Chapter 55: A Spark of Feelings
Valentine's Day can be described in many ways. A day of celebrating love, a means of showing appreciation for someone that means a lot to you in a non-romantic way, or it's simply a means for corporations to squeeze out a few extra bucks.
But for a lot of people, it provides a chance to take a brave step and ask out someone you may have otherwise been avoiding.
Tonight, many streets and cities around the world are populated with couples trying out a new fling or having an extra special date.
And one of these couples, is the expectedly unexpected pair of Maria Whiter and the deli owner/former fireman Anthony.
Off the job, Anthony had put on a standard pair of worn-down slacks and a buttoned shirt and tie he managed to find buried in the closet. His hair was a little combed back at the front, and he put on a bit of perfume per his daughter's suggestion.
Maria, however, found a lacy fabric top with loose sleeves along with a pair of denim shorts. Perhaps inappropriate for the nipping cold, but comfy in her own way.
After Anthony had locked up the deli early and said farewell to his employees, he met Maria and the two of them started walking wherever they felt like it.
It began with some humble if not awkward greetings from the two, then dipped into silence as their minds couldn't connect with their tongues.
And Maria was distracted by having to constantly look over her shoulder at an "unfamiliar" person with "unfamiliar" purple hair, sunglasses, and a draping fashionista coat following them close behind.
Maria gently closed her eyes and sighed.
Two days ago…
Alura had burst into her abode in a very non-standard way…going through the front door, immediately shouting, "What're you doing for Valentine's Day?!"
In the middle of getting things ready for Springtime next month, Maria dropped her soil filled vase onto the counter and stuttered, "N-Nothing…why?"
Alura sprung a new lacy fabric top and denim shorts on her and grinned, "Wrong! You, my lovely flower, are going on a d-a-t-e with Mr. Firefighter!"
Maria's eyes went blank and she tickled the side of her cheek, "You…didn't set me up without telling me, did you?"
"No no no! I'm not inconsiderate! Buuuut, let's face it, Maria, you've been having a few chats with him lately, there's CLEARLY interest…" Alura walked up and pushed the clothes against Maria's chest, "I bet if you ask him, he'll say 'Yes' in seconds."
Back in the present…
"So I did it, but…" Maria squinted at her friend tip-toeing after them and pretending that she was reading a magazine, but had it upside-down.
"I didn't think you'd follow us…Isn't it your birthday? Go celebrate! I'll be fine…" At least that's what she told herself.
She looked back at Anthony, his rugged features juxtaposed by his gaze fidgeting around, trying to find a subject to talk about.
"I-I think we've walked enough." Maria remarked, and the two faced each other.
"Not a good first impression is it?" Anthony said with a small smile, and then proceeded to gesture his hands up, "Guess I've lost some of my 'rizz', or…whatever the kids're saying."
"Heh heh…" Anthony was looking rather down on himself, but with a quick adjustment of his tie he brazenly admitted, "Back when I was on the dating scene, I used to ask girls out. It's…odd being on the other side for once."
Maria waved her hand out, "I've never asked someone out before."
Anthony got a little confidence back in his demeanor, "R-Really? Well…"
Rallying himself up with a string of coughs, he smiled and stretched his hand out, only to be interrupted by a loud grumble in his stomach.
"Eh, well now that we've gotten that rough start outta the way, why don't we get a bite to eat?"
"Where do you suggest?" Maria offered, dipping her hand towards her wallet while feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the hundreds Alura had stuffed into it, "I-I can pay for anything."
Anthony raised his hand, "I wouldn't let you. I offered the meal, I'll pay."
"Somethin' tells me you've been to every establishment in the city," Anthony crossed his arms with patience and warm anticipation on his face, "You…give me a recommendation."
Maria tapped her lower lip while looking up at the sky, and her mind immediately jumped to something her stomach had been craving for a while, "Do you like seafood?"
"As long as it ain't crab, that stuff…" Anthony bloated his cheeks and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Heh heh heh!" Maria giggled.
"Yes!" She heard being hissed loudly and turned to see Alura in the midst of a fist pump before she jumped behind a light pole.
"Is something up?" Anthony wondered, fortunately being just oblivious enough to not see Alura's chest poking out from behind cover.
Maria shook her head and blushed with embarrassment, but gave no answer.
She then suggested they take a short bus ride to their destination.
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to shake Alura off.
Maria threw up a shrug to admit defeat and just hoped that Alura would only be a spectator.
They entered the seafood shack on the edge of the water and got seated surprisingly quick.
"Ah, I remember this place. My mom and dad used to take me here all the time." Anthony knocked on the wooden pillars to feel their age.
They started off with the standard water, but now that they had settled into a place they both liked they still…had trouble getting a conversation going.
Anthony briefly became distracted with his phone, probably to check how his daughter was doing.
But inside, Maria felt like she was being dull.
She could slip into a conversation, or go with the flow of another person starting one.
But being the instigator herself?
"..." Maria didn't feel right having all this deafening silence between them and shot her shot with little thought, "I like Westerns. How about you?"
Anthony put his phone screen down on the table, "W-Westerns?"
And she took his stammering as a slant against her likes, "L-Liked…I…"
Now a little red in the face, she was surprised when Anthony shared a similar shade on his face, "I've never had the chance."
Maria cut herself off with a sigh of relief.
Anthony then flicked his pointer out with a snap of the other fingers, "Now spy thrillers…"
He popped his lips and made an "o" with his fingers, "Perfection."
Maria nodded, and let him talk a bit.
"Did you see 'One Way to Tomorrow'? It barely clocks over an hour, but it's filmed as one continuous shot of the main character completing an infiltration mission."
"That sounds unique." Maria said plainly.
Anthony reeled back a bit and coughed, "W-Well, if you want to watch it, it's out of theaters already."
Maria didn't say anything immediately, and that silence soon returned.
Her phone soon rang and she raised a finger to signal she needed to check it. Turns out all she got was a message from Alura stating "Show more interest!"
She nibbled her lower lip and furrowed her brows before clicking the phone off.
"A-An emergency?" Anthony jumped to say.
Maria shook her head, "It's just a…VERY interested friend checking how my date is going."
It felt a little humiliating to bring that up when said friend was probably one wall separation away listening in.
"Ah, I getcha," Anthony said with an understanding nod, "You can bet your bottom my employees are going to ask how the date went tomorrow. And let's not get into my little Lyra…"
Maria focused on that to maybe get some of the awkwardness out of the way, "What is Lyra doing tonight, anyways?"
"Hanging out with that boy again…" Anthony grumbled, then raised his brows, "A-Ah, sorry, forgot he's your brother…"
"...It feels too early for her to have found her special someone." He said with melancholy.
Maria stirred her drink with her straw and nodded, "You either find them on the first try, or it takes years…"
She pinched the top of her straw and sighed, reflecting on her earlier attitude.
"I don't care for spy thrillers. They can make for good action and charismatic characters, but I noticed the majority ends with the hero surviving."
"I kind of like the uncertainty of Westerns. Either they get a happy ending, or they make a defiant last stand to give someone else that chance."
"I don't want to pretend I like something to get approval points. But…maybe I could show a little more interest. He's trying his best too."
By the time the thought passed their meals had arrived, heralded by a sizzling plume of steam off each plate.
She had ordered a mixed plate of different seafood, while Anthony went for the tried and true fried oysters.
While waiting for it to cool down she cautiously asked, "Soooo…any other spy thrillers you like?"
Anthony looked surprised, maybe a little worried, but he answered with, "W-Well, there's…'Auburn Reign', starring Gilbert Gosling."
Maria flinched and her interest rose, "Oh yeah! He was in 'Two Canyons Between Sunset'. A CLASSIC!"
"No shot? Maybe I'll give it a try."
Maria thought this was a nice victory and pumped her fist under the table.
After a few more seconds, Anthony looked at his meal and pretended to wipe sweat off his brows, "Boy, this meal is so hot, it could be considered a fire hazard!"
"Heh heh," Maria chuckled and then raised her glass, "Well, we'll be able to put it out quickly."
Anthony raised his glass to clink hers, "You picked a good spot. Sorry if I've been a bit…stiff? Awkward?"
Maria didn't mind, since she wasn't performing any better.
They enjoyed their meal at a decent pace and decided to not bother trying to force a conversation.
Maria temporarily closed her eyes at one point and tried to find Alura in the restaurant with her aura, but she seemed to be nowhere in sight.
Somehow, she doubted she had gone and left.
"Please don't do anything reckless, Alura…" Regardless of how well she meant, she just wanted to do this on her own as much as she could. Otherwise, what was the point?
"Ahem, excuse me," The waiter approached, and with a polite flick of his wrist at them both he asked, "Are you…Maria and Anthony?"
Anthony was puzzled, "We…are?"
"Good, good," He then gestured at a server carrying a small chocolate cake with red and pink sprinkles, "A customer bought you both a cake. Said 'Give it to the happy couple'."
Maria put her hands over her face for a moment and sighed while Anthony was distracted.
"Well…! How kind of them!" Anthony said, his voice strained with a bit of awkwardness.
As the cake was placed between them, Maria wanted to whip out her phone and tell Alura "WHY?!" only for Anthony to distract her with an unexpected remark.
"Sometimes you can't beat the generosity of strangers…" Anthony said, taking out his fork to cut an early bite of the cake, "...That's why I love this city."
Maria paused and thought back to the time she's spent here ever since moving out, "Yeah…"
She finished the last few bites of her meal and then cleaned her fork to enjoy some of the cake as well. It was a red velvet cake covered in chocolate, topped with a couple strawberries for good measure.
They didn't have room to enjoy the whole thing, but there also wasn't enough to take home.
"That. Was. Delicious," Anthony patted his stomach until he let out a belch, "A-Ah, pardon me."
Maria's gaze was so focused on the cake that her chuckle response was rather muted.
Her heart should really be 100% into this date, but all she could think of was that bubbly, somewhat quirky, sometimes irritating purple-haired woman who entered her life.
A slight sigh left as she poked her cake with her fork one last time, while Anthony took care of the bill as promised.
Though he came out of this looking a little down, as the bill was probably pricier than he expected.
"Am I doing the right thing?" Maria wondered as they left the restaurant and came out into a light drizzle.
Fortunately, Maria had an umbrella in her purse.
Where to next though? Neither of them could speak up and answer.
They just wandered along the water and pointed out some interesting sights.
Maria was holding on to her concerns with a tight grip, "Anthony…is a really sweet guy, and maybe there is something between us."
"But every time I want to make a move, I don't feel like I'm doing it for the right reasons. I'm doing it…to satisfy the part of me who just wants to be happy. To move on, to…forget."
"If I'm not honest with myself though, then I've learned nothing."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, seeing herself with needle pricks in her arms, discolored bruises, crying in a cold alleyway alone, short of breath.
"...I have to have the courage to say 'No'. Or I'll continue to walk backwards towards a sight I never want to see again."
Maria swallowed hard and following a long pause where Anthony got ahead of her, she remarked, "Do you feel uneasy about this date?"
Only to be shocked that he said the exact same thing.
They stared long into each other's eyes until Maria closed hers and sighed, "...Ah."
"I figured as much." Anthony remarked.
"Truth be told. It's my fault," He admitted, putting his whole heart into it, "I…know in my gut that I'm ready to move on and try and fall in love again."
"The deli, all the support from my friends and customers…my daughter…" Anthony clutched his hand, "That's just it. I ain't ready to move on from her yet."
"A-A-And I know…she'd support me if I picked someone even HALF as good as you. But…" He hung his head, took a deep breath, and then looked up into the sky, "My little girl's still fighting for a tough dream despite her disability. And the last thing I want to do is miss a step because I turned my attention away for even one moment."
Maria's heart bled with a mix of guilt and warmth, "You are such a great father…"
And in a way, it reminded her of her own.
"Heh, t-thanks, but I do really feel bad having to let you down like this so soon into our date," After rubbing the back of his head he extended his hand out of kindness, "Can we…still be friends?"
Maria shook it with a smile, "Absolutely."
But she found herself unable to leave it at that, "...But it's not your fault."
"I…" She turned the other way and looked out towards the water, "Have a lot of baggage I'm still dealing with. Maybe someday I'll tell you about it."
"So-"
Anthony shook his head, "Leave it at that."
Maria's eyes flickered in a moment of hesitation, but she nodded and let the matter be.
"I hope you work it out someday. I…personally believe you deserve it."
"Thank you." Maria responded in kind.
And that was the end of that. Anthony walked off to catch a bus back home, and Maria stood there holding her umbrella under the drizzling rain.
"...You can come out now." She whispered with her eyes shut, calling to Alura sitting on the nearby bench.
She clamped her book shut and rose to immediately react to the end of the date, "Oh no! What happened?! It was going soooo well!"
She was shocked more than frustrated, quick to grab Maria's shoulders as she turned around, then rattling her gently.
Maria chuckled and with her fingertips pressed against her friend's chest, pushed her away and smiled, "It's fine. It's fine."
Alura shook her head, "No it's not! He was the one, I could totally feel it!"
Maria remarked, "That's your opinion, Alura. And…usually you are correct. He was a nice guy, with a lot of qualities I like in a person."
"But…" She then turned around and walked a few steps away, "Your opinion on me…has always had a blind spot. And it's my fault."
"Oh my god…" Alura gasped and fanned her hand in front of her mouth. After squeezing her fist and glancing around, she leaned in with a whisper, a gleeful one at that, "I was right. You're interested in girls, aren't you?"
Maria blushed, and faced the ground feeling shame towards herself and admiration for that glistening flower towering in front of her.
"...There IS a special someone I have my eyes on."
Alura clutched both her fists and flicked them in front of her chest with a pout, "Ugh…! And I tried to force you to be with a guy…!"
Maria shook her head, "You're overreacting. I'm primarily interested in men."
Alura's eyes flickered with intrigue but moreso a lot of confusion, "This girl must be REALLY special!"
She grit her teeth, restraining her curiosity through hisses and hums, but ultimately relented to her nature, "Ooooh, I got to know! Tell me!"
"It's complicated, and-" Maria zipped her lips and took a deep breath.
"No more playing around." She stood tall and raised her finger straight at her loyal and beautiful friend.
Alura froze, while Maria's smile continued to grow, and her face grew redder and redder.
But she held on, watching as Alura looked around for someone else, her eyes having a glint of blissful ignorance.
Eventually though, she would come to stomach the truth on display, and face Maria with a wobbly, but accepting smile, "M-Me…?"
Maria finally let her hand drop in a relaxed state and gasped, "God, I'm such a horrible person…Falling in love with someone who was already taken not once, but TWICE."
"But…" Maria kept her eyes dead center on her friend, "You…ARE my most special someone."
"And I can't hold that in any longer," She said softly and with liberation, "Not if I want to move on."
Alura laid her hands over her chest and pulled her head back, puffing out a deep breath, as she looked rather dizzy.
She then laid the back of her hand over her forehead and turned the other way for a moment to think.
"W-When did this…" Alura shook her head, then faced Maria with widened eyes, "...It was back then. When I…"
"It started there, and only grew as you gave me more and more attention than little old me deserved," Maria said, "You are radiant, Alura. And…Joe Dark is very lucky to have you."
Alura clutched her fists and with a grunt she seemed to have an epiphany that caused her to face Maria again and tell her hastily, "Ok, confession time! I…reallyreallyreally haven't showed my appreciation towards you enough!"
Maria didn't expect that kind of response, "R-R-Really?"
And it put her bravery in a staggered state for a moment.
"Yeah!" Alura shouted, "I mean let's face the facts here, I am GORGEOUS, and I have brains, and am very, very dependable!"
Maria had a slight head tilt at that last one.
"But…" Alura softened her boisterous tone and approached Maria in a more relaxed demeanor, "You awoke something in me that I would've been sorely lacking otherwise."
She put her hand on her shoulder and smiled, "Compassion."
"When I saw how bad things got for you, it's like my body started moving on its own to help you out! And I loved it so much that I wanted to keep doing it for other people too!"
"Heck, if I'm gonna be honest…you're probably the reason my audience loves my music so much!"
Alura then got back a bit of her spunk and confidence by suggesting, "Without that I would've just been a stuck-up, prideful, but very sexy, singer!"
"Heh hehe!" Maria giggled.
"Anywho…I really do need to thank you for everything you've shown me, Maria. And…for being so courageous today."
Alura held her by the chin and then kissed her straight on the lips.
Maria knew this would happen, and accepted her romantic gesture with all her heart.
After who knew how long, they parted ways with red faces, and Alura feeling frazzled.
"O-Oh wow…" She said, resting a hand on her cheek, "Tasted like lightning…"
While Maria felt like she had just dined on a rose garden with a hint of garlic.
"..."
Alura faced her and said softly, "Are you going to be ok now?"
Maria nodded, "Yeah, I think so…T-Thank you for everything, again, Alura. But…"
She then gestured her hand out with a heartfelt plea, "Next time, PLEASE don't trail me during a date."
"Ha ha ha! Alright, no promises, but I'll try," Alura then winked and before she turned and walked away, said sincerely, "You're in my thoughts all the time Maria. I know everything'll work out for you in the end."
"Love is complicated, isn't it?" Maria remarked in a flowery tone.
Alura smiled and said not another word, walking into the drizzling rain making gestures like she was still frazzled by the kiss.
Maria smiled, and felt so much lighter she could practically started flying.
She folded up her umbrella, and with a gentle, child-like twirl she enjoyed the rain for just a little while as she made her way back home.
Tomorrow will be another day.
And the day after that will be another.
Every day, another step forward.
And she'll take what's coming with a smile on her face, and the blessing of hope in her heart.
Because her special someone gave her that chance to make it through the rain to see the sun rise.
And that…was the greatest gift of all.
Next Time: Why I Care