Roses are Red 3

Roses are Red

3

    "That's nice of you. What does he do?"

    "He runs a small car dealership. I can't do selling but at least I can help out with paperwork and phone calls."

    I glanced up to see you nodding, "I get that. My parents started a small flower shop and I still help out when needed."

    "Is that where you learned about flowers?"

    "Yep, you learn quick when people have no idea what they're looking for but want to make sure the flower meanings are correct. I started growing my own when I started college. It's a great way to de-stress."

    "Maybe I should learn more about gardening then."

    You smiled, "I could bring you a couple books to get you started." I nodded and your smile widened, "Great, since we just did the coffee thing, how about I take your to dinner? I'll bring the books and we can go over them together."

    I agreed and you gave me your phone number so I could tell you when I wasn't busy. From the beginning you were easy to talk to and made me laugh. I wanted to keep talking to you, but I let you leave with only a friendly "see you". I left as soon as you were out of sight and almost flew home. I called mama and she was ecstatic insisting i bring you over for family dinner. I tried to explain we had only really talked once but she didn't care, she was just happy that her little girl was finally interested in another human.

    I was able to text you my schedule the next day and you were happy to tell me that our schedules matched up enough that we could go on Saturday. i agreed that it worked for me and you asked if I had any allergies for foods I disliked. The answer to both questions was no. You told me to plan on sushi and we agreed on a time. The rest of the week passed quickly and before I knew it, it was Saturday. You took me to a popular sushi place and, despite it being rather full, the noise didn't bother me as we talked. As we flipped through the books you pointed out what worked for you and what didn't. What I should be wary of growing in the Rockies and what thrived in this area. After the meal, and with gardening books safely tucked under your arm, we began walking to a little dessert shop nearby.

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Roses are Red 2

Roses are Red

2

    "Hey, I feel I should apologize again for the other day," you said.

    I tugged at my scarf, wishing it would hide me, "It's alright I should have been looking where I was going."

    You sighed and scratched the back of your head, "Normally I don't check the grounds right in the walk way so I feel responsible."

    "What do you use them for?" I asked looking at the bag in your arms.

    "I make a special fertilizer out of them, not that I can grow anything with winter right around the corner."

    "Why do you keep getting coffee grounds then?"

    "Most of my backyard is for flowers so I need a lot of grounds and it's easier to get them when not everyone wants them."

    "That must take a lot of work."

    You smiled again and I couldn't help but think you were an angel who had fallen out of heaven, "It is but I love doing it."

    The barista called out a butchered form of my name and you follow me over, "Do you garden?"

    I shrugged as I grabbed the warm drink, "I make sure the plants in my house and the bushes outside have plenty of water."

    "At least you take care of the plants you do have." You pushed up your glasses, a habit I would come to recognize you'd do when you remembered something, "I'm sorry I haven't even asked for your name yet."

    I smiled as we sat down at a table, "I'm Sarah."

    "Lucas, although my sister loves to call me Lucy."

    I laughed, "Why?"

    "It started as a joke when I was a teenager but it stuck. She loves to use it in public, she once called out to me on campus and my classmates haven't stopped calling me it since."

    "What are you studying?"

    "I'm right in the middle of a law degree at the U. What about you?"

    I looked down at the dark wooden table, "I'm helping my father with his work instead of finishing my bachelors in business."

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Roses are Red 1

Alright lets begin the short story. This was written for a group that never read my poems. So the twists will probably be less surprising for you.

          -Rose B.

Roses are Red

1

    I see you've found another girl. Is she like the others, the ones you just picked up off the street, the ones whose lives are extinguished a couple hours after meeting you. Or is she like me where you "hoped things will be different."

    I remember when I met you. I had just received my drink from the Starbucks barista and was in a rush. You were crouched down grabbing a bag of coffee grounds when I tripped over you. I don't remember what drink I ordered or why I was in a hurry but I can still see that moment clearly. Your chocolate colored eyes widening as I begin to fall. The looks of amusement and pity from customers and workers as my drink leaves my hand. You reached out to catch it but you only grazed the cup. I caught myself but the drink splashed all over the floor.

    "I'm sorry," You said as you stood up, "Are you okay?"

    I nodded, "I'm alright but my drink..."

    We both looked down at the mess. I sighed and turned to an employee who watched the whole thing from behind the counter, "Do you have paper towels?"

    He produced some and I mopped up the liquid as best I could. When I had thrown away the dented cup and soaked sheets, you handed me another drink. "It was partly my fault so take this as an apology."

    I smiled and accepted the drink. I almost forgot myself and stopped to chat but my reason for hurrying weighed on my mind and I left with a thank you. I didn't see you again until a couple weeks later in that same Starbucks. You were chatting with a barista, holding a bag of coffee grounds when I walked in. I didn't know if you would remember me or if I wanted you to remember. I moved into line and pretended to look at this year's Christmas cups so I could watch you.

    You looked like you belonged in this space. Clean shaven and well dressed in a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow and pressed jeans. Your hair was the color of the coffee beans and was well styled. As I was paying for my drink, you turned and caught me staring. You smiled and behind the black frames your eyes melted. I blushed and looked away. As I tried to walk past you to get to the pick up counter, you stopped me with a hand on my arm.

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Roses are Red, Tears are blue

This is a concept I've been working on for 5 years. It's been two poems and now a short story but I'm not completely happy with it. I'll share the poems in this post then start with the story in the next one. You don't have to read the poems to understand the story, and the poems spoil the twists in the story.

                -Rose B.

First Concept

 

Blood is red, Tears are blue

You said you loved me, So why'd you kill me.

Second Concept

 

Roses are Red

I met you long ago you're smile was a perfect match to your chocolate colored eyes.

You were a fallen angel in my eyes: beautiful and out of reach.

Violets are Blue

Taken in by your beauty I couldn't see the skeletons that follow you.

You hid them well when you brought me bouquets of Oleanders, Begonias and Chrysanthemums.

Daffodils are Yellow

Everyone said we were meant to be and that I was lucky to have you.

You smiled at me sweetly and I wondered why you picked me.

I should have known then that you never loved me.

Gluttony is Pink

I thought we would be everlasting when we sat in the warm sun.

My world was a little brighter with you but now it's dark and rotten.

Pride is Purple

Unable to look away I watch as you show someone else you're precious flower garden.

But she only sees the flowers not the hidden truth that lies beneath.

Wrath is Orange

You still smile at me but not like the charming smile you show her.

When you smile at me it tells of a shared secret with the danger laid bare.

Lilies are Pure

One day she'll know what is hidden away and you won't let her escape.

Then you'll have another to smile at as you show a different girl the flowers.

The End is Black

The Mermaid and the Ocean Driver

This prompt came from a friend. She told me to write about "a cursed mermaid and an ocean diver pilfering food stashes" but instead of diver she texted driver. So it became a post-apocalyptic tale of mermaid and an man who used to move ocean currents trying to survive. I like the ideas I used for this one so I hope I can come back to it.

             -Rose B.

Survival, Curses in the Unresponsive Sea

    "Would you hurry up?" She's trying to sound annoyed but there's some tension leaking through. Even if her voice was steady the look on her face and the twitching of her spiked ears would give her away.

    "Who knows when we'll find food next, it will pay to be thorough later." I keep my voice quiet, the packaging of snacks is loud enough. It's like there was a mandate declaring snack packaging had to be as loud as possible.

    Her eyes flash black and her lip curls in disdain. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath when she opens them again they've returned to the deep blue of the open ocean. "Your right, this area rubs my scales the wrong way. We should leave as soon as we can."

    I nod in agreement, "The water feels stagnant and heavy."

    I throw documents to the side as I riffle through drawers to find the snacks tucked away at the bottom. I throw everything I find in a bag, even the deep pressure sweet sardines, although why someone would think that was appropriate snack food is beyond me. I found less than I would have liked but that's how it had been since the coral farms died.

    "That's it, let's go."

    "Finally," She flicks her silver-blue tail and moved towards the door. I attach the bag to my back and swim after her. The black patches on her scales and the ragged parts of her fins would have caused a huge upset when society was functioning but it fits in, in this dead-end world.

    She pauses by the entrance to the open waters, "Anything we need to be aware of?"

    I stop next to her and feel the water, "It's the same as when we arrived: suffocating and wrong."

    "So there could be something out there."

    I nod, "Even though the Ocean has changed, water shouldn't be like this, especially in this open area."

    "Let's leave quickly then." She moves out the door and I can just barely hear her add, "And pray that we don't meet whatever is here."

Two for the Show Final

Yep this is the last one for this story. I'm not sure what to do next, the one for next month will be one post prompt so I have time to figure it out.

               Rose B.

Two for the Show

Final

    I hug Becky, "I'll see you at home."

    Becky agrees and waves goodbye. The outside air is crisp with the coming fall and is eerily silent in comparison to the chatty apartment. I take a deep breath and relax a bit. Becky wants me to make friends, but I see betrayal in everyone I meet. At least she respects my limits. I take another deep breath and walk back towards my own apartment. I'm almost to the door when s shadow next to it moves. I freeze and hold my key out in front of me. Alec seems to materialize from the shadow, hunched over and rubbing one arm, but I don't change my grip on the key.

    "Alec," I can feel my lip curl as I say his name.

    "Rachel," He says my name hesitantly and looks like he wants to say more but doesn't.

    I stare at him, "Spit it out; there's no one here to give you pity."

    He straightens to his full height and pushes his hair out of his face revealing dark, cold eyes, "Alright then, stop fooling around and come back to me."

    I scowl and push past him, "I already told you: I'm truly done this time."

    "You think you can survive this school without me. Do you want to become the campus slut again?"

    I flinch slightly and step inside before turning back around. He looks just as self-assured as he did in my lab partner's bedroom and all the other girls' bedrooms before her, "It's not going to work this time, Alec. You can try to turn the campus against me all you want; two can play at this game!" I slam the door in his face and lock it.

    "Rachel, open the door," He growls as the doorknob shakes and rattles.

    I drop to the floor, my back resting against the door, "Go away, Alec!"

    "Rachel..." The threat hovers unsaid.

    "Go ahead, do what you want! It can't hurt me anymore then you already have. You can't change what I've started! You can drag me through the mud, but I'll take you with me!"

    There is no reply, and I curl up, my head in my knees. The stage was set, and the show was about to begin.

 

 

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Two for the Show 8

Two for the Show

8

    Jack crosses his arms and looks at the ceiling after a pause; he speaks, "But this is all speculation, though."

    I put my fork down no longer wanting to eat, "That's true, but if there are this many rumors going around, they must have a grain of truth."

    Dave nods, "Even if only the smallest portion is true, no normal guy tries to get a girl to take him back like that."

    Jack looks at Dave, "That's true."

    The twitchy feeling has returned, and I glance at the exit, "I need to go find my roommate, it was nice talking to you."

    We wave goodbye, and I maneuver back into the kitchen. Dropping my plate into a trash can as I pass. I can hear the whispered rumors in the crowd, a black fog of half-truths and lies moving through the gossipers.

I saw him hit his girlfriend at a party.

Mary said he takes awful photos of his girlfriends for blackmail.

Sarah had bruises from a one night stand with him.

He pays his exes to keep quiet.

He gets turned on by pain. 

He beat a girl for not sleeping with him.

Blackmails his ex to keep how kinky he is a secret.

Put a girlfriend in the hospital for finding the secret photos on his phone.

    The rumors calm my heart, and I can't help but smile. They would create some doubt in Alec's most avid supporters. Becky is in the kitchen where the hushed, black comments have yet to spread. She's talking to the same girl I last saw her with.

    "Rachel, this is our neighbor Claire. She sits next to me in French."

    I shake Claire's hand, "Nice to meet you."

    Claire nods, "I'm glad I finally get to meet Backey's roommate."

    I glance again at the door, my anxiety rising, "Sorry, I can't stay and chat, but I've got homework to finish."

    Becky looks at me with sad eyes at the lie, but Claire waves her hand, "No worries I get it, we can always talk later."

 

 

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