HIYO! Guys, nothing new, except this chapter.
~~~~ Jack ~~~~
When I put aside the thoughts of never hearing the end of this from Kris, and the fact that my horse could have hurt someone, I can't help but smile at how fun that was. It was an unexpected ride, and it was thrilling. But degrading. I'm trying to make a respectable impression in this new town, and I make a fool of myself before even properly presenting myself. Maybe Aster was right. I'm too unruly and free spirited to be a lawyer, or anyone respectable for that matter. I just want to be free and have fun. I guess that's why the "Law Guardians" firm (such an odd name) decided to pummel me out of business. I caused them enough trouble already.
I'm stunned. The wild ride I had a few seconds ago is almost a purring kitten at the hands of this guy, Hank. Kris comes around the side, and motions for me to get off. I swing my leg over gently, and hop off. Kris grabs me by the arm and pulls me over to a porch like a child. I wrench my arm free, and watch Hank lead the now calm horse over. I look on with a downed expression. Another reputation to live up to. "Where'd you get him?" Hank asks Kris, without a greeting towards him or me. He must know Kris well. "It's a long story. If you want, I'll take him to the stable across town," Kris steps off the porch and faces Hank directly. "It's alright. I think he'll be good right here with Sam and Esperanza," Hank replies in with a sly smile across his face as he looks at Sam and his horse. They tie the horses, and step back towards the porch. Kris stands next to me, and gestures towards Hank, who's dusting dirt off his pants and shirt. "Jack, this is Hank," he slaps my shoulder, and looks at Hank. "Hank, Jack."
We shake hands, and they explain to me that we're going to have dinner with a friend of theirs. I sharpen up. I don't want to make the wrong impression. Again.
We walk through the door, and walk through this nice little store, letting ourselves past the counter, and into another room. It's a beautifully designed dining room, with only one at the table. A red head who's hair is braided down her back. When we walk in, a large man steps out of the kitchen with a big pot that's steaming off the top. Both the man (who's obviously the girl's father) and the girl look at us three, and the greeting they give us, you'd think we were Independance War heroes. The man gives a hearty laugh and exclaims, "Elinor, Kristopher is back!" The girl gets up, places her hand on Hank's shoulder, and gives Kristopher a side hug. She laughs, and leads them both towards the table. A thin, black haired lady steps out of the kitchen, smiles broadly, and goes to hug the two guys I came here with. I watch as three boys- triplets- run down the stairs, and they all hug Kristopher. I stand by watching all the happiness and can't help but wonder. Are they related or something?
The girl, Myrtle, looks at me, and gestures at me with an expression that says I'm crazy for still standing here and not sitting down. I sit down. They all chat as they pass the food around. Pork and mashed potatoes. It's real good.
"So, what's your name?" Myrtle asks me, and the table goes quiet. I kind of zoned out, and my mouth was full, so there was a long awkward silence as I chew, and swallow. "Umm, my name is John O'Connell. Folks call me Jack. I'm from Boston, and I used to run this firm with Kris over here," I say nervously. The red haired man, Fergus and his wife, Elinor nod. Elinor even says, "Very respectable." She smiles, and she glances at Myrtle for a split second. They don't seem to even remember the awkwardness that I created a few seconds ago. If anything, they've created their own. Aster and Nick would've killed me if I created an awkward silence at a dinner like that. Kristopher joins in to lighten up the mood. "Oh yeah. Jack and I go way back! We- Hey Jack, remember what happened a few months ago when we were walking down Summer street?" Hank joins in, "Oh yeah! Kris told me all about it in his letter! I couldn't stop laughing!" I smile nervously as they all lean in to hear the story. I take a deep breath, and decide I can trust these people. I lean forward with a mischievous smile, and say softly, "so. You want to hear the story?" Myrtle and the boys all smile and nod excitedly. Fergus leans back and chuckles. "So Kris and I were walking down Summer Street..."
~~~~ Anna ~~~~
"And then she started to sing, 'do you want to build a snowman?'" Eliza doubles over in laughter, retailing the story of that winter, almost 10 years ago.
I'm shoved over by Rose's playful nudge, my sister and she engulfed in the humor of the story. I roll my eyes. Laughing at me once again. I sigh, and look around the restaurant. It doesn't look too different from this morning, the lighting is different since its dark outside, and there are a few more people, but it still the same. My aunt loved the restaurant so much we came back for dinner to show my uncle. It bothers me that I notice such trivial things.
I've hardly touched my plate. I have a nervous rush coming up and down my spine, because my still existent food would prompt comments. Comments that detain to my "youth." Being the youngest girl, I am stuck in a constant turmoil. I'm old enough to be courted, but still too young to go anywhere on my own. Whereas, Rose, three years my senior, and Eliza, four years my senior, are free to go wherever they want (most of the time) with whomever they please (in our social class of course). I groan in annoyance and set down my fork.
A little too hard I presume, because my whole family just quiets down, and in the corner of my eye, I can see people looking up to see the commotion. A silence is born, and the music just happens to die down. Great. "Anna Marie, are you all right?" My aunt says concerned, but in a firm and stern way. Eliza leans over and says under her breath to not attract more attention, "Anna we are in a public, please act accordingly." Rose draws in a shaky breath and turns away from me. The music and conversation slowly begins again, as if a dampening cloth were removed from a phonograph. All of them sit in a slight disappointment, even my uncle, who's company I enjoy the most. But his expression is almost sad. But an idea pops into my head that does not let me ponder why.
"Aunty, I'm sorry for the outburst, I did not mean anything by it, "I struggle to hide my smile, "but I am not feeling to well. My stomach and head hurt. I'm dreadfully sorry but I think I'm going to have to excuse myself from dinner. Is that alright?" Like a charm, their faces change.
"Oh my word! I'm sorry darling, the dairy of the food must have upset you're stomach," my aunt responds in the sweet voice that I always have known her for. A very good sign I'm getting out of this. "Go to the store down the way and pick up some ginger tea and some licorice," Auntie instructs. Eliza is quick to suggest, "And some chamomile if you can find some." My aunt odds in approval. My uncle stands up and hands me a few coins. Fifty cents. Fifty cents! "Go to the store then have Kai take you home, honey." He pats my shoulder and leads me out. I walk down next to the side of the buildings, and for a bit he watches me, then goes back inside.
I feel like running down the road! For the first time in forever, I can finally meet people and have fun and be free! All the people! What if I meet the one like in all those stories?
Whoa, getting ahead of myself. I must focus. I can't let this get out of hand or it won't ever happen again. I take a big breath and stride happily down the road.
A few children play with a ball as I pass. They look so cut—suddenly I get knocked over and I fall to the ground. "Hey!" Is my immediate reaction. My bonnet just fell down over my face, and I'm absolutely sure that my dress is dirty. GREAT. "Watch it!" I yell after. I lift up my bonnet, and the man atop the horse that knocked me down leaves me speechless. He has fair skin and a light dusting of freckles across his nose. He also has auburn hair, sideburns and dreamy green eyes. My mouth drops open.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" he's quick to say. I smile, "hey," is all I can stammer. He jumps off his horse and offers me a hand. "Uh—Yeah! I'm fine, great actually!" I reach for his hand, and I guess he must not have had a good grip, because he slips and we fall, with him landing atop me. He quickly tries to help me up and in doing so, startles his horse, knocking us over again, this time with me on top. "Um, this is awkward. I mean not you awkward, you're gorgeous. Wait what?" I stammer trying to apologize as we get up. He chuckles. "I would like to apologize for hitting you with my horse... And every second after." He smiles. I stare at him, polite and handsome. Wow.
"No, no it okay. I mean its fine. If it was my sister, she would have been like, yeesh, but you're lucky it was …just me." As I say this, I awkwardly dust off my dress and begin to move around him to the store porch a few steps away. "Just you?" he looks at me softly, but with concern and confusion. I can just see the "you are so much more than that" written on his face. I blush. I smile.
After a few seconds I realize I've been standing there for a bit, and I turn glance towards the store. "The store. I, umm, I got to go…" I stammer. "Oh. Of course. Until we meet again, miss." He nods towards me. I smile like a dope again. I turn and skitter inside the store.
Once I'm inside, the little door bell ringing, I hide behind a wall and peek outside. He rides off on his horse. I sigh dreamily. I compose myself, and get up. As I walk to the counter, I see a man come out from a loud room to the side of the counter. He's tall, muscular, and good-looking, with fair skin, light freckles, blond hair, and light brown eyes. He sees me. "Oh, hey. What can I get ya?" he leans on the counter.
I look at him skeptically. Normally I would fawn over a man like that, but he looks poor, and nothing compared to my… "friend." Of which I realize I don't know his name. He's going to be hard to meet agin. This man doesn't look like he works here, but I pretend I don't notice too much. I graze over the isles looking for what I was tasked with. I find the ginger tea and licorice, but not the chamomile. And then I do.
"Chamomile," I say bluntly. He looks at me weird and then says like a fool, "what?" I say it slowly and bluntly again. "CHAMOMILE." He looks confused, then whips his head both ways and realizes the item is behind the counter, beyond my reach, but within his. "Oh!" he grabs a box and places it on the counter. "You could've just said so," I catch him saying as he takes my money for the items. It rubs me the wrong way and I frown. "I did." He looks up at me. Or should I say, down, because he really is quite tall. "Kris! You almost done out there?" I hear several voices laughing inside the other room, one of which called that out. "Yeah, almost." He yells back. He hands me my change and bag of items.
"Thank you, Kristoff." I assume his name based on his calling. "Its Kristopher," he doesn't take lightly to being called Kristoff I presume. It angers him even. "Where did you even get Kristoff?"
"I'm sorry, it's a common name where I'm from." I defend myself. He softens. "Oh. See you around," he says nicely. "Yes. See you around," I try the saying out softly, carefully. "…Kristopher." We both smile lightly.
Hey Guys, still open to comments and questions. Gosh, three chapters in and I'm already blank in these messages… I hope this chapter was as interesting as the others.
