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By Daniel Perry -- Rated G Obligatory Disclaimer From The Management: All recognizable concepts herein belong to Marvel Comics and are used without permission but without intention of harm or profit. The TCP concept is used with permission. Everything else belongs to the person listed above as the author. Do not archive without permission.
Her feet scuffled nervously across the sidewalk as she made her way down the street. Shoulders hunched, hands thrust deeply in pockets, she seemed to be more a mouse than a person. Her jeans and sweatshirt were clean, if unremarkable, and her braids spilled down her back in the latest fashion. She didn't appear to watch where she was going, yet her odd steps had an inner purpose, deftly avoiding collisions with the destitute and businessmen who crossed her path. Suddenly, she froze, momentarily a deer trapped in headlights; then she turned to the right and entered a neighborhood convenience store. Tinny music came from the radio in the corner as she made her way down the aisle. She rifled through the junk food, pausing momentarily when something caught her eye. Finally, she picked up a bag of potato chips and some cupcakes and made her way to the front of the store. The man behind the counter scowled as he looked up, but quickly smiled when he saw her standing before him. "Well, hello!" he said, jumping from his seat and smoothing back his hair. "Haven't seen you in quite some time. How've you been?" She shrugged. "Oh, I know it." He rang up her items as he chatted. "The way things are out there, there are days I don't wanna get out of bed. Of course, then I'd never have a chance to see that pretty face of yours." His eager grin exposed the ravages of plaque and nicotine unchecked, and she moved back from him a step before nodding. She reached for her purse to pay, but his upheld hand stopped her. "Don't do that. Your eyes are payment enough," he said, and pushed a few buttons on the cash machine: NO SALE. She blushed, uncertain for a moment, then moved towards her purse again. "No, I insist. I don't see you enough as it is. Maybe these little favors will bring you by my store more often." His tone was warm, yet adamant. "Maybe you'll say a little something to me sometime." She paused again, sighed, then smiled as she shook her head and picked up her gifts. "Come back soon!" he called to her as she walked out of the store. She turned to wave good-bye. Her farewell was rudely interrupted by a professional man power-walking back to his office. Down they went in a tangle of limbs and processed food. As she hit the ground, an involuntary "Hey!" escaped her lips. She lay there, pale and trembling, hoping against hope that he had not heard her small noise. Perhaps she hadn't said that as loud as she thought. Maybe it would be all right this time... The businessman jumped up immediately. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, bending down to help her regain her possessions. "I should have been watching where I was going. Do you need help standing? Here, let me..." He held out his hand and helped her rise, dusted her off, and returned her bags. "I'm such an idiot. If I hadn't been so distracted... Let me make it up to you? Are you free for dinner tonight? I know a great Mexican place uptown..." She noticed the glint of his wedding band, then the glow in his eyes as he spoke. She sighed, then shook her head. "Are you sure? I mean, I feel like such an idiot, running down a lovely young woman in the street like some big ox or something. Are you sure you're okay? You haven't hurt anything? Maybe I should take you to the hospital, just to be safe..." She shook her head more vehemently and backed away from him. A small tear ran down the side of her face. She knew he had heard her, after all. "Well," he said, reaching into his pocket, "if you change your mind, here's my business card. Feel free to call me at any time. Let me put my home number on this, too..." He paused to hunt for his pen. She used the moment to make her escape, running back down the street. "Hey!" he shouted. "You never even told me your name..." The store owner stepped out of the doorway and smiled. "Gorgeous, huh?" he asked, lighting a cigarette. "Like an angel from Heaven," breathed the businessman. He turned to the store owner. "Why is she so quiet?" The store owner shrugged. "Dunno. She said 'Good morning' to me once, about a year ago. She got so upset that she ran out of my shop and didn't come back until today. I keep hoping she'll say something again sometime, but so far, no luck." "Yeah, her voice is so...captivating," said the businessman, watching her shape fade in the distance. "Does she come by here often?" "Not regularly," said the store owner. "Not anymore, at least." He looked at the businessman up and down. "She spoke to you?" The incredulity in his voice was tinged with jealousy and anger. "Hmmph." The businessman was too preoccupied checking his watch to notice the store owner's tone. "I need to get back to the office," he said. "Could I leave a message for her with you?" Instantly, the store owner's eyes flashed. "No." He turned abruptly and stomped inside of his store, slamming the door behind him. A scowl flashed across the businessman's face. Oh well, he thought to himself, I'll just have to come this way more often. Chances are she lives somewhere around here... As he resumed his power walk, his thoughts turned again to her lovely eyes, her full lips, and her gorgeous hair. More and more, though, a single word consumed him, wrapped him tightly in a cocoon of love and infatuation until he could hardly breathe. His pulse quickened as he remembered it bursting from her lips like a startled bird, flitting away with his heart. Over and over it echoed through his head, that perfect word which had made him her soul-mate... "Hey!" Isn't it romantic? he thought, whistling as he entered his office building.
 Story ©2001 by the author. This story is protected by the TCP |