, abruptly, his quiet, furtive confusion and bashfulness was dispelled. Everything was going to be alright, he discovered with growing wave of relief, and he didn't risk appearing as a complete dimwit to her. Not to her.
Because it was Éclair, for God's sake.
The tension from his shoulders swam away.
She hadn't really changed, - well, visually, yes – her body, to be exact, but not her spirit, that strong-spirited, perky self that brought rubber to people's dusty closets.
They sat opposite to each other. Each one examining his/her companion and knowing of being examined – she, with a soft smile playing on her lips (was it really there?), and head rolling on a back of the armchair leisurely, and him – glancing secretly over his cup.
It was most reassuring.
'And, straying from our topic, don't you want to meet Lumiére, too?'
'Oh, well, yes, that seems like a good idea, but – she wasn't really there, and I…' he stumbled, uneasy.
She waved her hand imperiously.
'Yes, yes, I understand-'
And he knew she did.
'-and I didn't see her myself today, but if you wanted too, and had time, I am sure you're quite welcome.'
'Here you go!' with a chunk, dishes were laid on the irritatingly gleaming table; with a chunk that made the silence before the silence, not the simple lack of noise. Woman smiled and winked, and Tim gaped.
'Ah, I've been yearning this all day!' she bit into a piece of a cake, enthusiasm clear on her face. Moving a fork to her face, she froze.
'Oh, her.' She said boldly. 'Pay it no mind, it's common, y'know.' And proceeded to eat.
He felt as if no topic would be worth enough – those he wanted to talk about weren't in his place to suggest and those he should – too irrelevant and trivial.
Godly and intoxicating sugar began to renew her storage of energy, and she smiled at him apologetically.
'Sooooo…talk.'
'Talk?'
'Yes, talk. Something surely have changed in your life – I mean, Lita always reacts like that when she sees someone young and handsome.'
'You think I'm handsome?' he asked incredulously.
'I think you've grown, Tim – you missed the point.' She smiled once more. – 'So please, tell me what happened.' She hummed before returning to her meal.
'I…me…that is…' Has he just lost his cool? Oh God, the world was going to an end.
A brow furrowed in a voiceless question.
'I decided to inherit clan's business to help restore trust between ex-Nouvlesse and, well, normal people. Well, the fact that I – a mere human – had taken a lead wasn't a detail as well; we had definitely less trouble that others and our money were practically untouchable. Also, I have made some crucial moves, for example helping inhabitants of Aura and such. You should remember this planet.' A quiet insinuation was easily heard in his voice, drifting just below the surface of deep chocolate timbre. She didn't even stir.
'But I think our business doesn't interest you, does it? I made some lifelong friendships there'- he inwardly winced at such use of words – 'and it helped me get through all these years spent there, the snobby atmosphere and dusty manners. If not for Yacht- What is it?' he asked, seeing how she perked up.
'Yacht, you say?'
'Yes, Yacht. And I know you know him. He asked me precisely to send you his regards.' Was he growing annoyed? Was the feeling of hot, unreleased, futile, chained to his soul anger – jealousy?
His pulse quickened, and he begged to whatever the God existing, for it not showing.
'Send him my regards also.' She said musingly, and he found the option cynically amusing.
'Kanoe did too.'
'Kanoe! I'm sure she has grown to be a beautiful girl!' She exclaimed, daring him to deny.
'Oh, yes, she has. Not that I paid that much attention to it.'
'Hmmm, so, you had a fling with her?'
'Fling? I? I don't have flings.'
'…'
'Maybe?'
'….'
'Oh, okay, so I had.'
She laughed at him outwardly, and he appeared to be indignified.
'But that was certainly long time ago. Both of us decided that carrying it on would be too hard…'
He caught her looking for a moment as if she thought something along the lines of 'geez, people always say so when they want to be diplomatically get out of situation, and in reality they just thought each other sucked', and toyed with the possibility of her expressing her thought aloud.
She did.
He smirked, and nodded.
'And…? What else? How's your grandfather, Isaac? Isn't the work hard? Are you alright with that?'
'Grandfather is dead.'
Her mouth formed a shocked 'O', and she covered his palm with her hand.
'I'm-'
'It's nothing. He taught me a few basic things, and that's why I'm still alive.'
'But he lived a full, content life, hasn't he?'
His lips quirked into a smile, his eyes twinkling and there was a dimple in his right cheek that irked her to smooth it tenderly.
'Yes, I guess. That's beside the point, but how he survived such a vast amount of time among these people, is stunning alone.'
There was a loud, resonating silence, and he started to wonder whether he shouldn't be so bold with her.
Then, she reached and smoothed that little, tempting dimple, humming.
He had never talked with anyone so openly before.