Thursday, August 18, 2005

We Meet

I was living in my San Francisco apartment, alone on a Friday night, watching a movie on my couch with my two Siamese cats. Outside the rain blew in gusts against my bay windows, which overlooked the perpetually busy Lombard St., where undeterred motorists planed across it's rain drenched surface, spraying sheets of water from their vehicles on either side, spreading from underneath like enormous wings, and hissing like an open air hose.

Paul had a passenger that night, a raven haired stranger on her last night of a business trip. His brother's wife in Boston called him the night before and asked for the favor of showing an acquaintance the sights. "She's my friends' sister, and she is very sweet, Paul, and has one more night before she comes back home to Boston." After determining that she was hot and single, he had the Corvette cleaned and popped a breath mint.

But the night was a disaster. She was only interested in seeing San Francisco, but Paul was only interested in seeing her, preferably in a hotel bed. The night was slipping away from him, so he called a friend who happened to live nearby, and coincidentally at home watching a movie.

"Scott, it's Paul."

"Hey Paul, what's up?"

"I'm showing someone around town and I need a change of pace. Is it alright if we drop by?"

"Is this the same girl that your sister-in-law asked you to t..."

"Yeah," he said with a twinge of irritation, "so can we drop by?"

This wasn't like Paul, to bring any girl around that wasn't already his, and even then. At a party a few weeks back, he had sat at a table with a couple girls and made me and Eric stay at the bar. I confronted him later about it. "Does this mean that any time we meet new girls that I have to go home?" He hung his head, feeling ashamed and said, "Of course not."

The rain beat down harder as they trolled for a parking spot on the blocks circumscribing my apartment. They had given up and had resolved to leave when a car miraculously pulled out from in front of my building.

I answered the knock on my door. She was a head taller than Paul, standing behind him, but and her image burnt into the back of my eyes like an overlong glimpse of the sun. A purse hung from her left shoulder and her thumb was hooked under the strap, and her arm struck me as being perfectly shaped, not buffed like a body builders, or too skinny like an anorexics, but firm and slight, achingly feminine. Her long black hair flowed down and around her shoulders, framing an angels face, her penetrating eyes held mine with a cool confidence and untamed spirit, and inside those swirling brown crystal orbs I could see my future.

19 comments:

jenbeauty said...

And you call me a tease!!

I loved the description of her arm and the purse. Actually, I love that you remembered the purse!

Your descriptions are really helping paint the picture of what it is like to be there. Your finding a unique writing style Scott and I am enjoying it!

Natalie said...

Awwwwww.... How sweet!
Jen's right. Your writing style has changed even since I've been reading. Keep up the good work!

Scott said...

Jen and MB - Thanks for noticing. I'm trying to get more into painting the scene and slowing down the pace. I am trying to describe things using all the senses, but here I came up short. Smell is always a tough one for me. I did it with the Dial soap in the last post, but here I couldn't figure it in.

Mr. T said...

So what did you see in these orbs of beauty?

jenbeauty said...

I want to know if she smelled good. She must have for you to want to write it in this piece. I am sure you will do so in the follow up. I also love the way you described her eyes!

Scott said...

T - The future, as in stay tuned. I decided to chop it up instead of abbreviating.

Jen - A bad smell would have killed the mood. Good observation *wink*.

mr. schprock said...

I have a feeling things won't go the way Paul intended them…

jenbeauty said...

I wanted to give you another link for HP. We are disecting HBP at the moment and thought you might enjoy the discussions.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/a_chapter_a_day/

Jason said...

Don't you love these great moments?

Scott said...

S - He knew it I think too, but he didn't go down without a struggle.

Jen - I appreciate the link. I checked it out but the discussion was so long that I decided to wait to comment. I'll be checking back in later.

Jason - I know what you mean, those moments are few and far between.

Shesawriter said...

More! More! More! And I agree with the others, your writing is wonderful. Descriptive but to the point. I love it.

Tanya

Trevor Record said...

Ohh, a two-parter? More than two-parter?

Gasp.

The Zombieslayer said...

Poor Paul.

All right. I'm going to have to wait to hear what happens next, huh?

Jenn Doll said...

WOW! I loved this post. I can't wait for the next! Woot!

Beth said...

Scott, I loved the cliffhanger effect. Just wanted to let you know!

Scott said...

Tanya - Thank you very much.

Trevor - I just don't have the time to give it a go all at once.

Zombie - Alas it's true. I do feel bad about Paul, as it breaks the tacit rules of engagement between guys.

Jenn - I hope I won't dissapoint!

GK - Cool, thanks!

Miranda said...

Very nicely written :)

The Middle Child said...

Awesome writing Scott. My favorite part was the seeing your future part. Is it like that when you meet "the one"?

Scott said...

Miranda - Thank you!

Bek - I think so. It's different for everyone I think. Thanks for dropping by!