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Love

Unexpected Love in Unexpected Places

By Malorie AndersonPublished 6 years ago 15 min read
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I unload the last box into my new home. I can’t believe I own my own home. It is a cute one bedroom house in the upper north end of Chicago. I spent all of my high school career saving money and thus was able to buy it outright. I landed a job as a junior editor for a newspaper in Chicago. My excellent test scores, awards, and publishing my works online throughout high school paid off. I am the youngest employee in my office by far, at just eighteen-years-old. As I carry the last box inside, I notice a truck with a trailer full of boxes has pulled up in the driveway of the house beside mine. I decide to set my last box inside and ask if they need any help.

After dropping off my own box, I cross the yard to the neighbor’s driveway and approach the back of the truck. The driver exits their seat and walks down the length of the truck. When she reaches the back, I notice she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She had perfectly flawless, porcelain skin, vibrant emerald green eyes, and waist length, straight, jet-black hair. She looked like a model, and walked with perfect grace.

“Hey, I’m Marci. I’m your new neighbor!” Her voice was so angelic. I was sucked into a trance just looking at her.

“He– Hey. I’m Kai. Want... Want some help?” I stutter. I can feel my cheeks and the tops of my ears turn bright red. I, for once, am very thankful to have my curly, poofy, red hair falling down my shoulders, stopping just beneath my breasts. Marci giggles at my embarrassment.

“Sure! I would love some help! I’m all alone right now. The person who was supposed to be my roommate bailed last minute and decided to stay back home.”

“Where is home?” I turn red again, realizing I am being too nosey. She giggles again. Her giggle makes my heart sing. What is she doing to me? I’m not gay. I only like men… But something about her is different. She intrigues me.

“Originally London, but we moved to Nashville, Tennessee when I was a toddler. How about you?”

“I come from a small town a few hours south of here. Farmington, Illinois. It’s a tiny farming community. I’m probably the only kid in my class who never had a pet pig or cow…” She laughs outwardly at my comment. I wonder if she truly thinks I am funny or if she thinks I am weird. At that moment, she pulls a radio out of the bed of the truck and hooks it up in the garage conjoined to her home. She begins playing a popular radio station and we spend the next few hours unloading her truck and trailer into her garage and sing along to the songs. She is an amazing singer. Her voice echoes in the garage, and I am awestruck.

It is growing late in the day, and the sun is beginning to set. We finally unload the very last of her things.

“Hey, Kai. Thank you so much for helping me today! Would you, possibly, wanna join me for dinner tonight?” My heart skips a beat. I’m dying to join her, but I have work to do. My first article is due tonight at midnight, and I still need to revise it.

“I’m really sorry, Marci. I am going to have to get a rain check. I have to finish an article for work.” I feel rude for denying her offer. She seems like she is not offended in the least.

“Not a problem, sweetie! We can go for coffee sometime! Please don’t be a stranger!” As I turn to walk away, I catch her winking at me. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach and my heart is in my throat. What is going on with me? Once I reach the edge of my yard, I sprint up my steps to my front door, and run inside. I slam the door and slide down against it, landing on my butt. I can’t stop smiling. Marci. What a beautiful, enticing woman. How has she caught my attention so? I’ve never liked another female like this. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this way about a man even. I chalk up this feeling to being stressed about the move, and lonely in a new, huge city. I push Marci out of my mind and dive into my work. I finish late in the night, just minutes before my midnight deadline. I head straight to bed afterwards.

I awake hours later to the sound of birds chirping, and a loud engine sputtering before dying out. I hear it sputter and die three separate times before it stops. Curious as to what could be going on, I climb out of my bed, stumble through the maze of boxes, and look out my kitchen window, facing Marci’s house. In her driveway, I see her walking around an all black, two seater motorcycle. Marci has grease marks on her jeans and a dirt smudge on her face. Her hair is in a thick braid down her back. She looks beautiful even like this. I shake my head, trying to clear out these thoughts. She is a beautiful girl. I’ll just look like the crazy neighbor girl. She probably has a boyfriend anyway. Best to just leave her alone. I close my blind and go to take a shower. After my shower, I attempt to tame my crazy, curly hair. I eventually give up and restrain it into a ponytail. I decide on jean shorts, a tube top, and canvas tennis shoes for today. The temperature is supposed to reach the upper 90s today. I decide to first check my email and see if I have any projects from work waiting on me. I only have one, it reads:

Kai Middleton,

Your next work needs to be more personal. Your current pieces are lacking emotion. You have potential to do great things. Write something about you, your life, or something you care about. Put some thought and emotion into it! Make me FEEL! You have one week.

Tyson Montgomery

Chief Editor

Chicago News

Well, shit. I am at a complete loss to what I am going to write about. I decide to spend my day inside, unpacking boxes, and thinking about my new assignment. Before I know it, the day has passed and I have my house completely set up the way I like. Unfortunately, I’ve come up with nothing for my next article. After a long day of unpacking, I am exhausted. I decide to skip out on dinner and head straight to bed.

I awake to my doorbell ringing. I pick up my phone and look at the time. It reads 11:38 AM. I have slept way in! I hop out of bed and run to the door. I open it to see Marci. Her hair is tied back in a braid again, and she is wearing a black t-shirt, dark bootcut blue jeans, and black canvas high-top shoes. She giggles at the sight of me. My hair represents a lion’s mane, framing my head. My shirt is full of holes and stains, and my shorts are men’s boxers. They make the best pajama pants. My face turns red all over again.

“Good morning, Kai! I didn’t mean to wake you! I was hoping you would come on a bike ride with me!” A bike ride?! I’ve never rode a motorcycle in my life! I decide to take a chance and agree to go.

“I would love to! Please, come in! I just need to change!” I invite her in and show her to my living room. She immediately takes interest in my bookshelves lining one entire wall, ceiling to floor, packed full of books. I sprint to my room, shape my hair into a tight bun, throw on a Nirvana t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. I stare at my shoes for what seems like forever before I finally decide to wear my calf high leather boots. Maybe Marci will like them. I take a deep breath and step back into the living room.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Marci’s jaw drops. For once, she is the one turning bright red. She looks incredibly adorable when she blushes.

“Kai, you look great! Let’s go!” Marci runs out the door and waits by her motorcycle for me.

“Have you ever road a bike before?” She asks, still smiling and blushing slightly.

“No, I haven’t.” I reply honestly.

“Don’t worry, you’ll do fine! It’s the best way to get around.” She smiles a comforting smile and swings her leg across and gets on the bike. She turns to face me and pats the seat. I do my best to mimic her graceful movement. I, however, am not so graceful and almost fall off. Thankfully, Marci catches me and keeps me from falling over the other side. Once she helps me get situated, we take off. I have no idea where we are going, and I’m not sure she does either. The wind on my face, the feeling of the world passing by us, it’s intoxicating. I see why she loves this. After cruising around for a few hours, we stop at a tiny family dinner along the side of the highway. I have no idea where we are. Marci parks the motorcycle with expert precision. I wait for her to climb off first. After she is off, she holds out both hands to help me. I give her both hands and swing my leg over the bike and fall off on Marci. She, thankfully, catches us both. I instantly jump away, stare at my feet, and turn bright red.

“I am so sorry!” I gasp. I can’t believe I just did that! Marci just giggles, takes my hand, and starts walking us to the door. At first, I want to take my hand back from her, but it just feels so right. Her fingers interlaced with mine perfectly. Her soft hands caress mine gently. I giggle to myself quietly, and allow her to take the lead. We sit at a tiny table in the corner of the restaurant, away from the other patrons. After we order our sandwiches, we begin to talk. Throughout the entire meal, we talk about our loves, hates, and our pasts. Marci grew up homeless. Her family was very poor and her mother ended up dying of starvation. Marci and her little brother were very close to death themselves when a police officer found them living in a box on the streets of Nashville. Their father had abandoned them when her brother was born and left back to London. Leaving his family to perish. The children were rushed to the hospital. Marci pulled through just fine. Her brother, unfortunately, was discovered to have cancer at this time. It had already spread to his brain, lungs, and spine. There was nothing they could do for him. He died just two weeks later. Marci was placed into the foster care system at the age of 11 and bounced from home to home until she aged out just a few weeks ago. She had worked all through high school and saved her money as well to rent out the house she was in now. She was a mechanic for a shop around the block from our homes. I told her about my life. My mother and father were alcoholics. They were never mean to us children, just always absent. My older sister basically raised me, until she was killed by a drunk driver when I was 15. After that, my parents sunk even deeper into their addiction. One night my mom drank too much and had to go to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Once she was released, her and my father checked into an inpatient rehab facility. They have resided there for the past two years and have no interest in ever leaving.

After we finish our meal, we continue to talk for hours until the restaurant closes. We walk out of the building and head to Marci’s motorcycle. The air has cooled off and has a slight chill to it. A shiver snakes down my spine.

“Did you bring a jacket?” Marci asks.

“No, I didn’t think to grab one.” She frowns a little and pulls a hoodie out of a bag that I hadn’t noticed on the back of the bike before.

“Here! Wear this. You’ll catch a cold otherwise.” I thank her and pull the hoodie over my head. It smells like her. I love it. We climb back onto the beast of a motorcycle and begin the journey home. It is just as intoxicating and beautiful as it was on the way there.

We arrive back at our homes far too soon. We slide off the bike and Marci walks it into its space in her garage.

“Kai, would you like to come in for a drink?” Marci seems very nervous as she asks. I can’t resist her invitation.

“I would love to!” Marci just smiles. She turns and walks towards the door leading to her house. I follow her up the steps to the door. She holds it open for me as I walk in. Once I enter the house, I turn to face her. At this moment she pushes me up against the wall and begins to kiss me. She grabs ahold of my wrists and pulls them around her neck, tucks her arms around my waist, and pulls me closer to her. It’s incredibly breathtaking. It lasts for what seems like seconds and she pulls away. Inside, I am sad she stopped.

“I am so sorry! I shouldn’t have pushed myself on you like that!” cries Marci. She looks genuinely upset and her entire face is red.

“No! Don’t be sorry. I.. I actually quite enjoyed it. I’ve never been with a female before.” I smile a reassuring smile and blush at the memory of what just happened. Marci still looks very upset. I cross the gap between us and pull my arms back around her neck and pull her back to me. She pulls me through the house into her bedroom and for the first time in my life, I made love with a woman.

I awake the next morning in an unfamiliar room. I roll over and see Marci, still naked from last night’s adventures, looking even more beautiful than ever. She looks so peaceful. I slip out of bed and dress myself quietly. I search out paper and a pen and leave her a note telling her I was taking a shower at my house. I invite her over for dinner this evening, but I have work to do.

When I arrive at home, I rush to my computer, open my programs and the words begin to flow out of me. I finish my article in no time. It reads:

Life is a funny thing. Sometimes you know exactly what you want, how you want it, and when you want it. You plan for anything and everything. You make your life perfect in your eyes. However, life has curve balls it can throw you. An accident, losing your job, or sometimes it comes in the form of a green eyed beauty.

You can’t always prepare yourself for everything in life. I presumed I would have my own house, my fantastic job, and find myself a husband and settle down to start a family. Instead, a beautiful, mysterious woman came into my life this week and has changed my ideas. If you would have asked me even just last week, “Do you like women?” I would have told you “No. Not in that way,” but here I sit, fawning over the few memories I have of this angelic woman. The feel of her soft lips grazing my cheek, her hands in the curve of my back, the feel of her curled around me as we laid entangled in each other's arms; I ache for it again.

Take every chance you can in life. Open every door possible and you may be surprised at what is waiting on the other side.

I submit my article and close my computer. I hop in the shower and prepare myself for the day. I spend my day cleaning, shopping, and preparing for this evening. I am anxious for Marci to come over. I have only known her for two days, but I already crave her. I want to be with her again. I decide to cook steaks, macaroni and cheese, and homemade rolls for dinner. She arrives perfectly at 6:30 PM sharp. I dash to answer the doorbell when it rings.

“Hi, oh wow! You look amazing!” I practically sing to Marci. She is wearing an elegant, but casual dress that matches the color of her eyes perfectly, and sparkling black flats. She looks like a goddess. How can someone so beautiful be interested in someone so plan as I?

“Thank you, Kai! You look fantastic as well!” I have to laugh out loud. I am nothing in comparison. I am wearing a plain old grey tank top and a black floor length skirt and am barefoot. I look like a peasant next to her radiant beauty.

“Dearest, you are entirely bonkers. I look like crud compared to you!” I turn and quickly walk to the kitchen before she can respond. Dinner has just finished. I plate our dinner onto their respective plates and prepare to move into the dining room. I feel Marci’s arms slip around my waist and her nose nuzzle into my neck.

“Honey, you are beautiful no matter how you are dressed. Personally, I love your outfit.” She begins to kiss on my neck from behind me. Dinner forgotten, I flip around and tangle myself around her. The kiss feels even more powerful and intoxicating than before. I pull her across my house, into my living room and I lay her down on the couch. I pull myself on top of her and continue where we left off.

One year later, my article I wrote after my first night with Marci ended up winning me a promotion to Assistant Chief Editor. Marci moved into my home with me. My career is going well and Marci has broke ground on her own shop she is building. Five years later, we marry and later the same year we adopt a one-year-old child from one the same foster families that housed Marci at one time. My life couldn’t be any more perfect.

love
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About the Creator

Malorie Anderson

I am 24 years old, and a mother to the most wonderful little boy. I am happily married and living in a small town in Illinois, USA.

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