Arramel Syn

TEASER: Ruins (Short Story)

- - Disclaimer - -
Its not finished, but I do have more. I’m working on it, and it might take me a bit, but its turning out different than I expected it to. Anyways, here’s a taste to prove to those (few) that care, I have been writing. Or trying to. Maybe I’ll throw up a reflection some other time. Right now though, here’s Ruins.
- -                 - -

There’s only so many ways to start a story. I don’t know how to start mine. Everyone would say start at the beginning, but how clear is that? There was no real start to anything. I suppose, I’ll start with her.

“Close your eyes” she giggled, holding my pinkie in her left hand and biting her lip. Her sneakers were touching their toes together for a moment in adorable shyness before she stepped back a pace and repeated her statement - this time with a squeal, “Close your eyes!”

“Alright, alright” I humoured her, smile touching my lips for a brief moment before everything dissolved into the red-tinted light of the world behind my eyelids. I felt her tugging on my finger and I allowed myself to be led further into the ruins. Moments of darkness flashed, giving me the only perception of where I was going as we passed through the shadows of the derelict buildings.

We stopped and I started to open my eyes to see hers dancing in front of me for a moment before her lips brushed my cheek playfully. I tried to reach out and hold her to me to get a real kiss, but she twisted out of my grasp with a laugh and pranced off to a fallen wall, perching herself on it.

I took the moment to look around, the place was perfect. Secluded, and overrun by wild flowers, what used to be an industrial area had been reclaimed by nature. The walls were barely skeletons now, and most of the rubble had been cleared away years ago. All that stood now were a few support beams and half-walls left behind as the money ran out and the city lost interest in cleaning it up.

It felt like we were the only people in the world. It didn’t take much effort to pretend the city wasn’t 5 minutes away, because you couldn’t even hear the cars from here.

Its funny … she made the moves on me.

I ran my fingers through my hair briefly, trying to avoid the gelled bits, and half smiled,

“What?” she asked, swinging her legs to bounce them off the side of the concrete.

“Just thinking about you.” I teased, walking across the clearing slowly

“Oh?” she responded, blushing slightly

“Yeah, how we met.” I responded slowly, she laughed.

“You didn’t know what hit you!”

“Sure I did!” I protested jokingly “You hit me” and hit me she had. Running full tilt around the school for no other reason than to simply do it. She was so carefree. I just happened to come out of the washroom at the wrong - or right - time.

“Come here.” her smile glowed in the warm sunlight, and she patted the stone next to her. I complied, and she rewarded me with a kiss. A real one this time. Her lips were soft and she caressed the side of my face with an extended palm. I caught her hand as it fell and the kiss ended, and simply stared at her for a moment.

She was back to biting her lip, and her green eyes were bright with expectation. Her brown hair fell gracefully over her shoulders and her loose top and shorts were a complete contrast to the lackluster way I dressed. Simple t-shirt and jean cut-off shorts with docs.

I turned my head away from her and let out a sigh as I remembered the rest of it. My fingers went instinctively to the scar that sliced through my eyebrow.

“What?” she whispered, sensing my change of mood.

“Just … memories.” I responded looking down at my hands. She hopped down and slid hers into my lap, leaning her forehead against mine.