The first met when Ara was 5 and Luca was 6 - he was almost exactly a year older... a year and 9 days older to be exact. Ara was collecting wild medicinal mushrooms for her grandmother. Her two favorite "pet" spiders were along for the search and actually helped uncover any that may lay hidden under the brown and decaying leaves or behind a fallen log. They were lovely, big and hairy beasts that would scare the pants off most people, but to Ara, they were as family as any cat or dog.
Luca was in a clearing playing with his insectual entourage as well - a couple of giant stag beetles the size of small dogs. They were 'sword' fighting - Luca with a stick and the beetles with their large mandibles, obviously going easy on him.
Ara was trotting along keeping up with her buddies who were on the hunt and would have missed seeing him if she hadn't stubbed her toe on a hidden root. She'd cried out in pain, not thinking anyone would hear. It was fine to be weak and cry when no one was looking, so she relished in her alone time. Knowing the future reign she would hold meant that in front of other she had to always be strong.
Luca heard her though and quickly turned and jogged over to her with concern radiating towards her. Embarrassed for appearing weak, Ara quickly stood up straight and composed her tiny little features. Looking deeply in to his eyes and stating fiercely "I'm fine", and skipped away.
What she'd seen in the depth of his eyes for that few seconds bound them instantly and Ara could feel the attachment as she continued on her hunt.
Her daydream easily wove itself in to the next related memory of them walking through the same woods, holding hands ever so gently and with the sense of adolescent nervousness. Ara wouldn't have felt it on her own, but his energy was radiating so strongly she'd lost her own sense of composure, absorbing his feelings as her own.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Excuse me?!" - the lady next to her seemed to be directing her hot breath in Ara's direction. Ara looked at her with a questioning look.
"Your phone's been ringing," she said, looking at Ara like she was an idiot.
And well, now she kind of felt like one. She'd gotten so deeply lost in her memories, the world seemed to fade away. She might have even had her eyes closed, she wasn't so sure now. She looked at the phone still clutched in her hand and saw she had indeed missed two calls, both from Jasper, her boss at The Cafe. And a voicemail. She dialed in her password and listened as his raspy Brooklyn accented smokers voice filled her ear. "Ara, if by some strange chance you are running late today, I messed up with the last bread order and we're short. Can you swing by the bakery and pick up the extras? I called it in already. It's fine if you're late. Be here by 8 if you can though."
Excellent. As she glanced at the clock she realized she'd missed her stop - but the bakery was two past hers and she was almost there. The universe was on her side today. She would have been late, now she could still make it to the bakery and The Cafe in plenty of time. Maybe she could even just sit at the bakery and ponder on this a bit more. Try to work it all out, at least enough that she could focus for the next few hours at work.
She already felt totally consumed with the thought of him. She knew it would be only a matter of days that she could hold out before wanting to see him, smell him. She knew it was weird, but he smelled so good. He smelled of spring time freshly tilled earth, new life budding, with a hint of green and a subtle flowery scent every once in awhile; never quite the same, as if a soft breeze was coming from somewhere else and through him. He smelled like her woods. If a smell could be broadcasted like a radio signal, he was transmitting from her land.
She wondered what he looked like in this world. Surely she would recognize him, regardless of what he's said in his email. There's no changing the eyes. Oh sure, contacts were common to create the usual human eye colors, but nothing could change what she saw in him. Like a kaleidoscope, whirling and flashing images of the past, present and future. She'd seen herself in those eyes many times.
And then she remembered that day. Her headphones on, drowning out the the city noises the best she could, and coming back from another random work errand for Jasper. She'd seen the packed cafe and was walking with briskly. Though she'd been mostly focused on getting back to work quickly, she had glanced down past the door of the cafe and seen Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome standing stock still in the middle of the sidewalk like a statue. She remembered the spark now, that lasted just a split second as her attention was brought back to work again and barrage of customers she was about to deal with. As she replayed the memory, she paused on his image and saw what she'd ignored. She had seen it shining his is eyes and played it off as another of her many visions or daydreams. Her heart back to pound with excitement again as tried bring all the details back.
Ara blinked again and realized she made it completely out of the subway and above ground already and was just a block away from the bakery, wondering if she had some how learned to teleport. Or maybe her legs had just learned to work completely independently of her brain. Not such a bad thing she guessed.
She was beginning to smell the delicious bakery scents, fresh bagels and muffins, scones and bread of course, like a thick comforting blanket that made her tummy rumble. It was only 7:13 and the walk to the Cafe wasn't more than 20 minutes or so. A yummy breakfast was definitely in order. This bakery had a few vegan treats that made her mouthwater. Her current favorite were the morning glory muffins. Really, they might as well just call it carrot cake. Full of walnuts and raisins and warming, comforting spices.
The line was out the door, not really because there were that many customers, but since most of their clients were wholesale delivery orders, they used most of their small space for actually baking. The counter was only a few steps in the door, enough space for 2 - 3 people. Ara went around to the side delivery door instead.
"Hey Marcus!" Ara said as she stepped up in to the warm kitchen.
"Ara! So good to see you! I would hug you, but eh" he shrugged and smiled broadly. He was covered in flour and dough, having just unearthed a giant ball of dough from one of the industrial mixers. Marcus was one of those jovial grandfather types that seemed to love everyone. Bushy gray hair and mustache - kind of reminiscent of Einstein actually. And Ara liked going to pick up their orders just to see him. She imagined that was how his business did so well for the past 40 years.
Laughingly, Ara said "It does me good just to see your smile and smell your wonderful creations"
"Ah! You are too sweet" and his smile widened more. "How you are not married yet, eh, I do not know. But you are not here to talk about your love life. Jasper called and I have your order ready. Katie!! Bring Ara's order!" He shouted to one of his employees. "Do you want anything else this morning? Banana bread? Scone? Your favorite morning glory muffin?" he said, grinning and wagging his eyebrows like it was a special little joke between us. When really, everyone at the bakery knew her latest obsession with them.
"Yes please," Ara grinned.
"Katie! and a muffin for Ara" Marcus shouted and Ara wondered how much coffee he drank in a day. His mind always seemed to move at rapid speed you generally couldn't have a conversation last more than 30 seconds before he was on to another topic or doing something else entirely.
"Thanks Marcus! Have a great day!" Ara walked up to the door that led to the front counter to meet Katie for the hand off. She thanked Katie, dropped a 5 in the tip jar and headed out the front door to see if any of the tables were free. One was open and she placed the bag with the bread on the table, took her messenger bag off and dropped it in one chair, taking a seat in the other as she pulled her phone out. She got her beloved muffin out of the bag and began to unwrap it. Thinking again of Luca. She took a bite and closed her eyes and decided she would just send him a text message. Short and sweet. Wiping her sticky fingers off, she clicked on the email and read it again. she'd been writing replies in her head, little snippets here and there, nothing that would be a complete message or really if any of it was what she wanted to say yet. She highlighted the number and clicked the SMS option and typed "I miss you too" and hit send before she could change her mind. That was a reality she could deal with being honest about.
Sitting back in the chair, she continued with her muffin. Allowing the thoughts to run through her mind and begin to digest. No more than a few minutes had gone by when her phone beeped at her. She clicked to see the new text, surprised and excited to have heard back from him so soon. It said "Good Muffin?"
Ara looked up quickly to see Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome standing at the back of the line. Only slightly different, now looking more like her Luca. Again with the heart palpitations and she wondered if the look on her face was reflecting the shock she felt inside.
til next time, xoxo
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