For those of you who have no idea what any of this is, it's just a story that I work on occasionally in my spare time. Just read this like it's a writing sample. (: Critiques are welcome! I know it's very choppy, but I have to partially blame that on the fact that I wrote this in small chunks several weeks apart from each other. That, and I never bothered to edit it. (;
Leila pulled the comb through her hair, watching as layers of chocolate brown fell around her face in wet clumps. Water vapor edged the large vanity mirror which hung above a small mahogany desk topped with an assortment of jewels and beads. The last time she had looked in this mirror- REALLY looked into it, she had seen a young girl who had to stand on her tippy toes to see all of her shoulder-length hair. Now, staring back at her was a young woman, whose face was beautiful, clean, and freckled, with general features much like her mother’s. Her heart was bouncing quickly inside her chest, her mind wandering to the festival, which she fully expected to be the greatest night of her life. There was a soft knock at the door. She poked her head out from around the enormous mirror. “Who is it?” she asked, pulling the comb through her hair quickly and straightening the part before she went to the door. “It’s me,” said a familiar voice which made Leila’s mouth curl up in excitement. She undid the latch and pulled the door open, grinning broadly. “Hayden, I was-” She stopped immediately, her mouth falling open slightly as Hayden came closer, his arms full of pink and white roses. “I was going to just wait until lunch, but I wanted to see you and the roses had just been watered a few hours before…” said Hayden, “I hope you like them.” Leila stood in awe for a moment, not quite sure of what to say to him. Not only was she surprised to see him, but roses too? Hayden raised an eyebrow, his nervous disposition slinking away. “Really Lei? You’re Speechless over a few roses?” he asked with a smile, pulling her into a warm hug, “Guess I did my job, then.” Leila giggled a bit to herself. Leave it to Hayden to show up early and catch her off guard… She hugged him tightly. “Thanks, they’re really pretty,” she said pulling away from him and putting the roses in an empty vase on the table beside the door, “Your mom grew those in her garden?” “Actually, no,” said Hayden, collapsing down on her bad, “I did, believe it or not. I’ve never had much of a green thumb, but I seem to be able to take care of roses, so… voilà!” Leila smiled and walked back into the bathroom, flipping on one of the lights. “I’ll be ready in about ten minutes or so. Do you want to go then?” she asked as she pulled her hair up into a loose bun, leaning out of the bathroom door quickly to make sure he'd heard her. Hayden watched as she primped herself in front of the mirror and laughed to himself. “That sounds good to me. We can make it to the diner before it gets too busy. Everyone will be there since it’s near downtown… Maybe we can do some holiday shopping while we’re out too if we have enough time. What do you think?” he asked Leila, who shrugged. “Sure, if we have time. I’m a slow eater,” she said with a wide grin, pulling a sweater on over her t-shirt. Hayden watched her for another minute and glanced up at the ceiling, which was littered with newsprint and paintings. She was always so fascinated with people and nature… He couldn’t understand it. It all- they all- looked the same to him. Nature was rocks and dirt, People were ignorant and disorganized. Maybe that was him just being pessimistic as always, but no matter how hard he tried to see things in a better light, they always stayed the same. “Only a few more minutes, I promise,” said Leila suddenly, grabbing her makeup and turning on a brighter light. Hayden got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom door, where he pressed his shoulder against the entryway. Leila took no notice, but continued to put on some light eyeshadow. “What is it with girls and makeup anyway? It’s no more beneficial than face paint,” he said, watching as Leila rubbed in lip gloss and examined herself carefully under the light. “Face paint? Come on Hayden, that’s a little harsh,” she said with a small frown. “Well, yeah maybe, but still. I think you look better without it. It’s more natural, you know?” he said, looking at Leila’s face in the mirror. “Yeah, I guess,” she said with a smile. She watched him blush a bit as he realized what he'd said. Did he just compliment her? Not that he never did, but they just didn’t come very often. Maybe he was beginning to let himself actually feel. “Are you ready to go now?” Hayden nodded and slid his jacket back on. Leila grabbed her own coat from the back of her bathroom door and walked out, grabbing Hayden’s hand casually and squeezing it a bit as they headed out and started what would be one of the most memorable days they’d ever have.
riverofcausality · Sun Dec 20, 2009 @ 01:08pm · 0 Comments |