Chromatic Emotion Box

            Turning down the sidewalk at 1:16 p.m., he runs into her head on. He felt her soft features knock into him, for a second they share the same space. a few bags drop from her hands, and his cell phone falls from his. She's knocked back as he stumbles forward, almost tripping over her. Luckily he catches himself against the wall. She looks up at his tall figure, a silhouette against the blue sky until her eyes adjust. Almost six foot, sporting a long coat, his dark hair dangles over her as his lips purse in a bit of surprise and worry.

            "Oh my, I'm so sorry! Let me help you," he kneels down to help her collect herself. "I just looked at the time in my cell phone, and next thing you know... well, I think you..."

            "Yeah, I get the idea." She snaps back.

            "Umm... sorry about that." He's picking up small articles of clothing, but once she notices her hands quickly snatches them along with the bag. Only by her actions does he realize what the small soft items were. "Umm... sorry..." blushing slightly, he passes another bag to her as she's starting to stand up.

            "Thank you... for helping me, not for running into me. Anyhow..." Grabbing the bag with one hand, she starts to swat at her sides, hoping to get any dirt that may have attached off. "You seemed to be in a hurry, knocked me right down on my ass."

            "Yeah, really sorry about that... are you ok?"

            "Sure, nothing that hasn't happened before." She was wearing a loose fitting blue shirt, with patterns of what seemed like constellations all around it. Her ballerina esque shoes fit snuggly around her feet, as they met with tight legged jeans that accentuated her female form all the way up. Open chest, the freckles stood out the most, her blonde hair and blue eyes shimmering in the sun light.

"So whats your name?"

            "I'm sorry, what?"

            "You'r name, just in case I gotta send you a doctor bill." She chuckled, but it seemed to go over his head.

            "Oh, uh... It's Brian."

            "Well Brian, my name is Joana. I tend to make a point of introducing myself to people I've gotten close to." For some reason her jokes did not seem to make a dent on him. He seemed lost in thought.

"Well, listen, I thank you for helping me up... but..."

            "I'm really sorry, I'm just looking for someone, and I'm supposed to meet them around here somewhere. I just can't..." He ran his hand over his head, brushing the hair away from his face. Brian's brown eyes went with his dark features, like chocolate and peanut butter.

            "Well, I'm a local, so maybe I can help you. What place are you looking for?" She placed her left foot in front of her, resting her loaded arms on her hips. This guy seemed lost, and the quicker she got him there, the sooner he'd stop running into people.

            "The Golden Brick House, I was told it was around here. I'm a little early, but I like to be prepared." He rubbed the back of his head, a slight smile appeared on his face. He had kind features, inviting and warm. There was just something about him, it was the way he looked into her eyes. It felt like their souls intermingled for that second.

            "Sure, thats just three blocks over. You were heading the wrong direction though, shoulda' made a left instead of that quick right. You should see a sign to the left from the corner down at 28th. If you want good drinks ask for Gene, get an aborted fetus while your at it, delicious drink." She smirked at the last comment, she always hopes to get a reaction out of people with that bit.

            "Left at 28th, ask for Gene, aborted fetus... Got it. Thank you so much, I don't know how I could ever repay you..."

            "Buy me a drink first next time." She lightly taps him with her bags. "Now go on, you might be late."

            "Thank you! Oh! And sorry!" He waves as he turns around, and continues his quick step.

-----

            Later at her small apartment, she unloads her bags and as she's grabbing a drink a strange noise emanates from her pile of new stuff, a ringing of sorts. She looks through the stack, being the only place that is making noise in the whole apartment. It stops as she's sure she's about to find it. "Damn it!" Fortunately as she finds it laying under some purple ruffled panties it starts to ring again, but as she tries to press the ignore button, accidentally speaker gets turned on. "Damn new phones..." She mutters to herself.

            "Hello?! What was that?" A female voice comes over the loud speaker, Joana sits frozen. "Hey, are you there? I can hear you breathing Brian..." Theres a couple seconds of silence with her just sitting there not knowing what to do, but undoubtedly curious as to where this phone may have come from, she decides to listen and just listen, there's no harm in that. "Whatever... Anyhow, I just wanted to tell you thanks for the beautiful rings you got me, they sure will come in handy. But baby, about tonight... well, I'm not gonna be able to make it. I just kind of was thinking about it, and decided that maybe it's for the best if I don't see you again, anytime soon. See, I just met this guy and... well, it's like we click so well! I knew that we would be good for one another, so we've decided to go traveling together on his motorcycle. I know, it's crazy, but I just feel like this is it, you know? Gotta take this and run with it, see where it goes. I hope you understand, and it's ok if you are mad at me, but I need this. Don't worry about me, I'll be ok. I hope that we can still be friends..." Inaudible screams in the back, a motorcycle revs up. "Ok, well, I gotta go, talk to you soon!" Click.

            "Man, thats heavy..." She holds the cell phone in her hand, kneeling in front of a pile of fresh clothes. "... Fucking buttons." She gets up and walks towards her door, grabbing her purse along the way.

-----

            Walking down the sidewalk she tries to think about whether or not she should tell him about the phone call, or just return the phone without bringing up a word of it. Some things are better left unsaid, although to leave someone waiting for something that will never be there sure seems kind of unfair. "I guess I'll have to tell him." She lights a cigarette she'd pre-rolled for the walk. Her heels click clack against the pavement along with her rhythmic strut, which at times gets drowned out by the passing vehicles, but after a second or so could be heard again, just click clack click clack down the street.

            She remembers how she met Mario, and the hell that ensued because she wasn't honest with herself, or with him for that matter. It was an experience she would never want to repeat, the worse of which was being in the dark about so much for that long of a time. It wasn't until that friend told her to continue on with life and never dilute who she was for the likes of anyone, that she began to understand what it meant to be truly free. Free from the world and the chains trying to get around her that laid also strewn around these arrogant fools, who is just waiting to catch the next lucky girl for a night of undiluted passion, until the next day. Then it's a bunch of words mixed in with who are you, and get out of my house. Being used is never fun.

            Lost in thought she'd passed The Golden Brick House, and was now in the middle of crossing the street as she realized this. She almost stopped herself, but continued to walk to the other side. She stood next to the news stand and picked up a rag mag. One title jumped at her right away, so she read it first. "Sour Girl." It was a poem about some silly blokes short lived love affair. Falling in love, the drama that ensues, and then realizing what a fool he's been all along. It's kind of sweet, though very sexually charged. She catches the light finally turning from the corner of her eye, there are others waiting to let them cross. She momentarily joins the herd as they transverse from one side of the street to the next.

            Coming up to the bar she realizes she's just walked away with the magazine. Oh well, she'll just have to return it later. She may just have to pay for it though, and that is fine.

-----

            Brian is sitting at the end of the bar, holding a beer in one hand, and a couple of shot glasses, some filled with a semi clear liquid. Leaning in to make it through the door, she makes it past the row of stools in front of the bar up to him, where she puts her purse down beside him, the expression on his face is priceless as he looks more than just a little surprised. In her hands are his cell phone and one of the shots from the bar.

            "You dropped this." She holds it in front of her as she slams down the shot. He shifts through his pockets, not finding what he's looking for. "Really, it's yours..." She savors the alcohol with a bitter face. "I can't believe you didn't even notice it was gone. Blergh."

            "Heh... Thanks I guess... Joana?" He grabbed the cell phone from her hand, his finger slightly touching hers. He could feel her skin was silky smooth.

            "Yeah! You remembered... umm..." She winced trying to remember his. She felt like such a klutz. "Brian."

            "Indeed. Would you look at the time... I wasn't even thinking about the time after I had those Aborted Fetus'. Whew... Gene sure knows how to make a drink. Greatest little person bar tender EVER!" He sipped at his beer. She knew exactly what he was talking about, Gene just knew how to read people sometimes. 

            "So, did you ever find what you were looking for here?"

            " Nawh, she never showed up. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I guess she missed me or something."

            "Yeah, about that." She made a gesture of two at the short bartender wearing green sequenced suit. He knew her drink by heart, and had already started one which was just about done. He nodded in agreement to the request of a second drink, and began a new glass.

            "Great place, I love the decor. It's like I'm in Wizard of Oz." He points at the emerald walls, and motions to the golden brick floors. 

            "Yeah, it's a pretty interesting bar, I've had many a nights of fun here." Two drinks are put down in front of her, she grabs them both and hands one to Brian.

            "Thanks..." They both slam them down, and enjoy the creamy sensation that is an aborted fetus, slowly starting to warm up their belly."Missed calls, all from a pay-phone. *sigh* I guess she couldn't make it." He slouches a bit, and sips at his beer.

            "Listen, I accidentally answered one of your phone calls... trying to mute it of course, I didn't mean to pick up, but..." She looked over at him, his expression was now a little quizzical, curious as to what her next words would be. As she stopped herself, she looked over at the bar tender and motioned for 2 more rounds. "Well...

Bob Meets The Beatles - The Meth Minute 39

This made me laugh, so I thought I'd share.

Tomoko's fractal

            Tomoko waited for her train ride. It wasn't usually this late. That last encounter with the Yakuza had left her a bit shaken up. She didn't know what to expect next. All she knew, was that he wasn't here on the platform this evening, as he usually was.

            "Gosh!" she thought to herself. "It was so much easier when he was the business guy reading the paper that never did anything exciting. This whole thing... I just can't take that type of violence."

            Woooshhhhh!

            Train to Chiba Prefecture now boarding.

            This was her. Nothing short of her usual pace, she strode into the car. It took her a minute to get herself situated. It was pretty much empty inside the car, which felt kind of strange. 2 am trains are usually empty though, but it was different without him. These last trains riding the line for the last time, spend an hour stopped, in dead silence. These cold machines, waiting to eat up the inhabitants of the city, chew them up and spit them back out. Some stay in longer than others, that's personal choice though.

            What was it about him that changed the way this train felt? Without anyone else but her, it felt cold and desolate. This ride in particular was one of the most taxing. She couldn't wait to get off at her station. Walk to the little noodle shop, sit at her booth and enjoy a warm bowl of...

            Before she knew it, she'd passed 2 stops already. She wasn't far. Next stop is hers.  A great yawn envelops her, and she is forced to close her eyes for just one second. She dreams with his smell, and his warmth. Even if it's for just a second, it's like she can feel him, right there. With the way he  held her after the attack, she knew the texture of his trench coat, and that of his lapel. She could never forget that scent.

            When she comes to, she is safely seated at the train station. Her train station. She looks around, and sees someone going down the stairs. It's just the backside, but she knows it's him. She gets up and starts to run across the platform, balancing her way along the with her shopping bag and work things filling her hands.

            "Stop!" She yells as she gets to the top of the stairs. There is no one there. Just an empty staircase  She can still smell him on her. She can almost feel his fading warmth on her clothes. She closes her eyes, and imagines his face. What she can still remember.

            One step follows the next. She makes her way down the dim lit path, just as many times before this, and many more to come. Posters on the wall of movies long past, are falling off, while others are constantly covered by the next big thing. Her footsteps reverberate against the walls, a light buzzing from the electric lines and neon lights above can be heard. Random signs are still lit. Karaoke bars, and Love MO's (motels) are always open.

            Her booth is available, as always. Kindly, the old lady that hosts the place shows her to her booth. It hasn't occurred to her to ask her if she ever gets some rest, it's as if she's always here, working.

            Noodles, they always warm her up. This texture is the best part, the way they  just slither into your mouth. So soft, so sweet, and the contrast with the sour broth tonight was just delightful. Best noodles in town. Shes buzzing just with the first taste. She enjoys it to the last drop. Slurping to the very end.

            After her meal, she sits there, and wonders about the man and his fancy trench coat. Why would he just leave her there like that, without a hello, or a good-bye. After all that had happened. She just wanted to know he was alright. His boss seemed kind of upset at the outburst, and said there would be consequences to be paid. There's only so much one can do.

            The warm tea gives off a bit of steam as she brings the porcelain cup to her lips. She slightly squints from the warmth, as it slowly slips between her lips, warming her up insides. Her reflection on the polished wooden table is a bit warped from the woods formation itself. She sips again, wondering what the symbol was hanging off his lapel.