Aden pulled a rather large bag with wheels behind him. He had found a large vase that he had bought for a deal, mostly because the owner had wanted to get rid of it. Mrs. Roberts had seemed to think the vase brought bad spirits. And that was why Aden loved her. She was his best source for antiques. She would buy something old to say she owned it, but then she would freak herself out over it for no reason. And that was when she would call.
"Mr. Kingston?! Thank goodness you answered your phone! I have a vase." "I have a book." "I have a necklace." "I have a suitcase and it has something wrong with it!"
It was never the same thing and always something that couldn't actually happen.
He always tried to give her more money than she had paid, but she would never take it. "I just want it out of my house, Aden!" She would say and take $50 or less.
Which worked for him, so he wasn't complaining.
He came to an intersection. He looked down the right fork then down the left. The antique store was down the left fork... the Coffee Shop down the right.
And he didn't feel like stopping by the antique store just yet, so he walked down the right fork smiling up at the angry, black storm clouds. Nothing could upset his mood today.
He suddenly wanted to walk a little faster, weird, but he did it anyway.
He sped up, not to much, but enough for him to feel the wind pick up and pull his dark curls away from his face.
He slowed down as he came to the door of the Coffee Shop. A girl was leaving, one he hadn't seen before. Odd, he had come here as often as he could since he discovered it, yet this girl gave a vibe of a regular.
He opened the door and stepped back so she could walk out.
"Here you go, miss." He said with a generous smile waving his hand for her to walk through the door.
She nodded to him, a smile of her own on her dark skinned face. "Thank you."
He watched her walk across the street and into a tall office building that Aden personally thought was a detriment to the street. Though he felt his opinion shift as she walked into it.
He frowned as he thought. Then shrugged and walked into the shop.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Girl at the Window
Nora Sanders was watching the people outside the window, a styrofoam cup of coffee cooling between her hands. A yellow-paged book, worn with use so that the title on the spine could no longer be read, lay forgotten on the table. Her purse was slung across the back of the chair with her coat.
If Nora were to be defined in a moment, this would be the one.
Nora's leg was crossed over her knee, and now and again she would smooth her skirt, a long flimsy thing that only helped to create a boho-style feel. It was brown, as deep and rich as her coffee. Tucked into it was a sand-brown shirt, covered loosely with a green cardigan that stretched to her elbows.
She blinked as a dog lunged on his leash after a bird.
Her chin rested on her hand, elbow smudging the table, with a silly smile on her lips. Her light-dark coconut skin wrinkled at her eyes when she smiled, fringed by the curls of her black hair held back in a headband.
The chair across the table from her screeched as Ranna pulled it out, sitting down with a relieved huff. Nora turned her eyes from the window to Ranna.
"Day 362, and you've still got that smile," Ranna joked with a wry grin.
"Day 362, and you still can't smile right," Nora teased back. "When do you have school?"
"After lunch. Gotta catch the bus to the Atlantis pickup."
"Ooh. Wasn't Trea going to give you a ride?"
"She and Topher are sluffing class to go to a theme park. I think he's going to propose. Could be wrong, though. His head was a mess."
"And Warren?"
"Study abroad. He'll be back in a month."
"Did you look up that music I told you about?"
Ranna tapped the bulky headphones around her neck. "Ready to go for the bus ride."
Nora smiled wider. "So you liked it, then?"
Ranna shrugged. "It's not my normal sound, but it could grow on me." Which meant, in Ranna-speach, that she had really liked it.
"Thought it might." Which meant, in Nora-speech, I-told-you-so. And that's what Nora's smile said, too.
"When does work start?"
"Nine-thirty. Which means I have fifteen minutes left." Nora stuffed her book into her purse, then got up and pushed her chair in. "Is there any chance that I could coerce you into bagging me a bagel?" she asked Ranna with her fake-begging smile. Ranna rolled her eyes, amused, and got up to get the bagel.
"So we're still on for tonight, right?" Nora asked as she rummaged for the money to pay for the bagel.
"Meeting at seven-thirty here. I didn't forget," Ranna reassured her.
"Great! Thanks again for going to the concert with me."
"Anytime," Ranna said, then waved at Nora as she walked across the street and into the tall office building that mirrored the coffeeshop in its glassy reflection.
If Nora were to be defined in a moment, this would be the one.
Nora's leg was crossed over her knee, and now and again she would smooth her skirt, a long flimsy thing that only helped to create a boho-style feel. It was brown, as deep and rich as her coffee. Tucked into it was a sand-brown shirt, covered loosely with a green cardigan that stretched to her elbows.
She blinked as a dog lunged on his leash after a bird.
Her chin rested on her hand, elbow smudging the table, with a silly smile on her lips. Her light-dark coconut skin wrinkled at her eyes when she smiled, fringed by the curls of her black hair held back in a headband.
The chair across the table from her screeched as Ranna pulled it out, sitting down with a relieved huff. Nora turned her eyes from the window to Ranna.
"Day 362, and you've still got that smile," Ranna joked with a wry grin.
"Day 362, and you still can't smile right," Nora teased back. "When do you have school?"
"After lunch. Gotta catch the bus to the Atlantis pickup."
"Ooh. Wasn't Trea going to give you a ride?"
"She and Topher are sluffing class to go to a theme park. I think he's going to propose. Could be wrong, though. His head was a mess."
"And Warren?"
"Study abroad. He'll be back in a month."
"Did you look up that music I told you about?"
Ranna tapped the bulky headphones around her neck. "Ready to go for the bus ride."
Nora smiled wider. "So you liked it, then?"
Ranna shrugged. "It's not my normal sound, but it could grow on me." Which meant, in Ranna-speach, that she had really liked it.
"Thought it might." Which meant, in Nora-speech, I-told-you-so. And that's what Nora's smile said, too.
"When does work start?"
"Nine-thirty. Which means I have fifteen minutes left." Nora stuffed her book into her purse, then got up and pushed her chair in. "Is there any chance that I could coerce you into bagging me a bagel?" she asked Ranna with her fake-begging smile. Ranna rolled her eyes, amused, and got up to get the bagel.
"So we're still on for tonight, right?" Nora asked as she rummaged for the money to pay for the bagel.
"Meeting at seven-thirty here. I didn't forget," Ranna reassured her.
"Great! Thanks again for going to the concert with me."
"Anytime," Ranna said, then waved at Nora as she walked across the street and into the tall office building that mirrored the coffeeshop in its glassy reflection.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Aden Tristan Kingston
Aden walked down the street, hands in his pockets whistling a happy sporadic tune.
He wore blue jeans, white boat shoes, a light yellow t-shirt and a dark blue jacket.
He didn't really need the jacket, but he liked to have somewhere to put his hands.
He glanced into the shop windows pausing if he saw something interesting, as he had done for the past hour.
He was on his way to his next appointment, but it was not for another 2 hours. So he went just a few blocks away to the main hub of the city.
Shops lines the small roads. This had always been his favorite part of any city, the old classy part. Sometimes he thought he didn't belong in the 21 century. Maybe in the 1940's... or the 1640's. A Slower, more romantic time in history.
He enjoyed sitting. Watching. Waiting. Getting somewhere when it seemed to fit.
Perhaps that is why he had found it hard to keep regular jobs. The times his managers wanted him to come in never seemed to correspond to how his life was going that day. So he came in a little later.
He did try to be on time. He worked to make his mood, his life, and his activities fit into work, but when he did that he felt fluster, upset and irritable. Money was not worth feeling horrible all the time.
Sure, apparently the world revolves around money and money is what makes everything go. But there were easier way to get it.
Such as the job he was at now.
He had started to work at an antique store, but his job was to go through town and find antiques, pay for them with the store's money and bring them back. Then he drew them in as much detail as he could. As long as he had 20 at the end of the week , he got paid a full weeks wages.
He smiled at the thought of this catch. How many other people could say that they loved their job and it loved them! First of all it was antique! And he loved that stuff! Second, it was on his time schedule! And third, he got to draw, his favorite thing (other than old movies)! Can't get much better than that.
As Aden thought about his luck in life he happened to glance across the street into the window of a very interesting shop.
He did a double take.
On the outside it was a regular Coffee Shop.
He found his feet walking across the street with his mind still reeling back on the sidewalk.
Once he caught up with himself he was opening the door.
A small bell chimed as the door hit it
Aden's face slowly molded into a smile of pure joy as he looked around the small shop.
In one corner arguing speaking in their quick language were a group of 4 oriental students. Next to there was a girl with bright orange hair sitting next to a boy with earplugs, nose plugs, gloves and a blindfold. Across from there was a boy who was dark, no other way to describe it. Dark with red highlights. It reminded Aden of Fire.
On the other side of the store a couple was sitting as close as the table would allow them, though they looked as if they were from the 18th century and she was pulling a long silver knife from her golden hair. The man didn't seem to mind though, he was admiring her face.
"J'aret, look at my new knife!" She was telling him.
Aden's eyes darted to the next table.
Another couple, this one dressed in circus gab. The male was very pale and the girl very small. They looked like complete opposites, yet the meshed together so well... maybe that was just the matching costumes.
His chin had dropped to the floor as soon as the small bell had tinkled. And Aden made no move to close it.
He loved this place!
He hadn't even tried the food!
"Are you going to get something?" The waitress behind the counter asked him.
Aden looked over toward her voice his eyes still wide and his mouth still open. He was almost upset she had talked to him, there were still more people he wanted to look at. He wished he had brought his drawing pad, but it was back at the antique shop.
"Trying to catch the fly's?" She asked dryly.
This girl, her name tag said Ranna, was just as Dark as the other boy, perhaps a little more.
"Uh..." He shook himself mentally, putting on his dashing smile. Not that he had another one, his dashing one was his natural one.
"What do you have?" He asked walking up and leaning on the counter looking up at the signs.
"Coffee."
"Ah. so you do, but I see you also have some delicious pastries and other baked good. Along with lunch specials!" He said happily.
"Yes."
"So I will have the lunch special along with a cookie!"
Ranna punched some buttons on her cash register. "Seven Dollars."
He dug in his pocket and handed her the money, trading it for a receipt.
"Thank you, Ranna." He said, making sure to use her name.
She nodded and pushed open a door, disappearing behind it. Probably to get his food.
He turned back around and grabbed a tall table by the window, but not before picking up a pen and some napkins. He couldn't let these people get away from him! When was the next time he would have the opportunity to have such great variety of people in one place!
He hunched over his napkins and started sketching quickly, looking up more than he looked at his paper.
He wore blue jeans, white boat shoes, a light yellow t-shirt and a dark blue jacket.
He didn't really need the jacket, but he liked to have somewhere to put his hands.
He glanced into the shop windows pausing if he saw something interesting, as he had done for the past hour.
He was on his way to his next appointment, but it was not for another 2 hours. So he went just a few blocks away to the main hub of the city.
Shops lines the small roads. This had always been his favorite part of any city, the old classy part. Sometimes he thought he didn't belong in the 21 century. Maybe in the 1940's... or the 1640's. A Slower, more romantic time in history.
He enjoyed sitting. Watching. Waiting. Getting somewhere when it seemed to fit.
Perhaps that is why he had found it hard to keep regular jobs. The times his managers wanted him to come in never seemed to correspond to how his life was going that day. So he came in a little later.
He did try to be on time. He worked to make his mood, his life, and his activities fit into work, but when he did that he felt fluster, upset and irritable. Money was not worth feeling horrible all the time.
Sure, apparently the world revolves around money and money is what makes everything go. But there were easier way to get it.
Such as the job he was at now.
He had started to work at an antique store, but his job was to go through town and find antiques, pay for them with the store's money and bring them back. Then he drew them in as much detail as he could. As long as he had 20 at the end of the week , he got paid a full weeks wages.
He smiled at the thought of this catch. How many other people could say that they loved their job and it loved them! First of all it was antique! And he loved that stuff! Second, it was on his time schedule! And third, he got to draw, his favorite thing (other than old movies)! Can't get much better than that.
As Aden thought about his luck in life he happened to glance across the street into the window of a very interesting shop.
He did a double take.
On the outside it was a regular Coffee Shop.
He found his feet walking across the street with his mind still reeling back on the sidewalk.
Once he caught up with himself he was opening the door.
A small bell chimed as the door hit it
Aden's face slowly molded into a smile of pure joy as he looked around the small shop.
In one corner arguing speaking in their quick language were a group of 4 oriental students. Next to there was a girl with bright orange hair sitting next to a boy with earplugs, nose plugs, gloves and a blindfold. Across from there was a boy who was dark, no other way to describe it. Dark with red highlights. It reminded Aden of Fire.
On the other side of the store a couple was sitting as close as the table would allow them, though they looked as if they were from the 18th century and she was pulling a long silver knife from her golden hair. The man didn't seem to mind though, he was admiring her face.
"J'aret, look at my new knife!" She was telling him.
Aden's eyes darted to the next table.
Another couple, this one dressed in circus gab. The male was very pale and the girl very small. They looked like complete opposites, yet the meshed together so well... maybe that was just the matching costumes.
His chin had dropped to the floor as soon as the small bell had tinkled. And Aden made no move to close it.
He loved this place!
He hadn't even tried the food!
"Are you going to get something?" The waitress behind the counter asked him.
Aden looked over toward her voice his eyes still wide and his mouth still open. He was almost upset she had talked to him, there were still more people he wanted to look at. He wished he had brought his drawing pad, but it was back at the antique shop.
"Trying to catch the fly's?" She asked dryly.
This girl, her name tag said Ranna, was just as Dark as the other boy, perhaps a little more.
"Uh..." He shook himself mentally, putting on his dashing smile. Not that he had another one, his dashing one was his natural one.
"What do you have?" He asked walking up and leaning on the counter looking up at the signs.
"Coffee."
"Ah. so you do, but I see you also have some delicious pastries and other baked good. Along with lunch specials!" He said happily.
"Yes."
"So I will have the lunch special along with a cookie!"
Ranna punched some buttons on her cash register. "Seven Dollars."
He dug in his pocket and handed her the money, trading it for a receipt.
"Thank you, Ranna." He said, making sure to use her name.
She nodded and pushed open a door, disappearing behind it. Probably to get his food.
He turned back around and grabbed a tall table by the window, but not before picking up a pen and some napkins. He couldn't let these people get away from him! When was the next time he would have the opportunity to have such great variety of people in one place!
He hunched over his napkins and started sketching quickly, looking up more than he looked at his paper.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Storming
"There are some interesting characters in here." Henry the fourth said as he opened the door for Ava.
Ava walked into a mesh of different cultures, time periods and civilizations.
She looked up at the barista to see a girl with blacck hair, but with a red streak in the front.
"Hello, what can I get you?" She said, her name tag said her name was Ranna.
"A Decaf with extra cream please." Ava ansered.
"I'll have a donut." Henry said simply.
They left the counter to find a table after Henry paid.
"Do you see anywhere?" Ava asked him.
He looked around, all the tables seemed full. He shook his head.
"Oh, how about there!" Ava said pointing to a small table next to what looked like a pirate and his wench.
Henry shrugged and they went to sit while they waited for their food.
"Krister, how could you do that! Here we don't know where we are or how we got here and you go trying to make friends with complete strangers showing me off like some prize stallion." Chante fumed in her rapid french.
"My by love, if in comparison to a stables, you would be my prize stallion! It was meant to be a compliment!" Krister retorted leaning back against his seat, eating some of this bread they called bagels.
"Krister, my love," she said sarcasticaly. "I don't appreciate being compared to horses to complete strangers!"
"Chante!" Krister protested as she got up and stormed away."
He sighed and stood up to chase after her. He saw a young couple staring at him. They looked away quickly but he didn't mind.
"And to think we have been married for 3 years!" He said then left after Chante.
Ava walked into a mesh of different cultures, time periods and civilizations.
She looked up at the barista to see a girl with blacck hair, but with a red streak in the front.
"Hello, what can I get you?" She said, her name tag said her name was Ranna.
"A Decaf with extra cream please." Ava ansered.
"I'll have a donut." Henry said simply.
They left the counter to find a table after Henry paid.
"Do you see anywhere?" Ava asked him.
He looked around, all the tables seemed full. He shook his head.
"Oh, how about there!" Ava said pointing to a small table next to what looked like a pirate and his wench.
Henry shrugged and they went to sit while they waited for their food.
"Krister, how could you do that! Here we don't know where we are or how we got here and you go trying to make friends with complete strangers showing me off like some prize stallion." Chante fumed in her rapid french.
"My by love, if in comparison to a stables, you would be my prize stallion! It was meant to be a compliment!" Krister retorted leaning back against his seat, eating some of this bread they called bagels.
"Krister, my love," she said sarcasticaly. "I don't appreciate being compared to horses to complete strangers!"
"Chante!" Krister protested as she got up and stormed away."
He sighed and stood up to chase after her. He saw a young couple staring at him. They looked away quickly but he didn't mind.
"And to think we have been married for 3 years!" He said then left after Chante.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Stuttering Entrance
Krister stumbled against the door after Chante pushed him forward.
He looked around and blinked.
"Uh.. Chante? where are we?"
Chante laughed as she followed him in.
"What are you talking-- about." She looked around with wide eyes.
A high counter was full of different foods to order and a large board on a wall just behind had words everywhere and prices.
"A shop..."
Krister turned to look at her. He put his arm protectively around her waist.
"Welllllll." He said "If this is a shop maybe we should buy something."
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "What sort of money do you think they use? Maybe I should call Rat."
He looked around and blinked.
"Uh.. Chante? where are we?"
Chante laughed as she followed him in.
"What are you talking-- about." She looked around with wide eyes.
A high counter was full of different foods to order and a large board on a wall just behind had words everywhere and prices.
"A shop..."
Krister turned to look at her. He put his arm protectively around her waist.
"Welllllll." He said "If this is a shop maybe we should buy something."
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "What sort of money do you think they use? Maybe I should call Rat."
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Twist of Words
Zane grabbed their bagels and water and turned around to see someone talking to Maura. He raised his eyebrows cause Marua was 'talking' back.
"Excuse me." He said as he walked up behind the girl with ... well, orange hair. There was no other way to describe it.
She turned around.
"Hey! Maura says you are her boyfriend! Nice to meet you I'm Trea!" the girl said sticking out her hand.
Zane looked at her hand then at the tray in his hands. He balanced it on one arm and shook her hand.
"Zane."
"So I noticed your shirt said 'Sun God' on it. So do you like Apollo or something? Isn't he the sun god in greek mythology?"
Zane laughed and saw Maura looked up nervously.
"Yeah, I'm like him" He said then set the tray down and sat down next to Maura.
"Excuse me." He said as he walked up behind the girl with ... well, orange hair. There was no other way to describe it.
She turned around.
"Hey! Maura says you are her boyfriend! Nice to meet you I'm Trea!" the girl said sticking out her hand.
Zane looked at her hand then at the tray in his hands. He balanced it on one arm and shook her hand.
"Zane."
"So I noticed your shirt said 'Sun God' on it. So do you like Apollo or something? Isn't he the sun god in greek mythology?"
Zane laughed and saw Maura looked up nervously.
"Yeah, I'm like him" He said then set the tray down and sat down next to Maura.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Old Habits Die Hard
Chatter.
"Trea, why don't you go meet someone new? There are tons of people here who, I'm sure, would love to have you interrupt them. So go. Shoo."
Trea sighed, pouting. She looked around. Tech-boy was too engrossed to be bothered. Japanese kids would be hard to talk to. Lonely girl with closed eyes, tapping the table? Perfect.
She got up, walking over to her. "Hi, I'm Trea," she said. The girl opened her eyes and gave a small wave with her hand, and then went back to tapping.
"Um, what's your name?"
"Maura," the girl mumbled, her other hand resting under her and chin and almost making what she said too garbled to understand.
"Are you here alone?"
She shook her head no.
"Who are you with?"
Maura pointed to the boy who was coming back, two coffees in hand.
"Oh! Is he your boyfriend?"
Maura nodded.
"Are you usually this talkative?"
She shook her head no again.
"Huh. I see."
She got up, walking over to her. "Hi, I'm Trea," she said. The girl opened her eyes and gave a small wave with her hand, and then went back to tapping.
"Um, what's your name?"
"Maura," the girl mumbled, her other hand resting under her and chin and almost making what she said too garbled to understand.
"Are you here alone?"
She shook her head no.
"Who are you with?"
Maura pointed to the boy who was coming back, two coffees in hand.
"Oh! Is he your boyfriend?"
Maura nodded.
"Are you usually this talkative?"
She shook her head no again.
"Huh. I see."
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