Just a quick short after a good night, 3am means intoxicated fiction!
Tony
Tim Harvey
Crisp, clean air whipped against Tony's ears as he walked from the counsellor's office. Painful gusts of wind slashed at his face, each burst causing him to cringe. He pulled his scarf over his mouth, dragging it up over his ears. But the staggering bolts of cold air had already done their damage. Tony lowered his scarf in defeat.
He had finally quit Uni. Giving up everything that his parents had wanted for him was not as difficult as he thought it would be. Smiling as he informed the counsellor that he would no longer be attending classes was easy. Easier than Tony had imagined.
But, as he walked away from the life he was born into, Tony felt the pain that would be inflicted on his parents, the pain that his girlfriend, Amber, would feel. Each gust of ripping wind tore holes in his flesh, tore holes in the flesh of everybody that he loved. They would understand, they must, Tony thought. It was too soon for reason though, and Tony felt each bolt of wind, as they would feel the searing pain when they found out he wasn't going to be the man that they had hoped he would be.
For his parents, Tony felt little remorse. They had pushed him into Law, as a bully pushes a kid into the dirt, face first. He had never had a choice. When he asked for a football, for his sixth birthday, his Father had handed him a dictionary. When he applied for Drama in High School, his Mother had his courses changed to include Business Studies. There was no way to tell them that Law was just wrong. The pain of the whipping winds felt comforting, when Tony realised he had felt the lashings of duty across his back for his entire life.
Amber was the real issue. Tony met her in first year, and they got along quite well. It was shaky at first, she wasn't quite ready for a real relationship. Tony pushed her into being with him. He needed someone to confide in, someone to finally talk to. She pulled away from his over eager advances. In second year, Tony had pulled back, giving her the space that she needed. The two of them went about their studies as if they didn't even know each other.
By the time third year came around, Amber had had her fair share of disappointing engagements with guys. Tony acted as a friend, giving her the support she needed through the latest breakup. One night, at her house, Amber had kissed Tony. At first he thought it was just a gesture of their closeness. Despite his friendly demeanour, Tony had wanted Amber since he laid eyes on her. He could, however, never enter a relationship where the other party wasn't fully committed. The kiss was all he needed.
They both soared through third year Law, consuming the curriculum, and each other. It was only near the end of the year that Tony had decided to make his stand. It was entirely out of principle, and even he thought it naïve and stupid. He would quit Uni, right before he graduated. There was no reason to do it, for the regular person. Everybody would just get the degree, they had gone this far, after all. But Tony knew that this was the message that he wanted to send.
For the last four years, Tony had been taking forbidden Dance classes. For his entire life, all he wanted to do was move. His body was his life, his tool, his art. When he applied for Dance, his Father had called the school and had his courses changed. But Tony was resilient, he took night classes at a Dance studio that he knew his parents couldn't trace. They had no idea of his extra-curricular activities, but now was the time to show them.
For years he had been perfecting his ballroom dancing. Even Amber had no idea. The whole thing was Tony's little secret. His life's ambition, his only dream was to glide across the hardwood floors of the great ballrooms of the world. Spinning and twirling in a suit, too tight for his body, pressed against his partner, was the only escape from the oppression he felt at home.
Quitting Uni was the message he wanted to send his parents. It would symbolise his attitude towards his own destiny. They could wait to hear about the dancing. At first, just quitting was all he needed to tell them.
Amber was the issue. She was the reason that the winds scorched his face so. They had formed a bond so strong. The years of mutual friendship had led them to know every inch of each other's psyche. When they finally took the plunge that Tony had been waiting for, they was so ready that it hit them with the force of a moving train.
Their first night together was indescribable. They both knew exactly what the other wanted, and there was no hesitation, no faltering movements. Each gesture to the other was fuelled by passion and accepted with empathy and compassion. There was no judgement as they explored each other, guided by knowledge only attainable through years of mutual acceptance.
From that point on, they both knew they were thoroughly connected. There was no denial, and they never even spoke of it. This was why it was so hard for Tony to quit Uni. He had lied to Amber. The future they had planned as lawyers was a lie. He never believed it would happen, but he indulged her wildest fantasies of the perfect life together. She would, and could accept that he was to be a dancer, but she would be destroyed when he admitted to lying to her.
The pain that she would feel would tear at her skin, as the powerful winds ripped at Tony's face, as he left the counsellor's office.
Don't know if this is going to go anywhere. I'm fairly drunk, so I can't really tell if it's any good. Hope you've enjoyed it. I'm going to assume the typos are thick and plenty. Thanks to all the readers that have put up with the recent couple of terrible drunk stories.
Consider it a creative fiction online notebook of first draft material experimenting with genres, styles and whatever else.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
New Short
Here is a new short, inspired by some gothic reading I've been doing lately for uni. This one is particularly inspired by John Harwood's "The Ghost Writer," quite a good read once you get into it. I'm only half-way through, but had to stop and write this.
A bit of a gothic romance, just experimenting with blending the two and using the theme of obsession. It's pretty prominent in the Harwood novel.
Her Scent
Tim Harvey
John had first noticed the scent when they sat quietly to lunch, just over a year ago. It was a sweet floral scent, but subtle and not at all overpowering. There were hints of citrus and mild spices in the aroma, and John inhaled deeply through his nose when he first caught a whiff. She appeared not to notice, quietly eating her sandwich, gentle little bites.
He had inquired into her interests and they both shared a passion for the theatre. John bit back his nerves and suggested they see a show, 'On the weekend, if you're free.'
She nodded and smiled.
During the play John sat quietly, watching the actors. His mind was elsewhere, however, indulging in the beautiful aroma that swirled around his head and left him intoxicated. After the play, he had walked her back to her apartment and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed and thanked him, 'For a wonderful evening.'
As John walked to the train station, through the city creaking of steel and crumbling concrete he noticed that the scent had followed him. Pausing in his walk, John turned his nose to the air, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The scent was there, drifting lazily through the night's cool breeze.
He turned to see if she had followed him, but only her scent was present. She would be tucked away in bed at this hour. John continued his walk and the scent traipsed along beside him, always present.
It was just a scent. There were no pink mists of floral elegance swirling listlessly through the air. There were no visible signs of the sweet aroma that hovered around John's head. It was, after all, just a scent.
John spent most of his time tending the small book store that his uncle owned in the heart of the city. It was wedged in a tiny alleyway between two enormous, overbearing skyscrapers. John sometimes felt pangs of vertigo as he searched for the sky on his smoke breaks. He tilted his head up at an angle, making sure he kept sight of the cobbles beneath his feet to avoid the dizzying head spins that would occur whenever his eyes traced his smoke through the air.
As he stacked books in the shelves in the back of the store he was overcome by her scent. He flicked through the pages of the last volume he had placed, trying to find the source of the aroma. The book held no evidence of her, and he hurriedly took another off the shelf. Her scent became stronger with each book he flicked through until he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.
Spinning around in a rush of embarrassment, John saw her standing behind him, suppressing a giggle. He felt his face go red and put the book down on the shelf. Her smile was vibrant and alive, and her scent was powerful in the way that it took over his thoughts.
She gave him a gentle hug, and John nestled his head against her shoulder, allowing his nose to rest near her neck, the source of the scent.
They arranged to have dinner and John found it painfully hard to watch her go. The scent fading as she left the store.
John ordered a salad, no pepper, no spices, just salad. She thought this strange and John wondered if she would take it as a compliment if he said he wanted to savour the aroma that she so casually emitted.
The salad was amazing, thanks to the sweet taste already infused in his senses. They spoke of their favourite books and she suggested that John read a volume of poetry that she adored. She told him that she had read it constantly since she was sixteen, and John felt his senses aroused to levels he had never experienced.
After dinner, when they had made the short walk to her building, John leant in to kiss her on the lips. She held him back with a reassuring smile, and instead invited him up for coffee. He gladly accepted and followed her up the flights of stairs to her apartment. With each step, John felt weaker and weaker, as her scent wafted down over him.
Her apartment dripped with the smell. Each item that she lovingly handled became infused with her aroma. John sat on her couch and was engulfed by a cloud of sensuous floral bliss.
She made them some coffee and brought out the book of poetry. John attempted to grab the book, but she held it back with a seductive glance, instead, curling up on the couch opposite him, reading aloud.
Her voice was sweet and soft, but her scent was raw and passionate. With each line, the poetry became dim, and eventually John couldn't hear at all. He rested his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes, bathing in the fiery aroma.
It was just a scent. There were no vivid explosions of neon orange fireworks bursting above his head. There were no trails of shooting stars rolling towards him across the sky. There was no visible sign of the passion in his heart. It was after all, just a scent.
John awoke the next morning in his own bed. The copy of poetry sat on his bedside table. John picked it up and hesitated before holding it to his nose and flicking through the pages. The crisp breeze on his face and the rush of spicy floral passion left him drunk. He spent the entire morning doing this, each time feeling happier and stupider all at once.
After that night, she didn't visit him at work again. He saw her occasionally in the streets, but she seemed not to notice him. Her scent appeared in strange places, causing John to look around his to see if she was there, but she never was.
He would smell her in his bathroom, as he prepared to shave. Once he smelt her as he walked past a department store. He had to walk down every aisle to confirm that she wasn't casually spreading her scent around the store.
Eventually, at the beginning of winter, they met again. She smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek. Holding her warm hands against his cold cheeks, she stared uncertainly into his eyes. He reached into the pocket of his coat and wrapped his fingers around the edges of her book of poetry.
Her eyes filled with sadness as she took it in her hands. The cover was crumpled and bent, the pages loose and curled. She wiped a tear from her eye and offered John a weak smile. He leant in to kiss her on the cheek, but she shied away. The hand that she rested gently against his chest was enough to let him know that it was over.
She turned to leave, and a wave of her scent rolled over John, rocking him where he stood.
John saw her again during the worst of the winter, at a coffee shop near to his book store. She sat far away, and John sat near the door reading a newspaper. He didn't need to see to know that it was her. At first he could only smell her faintly from across the room, but with each passing day her scent became stronger.
It was only a scent. There were no instances where she sprayed some elegant perfume casually over her shoulder to attract him. There were no green particles of her scent gliding restlessly across the coffee shop, catching the light as they flew towards him, unnoticed by the other patrons. The mist of her allure didn't gather at his ankles and suffocate him in intoxicating bliss. It was after all, just a scent.
She left after the winter. Through the spring her scent remained in odd places. John smelt her on the train, and hiding behind parked cars. He smelt her when he opened his mailbox. Disappointment washed over him as he flicked through the letters, holding them to his nose. She wasn't there.
Her scent eventually faded in the summer, and John began to live his life once more. He became the manager of the book store when his uncle had retired. With the extra money that he had John bought himself a nice suit and a used car.
During the summer John began to socialise more. He introduced himself to a girl who had been a regular customer at the store for years. They got along well, and John eventually asked her out to dinner.
She had a scent of her own, but it was nothing like what John had experienced before. Despite his initial reservations, John asked the girl on another date. Eventually, by the end of the summer they were a couple. John was happy, and she shared his joy. They went out dancing together, and John took her for long drives to the beach in his car.
For John, there was something missing in their relationship, but she seemed truly happy and John didn't have the heart to tell her what was bothering him.
On Valentine's Day she told him that she loved him and John kissed her gently on the lips, saying, 'I know.'
He had scoured every department store and boutique on the weekend before the day, trying to find a perfume that matched the scent in his head. For hours, he sprayed all sorts of expensive smells onto testing paper provided by the salespeople. Each one failing to recapture the beauty and grace of the sweet floral aroma that he had once known.
After this, John had visited every florist trying to find the right bouquet, the right combination of flowers that equalled the passion he had felt. The bunch that he had eventually picked was a poor substitute, despite his girlfriend claiming she loved them with excitement. This excitement faded when he couldn't tell her that he loved her back.
It was just a scent. No perfume, or flowers could ever make up for what was lost. There was no way of trapping that magic in a bottle, no way that it grew from the ground. It was, after all, her scent.
She returned in the winter. He smelt her as he was walking and hastened his pace to see if she was around the next corner. She was indeed back, from wherever she had vanished to. John watched as she passionately kissed a young man, pressing him up against the wall of a building.
Her scent wafted around the two of them, and John watched on as their embrace lasted. Once they were done, the young man pulled a small parcel from his pocket. She eagerly unwrapped the brown paper and held her hands to her face when she saw what it was. John could see from the spine, that it was a freshly printed copy of her favourite volume of poetry.
She leant in and kissed him again.
John went straight home after this. He imagined the types of endings that would fit his story. He could kill himself, or murder the happy couple. He could marry his girlfriend out of spite. He could do all three in an unholy trinity of horror. But each possible ending exhausted him.
John spent a few days at home claiming he was sick. He apologised to his girlfriend and asked her out for a date on the weekend. She reluctantly accepted. He smoked heavily to mask the scent, but eventually quit.
The date went well and afterwards, in a moment of weakness, John explained the whole situation to his girlfriend in detail. He was surprised when she accepted his story with a smile and offered him a hug.
Eventually they did get married, and John sold the book store, making a considerable profit due to its prime location. The couple moved to the suburbs and after a few years, had a daughter.
Their marriage wasn't incredible, but it was, John thought, what a regular marriage should be. John worked from home, as a literary critic, and his wife worked as a teacher.
John felt safe that he was finally free of her scent, but he still smelt it occasionally. It hovered around when he went for a walk to the park. It followed him home as he came back from the supermarket. He smelt her sweet floral aroma when he tucked his daughter in at night.
It was just a scent. It wasn't following him around, it didn't lurk in the shadows waiting to strike. There was no visible signs of it hovering in the air, poisoning his house and everyone in it. It didn't choke the life out of John, until he couldn't think or breathe. It was, after all, just a scent.
A bit of a gothic romance, just experimenting with blending the two and using the theme of obsession. It's pretty prominent in the Harwood novel.
Her Scent
Tim Harvey
John had first noticed the scent when they sat quietly to lunch, just over a year ago. It was a sweet floral scent, but subtle and not at all overpowering. There were hints of citrus and mild spices in the aroma, and John inhaled deeply through his nose when he first caught a whiff. She appeared not to notice, quietly eating her sandwich, gentle little bites.
He had inquired into her interests and they both shared a passion for the theatre. John bit back his nerves and suggested they see a show, 'On the weekend, if you're free.'
She nodded and smiled.
During the play John sat quietly, watching the actors. His mind was elsewhere, however, indulging in the beautiful aroma that swirled around his head and left him intoxicated. After the play, he had walked her back to her apartment and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed and thanked him, 'For a wonderful evening.'
As John walked to the train station, through the city creaking of steel and crumbling concrete he noticed that the scent had followed him. Pausing in his walk, John turned his nose to the air, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The scent was there, drifting lazily through the night's cool breeze.
He turned to see if she had followed him, but only her scent was present. She would be tucked away in bed at this hour. John continued his walk and the scent traipsed along beside him, always present.
It was just a scent. There were no pink mists of floral elegance swirling listlessly through the air. There were no visible signs of the sweet aroma that hovered around John's head. It was, after all, just a scent.
John spent most of his time tending the small book store that his uncle owned in the heart of the city. It was wedged in a tiny alleyway between two enormous, overbearing skyscrapers. John sometimes felt pangs of vertigo as he searched for the sky on his smoke breaks. He tilted his head up at an angle, making sure he kept sight of the cobbles beneath his feet to avoid the dizzying head spins that would occur whenever his eyes traced his smoke through the air.
As he stacked books in the shelves in the back of the store he was overcome by her scent. He flicked through the pages of the last volume he had placed, trying to find the source of the aroma. The book held no evidence of her, and he hurriedly took another off the shelf. Her scent became stronger with each book he flicked through until he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.
Spinning around in a rush of embarrassment, John saw her standing behind him, suppressing a giggle. He felt his face go red and put the book down on the shelf. Her smile was vibrant and alive, and her scent was powerful in the way that it took over his thoughts.
She gave him a gentle hug, and John nestled his head against her shoulder, allowing his nose to rest near her neck, the source of the scent.
They arranged to have dinner and John found it painfully hard to watch her go. The scent fading as she left the store.
John ordered a salad, no pepper, no spices, just salad. She thought this strange and John wondered if she would take it as a compliment if he said he wanted to savour the aroma that she so casually emitted.
The salad was amazing, thanks to the sweet taste already infused in his senses. They spoke of their favourite books and she suggested that John read a volume of poetry that she adored. She told him that she had read it constantly since she was sixteen, and John felt his senses aroused to levels he had never experienced.
After dinner, when they had made the short walk to her building, John leant in to kiss her on the lips. She held him back with a reassuring smile, and instead invited him up for coffee. He gladly accepted and followed her up the flights of stairs to her apartment. With each step, John felt weaker and weaker, as her scent wafted down over him.
Her apartment dripped with the smell. Each item that she lovingly handled became infused with her aroma. John sat on her couch and was engulfed by a cloud of sensuous floral bliss.
She made them some coffee and brought out the book of poetry. John attempted to grab the book, but she held it back with a seductive glance, instead, curling up on the couch opposite him, reading aloud.
Her voice was sweet and soft, but her scent was raw and passionate. With each line, the poetry became dim, and eventually John couldn't hear at all. He rested his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes, bathing in the fiery aroma.
It was just a scent. There were no vivid explosions of neon orange fireworks bursting above his head. There were no trails of shooting stars rolling towards him across the sky. There was no visible sign of the passion in his heart. It was after all, just a scent.
John awoke the next morning in his own bed. The copy of poetry sat on his bedside table. John picked it up and hesitated before holding it to his nose and flicking through the pages. The crisp breeze on his face and the rush of spicy floral passion left him drunk. He spent the entire morning doing this, each time feeling happier and stupider all at once.
After that night, she didn't visit him at work again. He saw her occasionally in the streets, but she seemed not to notice him. Her scent appeared in strange places, causing John to look around his to see if she was there, but she never was.
He would smell her in his bathroom, as he prepared to shave. Once he smelt her as he walked past a department store. He had to walk down every aisle to confirm that she wasn't casually spreading her scent around the store.
Eventually, at the beginning of winter, they met again. She smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek. Holding her warm hands against his cold cheeks, she stared uncertainly into his eyes. He reached into the pocket of his coat and wrapped his fingers around the edges of her book of poetry.
Her eyes filled with sadness as she took it in her hands. The cover was crumpled and bent, the pages loose and curled. She wiped a tear from her eye and offered John a weak smile. He leant in to kiss her on the cheek, but she shied away. The hand that she rested gently against his chest was enough to let him know that it was over.
She turned to leave, and a wave of her scent rolled over John, rocking him where he stood.
John saw her again during the worst of the winter, at a coffee shop near to his book store. She sat far away, and John sat near the door reading a newspaper. He didn't need to see to know that it was her. At first he could only smell her faintly from across the room, but with each passing day her scent became stronger.
It was only a scent. There were no instances where she sprayed some elegant perfume casually over her shoulder to attract him. There were no green particles of her scent gliding restlessly across the coffee shop, catching the light as they flew towards him, unnoticed by the other patrons. The mist of her allure didn't gather at his ankles and suffocate him in intoxicating bliss. It was after all, just a scent.
She left after the winter. Through the spring her scent remained in odd places. John smelt her on the train, and hiding behind parked cars. He smelt her when he opened his mailbox. Disappointment washed over him as he flicked through the letters, holding them to his nose. She wasn't there.
Her scent eventually faded in the summer, and John began to live his life once more. He became the manager of the book store when his uncle had retired. With the extra money that he had John bought himself a nice suit and a used car.
During the summer John began to socialise more. He introduced himself to a girl who had been a regular customer at the store for years. They got along well, and John eventually asked her out to dinner.
She had a scent of her own, but it was nothing like what John had experienced before. Despite his initial reservations, John asked the girl on another date. Eventually, by the end of the summer they were a couple. John was happy, and she shared his joy. They went out dancing together, and John took her for long drives to the beach in his car.
For John, there was something missing in their relationship, but she seemed truly happy and John didn't have the heart to tell her what was bothering him.
On Valentine's Day she told him that she loved him and John kissed her gently on the lips, saying, 'I know.'
He had scoured every department store and boutique on the weekend before the day, trying to find a perfume that matched the scent in his head. For hours, he sprayed all sorts of expensive smells onto testing paper provided by the salespeople. Each one failing to recapture the beauty and grace of the sweet floral aroma that he had once known.
After this, John had visited every florist trying to find the right bouquet, the right combination of flowers that equalled the passion he had felt. The bunch that he had eventually picked was a poor substitute, despite his girlfriend claiming she loved them with excitement. This excitement faded when he couldn't tell her that he loved her back.
It was just a scent. No perfume, or flowers could ever make up for what was lost. There was no way of trapping that magic in a bottle, no way that it grew from the ground. It was, after all, her scent.
She returned in the winter. He smelt her as he was walking and hastened his pace to see if she was around the next corner. She was indeed back, from wherever she had vanished to. John watched as she passionately kissed a young man, pressing him up against the wall of a building.
Her scent wafted around the two of them, and John watched on as their embrace lasted. Once they were done, the young man pulled a small parcel from his pocket. She eagerly unwrapped the brown paper and held her hands to her face when she saw what it was. John could see from the spine, that it was a freshly printed copy of her favourite volume of poetry.
She leant in and kissed him again.
John went straight home after this. He imagined the types of endings that would fit his story. He could kill himself, or murder the happy couple. He could marry his girlfriend out of spite. He could do all three in an unholy trinity of horror. But each possible ending exhausted him.
John spent a few days at home claiming he was sick. He apologised to his girlfriend and asked her out for a date on the weekend. She reluctantly accepted. He smoked heavily to mask the scent, but eventually quit.
The date went well and afterwards, in a moment of weakness, John explained the whole situation to his girlfriend in detail. He was surprised when she accepted his story with a smile and offered him a hug.
Eventually they did get married, and John sold the book store, making a considerable profit due to its prime location. The couple moved to the suburbs and after a few years, had a daughter.
Their marriage wasn't incredible, but it was, John thought, what a regular marriage should be. John worked from home, as a literary critic, and his wife worked as a teacher.
John felt safe that he was finally free of her scent, but he still smelt it occasionally. It hovered around when he went for a walk to the park. It followed him home as he came back from the supermarket. He smelt her sweet floral aroma when he tucked his daughter in at night.
It was just a scent. It wasn't following him around, it didn't lurk in the shadows waiting to strike. There was no visible signs of it hovering in the air, poisoning his house and everyone in it. It didn't choke the life out of John, until he couldn't think or breathe. It was, after all, just a scent.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Rob & Maddy Final!
Final installment of the Rob and Maddy experiment. It's been a lot of fun, and weighing in at a whopping 17,701 words, I'm fairly happy with the result. Enjoy.
Epilogue: Rob and Maddy
Tim Harvey
A crisp breeze drifted over Maddy's exposed shoulders, causing her to grab her arms. The weather at this year's festival was not great, but she slowly let go of her arms and felt the breeze wash over her. It was humid and sticky, and the thick air had caused her red hair to explode into a mass of frizzy curls.
She raised her can of pre-mixed vodka to her lips and took a long sip as she surveyed the crowds around her through the lenses of her red wayfarers. It was a smaller turnout than normal, and Maddy was one to know. She recalled the dry heat of last year's festival and frowned. It was a better day for drinking and dancing last year, but a horrible point in her life.
The memories of James and his relationship antics were not raw anymore. Maddy could look back and although she had barely thought about him for over a year, she felt comfortable that that chapter of her life was finally closed. She took another sip from the can and the sweet orange tang made her cringe.
She hadn't had a pre-mixed vodka since last year, and thinking about it, she had barely even had a drink. There was too much work to do in her first year as a full-time teacher. She didn't even think that she would be going to another festival like this. She felt so grown up, especially since she was addressed as “Miss” all day.
Maddy found herself smiling at the thought of her kids, at home enjoying the last few days of the summer holidays. They would all be going back in a week. Back to books and pencils, grade one Math and English. Art was her favourite subject to teach though, and she got an incredible feeling of appreciation for all the drawings and messy paintings that her kids presented at the end of a good day.
Why was she here? The weather was bad, the line-up this year wasn't much better. She knew the answer to her question before she had even thought it. There was one reason for wandering around the fairgrounds this year, and his name was Rob. There was no way of knowing if he was here, and frankly she didn't really mind. Her life was so full at the moment, yet for the entire year, she had felt that something was missing.
Rob and his mate Jeff rushed through the security gate, only fifteen minutes until the band that Jeff had been dying to see all summer hit the stage.
'You get the drinks, I'll get us a spot,' Jeff called when he was clear of the security. Rob nodded while the security guard inspected his ticket. When Rob got the ticket back and made his way past the final checkpoint, Jeff was nowhere in sight.
Rob sighed. He knew where to go, but Jeff hadn't given him any money for beers.
'My shout, I guess,' Rob said to himself with a smile and headed towards the bar.
Rob stood at the bar, waiting for his drinks when a wave of deja-vu washed over him. He had spotted a girl standing at the bar that looked too familiar. Rob took his drinks and slyly walked around the girl. She was the right height, right build. It couldn't be, could it? She began to turn and Rob saw that it was her.
It was his ex girlfriend. The short cropped blonde hair should have been a dead give away, but Rob just wasn't sure. They had only broken up a few months ago and had only been seeing each other for a few months before that.
Rob spun around on his heel and marched towards the exit, beers in hand. He cast a glance over his shoulder to make sure she didn't notice when he walked straight into someone, feeling both of their drinks splash all over the place.
Swinging his head around, Rob started to apologise when he saw who he had recklessly crashed into.
'Maddy?' Rob said, his voice cracking.
'Rob?' She sounded equally surprised. Rob spun his head around and saw his ex walking in their direction. Grabbing Maddy by the arm, Rob led her out of the bar area.
'Don't ask, I'll get you another drink,' Rob said as he guided Maddy through the crowd.
'Rob?' Maddy repeated. He kept pulling her through the people, when he felt her break out of his grasp.
'Rob, what is going on?' Maddy demanded.
He turned and looked at her. She looked just as he remembered, her hair was a little longer, and, bigger, he thought. She wore a white tank top and what looked like the same shorts that he remembered from last year. Her converse shoes were green this year.
'Maddy, my ex is in there,' Rob said, pointing towards the bar, feeling his face contort into a look of what must have been worry.
She paused before nodding and taking his hand.
Maddy knew exactly where to go, she guided Rob through the crowd and into a nearby pavilion. There was a band setting up and the crowds were fairly thin. Maddy pulled Rob right up to the front of the stage, before turning him around.
She thought he looked much the same as he did last year, except he was clean shaven this time. His white tee was replaced by a white polo shirt and his khaki shorts were now bright red board shorts. Somehow, she thought he looked bigger than she remembered. He appeared taller and maybe more solidly built.
'Maddy,' Rob began.
'It's good to see you,' Maddy said, cutting him off. She was slightly out of breath and she saw that he was too.
'Good to see you too,' Rob said eventually, his mouth turning up into a smile.
Maddy couldn't hold it in, she had wanted to see Rob for a year and she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his body.
He instantly returned the hug, pulling her tight and gently stroking her back.
'How have you been?' Rob said, over her shoulder.
She held him tightly and spoke into his chest, 'Good, what about you?'
'Not too bad,' he said with a hint of hesitation, 'Not too bad,' he repeated.
When they eventually let go of each other Rob looked deeply into Maddy's eyes. She felt a mix of safety and excitement that had been absent from her life over the past year.
Rob placed his hand on Maddy's shoulder, stroking gently with his thumb, 'I'm sorry about the ex thing,' he said, pointing towards the exit to the pavilion.
Maddy laughed knowingly and gently slapped him on the chest, 'We've all been there.'
Rob shared her laugh and nodded, 'Yeah that's true.' He added with a laugh, 'You don't have to punch my ex though.'
Maddy wrapped her arm around his waist and they stood side by side, 'That's good to know.'
Rob and Maddy eventually caught up with Jeff, who was still waiting for his beer. They spent most of the day wandering around and catching up on the last year. Rob bought Maddy a drink and she returned the favour, buying him a beer.
For lunch they had pizza and Rob guarded Maddy when she had to use men's room. Despite the humidity and the smaller turnout, the line for the girls' was still painfully long. The three of them sat up in the stands to watch the headlining acts and when Jeff had to leave, Rob and Maddy stayed put.
Rob gently caressed Maddy's leg with his hand and she stroked his back as they watched the live music. After the final song, Rob and Maddy shared a kiss underneath the bright lights of the stands. It was every bit as passionate and loving as they had both expected. The kiss, held for what felt like hours, was made all the more sweet by their mutual understanding of each other.
After the festival Rob walked Maddy to her car, hand in hand. They kissed again and Maddy put her number in Rob's phone. He did the same, and found it hard to let go of her hand when they said goodnight.
When he eventually did let go, Rob felt safe that he and Maddy would be seeing a lot more of each other in the future. For the first time in a while, the year ahead looked very bright to Rob, very bright indeed.
Epilogue: Rob and Maddy
Tim Harvey
A crisp breeze drifted over Maddy's exposed shoulders, causing her to grab her arms. The weather at this year's festival was not great, but she slowly let go of her arms and felt the breeze wash over her. It was humid and sticky, and the thick air had caused her red hair to explode into a mass of frizzy curls.
She raised her can of pre-mixed vodka to her lips and took a long sip as she surveyed the crowds around her through the lenses of her red wayfarers. It was a smaller turnout than normal, and Maddy was one to know. She recalled the dry heat of last year's festival and frowned. It was a better day for drinking and dancing last year, but a horrible point in her life.
The memories of James and his relationship antics were not raw anymore. Maddy could look back and although she had barely thought about him for over a year, she felt comfortable that that chapter of her life was finally closed. She took another sip from the can and the sweet orange tang made her cringe.
She hadn't had a pre-mixed vodka since last year, and thinking about it, she had barely even had a drink. There was too much work to do in her first year as a full-time teacher. She didn't even think that she would be going to another festival like this. She felt so grown up, especially since she was addressed as “Miss” all day.
Maddy found herself smiling at the thought of her kids, at home enjoying the last few days of the summer holidays. They would all be going back in a week. Back to books and pencils, grade one Math and English. Art was her favourite subject to teach though, and she got an incredible feeling of appreciation for all the drawings and messy paintings that her kids presented at the end of a good day.
Why was she here? The weather was bad, the line-up this year wasn't much better. She knew the answer to her question before she had even thought it. There was one reason for wandering around the fairgrounds this year, and his name was Rob. There was no way of knowing if he was here, and frankly she didn't really mind. Her life was so full at the moment, yet for the entire year, she had felt that something was missing.
Rob and his mate Jeff rushed through the security gate, only fifteen minutes until the band that Jeff had been dying to see all summer hit the stage.
'You get the drinks, I'll get us a spot,' Jeff called when he was clear of the security. Rob nodded while the security guard inspected his ticket. When Rob got the ticket back and made his way past the final checkpoint, Jeff was nowhere in sight.
Rob sighed. He knew where to go, but Jeff hadn't given him any money for beers.
'My shout, I guess,' Rob said to himself with a smile and headed towards the bar.
Rob stood at the bar, waiting for his drinks when a wave of deja-vu washed over him. He had spotted a girl standing at the bar that looked too familiar. Rob took his drinks and slyly walked around the girl. She was the right height, right build. It couldn't be, could it? She began to turn and Rob saw that it was her.
It was his ex girlfriend. The short cropped blonde hair should have been a dead give away, but Rob just wasn't sure. They had only broken up a few months ago and had only been seeing each other for a few months before that.
Rob spun around on his heel and marched towards the exit, beers in hand. He cast a glance over his shoulder to make sure she didn't notice when he walked straight into someone, feeling both of their drinks splash all over the place.
Swinging his head around, Rob started to apologise when he saw who he had recklessly crashed into.
'Maddy?' Rob said, his voice cracking.
'Rob?' She sounded equally surprised. Rob spun his head around and saw his ex walking in their direction. Grabbing Maddy by the arm, Rob led her out of the bar area.
'Don't ask, I'll get you another drink,' Rob said as he guided Maddy through the crowd.
'Rob?' Maddy repeated. He kept pulling her through the people, when he felt her break out of his grasp.
'Rob, what is going on?' Maddy demanded.
He turned and looked at her. She looked just as he remembered, her hair was a little longer, and, bigger, he thought. She wore a white tank top and what looked like the same shorts that he remembered from last year. Her converse shoes were green this year.
'Maddy, my ex is in there,' Rob said, pointing towards the bar, feeling his face contort into a look of what must have been worry.
She paused before nodding and taking his hand.
Maddy knew exactly where to go, she guided Rob through the crowd and into a nearby pavilion. There was a band setting up and the crowds were fairly thin. Maddy pulled Rob right up to the front of the stage, before turning him around.
She thought he looked much the same as he did last year, except he was clean shaven this time. His white tee was replaced by a white polo shirt and his khaki shorts were now bright red board shorts. Somehow, she thought he looked bigger than she remembered. He appeared taller and maybe more solidly built.
'Maddy,' Rob began.
'It's good to see you,' Maddy said, cutting him off. She was slightly out of breath and she saw that he was too.
'Good to see you too,' Rob said eventually, his mouth turning up into a smile.
Maddy couldn't hold it in, she had wanted to see Rob for a year and she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his body.
He instantly returned the hug, pulling her tight and gently stroking her back.
'How have you been?' Rob said, over her shoulder.
She held him tightly and spoke into his chest, 'Good, what about you?'
'Not too bad,' he said with a hint of hesitation, 'Not too bad,' he repeated.
When they eventually let go of each other Rob looked deeply into Maddy's eyes. She felt a mix of safety and excitement that had been absent from her life over the past year.
Rob placed his hand on Maddy's shoulder, stroking gently with his thumb, 'I'm sorry about the ex thing,' he said, pointing towards the exit to the pavilion.
Maddy laughed knowingly and gently slapped him on the chest, 'We've all been there.'
Rob shared her laugh and nodded, 'Yeah that's true.' He added with a laugh, 'You don't have to punch my ex though.'
Maddy wrapped her arm around his waist and they stood side by side, 'That's good to know.'
Rob and Maddy eventually caught up with Jeff, who was still waiting for his beer. They spent most of the day wandering around and catching up on the last year. Rob bought Maddy a drink and she returned the favour, buying him a beer.
For lunch they had pizza and Rob guarded Maddy when she had to use men's room. Despite the humidity and the smaller turnout, the line for the girls' was still painfully long. The three of them sat up in the stands to watch the headlining acts and when Jeff had to leave, Rob and Maddy stayed put.
Rob gently caressed Maddy's leg with his hand and she stroked his back as they watched the live music. After the final song, Rob and Maddy shared a kiss underneath the bright lights of the stands. It was every bit as passionate and loving as they had both expected. The kiss, held for what felt like hours, was made all the more sweet by their mutual understanding of each other.
After the festival Rob walked Maddy to her car, hand in hand. They kissed again and Maddy put her number in Rob's phone. He did the same, and found it hard to let go of her hand when they said goodnight.
When he eventually did let go, Rob felt safe that he and Maddy would be seeing a lot more of each other in the future. For the first time in a while, the year ahead looked very bright to Rob, very bright indeed.
More late night Romance
A bit more, before the ending... And yeah, I've had a few drinks.
Rob and Maddy: 10
Tim Harvey
Rob's hand never left Maddy's as they pushed through the crowds and made their way to the car park. There was another band playing after Arcade Fire and most of the people had stayed to watch. This left the car park fairly deserted and Rob was thankful to finally be beside Maddy without anybody around.
He had never felt such a connection with another person, and although he was normally fairly reserved, throughout the day he had found himself doing things that he had never dreamt of. Holding hands, hugging, and finally kissing, were actions that Rob couldn't imagine himself performing with so many eyes watching him.
Maddy gave Rob the confidence to express himself. Either that, or she made him forget that there were so many other people around him. Thinking about it, Rob realised that Maddy had made him see that actually, nobody was watching or judging him. He felt a warm freedom when he was near her. A sweet feeling of comfort that he never wanted to let go.
He felt himself cringe when the sudden realisation that they had to go home hit him like a blow to the stomach. They reached his car, a battered white ute that he used for work.
'This is me,' Rob said, trying to sound as casual as possible, indicating the bomb. He squeezed her hand, one final gesture that he didn't want this to end.
'Nice wheels,' Maddy said with more than a hint of sarcasm. She looked up at him and offered a sweet laugh. Rob didn't smile though, still being caught up in the sick feeling of everything being over. She too gripped his hand, giving him hope for something more.
'So,' Rob trailed off, staring deeply into Maddy's eyes.
'So,' she repeated, and he could see his depressing thoughts mirrored in her gaze.
'Maddy,' Rob began.
'Yes?' She spoke quickly and eagerly, pressing up against him.
'Uh, where do you live?' Rob asked, feeling as if he should press against her too. The action might make her uncomfortable he decided, and held back from openly expressing his desire.
'Oh, up north,' Maddy said, 'It's going to be a hell of a bus ride,' she added with a grin.
Take her home, was the only thought Rob could muster.
'I can give you a lift,' Rob started, before hesitating. 'I mean, if the bus is too much trouble.'
'Where do you live?' Maddy inquired, practically.
Rob stifled a laugh, knowing how she might react, 'Down south.'
A deep frown formed on Maddy's face, 'It's too far,' she said after a long thoughtful pause.
Rob felt her grip on his hand loosen and she stepped away from him.
'Well,' Rob said, gripping her hand tightly and gently nudging her, 'You could always come round to my place for the night.'
He said it with all the warmth and safety that Maddy had expected from him. Although it was a joking remark, Rob said it with sincerity. Maddy wanted nothing more than to spend the night with Rob. She wanted to see how he acted alone in the safety of his own room. The ease with which he would slip off his shirt and press up against her was overwhelming.
But Maddy couldn't do it. It was too soon, too much, too big a gesture for a guy that she had just met. Something inside her said to feel him, to let them explore each other. Another part of her told her it would hurt too much when he couldn't be everything that she needed.
'Oh,' Maddy managed to get out. She gently slid her hand out of his grasp and caught the hurt look in his eyes.
'No, I mean,' Rob started, his face contorting into a look of horror.
'No,' Maddy said, trying to ease his mind, but he looked as if he had taken it the wrong way.
'I'm sorry,' he said after the most awkward pause Maddy had ever experienced. Rob took a step backward, a look of deep concern crossed his face. She knew that he would never force her into anything, it just wasn't in his nature. She knew that it would only take one word and he would do whatever she wanted, whatever she needed. The more she thought about that, the more she became unsure about Rob.
Truthfully, Maddy needed someone who could do their own thing, someone that wouldn't be dependent on her. At this moment though, on this day, she needed a guy whom she could safely say “no” to. She needed Rob today, but was he really the kind of guy that she needed long term.
Maddy shook her head, trying to dislodge her concerns for the future from her mind. Why was she even thinking about a future with a guy that she had just met? Why did the idea of her and Rob, together, even cross her mind? Something in his kiss? Something about his personality?
'I'm,' Maddy began, holding tears back. It was too much, too soon, too powerful. A wave of sadness rolled over her, sucking her into the depths of internal torment. She should never have thought about her and Rob, why did she think that?
'I'm sorry,' Maddy said and turned away from him. She began to walk.
'Maddy!' Rob called, causing her to pause. 'I'm sorry.' He said it with such conviction and sincerity that she felt her heart jump in her chest and her stomach twist into a painful knot of regret.
She began to walk again, to move far away from that hurt in his voice, and that look of pain on his face. Every step brought her closer to tears, but some powerful force drove her forward against her will. Each step made her sadness grow, and she walked into it, her face streaming with regret.
The blow was sickening. The force against his stomach, loud and deafening. Rob watched as Maddy marched across the car park, her hand rising to her face intermittently. He could almost crumple over and collapse with the pressure weighing down on him. Why did he suggest that she spend the night with him? Why did he think that she would want that?
Her breakup was less than a week ago. Rob saw how she was with her ex. He saw how she looked when she spoke about him, and he knew that anything more than a physical connection was completely off the cards. Rob held his hand to his face.
They were two lonely people at a music festival, nothing more. There was nothing there. But why? Why couldn't he dream about getting with her? Why wasn't he allowed to think that they could be something? Something more than a stupid one off thing.
Rob's fist slammed against his dented door, adding to the rumpled indents in the steel. He should never have asked her, but she could have told him that she didn't want it. She could have given him a flick of her eyes and a gentle slap on his shoulder, and told him that it “wasn't going to happen.”
It hurt her, he realised. To draw that reaction from her, it must have hurt her. Was she so scared of the possibility of sex? It couldn't be. He could tell that she was the kind of girl that would let him know if he was going too far. Rob hoped that she knew that she was safe with him. But it was too late anyway. She was gone.
What if it wasn't the subtle notion that he wanted to sleep with her that was bothering her? What could have scared her so much that she would run away from what he thought was a good thing? Rob shook his head, he couldn't imagine what had scared her away, but it was something terrifying to her.
Rob swallowed a deep sigh and wiped his moist eyes before getting into his ute and heading home.
Maddy was done crying by the time that she was on the bus. Apart from a few tears when she imagined Rob sitting alone in his car, Maddy was spent. She wished she had stayed, but the force of emotions that rocked her when she caught herself contemplating getting into another relationship so soon was too much to handle.
She cried again at the knowledge that she should have wrapped her arms around Rob and held him close when she started worrying. He would have made it better, and he could have taken her away from all the doubt and regret that filled her right now.
Maddy wiped her warm cheeks and wished that she had at least gotten his number. It would have been okay for her to run away if only she could call him and tell him not to worry. He probably thought it was his fault. At that moment, Maddy wanted nothing more than to tell him he did nothing wrong.
She wanted to hold him, and she wanted him to hold her tight. She had never felt that way about a guy before. Apart from the physical, Rob was not the type of guy that she normally felt this way about, and she had never felt it so strong before. She felt her mouth form into a weak grin when she thought that he was exactly what she needed that day.
Maddy didn't normally buy into fate or anything, and she still didn't. But Rob was really the closest thing that she had known to make her think that way. He was an impossible fit in her troubled life. She didn't even know how much she wanted him, until he was gone.
The tears flowed again down Maddy's cheeks with that thought. As fateful as their meeting had been, as magical as her day was, it was over. She didn't have his number, she didn't even have his last name. He was Robin the landscaper from the southern suburbs. There was no way of getting in contact with him, there was no chance of anything more.
Maddy let out a deep breath, it was over.
Just to confirm, this is NOT the ending! I repeat, this is NOT the ending. I thought I needed to add some tension between the couple. I feel that a really romantic, happy type ending at this point would be unrealistic and I think it would just feel cheap. I don't want to cheapen something that I've now spent quite a bit of time working on, so the tension in this edition is based on, what I think are, realistic feelings that a couple in this situation would have.
I would have written the epilogue right away, but I'm fairly tired. Should be up tomorrow, hopefully. Stay tuned!
Rob and Maddy: 10
Tim Harvey
Rob's hand never left Maddy's as they pushed through the crowds and made their way to the car park. There was another band playing after Arcade Fire and most of the people had stayed to watch. This left the car park fairly deserted and Rob was thankful to finally be beside Maddy without anybody around.
He had never felt such a connection with another person, and although he was normally fairly reserved, throughout the day he had found himself doing things that he had never dreamt of. Holding hands, hugging, and finally kissing, were actions that Rob couldn't imagine himself performing with so many eyes watching him.
Maddy gave Rob the confidence to express himself. Either that, or she made him forget that there were so many other people around him. Thinking about it, Rob realised that Maddy had made him see that actually, nobody was watching or judging him. He felt a warm freedom when he was near her. A sweet feeling of comfort that he never wanted to let go.
He felt himself cringe when the sudden realisation that they had to go home hit him like a blow to the stomach. They reached his car, a battered white ute that he used for work.
'This is me,' Rob said, trying to sound as casual as possible, indicating the bomb. He squeezed her hand, one final gesture that he didn't want this to end.
'Nice wheels,' Maddy said with more than a hint of sarcasm. She looked up at him and offered a sweet laugh. Rob didn't smile though, still being caught up in the sick feeling of everything being over. She too gripped his hand, giving him hope for something more.
'So,' Rob trailed off, staring deeply into Maddy's eyes.
'So,' she repeated, and he could see his depressing thoughts mirrored in her gaze.
'Maddy,' Rob began.
'Yes?' She spoke quickly and eagerly, pressing up against him.
'Uh, where do you live?' Rob asked, feeling as if he should press against her too. The action might make her uncomfortable he decided, and held back from openly expressing his desire.
'Oh, up north,' Maddy said, 'It's going to be a hell of a bus ride,' she added with a grin.
Take her home, was the only thought Rob could muster.
'I can give you a lift,' Rob started, before hesitating. 'I mean, if the bus is too much trouble.'
'Where do you live?' Maddy inquired, practically.
Rob stifled a laugh, knowing how she might react, 'Down south.'
A deep frown formed on Maddy's face, 'It's too far,' she said after a long thoughtful pause.
Rob felt her grip on his hand loosen and she stepped away from him.
'Well,' Rob said, gripping her hand tightly and gently nudging her, 'You could always come round to my place for the night.'
He said it with all the warmth and safety that Maddy had expected from him. Although it was a joking remark, Rob said it with sincerity. Maddy wanted nothing more than to spend the night with Rob. She wanted to see how he acted alone in the safety of his own room. The ease with which he would slip off his shirt and press up against her was overwhelming.
But Maddy couldn't do it. It was too soon, too much, too big a gesture for a guy that she had just met. Something inside her said to feel him, to let them explore each other. Another part of her told her it would hurt too much when he couldn't be everything that she needed.
'Oh,' Maddy managed to get out. She gently slid her hand out of his grasp and caught the hurt look in his eyes.
'No, I mean,' Rob started, his face contorting into a look of horror.
'No,' Maddy said, trying to ease his mind, but he looked as if he had taken it the wrong way.
'I'm sorry,' he said after the most awkward pause Maddy had ever experienced. Rob took a step backward, a look of deep concern crossed his face. She knew that he would never force her into anything, it just wasn't in his nature. She knew that it would only take one word and he would do whatever she wanted, whatever she needed. The more she thought about that, the more she became unsure about Rob.
Truthfully, Maddy needed someone who could do their own thing, someone that wouldn't be dependent on her. At this moment though, on this day, she needed a guy whom she could safely say “no” to. She needed Rob today, but was he really the kind of guy that she needed long term.
Maddy shook her head, trying to dislodge her concerns for the future from her mind. Why was she even thinking about a future with a guy that she had just met? Why did the idea of her and Rob, together, even cross her mind? Something in his kiss? Something about his personality?
'I'm,' Maddy began, holding tears back. It was too much, too soon, too powerful. A wave of sadness rolled over her, sucking her into the depths of internal torment. She should never have thought about her and Rob, why did she think that?
'I'm sorry,' Maddy said and turned away from him. She began to walk.
'Maddy!' Rob called, causing her to pause. 'I'm sorry.' He said it with such conviction and sincerity that she felt her heart jump in her chest and her stomach twist into a painful knot of regret.
She began to walk again, to move far away from that hurt in his voice, and that look of pain on his face. Every step brought her closer to tears, but some powerful force drove her forward against her will. Each step made her sadness grow, and she walked into it, her face streaming with regret.
The blow was sickening. The force against his stomach, loud and deafening. Rob watched as Maddy marched across the car park, her hand rising to her face intermittently. He could almost crumple over and collapse with the pressure weighing down on him. Why did he suggest that she spend the night with him? Why did he think that she would want that?
Her breakup was less than a week ago. Rob saw how she was with her ex. He saw how she looked when she spoke about him, and he knew that anything more than a physical connection was completely off the cards. Rob held his hand to his face.
They were two lonely people at a music festival, nothing more. There was nothing there. But why? Why couldn't he dream about getting with her? Why wasn't he allowed to think that they could be something? Something more than a stupid one off thing.
Rob's fist slammed against his dented door, adding to the rumpled indents in the steel. He should never have asked her, but she could have told him that she didn't want it. She could have given him a flick of her eyes and a gentle slap on his shoulder, and told him that it “wasn't going to happen.”
It hurt her, he realised. To draw that reaction from her, it must have hurt her. Was she so scared of the possibility of sex? It couldn't be. He could tell that she was the kind of girl that would let him know if he was going too far. Rob hoped that she knew that she was safe with him. But it was too late anyway. She was gone.
What if it wasn't the subtle notion that he wanted to sleep with her that was bothering her? What could have scared her so much that she would run away from what he thought was a good thing? Rob shook his head, he couldn't imagine what had scared her away, but it was something terrifying to her.
Rob swallowed a deep sigh and wiped his moist eyes before getting into his ute and heading home.
Maddy was done crying by the time that she was on the bus. Apart from a few tears when she imagined Rob sitting alone in his car, Maddy was spent. She wished she had stayed, but the force of emotions that rocked her when she caught herself contemplating getting into another relationship so soon was too much to handle.
She cried again at the knowledge that she should have wrapped her arms around Rob and held him close when she started worrying. He would have made it better, and he could have taken her away from all the doubt and regret that filled her right now.
Maddy wiped her warm cheeks and wished that she had at least gotten his number. It would have been okay for her to run away if only she could call him and tell him not to worry. He probably thought it was his fault. At that moment, Maddy wanted nothing more than to tell him he did nothing wrong.
She wanted to hold him, and she wanted him to hold her tight. She had never felt that way about a guy before. Apart from the physical, Rob was not the type of guy that she normally felt this way about, and she had never felt it so strong before. She felt her mouth form into a weak grin when she thought that he was exactly what she needed that day.
Maddy didn't normally buy into fate or anything, and she still didn't. But Rob was really the closest thing that she had known to make her think that way. He was an impossible fit in her troubled life. She didn't even know how much she wanted him, until he was gone.
The tears flowed again down Maddy's cheeks with that thought. As fateful as their meeting had been, as magical as her day was, it was over. She didn't have his number, she didn't even have his last name. He was Robin the landscaper from the southern suburbs. There was no way of getting in contact with him, there was no chance of anything more.
Maddy let out a deep breath, it was over.
Just to confirm, this is NOT the ending! I repeat, this is NOT the ending. I thought I needed to add some tension between the couple. I feel that a really romantic, happy type ending at this point would be unrealistic and I think it would just feel cheap. I don't want to cheapen something that I've now spent quite a bit of time working on, so the tension in this edition is based on, what I think are, realistic feelings that a couple in this situation would have.
I would have written the epilogue right away, but I'm fairly tired. Should be up tomorrow, hopefully. Stay tuned!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Romance nearly over
Maybe the last Rob and Maddy entry. Although, I might need to add a bit more.
Rob and Maddy: 9
Tim Harvey
Rob sat on the warm lawn with his legs crossed. Maddy's legs were draped across his and she sprawled out on her back staring up at the sky. The crowds in the main stage area were focussed on the band playing on the left stage, and Rob and Maddy sat towards the back of the right area. A few other people sat scattered around them, but they still had room to spread out.
Rob knew that once it got closer to nine, more people would crowd into the area directly in front of the right stage, causing them to move. Although, by that time they would be standing and waiting for Arcade Fire to come on the stage. It was almost eight when Rob checked his phone. He rested his hands on Maddy's knees and gently rubbed her legs back and forth.
When he tickled her under the knee she violently kicked her legs with a shrill laugh, 'Cut it out!'
Rob did it again, but her violent kicks came dangerously close to putting him in a world of pain, and he stopped. He liked the feel of her soft legs. As he ran his hand over her calf, he watched it flex as she moved her foot around in circles. The rhythm of Maddy's flexing muscles caused Rob to feel an exciting warmth shoot through his body.
Her sweet skin felt delicate under his caress and he ran the tips of his fingers up and down her calf. With each sweep of her leg, Rob moved his fingers further in each direction. He brushed closer to her ankles and then up to her knee. With the next sweep he ran his hand over her ankle and then dusted her thigh as he went in the opposite direction.
Rob looked over to Maddy, who was resting on her elbows watching him. She had a warm smile on her face. He returned the smile and watched her face closely as he moved his hand higher on her thigh. Her smile flickered briefly and Rob moved his hand back down her leg.
Maddy pulled her legs off of Rob's lap and moved her body over to his. She wrapped an arm around his waist and leant heavily on his shoulder. They sat like this for a while and Rob put his hand on her back, gently rubbing her tee and wondering if her skin was so smooth all over.
She rested her head on his shoulder and began to playfully blow warm air onto his chest. Rob felt her warm touch as she pressed her free hand against his chest, stroking his collarbones with her thumb. She slid her hand slightly underneath his shirt and rested her palm over where his heart was beating steadily. Rob could feel her breathing deepen and he noticed that his breathing had deepened in time with hers.
Her chest pressed against his shoulder and with each rising breath, and the gentle pressure of her chest against his arm, he felt his own chest rise, and her hand quiver slightly.
The tingles in Maddy's fingertips were incredible. They shot down her arm and through her body. She felt herself being warmed with each deep breath, and that warmth shot down into her core as she ran her fingers through the muscular groove in the centre of Rob's chest.
He stopped stroking her back and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. She could feel the power in his pull, and the solid arm resting against her shoulder blades caused her to inhale sharply. She felt him gently kiss the top of her head and she smiled.
'Maddy,' she heard Rob whisper, her eyes focussed on his body. 'Look,' she saw his arm stretch out and point to the stage. The lights were on and Maddy had the sudden shock of realising that they were surrounded by standing people.
The crowds had gathered around them as they sat in each other's world, and Maddy didn't even notice it. Rob shifted his weight and slid out of her grasp to stand up. He dusted himself off and held out his hand to her. She took it and he gently hoisted her up.
'We're right in the back,' Maddy said, looking up at Rob.
He gave her a wicked grin and said, 'Lead the way.'
She flicked her eyes at him and felt the corner of her mouth turn up. Holding his large hand in her own she set to work guiding them through the crowd. Maddy could spot easy openings and she pulled Rob through the mass of people. She felt him get stuck only twice, but she didn't look back, knowing he was right there, through the connection of their hands.
When the crowds became too thick for her to glide through, Maddy looked up. They were very close to the stage, and only a few rows of people separated them from the security barrier. The shifting mass of people around them was too tight for her to turn and face Rob. She released his hand and felt two sturdy hands clasp her shoulders. They emanated heat that radiated down into her chest and lower still.
Maddy bit her lip gently and leant backwards into Rob. He slid his hands down her front and she felt her heart beating in her chest as his hands glided over her breasts. Rob's hands didn't pause for a second, instead sliding down and resting on her stomach. He clasped his hands together and leant into her.
She could feel Rob shifting his weight in anticipation and his body began to rock gently side to side. Maddy put her hands on his strong forearms and rocked along with him.
When the band stepped out onto the stage the crowd went wild. Rob and Maddy remained in their embrace, but clapped along. They opened with an acoustic roar, the drums and guitars rolling into life. The crowd surrounding them raised their arms into the air and the people began to move about, bouncing with the rhythm. The violins pulled the audience in and the vocals burst through with a wave of emotion.
Rob and Maddy held their arms in the air and Rob felt her shifting against his body. He moved along with her dance easily and they blended together under the waves of sound.
The singer burst out; 'Keep the car running!' Rob felt Maddy dip down low as he sung and she pressed herself against him as she slid black up his body. Rob could feel every inch of her back moving gracefully up until she stood on her toes. Maddy's hands rested on his thighs and she bounced eagerly up and down with the beat.
Rob slid his arms through hers and wrapped them around her waist. She raised her arms up in the air and danced to the music. Stroking her tight stomach through the shirt sent sparks of energy blistering through Rob. He leant in and kissed her on the neck gently, she curled her head around at first, blocking his lips. But after a second, she tilted her head the other way exposing her delicate neck. Rob kissed it again, before gently resting his chin on her shoulder.
The crowd around them was packed tightly and Rob felt hands pressing against his back. People to the left of them pushed against his arms as they bounced around, but Rob held Maddy close. Eventually the two of them became a part of the fluid crowd, shifting around and moving with the people.
Each song ended with a chorus of applause and screaming, and Maddy cheered along. She danced with Rob and they both moved around in the mass of people. His gentle kiss on her neck set her on fire and she pushed up against him until the music stopped.
The band exited the stage and Maddy knew that they had a few minutes before the encore. She shifted her weight and managed to turn around and face Rob, twisting her body in his arms. He looked down into her eyes and she could see sparks of life in his gaze. He placed his hands on her hips and she wrapped her hands around his shoulders.
She felt him lean into her, and as if responding to his actions the crowds roared to life in a spectacular cheer of appreciation. She felt like cheering with them as he slid his hands up her body and rested them on her cheeks.
Maddy took in a deep breath, her heart was pounding. The low bass line started up and a familiar guitar chord shot through her back. She didn't need to see the band for this song. All she wanted to see was Rob. A low piano chord gently rolled into life and Rob rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
He smiled weakly and she could see a drop of sweat roll down his face. His breathing was deep, but there was a focus in his gaze. She watched his eyes shift back and forth, staring deeply into hers.
Rob pulled her closer and held his lips inches from hers. She moved her chin towards him and felt her lips parting. A gentle flutter in her eyelids was too much and she let herself go. Her eyes closed and she waited.
Maddy felt his lips connect with hers. So gentle at first. He pulled back, and she felt her mouth open wider. Rob's lips made contact again, this time they were still gentle, but his movements were full of passion as he kissed her. She felt one of his hands slide down onto her back and the other slid down to rest on her neck, gently cupping the back of her head.
Roars from the crowd echoed through her body and she kissed him back. All her passion and excitement rolled into him through their intimacy, and he shifted his weight as he continued the kiss.
'Sometime we remember bedrooms,' the singers' voices erupted through Maddy. She remembered bedrooms, and she pressed against Rob's body. He pressed up against her, and she felt his body complete. They held their kiss until the song ended.
Ends a bit abruptly? I might have to add an epilogue if this bothers any readers.
Also, just for reference here are some great videos of Arcade Fire playing live in a very similar setting.
The first song Keep the Car Running
and the song while they kiss Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Both of these videos really help to set the mood for the concert.
Rob and Maddy: 9
Tim Harvey
Rob sat on the warm lawn with his legs crossed. Maddy's legs were draped across his and she sprawled out on her back staring up at the sky. The crowds in the main stage area were focussed on the band playing on the left stage, and Rob and Maddy sat towards the back of the right area. A few other people sat scattered around them, but they still had room to spread out.
Rob knew that once it got closer to nine, more people would crowd into the area directly in front of the right stage, causing them to move. Although, by that time they would be standing and waiting for Arcade Fire to come on the stage. It was almost eight when Rob checked his phone. He rested his hands on Maddy's knees and gently rubbed her legs back and forth.
When he tickled her under the knee she violently kicked her legs with a shrill laugh, 'Cut it out!'
Rob did it again, but her violent kicks came dangerously close to putting him in a world of pain, and he stopped. He liked the feel of her soft legs. As he ran his hand over her calf, he watched it flex as she moved her foot around in circles. The rhythm of Maddy's flexing muscles caused Rob to feel an exciting warmth shoot through his body.
Her sweet skin felt delicate under his caress and he ran the tips of his fingers up and down her calf. With each sweep of her leg, Rob moved his fingers further in each direction. He brushed closer to her ankles and then up to her knee. With the next sweep he ran his hand over her ankle and then dusted her thigh as he went in the opposite direction.
Rob looked over to Maddy, who was resting on her elbows watching him. She had a warm smile on her face. He returned the smile and watched her face closely as he moved his hand higher on her thigh. Her smile flickered briefly and Rob moved his hand back down her leg.
Maddy pulled her legs off of Rob's lap and moved her body over to his. She wrapped an arm around his waist and leant heavily on his shoulder. They sat like this for a while and Rob put his hand on her back, gently rubbing her tee and wondering if her skin was so smooth all over.
She rested her head on his shoulder and began to playfully blow warm air onto his chest. Rob felt her warm touch as she pressed her free hand against his chest, stroking his collarbones with her thumb. She slid her hand slightly underneath his shirt and rested her palm over where his heart was beating steadily. Rob could feel her breathing deepen and he noticed that his breathing had deepened in time with hers.
Her chest pressed against his shoulder and with each rising breath, and the gentle pressure of her chest against his arm, he felt his own chest rise, and her hand quiver slightly.
The tingles in Maddy's fingertips were incredible. They shot down her arm and through her body. She felt herself being warmed with each deep breath, and that warmth shot down into her core as she ran her fingers through the muscular groove in the centre of Rob's chest.
He stopped stroking her back and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. She could feel the power in his pull, and the solid arm resting against her shoulder blades caused her to inhale sharply. She felt him gently kiss the top of her head and she smiled.
'Maddy,' she heard Rob whisper, her eyes focussed on his body. 'Look,' she saw his arm stretch out and point to the stage. The lights were on and Maddy had the sudden shock of realising that they were surrounded by standing people.
The crowds had gathered around them as they sat in each other's world, and Maddy didn't even notice it. Rob shifted his weight and slid out of her grasp to stand up. He dusted himself off and held out his hand to her. She took it and he gently hoisted her up.
'We're right in the back,' Maddy said, looking up at Rob.
He gave her a wicked grin and said, 'Lead the way.'
She flicked her eyes at him and felt the corner of her mouth turn up. Holding his large hand in her own she set to work guiding them through the crowd. Maddy could spot easy openings and she pulled Rob through the mass of people. She felt him get stuck only twice, but she didn't look back, knowing he was right there, through the connection of their hands.
When the crowds became too thick for her to glide through, Maddy looked up. They were very close to the stage, and only a few rows of people separated them from the security barrier. The shifting mass of people around them was too tight for her to turn and face Rob. She released his hand and felt two sturdy hands clasp her shoulders. They emanated heat that radiated down into her chest and lower still.
Maddy bit her lip gently and leant backwards into Rob. He slid his hands down her front and she felt her heart beating in her chest as his hands glided over her breasts. Rob's hands didn't pause for a second, instead sliding down and resting on her stomach. He clasped his hands together and leant into her.
She could feel Rob shifting his weight in anticipation and his body began to rock gently side to side. Maddy put her hands on his strong forearms and rocked along with him.
When the band stepped out onto the stage the crowd went wild. Rob and Maddy remained in their embrace, but clapped along. They opened with an acoustic roar, the drums and guitars rolling into life. The crowd surrounding them raised their arms into the air and the people began to move about, bouncing with the rhythm. The violins pulled the audience in and the vocals burst through with a wave of emotion.
Rob and Maddy held their arms in the air and Rob felt her shifting against his body. He moved along with her dance easily and they blended together under the waves of sound.
The singer burst out; 'Keep the car running!' Rob felt Maddy dip down low as he sung and she pressed herself against him as she slid black up his body. Rob could feel every inch of her back moving gracefully up until she stood on her toes. Maddy's hands rested on his thighs and she bounced eagerly up and down with the beat.
Rob slid his arms through hers and wrapped them around her waist. She raised her arms up in the air and danced to the music. Stroking her tight stomach through the shirt sent sparks of energy blistering through Rob. He leant in and kissed her on the neck gently, she curled her head around at first, blocking his lips. But after a second, she tilted her head the other way exposing her delicate neck. Rob kissed it again, before gently resting his chin on her shoulder.
The crowd around them was packed tightly and Rob felt hands pressing against his back. People to the left of them pushed against his arms as they bounced around, but Rob held Maddy close. Eventually the two of them became a part of the fluid crowd, shifting around and moving with the people.
Each song ended with a chorus of applause and screaming, and Maddy cheered along. She danced with Rob and they both moved around in the mass of people. His gentle kiss on her neck set her on fire and she pushed up against him until the music stopped.
The band exited the stage and Maddy knew that they had a few minutes before the encore. She shifted her weight and managed to turn around and face Rob, twisting her body in his arms. He looked down into her eyes and she could see sparks of life in his gaze. He placed his hands on her hips and she wrapped her hands around his shoulders.
She felt him lean into her, and as if responding to his actions the crowds roared to life in a spectacular cheer of appreciation. She felt like cheering with them as he slid his hands up her body and rested them on her cheeks.
Maddy took in a deep breath, her heart was pounding. The low bass line started up and a familiar guitar chord shot through her back. She didn't need to see the band for this song. All she wanted to see was Rob. A low piano chord gently rolled into life and Rob rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
He smiled weakly and she could see a drop of sweat roll down his face. His breathing was deep, but there was a focus in his gaze. She watched his eyes shift back and forth, staring deeply into hers.
Rob pulled her closer and held his lips inches from hers. She moved her chin towards him and felt her lips parting. A gentle flutter in her eyelids was too much and she let herself go. Her eyes closed and she waited.
Maddy felt his lips connect with hers. So gentle at first. He pulled back, and she felt her mouth open wider. Rob's lips made contact again, this time they were still gentle, but his movements were full of passion as he kissed her. She felt one of his hands slide down onto her back and the other slid down to rest on her neck, gently cupping the back of her head.
Roars from the crowd echoed through her body and she kissed him back. All her passion and excitement rolled into him through their intimacy, and he shifted his weight as he continued the kiss.
'Sometime we remember bedrooms,' the singers' voices erupted through Maddy. She remembered bedrooms, and she pressed against Rob's body. He pressed up against her, and she felt his body complete. They held their kiss until the song ended.
Ends a bit abruptly? I might have to add an epilogue if this bothers any readers.
Also, just for reference here are some great videos of Arcade Fire playing live in a very similar setting.
The first song Keep the Car Running
and the song while they kiss Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Both of these videos really help to set the mood for the concert.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Late and drunk...
This latest installment of the Rob & Maddy story comes courtesy of some inebriation. Apologies for any mistakes or errors that have come as a result of having a few too many drinks. But, rain or shine, drunk or sober, I am determined to not keep my readers waiting.
On another note, Blogger has been having some technical difficulties lately and I have noticed that the last Rob & Maddy post is missing. The forums state that this should be temporary, but I'm a little bit skeptical. I'll fix up the post order etc at a later date, if Blogger is unable to do so. Happy reading.
Rob and Maddy: 8
Tim Harvey
Rob saw the look in Maddy's eyes. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was bothering her, but he could tell that she was uneasy. He turned his head to see a group of huge looking thugs approaching them. At the centre of the group he saw James, beaten and battered, leading the thugs towards their position at the table.
Rob put his hand over Maddy's and stood. He gave her a weak smile and looked deeply into her eyes. He wanted to shout “run!” Rob seized her hand and took off into the crowd. She followed him, holding tightly onto his strong hand.
'Move,' Rob whispered into her ear as they ran through the crowds. The people seemed to shift aimlessly around them as they made their escape. Seeming to feel their apprehension, the crowd shifted around them like a fluid machine, letting them pass. When he looked over his shoulder, the crowd had shifted back to their original positions, blocking the path of James and his entourage.
Away from the food area, they ran. Darting and dashing through the mass of people. Rob felt a horrible weight in his chest. He felt like vomiting as he pushed and glided through the crush of bodies.
'In there!' Rob exclaimed to Maddy as he pulled her into an empty tent. It was a merchandise stall that had closed up shop earlier that day. There were a few t-shirts hanging from hooks in the walls of the tent.
A guy packing items of merchandise into a cardboard box gave them an awkward glance.
'Can we stay here for a bit?' Rob asked, his hand still firmly attached to Maddy's.
'Sure,' the guy said with a shrug, apparently noticing Rob's anxiety.
He packed his box and left the tent, and the couple, with a nod of approval.
'Thank you so much,' Maddy said as he left the tent. He gave them a brief smile that was both comforting and naïve.
Rob examined Maddy's terrified face and rested his hands on her upper arms. He felt warmth tingle through his body when she stopped shaking, at his touch.
'We're okay now,' Rob said.
'Sure?' Maddy asked. She had a wild look in her eyes that Rob wanted to subdue.
'They have no idea that we're here,' Rob said, trying to slow her racing heart.
He looked behind him, towards the tent flap and tried to listen for any hostile footsteps.
None came and he turned to Maddy, giving her his most comfortable smile.
Please feel hat we're safe, Rob thought. Please feel safe with me, he added in his mind, hoping that she could somehow read his thoughts.
With his hands on her arms, and his gentle words, Maddy felt at ease.
'I'm okay,' she said after taking a deep breath. She heard footsteps outside the tent and froze. If James and his thugs found them, they would surely give Rob the beating of a lifetime.
She pictured him, bloody and beaten on the floor of the tent and in her mind she knelt to comfort him. The ghastly image of Rob dying in the dirt sent a deep and strong shudder through her body.
Rob's hands on her arms helped to ease the shudder, but she was sure that he felt it too, as the footsteps passed the tent.
'Rob,' she exclaimed staring deeply into his eyes. She rested her palms against his heaving chest. The muscles under his shirt tensed and relaxed with every deep breath. After a moment of this awkward embrace, she felt his breathing deepen, but his heart rate decrease. He exhaled a long held breath and began to rub her upper arms with his thumbs.
'Rob,' Maddy repeated, her chest tightening. She felt his powerful grip on her arms, with an uneasy hesitation in his fingers. He stroked her arms with great difficulty. She could read it on his face.
'Maddy,' he managed to choke out. His breathing was erratic and he took deep breaths in through his nose, but intermittently let them out through his lips. His chest tightened under her gentle grasp and she pressed harder, feeling his powerful muscles contract with her touch.
'I'm sorry,' he whispered so quietly, so gently that she could have almost imagined it.
She stepped closer, pressing her chest against his torso. She wanted to let him be at ease. She brashly stroked his chest and pushed her chin out to him, beckoning a kiss. She needed him to calm down. She wanted him to feel at ease. His clear fright of the impending pain and terror that her ex boyfriend threatened was her fault.
She hoped he could feel comfortable, even just for a moment. They weren't going to beat her and she knew this. Rob knew this too and despite her physical contact, he couldn't calm down.
'Are they gone?' Rob asked stupidly. He felt like a child. His mother wasn't here to protect him from the bullies and he pressed against Maddy hoping for the same protection. It was a stupid idea, Rob decided. But he felt a warm comfort from her gentle pushing. He suddenly felt the desire to take it further. He wanted to shove his lips against hers in the darkened, abandoned tent.
'Yes,' Maddy replied. She seemed confident, but Rob was still residing in a whirlwind of terror and pain. He had imagined the thugs brutally beating at his body. Breaking his bones and fracturing his skull was just the beginning. Rob imagined his organs being split and perforated, leaving him rotting and decaying under their humiliating glares. His mind didn't usually drift to such dark places, but for some reason he had let the fear get the better of him.
Once, his father had a bout of deep anxiety, when he had lost his job. Rob was informed that the condition may be hereditary, but he never thought about it. Only in the face of such a terrible ending did Rob's mind revert to a childish fear of pain and torment.
'I'm here,' Maddy whispered gently into his ear. She pressed against him and wrapped her arms around his torso. He felt the rush of warmth roll through his body as he had when she hugged him in the pavilion. But this time, he felt warm tears roll down her cheeks.
Rob pulled away, just for a moment to inspect Maddy's face. She wore the concern of a mother that had lost her child. She clung to him trying to protect every fibre of his being. The look on her face said that she hoped that something pure could last in his threatened state.
He pulled her close and against his will, he kissed her on the head. Holding his head against hers, he repeated the kiss. Her hair was frizzy and red, but he gave her every ounce of affection that he could muster.
She saw his weakness. She saw right into his being and held him close. The fear and powerlessness that he felt consumed by was absorbed by her embrace. She took his fear and held it as her own. Rob pulled her tight, hoping to re-absorb that fear. He didn't want her to feel it.
After a long embrace, Rob realised that he could never take the fear back. She held it as her own, but his embrace was a symbol that it was to be shared. She bounced it back to him through her hands, stroking his back, and he bounced the remnants back to her, gently resting his head against her shoulder.
In the end, the fear and terror hand been bounced around so much that it had lost all of its power. Rob pulled back and smiled at Maddy. She offered a warm glance and a slight chuckle.
'What time is it?' Maddy asked.
Rob checked his phone and saw that it was almost six o'clock. Maddy had to stifle a gasp as they exited the tent. There was no sign of James and his thugs, and Maddy hoped that they wouldn't run into them again that night.
'We should head the the main stage,' Maddy said, practically.
Rob stared longingly into her eyes. He held a gaze of awe and empathy in his look and Maddy felt like curling up in his embrace.
'Maddy,' Rob began, causing her heart the race. 'Thank you.'
She felt her cheeks burn, deeper and harder than they had at any point that day. She stepped closer to him and gently stroked his powerful chest.
'No worries,' she whispered and placed her head gently against his chest. She felt a large, strong arm wrap around her body and a warm easy kiss on her head. She wondered if and when he would kiss her on the lips. Of course the situation in the tent had been rough, especially with him being the prime target for a gang of huge thugs. But she guiltily anticipated his warm soft lips pressing against hers.
Stupid, she thought. Imagine feeling as if you were going to be beaten to a pulp! She pressed against him and offered him the gentle support that she knew he needed. She would have offered him the kiss, but she knew that was a step that he would have to take on his own. She wanted it, but he would have to be the one to do it.
'Let's get to the stage,' Maddy said, pulling gently and easily away from Rob. She clasped his hand firmly and offered him the most seductive smile that she could muster considering the circumstances. He returned her smile with a weak one of his own. He was still shaken by the threat of pain.
Once they had reached the main stage, Rob and Maddy passed, hand in hand, through the security point and onto the sprawling lawn of the general admission area. They were in the prime position to see Arcade Fire live and they both couldn't wait.
On another note, Blogger has been having some technical difficulties lately and I have noticed that the last Rob & Maddy post is missing. The forums state that this should be temporary, but I'm a little bit skeptical. I'll fix up the post order etc at a later date, if Blogger is unable to do so. Happy reading.
Rob and Maddy: 8
Tim Harvey
Rob saw the look in Maddy's eyes. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was bothering her, but he could tell that she was uneasy. He turned his head to see a group of huge looking thugs approaching them. At the centre of the group he saw James, beaten and battered, leading the thugs towards their position at the table.
Rob put his hand over Maddy's and stood. He gave her a weak smile and looked deeply into her eyes. He wanted to shout “run!” Rob seized her hand and took off into the crowd. She followed him, holding tightly onto his strong hand.
'Move,' Rob whispered into her ear as they ran through the crowds. The people seemed to shift aimlessly around them as they made their escape. Seeming to feel their apprehension, the crowd shifted around them like a fluid machine, letting them pass. When he looked over his shoulder, the crowd had shifted back to their original positions, blocking the path of James and his entourage.
Away from the food area, they ran. Darting and dashing through the mass of people. Rob felt a horrible weight in his chest. He felt like vomiting as he pushed and glided through the crush of bodies.
'In there!' Rob exclaimed to Maddy as he pulled her into an empty tent. It was a merchandise stall that had closed up shop earlier that day. There were a few t-shirts hanging from hooks in the walls of the tent.
A guy packing items of merchandise into a cardboard box gave them an awkward glance.
'Can we stay here for a bit?' Rob asked, his hand still firmly attached to Maddy's.
'Sure,' the guy said with a shrug, apparently noticing Rob's anxiety.
He packed his box and left the tent, and the couple, with a nod of approval.
'Thank you so much,' Maddy said as he left the tent. He gave them a brief smile that was both comforting and naïve.
Rob examined Maddy's terrified face and rested his hands on her upper arms. He felt warmth tingle through his body when she stopped shaking, at his touch.
'We're okay now,' Rob said.
'Sure?' Maddy asked. She had a wild look in her eyes that Rob wanted to subdue.
'They have no idea that we're here,' Rob said, trying to slow her racing heart.
He looked behind him, towards the tent flap and tried to listen for any hostile footsteps.
None came and he turned to Maddy, giving her his most comfortable smile.
Please feel hat we're safe, Rob thought. Please feel safe with me, he added in his mind, hoping that she could somehow read his thoughts.
With his hands on her arms, and his gentle words, Maddy felt at ease.
'I'm okay,' she said after taking a deep breath. She heard footsteps outside the tent and froze. If James and his thugs found them, they would surely give Rob the beating of a lifetime.
She pictured him, bloody and beaten on the floor of the tent and in her mind she knelt to comfort him. The ghastly image of Rob dying in the dirt sent a deep and strong shudder through her body.
Rob's hands on her arms helped to ease the shudder, but she was sure that he felt it too, as the footsteps passed the tent.
'Rob,' she exclaimed staring deeply into his eyes. She rested her palms against his heaving chest. The muscles under his shirt tensed and relaxed with every deep breath. After a moment of this awkward embrace, she felt his breathing deepen, but his heart rate decrease. He exhaled a long held breath and began to rub her upper arms with his thumbs.
'Rob,' Maddy repeated, her chest tightening. She felt his powerful grip on her arms, with an uneasy hesitation in his fingers. He stroked her arms with great difficulty. She could read it on his face.
'Maddy,' he managed to choke out. His breathing was erratic and he took deep breaths in through his nose, but intermittently let them out through his lips. His chest tightened under her gentle grasp and she pressed harder, feeling his powerful muscles contract with her touch.
'I'm sorry,' he whispered so quietly, so gently that she could have almost imagined it.
She stepped closer, pressing her chest against his torso. She wanted to let him be at ease. She brashly stroked his chest and pushed her chin out to him, beckoning a kiss. She needed him to calm down. She wanted him to feel at ease. His clear fright of the impending pain and terror that her ex boyfriend threatened was her fault.
She hoped he could feel comfortable, even just for a moment. They weren't going to beat her and she knew this. Rob knew this too and despite her physical contact, he couldn't calm down.
'Are they gone?' Rob asked stupidly. He felt like a child. His mother wasn't here to protect him from the bullies and he pressed against Maddy hoping for the same protection. It was a stupid idea, Rob decided. But he felt a warm comfort from her gentle pushing. He suddenly felt the desire to take it further. He wanted to shove his lips against hers in the darkened, abandoned tent.
'Yes,' Maddy replied. She seemed confident, but Rob was still residing in a whirlwind of terror and pain. He had imagined the thugs brutally beating at his body. Breaking his bones and fracturing his skull was just the beginning. Rob imagined his organs being split and perforated, leaving him rotting and decaying under their humiliating glares. His mind didn't usually drift to such dark places, but for some reason he had let the fear get the better of him.
Once, his father had a bout of deep anxiety, when he had lost his job. Rob was informed that the condition may be hereditary, but he never thought about it. Only in the face of such a terrible ending did Rob's mind revert to a childish fear of pain and torment.
'I'm here,' Maddy whispered gently into his ear. She pressed against him and wrapped her arms around his torso. He felt the rush of warmth roll through his body as he had when she hugged him in the pavilion. But this time, he felt warm tears roll down her cheeks.
Rob pulled away, just for a moment to inspect Maddy's face. She wore the concern of a mother that had lost her child. She clung to him trying to protect every fibre of his being. The look on her face said that she hoped that something pure could last in his threatened state.
He pulled her close and against his will, he kissed her on the head. Holding his head against hers, he repeated the kiss. Her hair was frizzy and red, but he gave her every ounce of affection that he could muster.
She saw his weakness. She saw right into his being and held him close. The fear and powerlessness that he felt consumed by was absorbed by her embrace. She took his fear and held it as her own. Rob pulled her tight, hoping to re-absorb that fear. He didn't want her to feel it.
After a long embrace, Rob realised that he could never take the fear back. She held it as her own, but his embrace was a symbol that it was to be shared. She bounced it back to him through her hands, stroking his back, and he bounced the remnants back to her, gently resting his head against her shoulder.
In the end, the fear and terror hand been bounced around so much that it had lost all of its power. Rob pulled back and smiled at Maddy. She offered a warm glance and a slight chuckle.
'What time is it?' Maddy asked.
Rob checked his phone and saw that it was almost six o'clock. Maddy had to stifle a gasp as they exited the tent. There was no sign of James and his thugs, and Maddy hoped that they wouldn't run into them again that night.
'We should head the the main stage,' Maddy said, practically.
Rob stared longingly into her eyes. He held a gaze of awe and empathy in his look and Maddy felt like curling up in his embrace.
'Maddy,' Rob began, causing her heart the race. 'Thank you.'
She felt her cheeks burn, deeper and harder than they had at any point that day. She stepped closer to him and gently stroked his powerful chest.
'No worries,' she whispered and placed her head gently against his chest. She felt a large, strong arm wrap around her body and a warm easy kiss on her head. She wondered if and when he would kiss her on the lips. Of course the situation in the tent had been rough, especially with him being the prime target for a gang of huge thugs. But she guiltily anticipated his warm soft lips pressing against hers.
Stupid, she thought. Imagine feeling as if you were going to be beaten to a pulp! She pressed against him and offered him the gentle support that she knew he needed. She would have offered him the kiss, but she knew that was a step that he would have to take on his own. She wanted it, but he would have to be the one to do it.
'Let's get to the stage,' Maddy said, pulling gently and easily away from Rob. She clasped his hand firmly and offered him the most seductive smile that she could muster considering the circumstances. He returned her smile with a weak one of his own. He was still shaken by the threat of pain.
Once they had reached the main stage, Rob and Maddy passed, hand in hand, through the security point and onto the sprawling lawn of the general admission area. They were in the prime position to see Arcade Fire live and they both couldn't wait.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Update
More Rob and Maddy. There seemed to be some technical issues with Blogger earlier, but this seems to have been resolved.
Also, at a healthy 11,203 words with this story, in under a week. Pretty happy with that.
Rob and Maddy: 7
Tim Harvey
The two bottles of water that Maddy had made him drink had gone straight through him.
'Okay, I drank the water. Now can I go to the toilet?' Rob asked playfully. He still felt drunk, but he knew the water would help. Some more food wouldn't hurt either. He realised that he was probably drunker than he should be because he had barely eaten that day.
Maddy checked her phone, 'Okay it's four o'clock. Meet back here in ten?'
She paused and gave Rob a quizzical glance.
'What's up?' Rob asked, trying to hide his slur.
'I didn't get to go to the toilet before,' Maddy frowned.
'Well just go in the men's, seriously.' Rob gave her a comforting smile, but she still seemed concerned.
'I don't know,' she looked away.
'I'll guard the door for you, seriously it's not that bad,' Rob held his smile and she laughed.
'Fine, but you better guard the door!' She flicked her eyes up at him, giving Rob a surge of confidence that seemed to wash the alcohol away. Rob held out her hand and Maddy took it in hers. He stopped for a moment and pulled her closer to him. Her chest rose and fell with great deep breaths and she stared up into his eyes. Rob placed his other hand on her shoulder and flicked her bright red hair with his fingers.
She gently rested her free hand on his hip, and stepped closer to him.
'About earlier...' Rob began to speak, but trailed off. He hung his head and kicked at the dirt between them.
He saw Maddy rise and fall on her toes, her red converse sneakers dusty but bright. He watched her slender calves tighten as she rose up on her toes, and the image sent a tingle through his hands.
He raised his eyes and stared into her great big eager green eyes, trying to find the right words.
'Just, thanks,' he felt stupid, that was the best he could come up with?
She looked down and he felt her hand slide under his shirt and rest against the skin of his hip. She was biting her lip, but stopped as she broke into a smile. She playfully nudged his stomach with her fist before looking up at him.
'You're welcome,' she said and held their hands up between them, 'Shall we?'
'Sure,' Rob said with a smile. She playfully began to skip, swinging their arms wildly between them as they headed over to the toilets. Rob liked it, although he liked it much better when she stopped and leant against him as they walked. Pressing their arms together send warm tingles shooting through Rob, and he wondered if she felt the same way.
As their arms pressed together, Maddy wondered if Rob was feeling the same tingles rising up through her fingertips as she was. He was probably still pretty drunk thought, she thought. He seemed to be okay now, and he matched her stride without any signs of intoxication as they headed towards the men's toilets.
As usual there wasn't any line and Rob smiled down at her, 'See.'
'Whatever,' she replied, flicking him a playful look.
'I'll go in first and check if the coast is clear,' Rob said and made his way up the steps. She smiled as he poked his head through the door and scanned the toilets.
'Quick,' he whispered, and waved her over to him.
Once they were inside she picked the cleanest looking stall and closed the door. She heard him walk over to the urinals and in the silence of the empty stalls she could hear him unzip his fly.
'You're supposed to be keeping watch!' She whispered jokingly.
'You're fine,' he replied and she blocked the sound of him relieving himself out of her mind.
Unfortunately the situation was too familiar for her and she found that she couldn't go, not with Rob listening. She sat there and waited until he finished and zipped himself up. She heard him wash his hands and then saw his shoes through the bottom of the stall door.
'Don't you dare peek!' She whispered.
'Do you want me to wait outside?' He offered.
'Yes please,' she said with a sigh of relief, 'And tell anybody that comes that the place is closed for cleaning.'
'Will do,' Rob said confidently and she heard him leave.
After she was done, Maddy washed her hands and exited the toilet to see Rob chatting with a clearly drunk guy.
'All done,' she said and grabbed Rob's hand.
'Come on mate!' The guy said, clearly frustrated.
'It's all yours,' Rob said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. The guy shrugged and headed into the toilets.
'He wasn't upset, was he?' Maddy asked.
'Eh, nothing he can't handle,' Rob said with a grin.
'Hungry?' Rob asked as they walked past the food vans again.
'Yeah,' Maddy said, 'The line for the pizza place is pretty short now.'
Rob scanned the lines and saw that they were all considerably shorter than they were at lunch time. It was nearly half past four, too early for the dinner rush.
'You're really into that pizza, aren't you?' Rob said, grinning at her.
'Well, it's the only vegetarian option here, besides the baked potatoes,' she grimaced as she mentioned the potatoes.
'I didn't know you were a vegetarian,' Rob said. Of course that was why she didn't want a hot dog.
'Yeah, and I don't like potatoes either,' she squeezed his hand and looked up at him.
'Crazy,' Rob said playfully and shook his head.
'What?' She slapped his arm gently, 'I just don't like them.'
'Well I'm interested in this pizza. But I'm getting the meat lovers slice,' Rob gave her a smile.
'That's fine, I'm getting the veg, obviously,' she returned his smile.
Maddy nudged Rob's leg with hers as they sat, eating their pizza. The line moved pretty fast and they were eating in no time.
'Want this?' Rob said, holding up a slice of pepperoni.
'Eew,' Maddy grimaced.
Rob playfully held it out to her, waving it near her face.
She held her hands up and covered her face, 'Gross.'
Rob gently touched her hand with the slice of greasy meat. She flinched and he pulled it away quickly, before she could uncover her eyes.
'Was that?' She asked, her face straight.
'Was that what?' Rob said, sliding the peperoni into his mouth and chewing.
Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a cheeky grin. Her smile faded when she looked down at her hand and saw the drops of oil on her skin, 'Oh gross, Rob.'
'What?' Rob said shrugging, throwing her a playful smile. 'Wasn't me.'
She wiped her hand with the napkin, 'Better not have been you,' she said narrowing her eyes and giving him a sultry look.
'Why not?' Rob asked, chewing on his pizza slice. Maddy loved his playful teasing, she didn't really care about the gross pizza, but she liked the look in his eyes when she played along.
'Oh, you don't want to find out!' She said.
'Find out what? I'm telling you it wasn't me,' Rob said cheekily.
'The last guy who put his meat on...' Maddy trailed off, realising what she had said. She could feel her cheeks flush.
Rob managed a light chuckle, but didn't say anything. He stared at her expectantly.
'I didn't... You know what I meant,' Maddy said, trying to regain her composure.
'Sure, you don't like guys putting their meat on you,' Rob said, bursting into a giggle. She hadn't heard him laugh before, he had a gentle soft laugh. She felt her heart beat faster as he tried to control himself.
'Oh, you're just a big kid, aren't you?' Madd said, her cheeks burning.
'Big kid,' Rob repeated emphasising the word “big.”
He was still laughing at this when Maddy felt her heart sink. She spotted a group of rowdy looking guys pounding beers from across the eating area. She didn't know what to do when she saw that James was at the centre of the group. The guys were loudly laughing, but James was just nodding to another of the guys. His face had swollen up and he looked very pissed off.
Maddy hoped that they wouldn't notice her and Rob sitting at the table. She didn't need to tell Rob about it, he was still wiping his eyes from his joke. A rush of fear flew through Maddy as she saw a security guard approach the group and get promptly thrown to the ground. The guard would have been six feet at least, but he was dwarfed by the massive guys standing around James.
Maddy put her hand over Rob's, her eyes fixed to the group of drunks.
'What?' Rob asked, looking up at Maddy.
She froze as James made eye contact with her from across the area. She saw James' lips move and the guys all stopped laughing and turned to look at the two of them.
'What is it?' Rob asked again, but Maddy was too terrified to speak.
Also, at a healthy 11,203 words with this story, in under a week. Pretty happy with that.
Rob and Maddy: 7
Tim Harvey
The two bottles of water that Maddy had made him drink had gone straight through him.
'Okay, I drank the water. Now can I go to the toilet?' Rob asked playfully. He still felt drunk, but he knew the water would help. Some more food wouldn't hurt either. He realised that he was probably drunker than he should be because he had barely eaten that day.
Maddy checked her phone, 'Okay it's four o'clock. Meet back here in ten?'
She paused and gave Rob a quizzical glance.
'What's up?' Rob asked, trying to hide his slur.
'I didn't get to go to the toilet before,' Maddy frowned.
'Well just go in the men's, seriously.' Rob gave her a comforting smile, but she still seemed concerned.
'I don't know,' she looked away.
'I'll guard the door for you, seriously it's not that bad,' Rob held his smile and she laughed.
'Fine, but you better guard the door!' She flicked her eyes up at him, giving Rob a surge of confidence that seemed to wash the alcohol away. Rob held out her hand and Maddy took it in hers. He stopped for a moment and pulled her closer to him. Her chest rose and fell with great deep breaths and she stared up into his eyes. Rob placed his other hand on her shoulder and flicked her bright red hair with his fingers.
She gently rested her free hand on his hip, and stepped closer to him.
'About earlier...' Rob began to speak, but trailed off. He hung his head and kicked at the dirt between them.
He saw Maddy rise and fall on her toes, her red converse sneakers dusty but bright. He watched her slender calves tighten as she rose up on her toes, and the image sent a tingle through his hands.
He raised his eyes and stared into her great big eager green eyes, trying to find the right words.
'Just, thanks,' he felt stupid, that was the best he could come up with?
She looked down and he felt her hand slide under his shirt and rest against the skin of his hip. She was biting her lip, but stopped as she broke into a smile. She playfully nudged his stomach with her fist before looking up at him.
'You're welcome,' she said and held their hands up between them, 'Shall we?'
'Sure,' Rob said with a smile. She playfully began to skip, swinging their arms wildly between them as they headed over to the toilets. Rob liked it, although he liked it much better when she stopped and leant against him as they walked. Pressing their arms together send warm tingles shooting through Rob, and he wondered if she felt the same way.
As their arms pressed together, Maddy wondered if Rob was feeling the same tingles rising up through her fingertips as she was. He was probably still pretty drunk thought, she thought. He seemed to be okay now, and he matched her stride without any signs of intoxication as they headed towards the men's toilets.
As usual there wasn't any line and Rob smiled down at her, 'See.'
'Whatever,' she replied, flicking him a playful look.
'I'll go in first and check if the coast is clear,' Rob said and made his way up the steps. She smiled as he poked his head through the door and scanned the toilets.
'Quick,' he whispered, and waved her over to him.
Once they were inside she picked the cleanest looking stall and closed the door. She heard him walk over to the urinals and in the silence of the empty stalls she could hear him unzip his fly.
'You're supposed to be keeping watch!' She whispered jokingly.
'You're fine,' he replied and she blocked the sound of him relieving himself out of her mind.
Unfortunately the situation was too familiar for her and she found that she couldn't go, not with Rob listening. She sat there and waited until he finished and zipped himself up. She heard him wash his hands and then saw his shoes through the bottom of the stall door.
'Don't you dare peek!' She whispered.
'Do you want me to wait outside?' He offered.
'Yes please,' she said with a sigh of relief, 'And tell anybody that comes that the place is closed for cleaning.'
'Will do,' Rob said confidently and she heard him leave.
After she was done, Maddy washed her hands and exited the toilet to see Rob chatting with a clearly drunk guy.
'All done,' she said and grabbed Rob's hand.
'Come on mate!' The guy said, clearly frustrated.
'It's all yours,' Rob said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. The guy shrugged and headed into the toilets.
'He wasn't upset, was he?' Maddy asked.
'Eh, nothing he can't handle,' Rob said with a grin.
'Hungry?' Rob asked as they walked past the food vans again.
'Yeah,' Maddy said, 'The line for the pizza place is pretty short now.'
Rob scanned the lines and saw that they were all considerably shorter than they were at lunch time. It was nearly half past four, too early for the dinner rush.
'You're really into that pizza, aren't you?' Rob said, grinning at her.
'Well, it's the only vegetarian option here, besides the baked potatoes,' she grimaced as she mentioned the potatoes.
'I didn't know you were a vegetarian,' Rob said. Of course that was why she didn't want a hot dog.
'Yeah, and I don't like potatoes either,' she squeezed his hand and looked up at him.
'Crazy,' Rob said playfully and shook his head.
'What?' She slapped his arm gently, 'I just don't like them.'
'Well I'm interested in this pizza. But I'm getting the meat lovers slice,' Rob gave her a smile.
'That's fine, I'm getting the veg, obviously,' she returned his smile.
Maddy nudged Rob's leg with hers as they sat, eating their pizza. The line moved pretty fast and they were eating in no time.
'Want this?' Rob said, holding up a slice of pepperoni.
'Eew,' Maddy grimaced.
Rob playfully held it out to her, waving it near her face.
She held her hands up and covered her face, 'Gross.'
Rob gently touched her hand with the slice of greasy meat. She flinched and he pulled it away quickly, before she could uncover her eyes.
'Was that?' She asked, her face straight.
'Was that what?' Rob said, sliding the peperoni into his mouth and chewing.
Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a cheeky grin. Her smile faded when she looked down at her hand and saw the drops of oil on her skin, 'Oh gross, Rob.'
'What?' Rob said shrugging, throwing her a playful smile. 'Wasn't me.'
She wiped her hand with the napkin, 'Better not have been you,' she said narrowing her eyes and giving him a sultry look.
'Why not?' Rob asked, chewing on his pizza slice. Maddy loved his playful teasing, she didn't really care about the gross pizza, but she liked the look in his eyes when she played along.
'Oh, you don't want to find out!' She said.
'Find out what? I'm telling you it wasn't me,' Rob said cheekily.
'The last guy who put his meat on...' Maddy trailed off, realising what she had said. She could feel her cheeks flush.
Rob managed a light chuckle, but didn't say anything. He stared at her expectantly.
'I didn't... You know what I meant,' Maddy said, trying to regain her composure.
'Sure, you don't like guys putting their meat on you,' Rob said, bursting into a giggle. She hadn't heard him laugh before, he had a gentle soft laugh. She felt her heart beat faster as he tried to control himself.
'Oh, you're just a big kid, aren't you?' Madd said, her cheeks burning.
'Big kid,' Rob repeated emphasising the word “big.”
He was still laughing at this when Maddy felt her heart sink. She spotted a group of rowdy looking guys pounding beers from across the eating area. She didn't know what to do when she saw that James was at the centre of the group. The guys were loudly laughing, but James was just nodding to another of the guys. His face had swollen up and he looked very pissed off.
Maddy hoped that they wouldn't notice her and Rob sitting at the table. She didn't need to tell Rob about it, he was still wiping his eyes from his joke. A rush of fear flew through Maddy as she saw a security guard approach the group and get promptly thrown to the ground. The guard would have been six feet at least, but he was dwarfed by the massive guys standing around James.
Maddy put her hand over Rob's, her eyes fixed to the group of drunks.
'What?' Rob asked, looking up at Maddy.
She froze as James made eye contact with her from across the area. She saw James' lips move and the guys all stopped laughing and turned to look at the two of them.
'What is it?' Rob asked again, but Maddy was too terrified to speak.
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