I see her. Sitting on the park bench reading a book. She reads a different book every day, I swear that's all she does, she reads. Yesterday it was, "To Kill a Mockingbird", today it's, "Beauty and the Beast." That's the third time I've seen her read it. It's probably one of her favorite books. I examine what she's wearing, thin red glasses perched on the tip of her nose. Her purple hued hair tightly pinned up and her dress a different pattern/color an heels that go with her dress. Her skin is as fair as snow, I haven't seen her eyes up close yet but I bet they're just as beautiful as the rest of her. I want to talk to her, ask her so many questions. See what's going on inside of her head.
I look at my watch, my papa left it for my brother before he died. But Mac said he didn't wear as well as I did. So I kept it, I examined the face of the watch and noticed it was 11:59 a.m., she's about to leave for lunch. I guess you can say I know this because I follow her to the coffee shop a block away from the park. I look back across the park and see her close her book and get up, smoothing down her dress.
Today it's a light blue with white polka dots, her heels are light blue as well. She takes off her glasses and put them into a purple case then into a white pocket book. She walks off with her book in her left hand and her pocket book on her right shoulder. As I see her round the corner I get and that's the direction I go in to follow.
I stand up and turn around to pick up my brown Stetson hat my pappy also left for me and plop it down on top of my head. My blonde hair hanging down around my shoulders. I start walking towards the coffee shop as well. When I get there I see her standing in line checking out the menu. I don't know why she does, she gets the same thing every day.
When she gets to the cashier she orders what I guess is, a water with lemon and one of them Panini's with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, and grilled chicken. She places her book on the counter and goes into her bag to pull out her wallet. In her wallet she pulls out a master card to pay for her order. The cashier swipes the card and hands it back to her.
"Thank you Ms. Rarity Belle, enjoy your day."
"Rarity.... Rarity..." I play with her name in my mouth, rolling it around on my tongue. It sure is a beautiful name and a rare one at that, I chuckle to myself at the joke I make. I see her walk down to the next station after she puts back her wallet in her bag.
I join the line and wait for the next available cashier. I look back over to Rarity as she collects her food from the man and thanks him. She walks over to her usual table in the corner by the window, sits down and stares out into the street.
"Miss, miss excuse me ma'am." I hear someone call out to me, I look back and realize it's my turn to order. I apologize and order a chicken salad with apple cider. Gotta stay in shape some how. I pay with cash, collect my receipt, and walk down to the next station to collect my food. I collect my order and go towards my usual table, but when I get a view of it, it's occupied. I start to look for another table with a view but with some privacy as well. I walk around and find a table for two, I sit down and look over at her table. She was almost done when I have only started. I eat slowly, I always do.
I look at my watch, it was 12:30 p.m., she was about to reopen her book to start reading again. I look up from my food, and I'm right. She's already put her tray away, had her glasses on and was reading again. I finish eating and realize it's 12:59 p.m. at one she would leave to go. I look up and see she has already taken off her glasses and is putting both her book and glasses in her bag. I watch as she gets up and leaves, I let her go again just so I can see her again tomorrow. I put my plate away and leave as well.
I walk around to the parking lot towards my pick-up. It's dirty and as rusty as the hills. But it runs like a steam engine never giving up. I drive home and arrive by 2:00 p.m. I park my truck in my garage. I moved out from the ranch a few moths ago, I guess I was still trying to get use to the change from the farm to the city. I go inside and get to cleaning, I finish around five and get ready for my afternoon run. I run two hours every afternoon, gotta stay in shape some how. I go up to my room and change into a sports bra, a tank top, and some running shorts. When I reach the front doors I put on my running shoes, as red as any apple I've seen.
I step outside locking the door behind me and put it in the small pouch in the arm band thing that holds my I-pod. I plug my headphones in and hit the play button, power down the screen and put it into the arm band. I start off running and I don't stop till I get around to where Rarity lives. She lives in her shop, "Carousel Boutique" she owns her own clothing store and she makes her own clothes. I see her come towards the window and look out. She had put her hair down and it now hung around her shoulders the light bouncing off of it. I noticed she took off her make-up, golly didn't she look prettier without it on. I look for her eyes and then bam, we make eye contact. Well i'm not really sure I'm already gone sprinting down the street praying to god she didn't see me. But I caught them, I caught her eyes. A beautiful blue, as bright as the sky on a summer's day. And that, that is what gives me an extra boost in my run.
It is around 7:01 p.m. when I get home, darnit i'm behind schedule. I take a quick shower and put on some pj's, a white tank top and orange boxers covered in apples. I go to the kitchen and head towards the fridge. As I open the fridge I spot an apple pie and a note on top.
"Granny made some pie thought you would like some - Macintosh."
How in Sam's hill did he get into my house. I turn the note over and see words written on the back.
"And also I moved the key from under your welcome mat and put it inside your outside light's box. Maybe you shouldn't be too predictable Jack. -Love Mac"
I curse under my breath about how stupid I was to put the key in such an obvious place. I take out the pie and place it on the counter. I walk over to the phone and call Mac.
"Hello" Says a deep rough voice.
"Hey Mac how's it goin?"
"Ah'm well and you?"
"Good, ah I just wanted to thank ya for the whole key thang."
"Jack it aint a problem that's what family's for, we look out fer each other."
"Thanks Mac, again"
"It's not a problem Aj, jus be more careful next time, kay?"
"Yeah ah will."
I tell him goodnight and I hang up the phone, I sometimes wonder what I would do without him and Bloom. I unwrap the pie and walk over to the couch planted right in front of the television. I turn on the t.v and see that the show, "Buckwild," is on. I smile and laugh as I see people riding a home made bull, made out of a large metal can and rope.
After the show is done I look to the clock and realize it's ten, I turn off the t.v and head towards the kitchen. I wash the plate, and turn off all the light after making sure the door is locked. I walk to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. After I'm done with that I go to my bedroom and close the door behind me. I walk over to my bed and sit down, looking at the clock sitting on my night stand I pick it up. I set it to wake me up at 7:30 a.m. so that I can get to the park on time. After I tie my hair back into a ponytail I turn off the lights and lie down in my bed. By 11:00 I'm asleep in my bed thinking about Ms. Rarity and what she'll be wearing and what book she'll read.
I wake up to my alarm clock going off, I reach over and turn off. I lay there for a few minutes, listening to the birds sing, the wind blowing, and the branch tapping my window telling me to get up and get a move on. I look back to the clock and see that it's 7:39 a.m., crap I'm late.
I run to my bathroom use the toilet, take a shower, and brush my teeth and hair. When I get out of the shower I put on a black sports bra and black boxers with apples on the bottom of the left side. Then I quickly lotion up, ain't nobody like looking at dry skin. I put on a white tank top, and then a yellow, orange, and white plaid button up shirt over that. Then I put on some jeans and ankle cut socks. After I make up my bed I run to the kitchen and from the fridge I take a bottle of apple juice and from the closet a granola bar.
I race to the door and put on my boots and my Stetson hat, I look to my wrist for the time and realized I forgot my watch. I race back to my room and there sitting on the dresser is not only my watch but my wallet, phone, and keys. I face palm and take a few deep breaths to get myself together. I walk over to the dresser and place my wallet in my back left pocket, my keys in my front right pocket, my I-phone in my back right pocket and my watch on my right wrist.. I walk back out towards the front door and grab my hat to place it on top of my head and my juice and granola bar and walk out the front door.
I close and lock the door behind me and walk to my truck, as I unlock the truck and turn it on I'm met with a satisfying sound of the engine starting. I put the car in reverse and back out into the road, then I put the car in drive head towards the coffee shop. After I park my car in the the coffee shop parking lot I walk towards the park. As I'm walking I eat my granola bar and drink my apple juice. When I get to the park I throw away the bottle and the wrapper and check the time. I sit down on the bench across from where she sits, 8:30 a.m., he she'll be here in 15 minutes.... I hope everything isn't off schedule.
I wait and I wait and I wait,I look back to my watch, 8:50 a.m. No, no, no, no, no! She's late! She never late! Then I hear it. the familiar click clack of her heels, but it was close..... too close. I look across the park and see no one there, to my left still no one and then to my right. I jump to my feet as I see her.
"Hi," she says in the most (words can't even describe it) voice. I look at her then at the bench and then to my watch,
"You're suppose to be over there reading," I tell her sounding confused. She laughs, it's cute the way her nose crinkles and her brow burrows. She just stares at me her blue eyes intense making me feel small, my six foot two inches feel small to her probably five feet seven inches. I sit down and look away to escape the trap she's created without even knowing it
"Can I sit down?" She ask me. I don't answer her I just stare at the ground. She snaps her fingers and repeats the question.
"No." I say quickly, "You're suppose to be over there." I say pointing to the bench across the park. She laughs and it's so light and care free, I blush at the sound.
"I think it's time for a change, for both of us." She tells me.
"But schedules are there to help us!" I exclaim. She sits down and beckons for me to come closer. I hesitate but I still move closer.
"So for the last month and a half you've been following me," she starts, "From the park to the café, and sometimes I even see you pass by the boutique while you run. So lets change that." She stands up and I follow in her lead.
"My names Rarity, Rarity Belle. And yours darling?" I start to stutter, great I cant even remember my own name.
"Jacqueline, the names Jacqueline Apple."
"Jacqueline," she repeats my name, "I like it." She says smiling at me. I'm blushing even harder than any apple I've seen before. She takes my hand in her own, but of course my hands are bigger and they over lap her own. They're soft and smooth, I swear if I get any more redder it'll look like somebody painted my face.
"Let's go start something new." She tells me.
We start walking, where? I don't know nor do I care. But maybe the journey and destination can be fun.
Author's Note
So this is my first story on here. This story is just me sticking my toe in the water to get a feel of the experience. I know there are probably a million mistakes in here, so if you know anyone that can proof read and edit please let me know. But anyways please critique me and don't go easy on me.