Making a Move - original fiction
Jul. 13th, 2009 04:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libra_travellerI have ten stories from when I wrote a story a day in March that I'm going to share. Starting with this one.
Making a Move
It wasn’t his place, he told himself. He was a stranger to her. It was a crowded restaurant. Just because she was currently alone didn’t mean she hadn’t come with someone. Terry wished he hadn’t noticed, but this woman was clearly distraught, just picking at her food, staring at nothing. She looked like she would break apart if there wasn’t someone to ground her.
He told himself the worst thing that could happen was she’d tell him to leave her alone. Okay the worse would be her calling the manager on him and he could be arrested for harassment. But then Terry did have a strong imagination. He started to stand up from his table, but lowered himself back into the seat as more nerves washed through him. What if she needed real help, what could he do? And again none of his business. Now I’m being a coward, he thinks.
Suddenly he finds he’s already standing in front of her. “I’m Terry.” His hand’s outstretched to her. “It looked like you could use some company.” As she stared at him blankly, Terry found himself babbling. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come over here. You looked upset, I hate seeing people upset. God, I’m an idiot, I’ll just go.”
As he began to turn around, her voice stopped him. “Sharon.”
“What?”
“My name, it’s Sharon. You can sit if you like. You’re right. I could use someone to talk to.”
Terry sat down and blew out a breath. “I really wasn’t hitting on you, I swear.”
That made her smile. “I’d hope not, else you’d really need some pointers.”
“Oh yeah, you’re good at picking up dates then?” Terry fidgeted with the silver plated watch on his right wrist.
Sharon laughed, her dark brown hair waving as her shoulders shook. She leaned in conspiratorially, “I like to consider myself an expert.”
Terry gazed into her brown eyes, entranced by how relaxed she seemed compared to only a few moments earlier. “I’m not that bad myself,” Terry defended.
Gleefully, Sharon dared, “Then try and pick me up right now. Try again.”
He leaned back to consider. “How about this: ‘I saw you when I walked inside. You had the most brilliant smile. But I noticed that later in the evening you’d lost that shine. I’d give anything to see you smile again. Let me pay for your drink.’”
“Hmm,” Sharon mused. “A little over the top, but you seemed sincere, so I’ll give you an A on delivery.”
“So how would you do it? How would you hit on me?” Terry was honestly curious.
“Well, I’d introduce myself and ask if there was room for two.”
“That’s it?”
Sharon laughed again. “It takes only a moment for someone to decide if they’re interested. If he’s not I move on. No need to waste my time.”
“And this works?”
“Sometimes. But then even a two year relationship can go up in smoke when somebody decides they no longer give a damn about the other person.” She gulped more than sipped her wine.
Terry realized perhaps their fun conversation was over. “Is that what happened to you, just now?”
“He stood me up,” she admitted. “I called him, and he told me he didn’t have time for crappy expensive meals when he could be working. I don’t care for the way he treats me so I said that if he didn’t want to eat with me then maybe I didn’t want to sleep with him. And he said fine, and hung up on me.” Sharon took her napkin to catch her tears. She was suddenly uncomfortable realizing she told this to someone she didn’t know.
Terry realized that just maybe he shouldn’t have asked. Still he pushed on. “He’s a jerk. If he’s not worth it, good. If he is, it’s just a stupid fight and I’m sure you’ll make up.”
“You think so?”
“Pretty lady like you, he’d be an idiot to give you up. He’s probably just really busy, you know how it is. I’m sure he wanted to be here with you and he’s mad he has stuff he has to get done. And hey, if I’m wrong, toss him, and you’ll find someone better.”
“You’re right.” Sharon sighed and pulled herself back together. “It’s not over yet, and even if it is, I’ll move on.”
“Exactly. Now aren’t you glad I came over here.”
“Yes, Terry, I am. I think I needed a friend, thank you.”
They ate some food all the while Terry was feeling like a shit because he secretly hoped that Sharon’s relationship was over so he could have a chance with her.
Making a Move
It wasn’t his place, he told himself. He was a stranger to her. It was a crowded restaurant. Just because she was currently alone didn’t mean she hadn’t come with someone. Terry wished he hadn’t noticed, but this woman was clearly distraught, just picking at her food, staring at nothing. She looked like she would break apart if there wasn’t someone to ground her.
He told himself the worst thing that could happen was she’d tell him to leave her alone. Okay the worse would be her calling the manager on him and he could be arrested for harassment. But then Terry did have a strong imagination. He started to stand up from his table, but lowered himself back into the seat as more nerves washed through him. What if she needed real help, what could he do? And again none of his business. Now I’m being a coward, he thinks.
Suddenly he finds he’s already standing in front of her. “I’m Terry.” His hand’s outstretched to her. “It looked like you could use some company.” As she stared at him blankly, Terry found himself babbling. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come over here. You looked upset, I hate seeing people upset. God, I’m an idiot, I’ll just go.”
As he began to turn around, her voice stopped him. “Sharon.”
“What?”
“My name, it’s Sharon. You can sit if you like. You’re right. I could use someone to talk to.”
Terry sat down and blew out a breath. “I really wasn’t hitting on you, I swear.”
That made her smile. “I’d hope not, else you’d really need some pointers.”
“Oh yeah, you’re good at picking up dates then?” Terry fidgeted with the silver plated watch on his right wrist.
Sharon laughed, her dark brown hair waving as her shoulders shook. She leaned in conspiratorially, “I like to consider myself an expert.”
Terry gazed into her brown eyes, entranced by how relaxed she seemed compared to only a few moments earlier. “I’m not that bad myself,” Terry defended.
Gleefully, Sharon dared, “Then try and pick me up right now. Try again.”
He leaned back to consider. “How about this: ‘I saw you when I walked inside. You had the most brilliant smile. But I noticed that later in the evening you’d lost that shine. I’d give anything to see you smile again. Let me pay for your drink.’”
“Hmm,” Sharon mused. “A little over the top, but you seemed sincere, so I’ll give you an A on delivery.”
“So how would you do it? How would you hit on me?” Terry was honestly curious.
“Well, I’d introduce myself and ask if there was room for two.”
“That’s it?”
Sharon laughed again. “It takes only a moment for someone to decide if they’re interested. If he’s not I move on. No need to waste my time.”
“And this works?”
“Sometimes. But then even a two year relationship can go up in smoke when somebody decides they no longer give a damn about the other person.” She gulped more than sipped her wine.
Terry realized perhaps their fun conversation was over. “Is that what happened to you, just now?”
“He stood me up,” she admitted. “I called him, and he told me he didn’t have time for crappy expensive meals when he could be working. I don’t care for the way he treats me so I said that if he didn’t want to eat with me then maybe I didn’t want to sleep with him. And he said fine, and hung up on me.” Sharon took her napkin to catch her tears. She was suddenly uncomfortable realizing she told this to someone she didn’t know.
Terry realized that just maybe he shouldn’t have asked. Still he pushed on. “He’s a jerk. If he’s not worth it, good. If he is, it’s just a stupid fight and I’m sure you’ll make up.”
“You think so?”
“Pretty lady like you, he’d be an idiot to give you up. He’s probably just really busy, you know how it is. I’m sure he wanted to be here with you and he’s mad he has stuff he has to get done. And hey, if I’m wrong, toss him, and you’ll find someone better.”
“You’re right.” Sharon sighed and pulled herself back together. “It’s not over yet, and even if it is, I’ll move on.”
“Exactly. Now aren’t you glad I came over here.”
“Yes, Terry, I am. I think I needed a friend, thank you.”
They ate some food all the while Terry was feeling like a shit because he secretly hoped that Sharon’s relationship was over so he could have a chance with her.
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