Here is chapter 1 of Light in the Dark, a fluffy, deep romance story I've been working on. Please favorite, share, and comment if you enjoyed it!
I gingerly touched the deep bruise on my cheek. I winced and sharply breathed in. It hurt. I splashed my face in cold water and then rubbed a cream onto the spot.
I glanced at my watch. 6:13. I've got twenty minutes before the bus gets here. I slipped into a pair of torn jeans, black boots, and a scruffy, grey shirt with Dove and Spring Ministries printed on the front in bold, black letters.
I had no makeup and no jewelry and I merely braided my long, glossy brown hair down my back.
I glanced out my window at the falling snow. The bus pulled up slowly to the end of my driveway. I threw my backpack on and ran outside, barely making it on the bus before it left.
--- -
School went by uneventful. I was SO glad it was Monday. Another week ninety percent away from home. My breath billowed in a white fog as I walked down the icey sidewalk to my favorite place to hang out. The little Coffee shop was a homey place and warm.
I couldn't wait to get there! I danced around the small chunks of ice on the cobblestone. I hate snow. I thought bitterly. I looked up and misstepped.
"Ah!" I yelped, starting to fall toward the road. The frozen, black stone started to fly at me. Suddenly warm hands grabbed my arms before I hit the ground and helped me up.
“Woah," A young, warm, British accent exclaimed. "A'e you alright miss?"
I shook my head to clear it and blinked. "I-I think so. ." I looked up at my hero. He had fluffy, brown hair and brilliant blue eyes.
"You sure?" He asked again. "It was my fault I-"
"I slipped on the ice." I muttered.
"O-oh. Well, good thing you didn' fall. The road is a nasty place to be."
I found it funny how he didn't credit himself. "Well," I started to brush my pants off, "I'm all good now. Thank you."
He pushed his tan glasses, which had tilted, back up the bridge of his nose. He shifted from one foot to the other.
I brushed some hair behind my ear. "Do you need something?"
He nodded. "I left me watch at home.Could you tell me the time miss?"
I glanced at my own watch. "It's three till four."
"Ah! I'm late!" The boy took off toward my own destination.
I shook my head, chuckling softly. "People."
As I entered the Coffee shop a soft bell twinkled. I walked over to an empty counter with booths and sat in one in the corner. I was freezing and hot coco sounded wonderful.
A tall woman nodded to me. "Brooks will help Ya."
I nodded and twiddled my thumbs, glancing up at the TV broadcasting a ball game and then back at my menu.
"Hello." A heavily accented voice greeted. "What would you like?"
I looked up and gasped. "You!"
He had the same reaction. "Miss!" He composed himself. "What would you like Miss?"
"My name is Maria. And may I have hot coco?"
He nodded and walked off whispering, "what a pretty name," under his breath.
He returned a bit later with a bottle of whipped cream and a cup of hot coco. He set them both down a bit sheepishly. "Not on the coco?" I teased.
"I-I didn't know how much you liked!" He turned red with embarrassment.
I frowned a little. "I was kidding. Thank you." I put a little on my finger and licked it off. We sat there in an awkward silence before I spoke up. "What's your name?"
"I'm Brooks..." He shuffled his feet.
"What a cute name!"
He blushed a little and shrugged. "Is okay. Not the best."
I smiled anyways a put a lot of whipped cream on my coco. I glanced around. "Don't tell anybody," I whispered as I opened my mouth and sprayed it full of the yummy topping.
He stared at me with wide eyes and put a hand up to his mouth to muffle his giggling.
I swallowed it and took a drink of coco. He started laughing more. "What?" I crossed my arms.
He took a napkin and wiped off my top lip, which I knew had coco on it. "No," I squealed. "My beautiful mustache!"
He had dropped the napkin, startled. Then he started to laugh hysterically. I smiled and laughed along. When he finally caught his breath he gasped, "Are all Americans this funny?"
I shrugged. "I mean, I didn't even know I was that funny."
He smiled a smile of beautiful, white teeth. "You are!"
I smiled back.A bit sadly. If only everyone thought that.... I blinked back a few tears and took another drink of coco in silence.
"Miss Maria? Are you okay?" He asked softly.
I looked up, my vision fuzzy with tears. "Y-yeah." I wiped my eyes and forced a smile. "I'm just fine."
He still looked concerned. "Okay."
I glanced at my watch. Nearly five. I stood up. "Look, I've gotta go. Maybe I'll see you again. Bye Brooks." I waved as I passed through the door to the cold, bitter outside.
My tears began to freeze to my flushed cheeks as I ran to my not-home.
