October 22 - Warm Up

[age]

I have to admit that, outside of the one I posted a couple of weeks back, I haven't been keeping up with these exercises either. Although my reason might be purely due to the fact that I don't want to exhaust the surprise of each element I've given you in the even that I actually need to pick one of these up during November

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[wander_free]

Joy spent most of her time down at the Rock Band, moving the rocks and placing them precisely where she wanted them. She knew the name was misleading, but there wasn't really any other way to describe the quarry but as a band of rock lacing through the sandstone hills. Since she liked visual puns and it suited her rather absurd sense of humor, one of her first works had been to create a set of four musicians, complete with guitars, keyboards and a drum set to guard the front entrance to her workshop. The girl who worked at the Stop and Shop had only rolled her eyes when Joy had brought her out to show off the Rock Band. Even a year later, the memory had the power to sting and Joy fumbled with the large block of granite she was manipulating.

As the stone toppled to the ground, she was glad she worked alone at the quarry. If the stone hit someone, it would only be a trespasser and they deserved what they got. Taking a deep breath, Joy lifted the stone, smoothly aligning it with the rest of the sculpture. She was already an incredibly powerful telekinetic and her work with the heavy, cumbersome rocks was quickly making her one of the strongest anywhere.

Studying the edifice, she nudged several of the blocks closer together, which caused the whole thing to list suddenly to the left. Quickly, she shored it up, sweating slightly under the strain. It was difficult to concentrate for long periods of time, especially when her mind kept drifting back to the manager of the Stop and Shop. Her inattention, though it lasted only a moment, was enough to cause her to loose her grip and the entire pile came tumbling down, raising a cloud of dust that sent her hacking and coughing to the little shelter she used for breaks.

When a water bottle was shoved into her hands, Joy wondered if the concentration required for her art had finally driven her mad. Standing in front of her was the cause of the recent avalanche, Briane, manager at the Stop and Shop and her secret crush.

Joy tried to speak, but Briane pushed on the water bottle, encouraging her to drink before she hacked up a lung.

"What are you doing here?" Joy finally rasped. Her throat was raw and burning.

Briane smiled hopefully. "You said I could come out whenever I liked to see your work. I hope I'm not interrupting?" She trailed off, eyes cutting to the cloud of dust settling around them. Joy hoped the rocks had tumbled into confusion before Briane had seen them, otherwise this was going to be a short conversation and would most likely end with 'I never want to see you again!'

"No," Joy said, coughing a little. "Of course, you're always welcome here. Let me show you around?"

Since Briane nodded agreeably and spent most of the next hour asking questions and teasing her, Joy figured her secret was safe for the moment.

They were at the bottom of the quarry when Briane pointed the crumbled stones. "What happened here?"

Joy shrugged. "They slipped. One day I'll be the strongest telekinetic on record, but," she quirked a grin and shrugged again. "I still occasionally goof up."

Briane smiled. "Oh, I doubt that."

*Two months later*

"This is Arthur Brenton reporting from the Rock Band, the quarry and workshop of famed telekinetic and sculptor of Joy Donovan. Joy, what can you tell me about this sculpture behind us?"

"Arthur, I made that for my partner, Briane Lewis. At the time, she wouldn't give me the time of day, much to my heartbreak."

"And now?"

"And now, we are still arguing about wedding plans."