It wasn't like those love stories where we had to fight for love. It took a while but it came fluidly, in surprising ease. We had met at the library a few times, chatting quietly in the upstairs study about anything and everything. It started with an argument I would never forget. But that hardly matters now - I asked her if she would like to come visit my favorite park with me.
She had grown up in a group of travelers in the lake-spotted areas of the planet. Her mother had been a bohemian type, but Red took more after her father. She hadn't seen much of Lunar Lakes, since she was currently living in a tiny home she shared with a roommate in the center of the city. I never did met her roommate, but they apparently never got along.
She met me by the pond and enveloped me in a hug. I was a bit startled but her arms were warm. I was hopeless in her embrace already.
I was suddenly very conscience about what I was supposed to say. What was I supposed to say?
I had practiced to myself but mirrors aren't really people...
"Hellooo, Red...how are you this fine evening? You are looking lovely..."
We sat down on the dry grass.
"Well," she breathed. "How are you Wolff?"
"Wolff?" I laughed. Please tell me she didn't forget my name....
She shrugged, didn't even try to explain. I chuckled. What was I even worried about? We had already gone out twice. Sort of.
I could have sat there all evening and looked into her eyes. They were so beautiful...she was so beautiful. Those golden eyes really got to me. I couldn't tear myself away.
She gazed up at the sky. The sun was setting rapidly. I couldn't have timed this more stupidly. She would have to go home when the sun went down; her was applying for a new job early in the morning. She smiled and turned to me.
"I, uh...Wolff?"
"Yes?"
"Come here."
She motioned and leaned in, as if to whisper in my ear. I blinked when she kissed my cheek. "Thank you for inviting me out here." Her breath was soft on my cheek. "It's...beautiful."
I leaned closer to her. She rested against my side and flushed bright pink.
After that she didn't say much. My nervous anxiety about this whole thing seemed to vanish. She startled me when she jabbed her finger into the sky. "A shooting star - make a wish!" she laughed, her eyes glittering like gold in the light from the crystals.
She checked her watch. "I'm sorr - " she began.
"It's okay," I smiled. The moment of truth..."Do you want to meet up again sometime?." Oh Watcher...this girl was driving me crazy.
She was turning pink again. "Of course."
"That's great," I grinned stupidly. I helped her up and gave her a hug.
"I have something for you,"
"Oh?" she flushed brighter but tried to remain smooth. I grinned and pulled out the bouquet of red roses.
"A bouquet!" she beamed. She was so adorable.
I hugged her once more but it was time for her to go. I didn't want to say goodbye.
~
Red never did get that job, but I invited her over the next Friday and we watched a movie at my place. And no, it wasn't a romance...it was actually a comedy. She was about to leave, around seven, and I wrapped her in a hug. She smiled up at me. And that was when I made the move...I kissed her.
She edged up on her tiptoes and my lips touched hers. It couldn't have felt more wondrous. I knew that this is what I had wanted all along, every time I needed inspiration for my art, every time she called, every time we met up. Everything. All I needed was this, and everything seemed perfect.
After that everything flowed evenly until she was moved in. I will never forget that first night, she was bouncing nervously around the bathroom trying to shake away her excitement. It wasn't anything special. We would just be sharing a bed for the first time...And of course then I flushed a blazing red at the thought.
~
Nothing went as expected, but in a good way. We had been together for almost a year and I knew I held her heart in my hands - and she cradled mine in hers.
It was a month since she had moved in, we were quietly cuddling, tossing a few bits of conversation around. I kissed her cheek and she looked up at me as if in wonder. And then her lips were pressed to mine. It escalated slowly into our first 'real' night together as a couple.
Before her eyes drifted closed, she smiled softly up at me. "I love you,"
"I love you too darlin."
She fell asleep laying against my shoulder. In the morning she was curled up on my chest. My arms were around her.
I would never let go.
~ Red Madeleine & Franco Wolff-Cruz ~ <3
