The Storm

“Do you think this is going to have a happy ending?” He shouted as they marched through the dust storm.

Wind whipped their clothes, embedding dirt and sand into every crease and fold of clothing. Her heir was a tangled mess and her skin stung from the thousands of particles fired at her from the storm.

“What do you mean? Happy is a retaliative term.” She shouted into the wind.

“Like not total disaster.”

“Which would entail what exactly?”

“I don’t know!” He huffed and walked faster leaving her slightly behind him. “Why are you so infuriating?”

“I’m just trying to understand you.” She muttered too softly to be heard over the storm.

“Hurry up, we don’t want to get separated in this weather.”

She obliged walking faster over the slippery sand to keep up with his long strides. He seemed to never run out of energy while she was getting exhausted from battling the elements and trying to keep her footing.

“What if we can’t find them?” She stumbled over the sand.

“That would be bad.”

“So disaster?”

“Well us not finding them and then dying would be the worse case. A not happy ending.”

She nodded her understanding, though she doubted he saw it through the storm. The wind seemed to be lightening up a bit, but sandstorms could last for days.

“I see you’re ship!” She pointed excitedly at the hulking metal structure just visible though the blasting sand.

They took off running towards it. He pounded on the hull of the ship until they opened the hatch to let them inside.

“I’m so glad we found you!” He panted shaking sand out of his clothes and hair.

“Did you think we would leave without you?” His captain asked.

“I know you would not leave your first mate behind, we were worried you were also lost in the storm.” She said to the captain.

The captain nodded, “We leave this desert of a planet in fifteen minutes, get to your stations.”

“You’re coming with us, right?” He asked taking her hand in his.

“I cannot, I have to stay here. This is my home.”

“I left my home and I’ve been doing okay.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Space does not agree with my species. You know this.”

“It would be a happy ending if you did.”

“Is it disaster if I stay here?” Her voice broke on the last word, betraying her.

He touched her cheek. “I would break my heart.”

She sobbed tears running in trails down her dirty face. Her eyes stung from the salt. Leaving her planet would mean death, but staying meant never seeing him again.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He soothed.

“I cannot go and I cannot stay.”

“Ten minutes.” The captain announced.

“Can you stay here instead?” She pleaded.

“I’ve got to help run the ship.”

“But…” She sighed knowing it was useless to argue with humans, “I need to stay on my own planet.”

He lowered the ramp and she hopped out. She scurried away from the ship to avoid being cooked by the lift off procedure. Once at a safe distance she looked at the majestic ship and waved. dust stuck to the places on her cheeks that were wet from tears. The storm raged around her as she shuffled back to her people.

 

 

 

Wedding Toast Maid of Honor

She took the microphone from the best man. “If Leah hadn’t married Henry I’m pretty sure we would have married each other. We cried together when Henry was being a dick, I’m pretty sure we kept Ben and Jerry’s in business. Our girl’s night outings were legendary. The road for these two has not been easy, and I’m sure Leah will come over and we will eat out hearts out again. Henry will take care of her. He has to or else.”

There was a mild laugh from the crowd. Henry looked at her with a half concealed glare.

Her voice shook as she continued, “Forever is a very long time, I guess Henry will get use to me always being around by the end of it. Vice versa as well. To forever.”

The crowd cheered and clinked their glasses.

Wedding Toast

“A toast to the happy couple.” The best man raised his glass. “These two have been through so much together, sometimes I wasn’t sure if they were going to make it but her they are. Married at last. They had probably the longest engagement I have ever heard of, but I think this party will make up for it.”

He looked at the blushing bride and handsome groom, “I remember when Henry told me he wanted to marry Leah. First of all we were very drunk, I told him it was a stupid idea, and he went out and bought a ring the next day still drunk. I am really glad he returned it and got you a good sized rock, and didn’t propose while we were fifteen.”

A chuckle rippled though the crowd.

:”There is not a more perfect person that my best friend could be marrying today, I’m glad to told him yes.” He hoisted his glass and drained it. There was a cheer and the clinking of glasses as everyone toasted the happy couple.

Six word story seven

Swaying hips, locked eyes, stolen kisses.

book bombing

(There is an artistic movement called book bombing were you leave slips of paper inside books at a library or bookstore with artwork or advice)

She browsed the bookstore looking for that one book, the one that she would read for the next three to fourteen days. She had just finished a particularly large volume about a dystopian society where children were forced to fight to gain food for their friends and family.

She was thinking she wanted something happier, something lighter. She browsed the romance section and nothing caught her eye, strolled through historical fiction, pausing momentarily to read the blurb on the back of one book. She continued though fantasy and science fiction, through children’s books and all of the non fiction section. With a sigh she sat in one of the over stuffed chairs. She looked at the cover and opened the historical fiction book to a random page seeing if she liked the writers style.

A tiny piece of paper slid out as she flipped the pages.

She picked it up out of her lap and looked at the picture on it, a black and white fish with lots of detail. It looked like it would be a perfect bookmark. It was signed by whoever made the fish with their email address on the back.

She thought it might be a sign to read this particular book. A little more page flipping and a crisp five dollar bill slid out. She looked at it with surprise. It was almost enough to pay for the book.

“Huh…” She stood up with the five dollars, and the fish drawing, and the book.  “I guess I’ll get it.”

She headed to the front desk and plopped the book down on the counter. Paid for it and headed home to send the artist a quick email.

“Hello,

I wanted to thank you for the book you bought me today. And the fish it is really cute.”

She signed it and sent it off. Sighing she read the book that had come recommended by this total stranger.

Six word story six

“Sorry babe, I love him too.”

Engagement

“No,” She said looking at the diamond at the bottom of her glass.

“Babe that ring set me back $3480.” He pleaded as she plucked the ring out with her pinky finger.

“This is silver not gold, meaning most of that cost was on a stupid clear rock.” She dropped the wet ring on the table. “That is a stupid amount to spend on a rock.”

“But its sparkly.” He picked it up and dried it off on the bottom of his shirt.

“You got swindled.”

“I did not.”

“Did you get paperwork?”

“I got a receipt.”

“You should return it then…” She said pushing it away from her when he held it out for her. “You know I don’t want diamonds. Next time take me with you.”

“That would ruin the surprise!”

She laughed, “No it will save you a ton of money. That’s not the reason why I love you, you boob.”

“The guy said you would love it.”

“The guy wanted to make money.” She drank her champagne. “I’ll marry you but not with this ring.”

“Fine,” He sulked.

Just before

She touched her delicate finger to her pale pink lips. Her blonde hair hung into her sparkling green eyes as she leaned in. It cascaded over her shoulders in pale waves brushing the thin straps of her coral tank top on the way down. A smile tried to free itself as she backed away, her flip flops smacking the ground. She turned and flounced away her white skirt floating around her muscular legs. She kicked off her white flip flops bending to pick them up. She laughed a bright clear sound, in the dark house.

She felt his strong arms wrap around her and his rugged face nestle into her wavy hair. She heard him take a deep breath smelling her citrus scented body spray. The soft fabric of her shirt gathered under his fingers, warm on her pale stomach. It inched upwards. She could hear his breathing in her ear. She could feel the scratchy fabric of his button up shirt on her back as he pulled her tank top over her head.

She slowly turned around to face him, meeting his dark eyes. There was too little light in the kitchen for her to see all of the colors in them, but she knew they were there. His hands were on her waist, the ground disappeared from under her bare feet. She held onto his shoulders. Their lips met and she lost herself.

Love Poem

The poem was lovely. Shakespearean in its composition, perfect iambic pentameter, and extremely flattering. She looked over the words, comparing her to a fragile Desdemona, and a fair Juliet. She wondered if this was plagiarized from some other poor fools love poem. The boy cowering behind his locker did not seem capable of uttering a word let alone composing a love poem.

There were many other couples that would have been more appropriate for their situation, the thought was sweet though. She longed for another’s love, not the boy watching her like a hawk from behind his locker trying to gauge her reaction. She stuffed the poem into her locker, not wanting to hurt him too badly by throwing it out while he was watching, and ran to her next class.

After the period ended she found another note on her locker, another poem. She sighed internally with every cliche she read. She was almost positive every line was from one of Shakespeare’s sonnets. She stuffed this one in her locker too and ran to her bus.

He sat next to her and it took every bit of self control she had to not groan out loud. She didn’t say a word to him pretending he didn’t exist. Her stop came up and she stood up and scooted past him. She practically sprinted home trying to avoid him, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

Attraction

She looked at him across the table. Dinner had been ordered and wine was served. She examined his soft auburn hair, that curled a little at the ends. His face reminded her of a doe in headlights, with his soft brown eyes. He looked a little surprised all the time. His simile was wide and genuine, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He fidgeted with his napkin, she could feel the nervous energy rolling off him in waves.

“Honestly I wasn’t expecting you to show up.” He half laughed. Self deprecation was his safety blanket. He watched as her smile turned up the corners of her dark red lips. Her espresso colored skin glowed softly as the smile made her eyes sparkle. Her dark rimmed glasses hid a few freckles. He liked how her tight jet curls bobbed a when she turned her head to chuckle into her delicate hand. They locked eyes and she took a drink of her wine.

“I wasn’t exactly sure if I would either, my friend did not sell you very well.” She laughed liking his honesty. She had been expecting someone to show up with a superhero tee and ripped pants. His solid blue button down and black tie left a different impression. She liked the sound of his laugh, soft with a little growl. She couldn’t help but smile when he laughed.

“Were you expecting Napoleon Dynamite?” He held onto his wine glass like a lifeline. She laughed outright bright and clear. He flagged the waitress for more wine as he finished his glass. She had a stunning smile.

“Pretty much.” She couldn’t stop laughing, that is exactly who her friend had told her to expect. His eyebrows shot up, he looked even more surprised that he had gotten it right. Her salad arrived, his rare stake and baked potato was set down a second later. He dug into his food and a look of satisfaction settled on his soft doe like features. The crisp greens and tangy dressing of her own food was delicious. She couldn’t think of anything to say while they were eating, but the silence was comfortable.

“Did we save room for dessert? The featured dessert is a strawberry puff pastry.” The waitress asked when she came by. She watched the look pass between them. Uncertainty if the other person was enjoying the night as much as they were. She had seen it a dozen times this night alone.

“Would you be willing to split it?” He wasn’t sure if he could eat a whole dessert by himself after the big meal. She nodded much to his delight. The waitress came back before he had a chance to say anything else. The strawberry puff pastry was decadent. The waitress came by with the check before they had finished eating.

“I can pay for my half.” She offered, she watched him reach for the check without hesitation. He shook his head and hid the check under the table to pay it. He placed it back on the table. She noticed his fingers were calloused, she wondered what hobbies he had.

“It’s all set.” He said both to her and the waitress as she swooped by to pick it up. He stood up and extended his hand her. She took it, warm and small in his. The gauzy fabric of her dress brushed against his elbow as he walked her to her red Toyota.

“We’ll have to do this again.” She smiled and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. She watched the blood rush to his face. She unlocked her car and held onto the door handle.

“Friday after next?” He stuttered. The feeling of her soft lips on his cheek destabilized all of the courage he had built up during dinner.

“Sure.” She smiled and got into her car. She watched him walk to his pickup truck. She laughed out loud when she saw him punching the air victoriously. She drove past him as he got in and honked. He turned and waved a huge smile plastered across his face.