She has a name!
Jade made her way through a used bookstore, the tips of her slender fingers touching the spines of books as she scanned their titles. She was looking for something to ease her restless mind and limbs and heartbeat and breath. A good book could always slow her thoughts, let her relax and let go of the ominous feeling she always had that her life was about to spiral desperately out of her control. Her lips parted, her eyes closed, she leaned against a shelf of books and took a few deep breaths. Slowly she became aware of the piano in the back of the store being played. Some said it was out of tune, but she was none the wiser. All she knew was that whoever played it was masterful and the sound was relaxing.
Thomas stood and made his way to leave one of the back rooms of his favorite bookstore where had been playing piano for a bit. As he walked out of the room a young woman walked directly into him. Startled, he dropped the books he was carrying to catch her before her step backwards had her falling into an unorganized pile of books. He stood looking at her for a long moment, stunned. This woman had paid for a few of his meals, and he pretended to not notice when she drew to the sounds of him playing. He felt a pang of guilt, for he knew she was probably in need of the money she gave him. She felt small and fragile to him in his hands, looking up at him with her hand on her chest trying to catch her breath. He willed himself to speak.
"Hey, you draw in the park near where I play, don;t you?" he asked before realizing he should probably release his hold on her. He let go and she shifted her footing, bit her lip and looked as if she was focusing for a moment that felt all too long to him.
Jade stared up at him and narrowed her eyes in thought. He was taller than she had realized, and a very strong, classic sort of handsome. She shook her head and gave a hard blink trying to fully register what he had said. The park, right.
"Sorry, I'm a little out of it. A lot out of it apparently. Sorry for walking into you. Yeah, I do. Draw in the park, I mean. I like that tree. . . I mean, I like your playing too. . ." She saw him smile and her thoughts were flustered. She felt herself simultaneously shrink and glow brightly in his presence. He intimidated her, though she wasn't sure why. He was the one playing violin in a park for cash. Suddenly she was nervous and afraid since she knew nothing about this man, and where were the store employees?
"You are quite alright, miss. A good startle can do that to anyone. Were you looking for something back here? I don't work here but I know the place fairly well." he threw her a simple and charming smile.
"Uhh, nothing really. Just something to occupy my time, something to relax with."
He felt himself slip into formalities masterfully easing the awkwardness of their meeting, turning their conversation away from the topic which had clearly made her uncomfortable. He smiled and took a more relaxed but refined stance. He almost cursed himself. He called her "miss." People do not do that outside of fancy cocktail parties or business situations. Things which he was a part of no longer. He almost missed her response, but when she spoke he felt a little better about the whole situation. Then, an alarm went off on his cell phone.
"Well, you'd have to give me more than that to work with, and I'd love to help but I've really got to get going. See you soon?"
She simply nodded and smiled in response and stepped out of his way. He bowed his head to her and walked quickly out of the store.
Thomas stood and made his way to leave one of the back rooms of his favorite bookstore where had been playing piano for a bit. As he walked out of the room a young woman walked directly into him. Startled, he dropped the books he was carrying to catch her before her step backwards had her falling into an unorganized pile of books. He stood looking at her for a long moment, stunned. This woman had paid for a few of his meals, and he pretended to not notice when she drew to the sounds of him playing. He felt a pang of guilt, for he knew she was probably in need of the money she gave him. She felt small and fragile to him in his hands, looking up at him with her hand on her chest trying to catch her breath. He willed himself to speak.
"Hey, you draw in the park near where I play, don;t you?" he asked before realizing he should probably release his hold on her. He let go and she shifted her footing, bit her lip and looked as if she was focusing for a moment that felt all too long to him.
Jade stared up at him and narrowed her eyes in thought. He was taller than she had realized, and a very strong, classic sort of handsome. She shook her head and gave a hard blink trying to fully register what he had said. The park, right.
"Sorry, I'm a little out of it. A lot out of it apparently. Sorry for walking into you. Yeah, I do. Draw in the park, I mean. I like that tree. . . I mean, I like your playing too. . ." She saw him smile and her thoughts were flustered. She felt herself simultaneously shrink and glow brightly in his presence. He intimidated her, though she wasn't sure why. He was the one playing violin in a park for cash. Suddenly she was nervous and afraid since she knew nothing about this man, and where were the store employees?
"You are quite alright, miss. A good startle can do that to anyone. Were you looking for something back here? I don't work here but I know the place fairly well." he threw her a simple and charming smile.
"Uhh, nothing really. Just something to occupy my time, something to relax with."
He felt himself slip into formalities masterfully easing the awkwardness of their meeting, turning their conversation away from the topic which had clearly made her uncomfortable. He smiled and took a more relaxed but refined stance. He almost cursed himself. He called her "miss." People do not do that outside of fancy cocktail parties or business situations. Things which he was a part of no longer. He almost missed her response, but when she spoke he felt a little better about the whole situation. Then, an alarm went off on his cell phone.
"Well, you'd have to give me more than that to work with, and I'd love to help but I've really got to get going. See you soon?"
She simply nodded and smiled in response and stepped out of his way. He bowed his head to her and walked quickly out of the store.