Cherry on Top

[Aurelie Enchantez]

Aurelie emerged from the cerulean waters of the Red River, slipping a black lace cover up over her matching bikini. She scooped up a wide-brimmed hat from her blanket and slid her feet into bejeweled sandals, turning toward an older boardwalk area along the river. The dry heat made sweat bead on her dark skin, mixing with the remaining river water she hadn't bothered to dry off, as she headed up the cliff side stairs.

"Whew" Aurelie sighed, walking through the groups of people moving erratically along the walkway. She was thirsty, but nothing really looked good until she spotted a frozen lemonade stand. "Yesss.." she muttered to herself and moved into line. When she got to the front, she placed her order and paid, getting a fresh frozen lemonade with a single cherry on a pick on top.

"Ooh!" Aurelie moved to pluck the cherry into her mouth, but hesitated. "Nah, best for last." She stuck the pick back into the frozen lemonade and walking on. As if blessed today, she spotted someone selling fresh cherries a little ways back toward the beach front and made her way over. She scooped up a small basket, thanking the seller, and made her way back to her blanket. It was way, way too hot to eat right out in the sun, but there were only so many trees along the river.

Unease settled itself into her stomach, remembering the tree she was under the last time she had been by the river, but Aurelie shook herself out of it. "I'm older, that was eons ago. C'mong Aur.." Aurelie scooped up her blanket, shaking out the dirt and sand, and strolled to the large tree. She huffed when she settled down and dug into the cold, sour lemonade. After finishing it, she lay back onto the blanket and began eating cherries indulgently, alternating between using the prick like some queen, and twirling them above her mouth by the stem.

"Mmm, so good..." Aurelie cooed and closed her eyes, enjoying the shade mixed with the dry heat and the fresh cherries that stained her lips red. Nothing quite like it.

[Caleb Hash]

Nothing mattered once he laid eyes on her.

“Aurelie?”

Not quite certain if she was simply a vivid dream, Caleb stepped toward her. A creeping confidence seeped suddenly into his bloodstream, willing his limbs to move toward her beyond his usual slothful gait. That mental box, where a year ago he’d shoved his feelings for her once she fled the bar, fell off the shelf in the back of his mind. The feelings flowed all throughout him anew. It creased his brows and tugged at his lips. He’d stopped short a couple feet away from her. Cal could not let himself into her personal space. However, despite how he'd left things... that warmth in him from last he saw her near the river began to flourish again.

“Aurelie.”

This time, his voice held her name with less candor. The weight of it reminded him of the heavy rains falling the night she left. He wasn’t sure what else he could start with. The heat in his chest settled with much-relieved welcome so close to her. But first, a different emotion had to be tackled.

“I’m... sorry.”

[Aurelie Enchantez]

A soft breeze tickled Aurelie's curls; relaxing here today had been a perfect idea. She thought she heard her name in the crowd, and her ears perked up. She tried to look around but didn't see anyone. And the voice sounded familiar but..

'Aurelie.' This time, it wasn't the breeze teasing her, andnshe suddenly felt cold. 'I'm sorry'

Oh no. The words she never wanted to hear, from the voice she never wanted to hear again, lodged themselves in her chest like a dagger and twisted her heart into a wreck. Her throat closed up and she felt like she was choking on her own tongue.

Aurelie deftly sat up, yanking on her hat and shakily shoving her oversized sunglasses onto ger face while swiftly wiping away the beginnings of tears. She checked herself and quickly turned and stood up.

"Ah.." so it was Caleb like Aurelie thought. She shifted her weight uneasily and gripped her right elbow to her side with her left hand. She turned her head slightly down to the left, trying her best to hide without flatly running away.

"Hey.." The corners of Aurelie's mouth began a rueful smile before she could force it back down. Don't let him see you cry, right? "What brings you out today?" She turned back to the river as if to look at it like it's any other day, really just looking for an excuse. She spotted the cherry basket and found her excuse. "The cherries?"

Aurelie resettled on the blanket, grabbing the tiny basket, and patting the blanket to invite Caleb over, actually hoping he would just go away. "The farmer gsve me too many for me to eat. You can have some." she calls over her shoulder, only just glancing back to see him still standing there. And all she could think was how she wanted him to leave, to stoo affecting her this way. To not apologize again, because she might just take him back at the drop of her hat. The breeze blows again, as if taunting her tumultuous emotions, as if calling her foolish. And she really, really was.

[Caleb Hash]

A balmy wind flitted between them, rustling the leaves of the tree Aurelie sat beneath. Though a warm breeze, it trailed bumps along Caleb’s skin. Her smile revealed nothing real to Caleb, her eyes hid behind her sunglasses. This was the wrong place for this. However, he’d oblige her first question as leaving it unanswered might upset her. He didn’t know how he could handle her running off again so soon.

She wouldn’t face him. An unwelcome feeling inside him stung at his lungs now.

“I needed to take a breather.” Aurelie had invited him closer, but he could sense it. The need for solitude rose then crashed off of her at his feet, the cold of it seeping up into his body. More bumps arose along the back of the man’s neck as the breeze shifted his hair.

Voice even, Caleb spoke again, not moving from his spot. “I want to talk with you, at... my place. I left things wrong with you.” His back straightened as he inhaled deeply. The next word took all his pride with it. “Please.”

For a year, most of his thoughts bore her face. Caleb refused to brush off this opportunity now.

[Aurelie Enchantez]

Aurelie grew stiffer at Caleb's voice, the one she had missed and hated so much the past year or so in equal measure. She constantly remembered his low singing when she didn't want to, and now was forced to remember the last time they were by the river. When the rain started. She should've known then.

'Always storms..' Aurelie began to think, but righted her mind. No, not today. It was a perfect day, sunny, and she had cherries and cool water. Not today. Caleb said he wanted to talk, he left things wrong. The words shot through her, jolting her feelings. Was he saying he wanted to clear things up and end it right, or that he wanted to try again? She looked up and over her shoulder, surprise likely showing even under her hat and glasses. She took a steadying breath, and took off her glasses, showing her mild confusion, but hopefully not the strange hopeful feelings brewing in her chest and leaving her with a weird feeling like her body had fallen asleep and she was waking it up from numbness.

No, no matter what happened here, Aurelie wouldn't let her perfect day be ruined by anything. Whether things ended finally, fine. Or whether Caleb decided to confirm her hope - 'With the biggest damn owed thanks ever, I swear, or else,' she thought - her day would remain good, if forcibly nostalgic.

Aurelie stood and brushed off any remaining sand, picked up her basket of cherries, and swept up her blanket, draping it over her arm. She looked over at Caleb, a bit small under her hat, and looked slowly toward town. When she looked back at Caleb, she relaxed into her good feeling of making the best of things and smiled. "Okay. Lead the way." She smiled even in her voice. Not her biggest, brightest, laughing smile. But it was a soft, quiet, confident one.

And again, her own soundtrack played in her mind. Something she hadn't listened to in years, but seemed appropriate as ever.

neomu areumdaun-daun-daun-daun View
neomu areumdaun-daun-daun-daun View
deo boyeojwo daeum-daeum-daeum-daeum View
neomu areumdaun-daun-daun-daun View

neomu areumdaun (geugoseuro)
neomu areumdaun (deryeoga jwo)
deo boyeojwo daeum (deo boyeojwo)
neomu areumdaun-daun-daun-daun View

Things felt right, for whatever reason. Aurelie and Caleb were both adults. She'd be fine either way, she always was. And today was good.

[Caleb Hash]

Dark eyes narrowed as he searched the profile of her face, her gaze studying the far-off square. Caleb’s chest tightened as he awaited her response; she appeared ready to go, but not necessarily with him. That untamed thought of her turning her back and heading across the water sent a shiver scurrying along his back. The wind picked up around them, yet his stare remained on her. The wix's scrutiny was rewarded with a grin peeking out at him from beneath her hat.

At her smile, Caleb’s own lips tugged upwards slightly; he was breathing again. Some tension released from his body as he turned to begin heading back, Aurelie now in tow. When he’d fully turned away from her, the hint of a smile widened only slightly, but genuinely.

(ooc: Thread will be continued in the Lion's Paw. Thank you.)