1st ever story - not finished, but thoughts = love
Miss Jessie Blunt
My body hit the water, slicing through it with a rounded, polished and perfected technique. Head down I kicked hard and brought my arms out of the water in a smooth movement; the front crawl had always been my favourite stroke and I loved to start swimming with it.
When I started swimming I began to train myself to hold my breath, I used to hate taking breaths when swimming the front stroke, it always put me off - so I ended up being able to swim two Olympic lengths without taking a breath. I basically trained my lungs while training my body to cut the water.
But tonight I relished in my lengths more than I normally do. The swimming pool lights were on and it felt wonderful to be swimming in what looked like a magical underwater land with nothing and no one to talk to me or distract me. For the first time today I was alone with my thoughts.
It had been a wonderfully long day. I rose with the sun, dressing quickly I prepared for an early run to get my body woken up - although it was spring it felt more like high summer, the days hadn’t been this hot in a long time, so the earlier I rose the nicer it was.
I ran downstairs and outside, picking up my iPod on the way. I took a minute to stretch and breath in the brisk morning air. I set off down the street, keen to get onto softer terrain; the odd car would rush by me and I waved at the postman collecting the previous days post. Finally I came to the woods, they still held the nights chilly air, a light layer of fog hung around them, but already I sensed a very hot day.
Running through the woods I came a little style, leading into a green grass valley, I jumped over the style and continued on running, this time through the incredible valley, enjoying feeling small and unimportant, alone and free. The valley came to a fork and I went left, knowing I wasn’t far from home now, only 10 minutes and in 20 minutes my day would really begin.
Just as I was reaching another style I decided to look up at the sky, wanting to see how high the sun was. Instead of seeing a cloudless sky and the sun beginning to rise, preparing to shower us with yet another wave of heat, instead of that all I saw someone standing over me, if I were a child I would have thought he was a giant. He might as well be 10ft tall. But I blinked and found he looked more like 6ft. He opened his mouth as if to speak, only the words must have disappeared because I heard nothing.
I felt stupid, here I was not looking my best and probably not smelling too good either and I couldn’t even manage to murmur anything - for some reason nor could he.
Suddenly as if slapped he coughed and began to talk; “You can’t run here, Miss. I’m sorry but this is private property, it’s owned by Jessie Blunt.”
It took a moment for his words to register, and when they did I struggled to not laugh - bemused by him. Did he not know who I was? He obviously did not.
Trying hard not to embarrass him I said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I know your name… I’m Jessie Blunt.” I stuck out my hand, waiting for him to connect the dots…
He looked at me as if I was some idiot, and I felt annoyed that he had disturbed me while I took a moment out, but better yet that he had the cheek to think I was trespassing - on my own land for lord’s sake. I was getting tempted to turn around and run on home, I was going to be late if I wasn’t careful - and it was his bloody fault.
All too slowly he nodded and I saw a flush creep up his neck; my hand was strangely still stuck out and he grasped it, almost afraid I would bite… but as he closed his hand around mine it felt like he could bite me instead. His hands were callused, they felt like they held a history of work and despite my annoyance I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing here and why he seemed to have a history… even if I was only going on this by the feel of his hands.
Awkwardly he removed his hand from my grasp and I felt stupid for letting things linger; it was inappropriate but I was still intrigued, so very intrigued.
“What are you doing here? I’m sorry I still don’t know your name.” I said.
He seemed lost for words but I gazed at him head on and he seemed to come to-
“I’m sorry Miss Blunt, I wasn’t aware you were… well you. I recently took up the bodyguard job and I’ve just been taking a few days to get my bearings, hence why I’m here… now.”
All the time I never tore my gaze from him as he spoke and slowly as his words penetrated my mind I realised there was more to his callused hands, there was a stubble, his hair looked dishevelled and his eyes held a spark, but it seemed to be hidden behind a guard, a weary look - almost like he’d seen more than any one person should. He looked damaged and in the pit of my stomach a butterfly rose to life.
I realised he was waiting for my response and felt stupid yet again for letting this rugged man put me off. “Oh, of course. You must be Edward Daniels, the ex MI6 agent! I didn’t realise you had arrived yet. You weren’t expected for another week” I said at least.
“I know Miss Blunt, but I like to make sure I know everything before I start the job officially - I take everything extremely seriously and like to get to know my surroundings in my own time. I hope you’re not upset.” He said, looking unsure and as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here, talking to me.
“Oh, not at all. If I can do anything to help with this please let me know or my personal PA. Thank you for taking the extra care - I heard you were good, but I didn’t realise you were this good.” I said - I was so tempted to ask whether he was good at other things too, but dared not embarrass him before he’d even started work.
He seemed taken aback by me and shuffled his feet; time to go his body language seemed to say.
“Thank you very much Miss Blunt - anyway, I’ll let you go. Sorry for the trouble.” He said and before I knew it had turned on his heel and was walking away.
Perturbed I acted on a whim and said; “It’s Jessie, ‘Miss Blunt’ sounds so terribly dull and I’m far from that Mr Daniels”. Before I could catch his reaction I turned my head and started to run, quite effortlessly away, back to my sanctuary, away from the rugged man who seemed to hold secrets in his eyes.
My body hit the water, slicing through it with a rounded, polished and perfected technique. Head down I kicked hard and brought my arms out of the water in a smooth movement; the front crawl had always been my favourite stroke and I loved to start swimming with it.
When I started swimming I began to train myself to hold my breath, I used to hate taking breaths when swimming the front stroke, it always put me off - so I ended up being able to swim two Olympic lengths without taking a breath. I basically trained my lungs while training my body to cut the water.
But tonight I relished in my lengths more than I normally do. The swimming pool lights were on and it felt wonderful to be swimming in what looked like a magical underwater land with nothing and no one to talk to me or distract me. For the first time today I was alone with my thoughts.
It had been a wonderfully long day. I rose with the sun, dressing quickly I prepared for an early run to get my body woken up - although it was spring it felt more like high summer, the days hadn’t been this hot in a long time, so the earlier I rose the nicer it was.
I ran downstairs and outside, picking up my iPod on the way. I took a minute to stretch and breath in the brisk morning air. I set off down the street, keen to get onto softer terrain; the odd car would rush by me and I waved at the postman collecting the previous days post. Finally I came to the woods, they still held the nights chilly air, a light layer of fog hung around them, but already I sensed a very hot day.
Running through the woods I came a little style, leading into a green grass valley, I jumped over the style and continued on running, this time through the incredible valley, enjoying feeling small and unimportant, alone and free. The valley came to a fork and I went left, knowing I wasn’t far from home now, only 10 minutes and in 20 minutes my day would really begin.
Just as I was reaching another style I decided to look up at the sky, wanting to see how high the sun was. Instead of seeing a cloudless sky and the sun beginning to rise, preparing to shower us with yet another wave of heat, instead of that all I saw someone standing over me, if I were a child I would have thought he was a giant. He might as well be 10ft tall. But I blinked and found he looked more like 6ft. He opened his mouth as if to speak, only the words must have disappeared because I heard nothing.
I felt stupid, here I was not looking my best and probably not smelling too good either and I couldn’t even manage to murmur anything - for some reason nor could he.
Suddenly as if slapped he coughed and began to talk; “You can’t run here, Miss. I’m sorry but this is private property, it’s owned by Jessie Blunt.”
It took a moment for his words to register, and when they did I struggled to not laugh - bemused by him. Did he not know who I was? He obviously did not.
Trying hard not to embarrass him I said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I know your name… I’m Jessie Blunt.” I stuck out my hand, waiting for him to connect the dots…
He looked at me as if I was some idiot, and I felt annoyed that he had disturbed me while I took a moment out, but better yet that he had the cheek to think I was trespassing - on my own land for lord’s sake. I was getting tempted to turn around and run on home, I was going to be late if I wasn’t careful - and it was his bloody fault.
All too slowly he nodded and I saw a flush creep up his neck; my hand was strangely still stuck out and he grasped it, almost afraid I would bite… but as he closed his hand around mine it felt like he could bite me instead. His hands were callused, they felt like they held a history of work and despite my annoyance I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing here and why he seemed to have a history… even if I was only going on this by the feel of his hands.
Awkwardly he removed his hand from my grasp and I felt stupid for letting things linger; it was inappropriate but I was still intrigued, so very intrigued.
“What are you doing here? I’m sorry I still don’t know your name.” I said.
He seemed lost for words but I gazed at him head on and he seemed to come to-
“I’m sorry Miss Blunt, I wasn’t aware you were… well you. I recently took up the bodyguard job and I’ve just been taking a few days to get my bearings, hence why I’m here… now.”
All the time I never tore my gaze from him as he spoke and slowly as his words penetrated my mind I realised there was more to his callused hands, there was a stubble, his hair looked dishevelled and his eyes held a spark, but it seemed to be hidden behind a guard, a weary look - almost like he’d seen more than any one person should. He looked damaged and in the pit of my stomach a butterfly rose to life.
I realised he was waiting for my response and felt stupid yet again for letting this rugged man put me off. “Oh, of course. You must be Edward Daniels, the ex MI6 agent! I didn’t realise you had arrived yet. You weren’t expected for another week” I said at least.
“I know Miss Blunt, but I like to make sure I know everything before I start the job officially - I take everything extremely seriously and like to get to know my surroundings in my own time. I hope you’re not upset.” He said, looking unsure and as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here, talking to me.
“Oh, not at all. If I can do anything to help with this please let me know or my personal PA. Thank you for taking the extra care - I heard you were good, but I didn’t realise you were this good.” I said - I was so tempted to ask whether he was good at other things too, but dared not embarrass him before he’d even started work.
He seemed taken aback by me and shuffled his feet; time to go his body language seemed to say.
“Thank you very much Miss Blunt - anyway, I’ll let you go. Sorry for the trouble.” He said and before I knew it had turned on his heel and was walking away.
Perturbed I acted on a whim and said; “It’s Jessie, ‘Miss Blunt’ sounds so terribly dull and I’m far from that Mr Daniels”. Before I could catch his reaction I turned my head and started to run, quite effortlessly away, back to my sanctuary, away from the rugged man who seemed to hold secrets in his eyes.