It all started with a lie. A lie I implied just to have a friend for a week. Little did I know, that lie would be the start of a life changing series of events. Events that would lead me to find the love of my life, and a friend who truly cared.
My life has been a less than average one so far. Struggling to hold a job, few friends, and the guilty pleasures of gaming and surfing the web. But that is soon to change...
For one trip to the mall was the single event that threatened to change my life for the better. That event, and the decision following, allowed me to meet... her.
The woman whom I now love, and the woman who truly cares for me, and I for her.
Sometimes, an implied lie can start something amazing.
It all started with a lie. A lie I implied just to have a friend for a week. Little did I know, that lie would be the start of a life changing series of events.
Walking through the mall, I contemplated the meaning of life. Or, my life at least. For you see, I was struggling. I’m twenty one years old, am struggling just to hold a decent job, and don’t have many friends. Most of my enjoyment comes from gaming, and wandering the Internet. However, that didn’t mean I didn’t want to change.
I noticed a new business on the second floor of the mall. It was one of the largest in the building, featuring a white background with bright illuminated red letters showing the name. “Redheart Rehabilitation Center”.
Normally I wouldn’t pay any mind to such a building, namely because I was not in need of any rehab, but I had a VERY strong feeling I needed to walk inside. That was the first decision that would change my life forever.
Once I walked inside, I noticed a completely different atmosphere from the rest of the mall. It felt… calm, and friendly. I looked at the plaque on the wall, which read what this company excels at.
Redheart Rehabilitation pledges to help every patron break away from the burden of smoking permanently by every means possible.
I raised an eyebrow. A stop smoking facility. Not a bad thing to have in todays world.
I stopped a employee who happened to be walking past.
“Excuse me, but how exactly does this place help with smoking?” I felt compelled to ask.
The employee smiled.
“Well, it starts with assigning a Rehabilitation worker to you, and what they do is essentially live with you for a week. They stay by your side as much as possible, and try to guide you into doing things that you normally wouldn’t be doing. The reason for that is by opening up your mind to new activities, you may feel the need to smoke dwindle, or disappear all together. We have found it to be pretty successful thus far. Are you a smoker?” the employee then asked.
This was it. The answer that changed my life. For I actually wasn’t a smoker, and never had been, but the sound of having someone new to hang out with for a while sounded nice, even if they were getting payed to do so.
“Yes, I am a smoker, and I’m looking to quit.” I replied firmly.
The employee’s smile brightened. “Lovely. It’s always nice to see someone looking to change their life for the better. Follow me please.” she said, leading me to a nearby desk. I followed, and sat in the chair. The employee handed me a form.
“Please fill this out as accurately as possible. It helps us to determine your personality, so we can give you someone who can best rid you of your habit, and open you up to liking new activities.” she explained. I nodded, and began to fill out the questionnaire. The entire thing took about ten minutes to complete.
Once I was finished, I handed it back to her. She looked it over quickly, and smiled.
“I think I know exactly who would be a good fit for you. It’s actually kind of surprising, because she rarely gets a match. Wait here, and I’ll go and get her.” she said, walking away.
I sat there in silence, pondering who I was apparently such a perfect match for. I didn’t have to wait long.
A moment later, a pretty young woman walked up to me, and sat next to me. She had a lovely shade of white skin, and a head of pink hair, pulled into a ponytail.
“Hello, I’m Miss Redheart. I’ve been assigned to you for your smoking Rehabilitation period.” she said in a sweet sounding voice.
“Pleasure Ma’am. I’m Jack.” I said, taking her hand in mine, and giving it a kiss.
Miss Redheart blushed faintly, and looked at her hand.
“I’m sorry Miss. Custom from my family.” I apologized. Redheart looked from me, to her hand, back to me.
“It’s alright Jack. I just… wasn’t expecting it, that’s all. Most people who come in here don’t even offer a hand shake, because they don’t think they’ll get along with someone who wants to help them quit doing something they love.” she explained.
I smiled.
“Well, I hope you and I can become friends.” I said. She gave me a friendly smile.
“I hope so too. If you’ll just give me a minute, I have some pre-packed bags to take with, just let me go get them.” she said.
I leaned back in my chair. If I told any of my few friends that I was going to go to the mall, and come back with a pretty woman who would be staying with me all week, they would have laughed in my face.
Miss Redheart came back with a suitcase, and smiled at me.
“Ready to go? I’ve filled out my paperwork for the next week, so I won’t have to come back until the time is up.” she said. I nodded.
“Of course. Let me get your suitcase for you.” I said, taking her case in my arms. She folded her arms, and smirked.
“Listen Mister, I may be a lady, but I’m still doing my job. I’m not helpless you know.” she said. I frowned.
“I’m sorry Miss Redheart. I didn’t mean to imply...” I stopped talking as Redheart began to laugh.
“Relax Jack, I’m just kidding. I’m grateful I’ve been assigned to such a gentleman.” she said. I chuckled.
“I’ll have to keep my eye on you. Can’t have you teasing me all the time.” I said, carrying her suitcase out into the mall. She laughed.
Once we got to my car, I gently set her things in the trunk, and joined her in the car.
“Ready to go?” I asked, strapping on my seatbelt. She nodded. I started the car, and backed out of my parking space. As we traveled through the parking lot, Redheart pulled out a small form.
“I have to ask you a few questions before we get started. Do you mind?” she asked. I shook my head. “Okay, one: How many packs of cigarettes a day do you usually smoke?” she looked at me, waiting for my reply.
I wasn’t prepared for more smoking related questions. I had to think up a believable answer quick. After all, if she doesn’t catch me trying to smoke at least once, she might get suspicious.
“Uhhh, about half a pack, maybe?” I casually answered. She wrote something down on her paper.
“Okay, two: How long have you been a smoker?” she continued.
“One year.” I lied. She wrote on her paper again.
“Last one: What made you want to stop smoking?”
I swallowed. That was a tougher question, especially since I don’t smoke anyway.
“Uhhh, I don’t know. I just decided it would be better for me?” I said, unsure of how she would take that answer.
Miss Redheart appeared to be satisfied. She put the paper away, and watched the scenery go by as I drove back home.
Once we arrived, I took Miss Redheart’s luggage and led her to the front door. “It’s not a mansion, but it’s a roof to sleep under.” I said, unlocking the door. Redheart smiled.
“It’s lovely Jack. Certainly nicer than my apartment.” she said, looking around the inside as we walked in. I set her suitcase on the floor, and turned towards her.
“So, I’ve only got one bed, which I’ll let you use. I can sleep on the couch.” I said, gesturing to the bedroom. Miss Redheart shook her head.
“No no no Jack, I can’t do that! It’s your house! I can sleep on the couch.” she tried to insist.
I sighed. “Listen Miss Redheart, you’re a guest in my house, and I want to be treated as one. Please, take the bed. I want you to be comfortable.” I said. Redheart sighed.
“Fine. Thank you Jack. You’re sweet.” she said. She took her suitcase and set it on my bed, then turned towards me.
“So, we’ve got a week just you and I. What do you want to do first?” she asked, folding her hands in front of her. I shrugged.
“Well, usually I’d just sit down and play some video games for a few hours, but I won’t do that today. Hmm… we could go see a movie if you’re up for that?” I suggested. Redheart smiled.
“That sounds fun. Lead the way.” she said.
We walked outside, and I locked the door behind me.
“The movie theater is only a ten minute walk away, so we don’t need to drive. Is that okay with you?” I asked.
Miss Redheart nodded. “Sounds great. It’s a lovely day out, after all.” she said, taking my hand in hers. I immediately noticed.
“Umm...” I mumbled. She noticed what she was doing, and immediately let go.
“Oh! Sorry about that! I used to go for walks with my mom when I was younger, and we always held hands. It’s just instinct for me.” she said, blushing. She was clearly embarrassed, so I decided to lighten the mood.
I gently grabbed her hand, and clasped my fingers around hers.
“It’s fine Miss Redheart. It doesn’t bother me at all.” I smiled. She blushed again.
“You can call me Redheart, or even Red, Jack. Miss Redheart is too much of a mouthful.” she giggled.
“Okay then, Red. Shall we go?” I asked. She nodded.
We walked towards the movie theater, hand in hand.
When we arrived at the theater, Redheart let go of my hand, which made me sad for some reason. Granted, I wasn’t used to having a hand to hold, but the warmth of her hand on mine was a nice feeling. We walked inside and gazed at the list of movies showing.
“See anything that interests you?” I asked her. She put a hand on her chin, and shook her head.
“I’ve never seen any of these, or heard of any of them. I don’t really go see many movies. Any you like?” she asked. My response was similar.
“Well, let’s just pick one then. Here, put a hand over my eyes, and I’ll point to one.” she said. It was then I realized Red certainly had a playful, somewhat childish side.
“Okay, ready?” I asked, covering her eyes with my hand. Red smiled, and pointed to a random poster, giggling.
“Which one is it?” she asked as I removed my hand from her face. I looked to where she had pointed.
“Looks like… Ghost Ship.” I answered, looking at the poster. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was an older style horror movie.
“Uh, you sure you want to watch this one? It might be a little scary.” I asked, unsure of how Redheart would handle a scare. Red shrugged.
“I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t watch many movies. How scary can it be? It’s not real.” she said, with a fair bit of logic in her statement.
We payed for our tickets, and went to the concession stand.
“Popcorn?” I asked her. She nodded silently. I ordered one large value bucket, big enough for two people, while still being a good price. We then went into the screen room and picked out our seats, just a little forward from the middle. There weren’t many others present when the movie actually started.
A little while into the movie, and it had gotten mildly interesting. A small crew of ocean salvage workers had been tipped off by a young man about a huge abandoned ocean liner sitting in the ocean, and had gone to look at it. It was when the ship suddenly would show up on their sonar, and then disappear that I knew something wasn’t right about it.
Just as the crew boarded the ship, I reached my hand into the popcorn bucket, and instead of feeling some warm, soft popcorn, I felt something else, also warm and soft. I looked away from the screen, and realized I had grabbed Red’s hand, who was also getting a handful of popcorn.
I quickly released her hand, feeling unbelievably embarrassed. I mean, that’s the kind of thing that only happens in movies, or cheesy fan-fictions… right?
Regardless, I looked at her, and discovered she was already looking at me with somewhat wide eyes.
“Sorry.” I whispered. She smiled, and turned back towards the screen. Suddenly, an explosion happened on screen, and she jumped in her seat, and abruptly shoved the popcorn bucket into my lap, dumping it all over my body in the process. She turned to look at me with a horrified expression.
“Oh god! I’m so sorry Jack! I just wasn’t expecting the explosion, it scared me for a minute. Oh, you’re a mess, and it’s all my fault!” she said, beginning to pick popcorn kernels out of my lap. She was acting rather crazy for such a simple accident. I put my hand on her shoulder, and she stopped.
“Relax Red, it was an accident. Stay here, and I’ll go get cleaned up.” I said, beginning to stand. Before I could leave, I felt her grab my arm, and I turned to find her looking at me with somewhat pleading eyes. “Please, can you stay? I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch this movie by myself. I’ll feel safer if you’re sitting next to me.” she whispered.
I sighed. I just couldn’t refuse those eyes of hers. I sat back down in my seat, and the movie was just starting to get creepy. Apparently, we had missed the appearance of a ghost girl, and now something was happening that made Red cling to my arm. There was a pool… filling up with blood. Oookay.
About an hour later, the movie was complete, and I couldn’t pry Redheart off of my arm. She clearly doesn’t bode well with scary movies. With the way her arms were wrapped around mine as we walked out, one might have thought we were a couple. But that’s crazy… right?
ANYWAY, we walked back home, and eventually, I convinced Red to let go of my arm.
“I still feel bad about dumping that popcorn onto you. Not only did I get your clothes dirty, but I wasted the money you spent on it as well.” Redheart said, pouting a little. I just laughed.
“Relax, it was an honest accident. I can’t get mad at you for an accident. It could have happened to anyone.” I said, hoping that would calm her down. It appeared to do just that.
“Well, if you’re sure. I need to change into new clothes, I was sweating a bit in the theater, and now they feel icky. I’ll be right back.” she said, running off to my bedroom. I chuckled. Girls.
I glanced at the clock. It was nearing five in the evening. The movie had run a little longer than I thought it would, and since neither of us got much popcorn, I figured I should start dinner.
I looked around inside my refrigerated. Being a bachelor living alone usually, I didn’t have a ton of food, but I had enough for a me and a guest. I fished out some eggs, a few vegetables, and some cheese. Omelets sounded appetizing right about now.
As I switched on the stove and began to dice some tomatoes, I heard Red come back into the kitchen.
“Ooh, whatcha making?” she asked. I turned around, but my thought process stopped when I saw her new outfit choice. A light green tank top that showed a little bit of her midsection, with a pair of black yoga pants. Damn, she certainly had the body for the clothes. I wouldn’t have guessed before, because her previous clothes were a bit baggy. I quickly turned away before she could realize I was staring.
“Uhh, O-Omelets. Is that okay for you?” I stuttered.
“Ooh, I haven’t had an omelet in ages! That sounds wonderful! Do you need any help?” she asked.
“N-No, that’s okay. They’ll be ready in about ten minutes.” I said, refocusing on my current task. Miss Redheart sat at the table, and I finished the Omelets. I pulled out two plates, and put an Omelet on each one.
“Anything special to drink? I’ve got 2% Milk, Water, a few beers, or some lemonade.” I offered, setting Red’s omelet in front of her.
“Lemonade sounds good.” she said, taking a sniff of the Omelet set in front of her. “Mmm. This smells good too!” she added.
I chuckled, pouring two glasses of iced lemonade.
“I’m glad you think so.” I said, setting the two glasses onto the table, and taking my seat. Red took the first bite, and she shuddered.
“Ooh, that’s the best thing I’ve tasted in a good while.” she said, quickly taking another mouthful. I smiled and took a bite of my own Omelet. It was good.
“Huh, better than they usually taste. Maybe having such a lovely guest made me a better cook.” I muttered to myself.
“Hehehe, maybe.” Red giggled.
Once we finished our Omelets in silence, then I took our plates to the sink.
“I don’t have much in choice for desserts, just ice cream, a few donuts, or some stray hard candies.” I said. Redheart thought.
“Umm, a few hard candies are good. I’ve always liked those.” she said. I set the small bowl of assorted hard candies in front of her, and took a donut for myself.
Before I could take a bite, Red caught my attention. She sat back, a hard candy in hand.
“I wonder if I can still do this.” she said, tossing the candy into the air. With perfect aim, it sailed right into her open mouth… and into her throat.
She began coughing harshly, grabbing at her throat. I jumped out of my chair.
“Whoa, hey! Are you choking?!” I asked as she continued to cough. She nodded violently, gagging.
I quickly lifted her out of her chair in front of me.
“I hope I can remember how to do this.” I muttered, wrapping my arms around her ribcage. I locked my hands together, and squeezed. Red was still hacking. I squeezed again, harder, and the hard candy flew out of her mouth, and sailed across the room.
Redheart collapsed into me, breathing rapidly.
“Whoa! Easy now, you’re okay.” I said, gently setting her in her chair. I patted her back as her breathing returned to normal. I noticed her eyes were watering, so I grabbed a napkin and wiped her cheeks and dabbed around her eyes.
“Here, drink some water.” I said, filling up a glass and handing it to her. She took it and slowly took a few sips. I sat next to her as she set the glass onto the table, and opened her eyes.
“Are you o-KAAYYY?” I asked as she suddenly gripped me in a tight hug. I placed my hand on her back, unsure of what I should do.
“T-thank you.” she rasped, her throat clearly sore. She hugged me for another few seconds, then released me. But not before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, forcing me to blush, even given the circumstances.
“No sweat. Are you sure you’re okay?” I repeated. She nodded, and sighed.
“Ugh, who taught you how to do the Heimlich maneuver?” she asked, rubbing her chest where I had grabbed her.
“I learned myself. I apologize if I did it wrong.” I said, fearing I had accidentally hurt her. She shook her head.
“No! You did it expertly. Some say if it doesn’t hurt, you’re not doing it correctly.” she said.
I nodded, and slowly began to clear the table.
“Well, as long as you’re okay, thank god.” I said.
Red stood next to me as I began filling the sink with water. She was leaning on me ever so slightly.
“Thanks to you Jack. You saved my life.” she whispered, a tear falling down her cheek. I frowned.
“Hey, I don’t want to see any crying. You don’t have to thank me, I just did what I could.” I said, pouring the bubbles into the water. Red let out a sob.
“Seriously? It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me. I owe you my life.” she said, giving me another hug. “I never should have tried to do that trick. I should have known better.” she said. I scoffed.
“There’s nothing wrong with letting the kid in you out now and then, it’s part of who you are, and I like it when people show their true colors. It makes everyone different and unique.” I said, putting some washed dishes aside. Red grabbed a towel, and began to dry the dishes.
“Wow, that’s… actually pretty deep Jack. You’re very wise.” she said, finally calming down. I raised my eyebrows.
“I am? I just seem like an average guy to me. Just a dude with a low-end job, few friends, and not much to do with his free time.” I said, finishing the dishes. Redheart put a hand on my shoulder, causing me to pause, and look her in the eye.
“Jack, you are not just an average guy. I’ve been with you less than a day, and I can tell that easily. You have a good amount of common sense, a friendly and gentle personality, a good heart, and a smart head set squarely on your shoulders. The fact that you are struggling as you are with few friends actually baffles me, but I’m honored to call you a friend of mine, and I truly hope you see me as a friend as well.” she finished, giving me an honest smile. I opened my mouth to speak, but found it difficult to find any words.
“Red… no one has ever given me such compliments. Not even my own mother. Do you really mean all that?” I asked. I didn’t even need to ask. I could see the honesty in her eyes.
“I do Jack. I’m really glad you came in to the Rehabilitation center today. I’m actually impressed. I haven’t seen you even try to smoke once today.” she said. I began to sweat.
“Y-yeah, I guess I’m just enjoying your company.”
A few hours of simple chat later, we both decided it was time for bed. I helped Redheart set her stuff in my bedroom, then got myself comfy on the couch. As I lay there, waiting for sleep to claim me, I thought about what Redheart had said a few hours prior.
“Jack, you are not just an average guy. I’ve been with you less than a day, and I can tell that easily. You have a good amount of common sense, a friendly and gentle personality, a good heart, and a smart head set squarely on your shoulders. The fact that you are struggling as you are with few friends actually baffles me, but I’m honored to call you a friend of mine, and I truly hope you see me as a friend as well.”
Redheart honestly meant all that. She believes me to be an honest, heart warming man. But, I’ve been lying to her from the beginning. I’m not a smoker, so I should never have met her in the first place. Granted, it probably wasn’t that big of a deal, I’m still paying the business after all.
But still, I couldn’t help but start to feel… guilty. I needed to tell Red the truth.
Someone was poking my nose. I scrunched my face, and tried to bat whatever was poking my nose away, muttering nonsense in my sleep.
“Wake up sleepyhead.” I heard someone say. I cracked open one eye, and found Redheart’s face inches from mine.
“Geez!” I said, startling myself awake. Redheart just put a hand to her mouth, giggling to herself. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
“God, what time is it?” I mumbled. Red snickered.
“Let me guess, you’re not used to getting up at six thirty in the morning.” she said. I straightened up.
“S-Six thirty?! Are you trying to kill me?” I asked, bewildered. She laughed again.
“Look at it this way, by getting up earlier, we can do more stuff today, instead of only getting half a day by sleeping in! Doesn’t that make sense?” she asked, sitting next to me. I shrugged.
“I guess it does. Let me shower and get changed, and then I’ll make breakfast.” I said, stretching.
“Okay. I’ve already done my morning routine, so I’ll just wait for you in the kitchen.” Redheart said, leaving me to wake up.
I wandered into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. I shrugged off my dirty clothes, and turned on the shower, letting it run for a moment to let the water heat up. I stepped in, letting the hot water run over my body. There are few things more relaxing than a nice, hot shower.
After a ten minute rinse, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel, waist down. Of course, it was then I realized that I had forgotten to get fresh clothes before hand. I quietly opened the bathroom door, peeking out to make sure Redheart wasn’t around, then meandered to my bedroom.
Of course, I had also forgotten that was Redheart’s room for now. I stepped in, and froze. Redheart was currently only in her bra and panties, staring at me with a shocked expression.
“J-Jack?! D-Don’t look!” she squeaked, quickly turned away from me. I quickly stumbled backwards, away from the doorway, clutching my waistline towel with one hand.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry! I forgot to get fresh clothes, and thought you would still be in the kitchen.” I babbled. I tripped over a stool behind me, and fell backwards onto the ground, cracking my head on the hardwood floor in the process, knocking me out cold.
“Jack, are you okay? Please be okay!” I heard someone say. I opened my eyes, and found I was staring at the ceiling.
“Uhh, where am I?” I asked aloud. I heard a faint gasp, and suddenly Redheart appeared at my side.
“Oh god Jack! You tripped over something, and knocked yourself out! You’ve been out for an hour.” she said, looking relieved. I was going to move my head, but it hurt to much. It was then I remembered what had happened prior.
“Sorry for… um...” I paused, searching for the right words. Redheart put a hand on her chest.
“Don’t worry about it Jack. It was an accident, and we’re both adults after all. I know you wouldn't peep on a girl on purpose. You’re not like that.” she said, smiling. I noticed I was wearing clothes.
“Umm… did you dress me?” I asked, realizing that if she had done so, she would have seen… everything. To my horror, she nodded, confirming my fears.
“Yes. You were shivering, so I dried you off, and put some fresh clothes on you.” she said innocently. I glared at her.
“And… did you...” I whispered. She giggled.
“Yes Jack, I saw you. I was a Nurse for a few years, so don’t worry. I’m used to it.” she said, patting my chest gently. I leaned my head back against the pillow. A question flew into my head.
“Wait, you were a Nurse? Then, why aren’t you now? Didn’t you like it?” I asked quizzically. She nodded.
“I liked it for the most part, but the part I really hated was having to see patients I got close to… pass on. It’s unbelievably difficult to get close to someone, just to have them leave you unexpectedly, so I quit, and started my own business that still allowed me to help people.” she said. I was hit with sudden realization.
“Redheart Rehabilitation… Miss Redheart. Wait, are you the owner of Redheart Rehabilitation?!” I exclaimed. She nodded.
“Yep. The business is only a few months old, and I rarely participate personally as a rehab person, mainly because I get so busy with paperwork and other duties, but I was open when you came in yesterday. When Melissa, the girl you spoke to, came back and told me there was a gentleman in need of a rehab worker for a week that was such a perfect match for me, I honestly looked forward to meeting you.” Redheart admitted.
Once again, I felt guilty. It was time to tell her, even if the conditions weren’t perfect.
“Um, Red? I need to tell you something.” I said, forcing myself to look at her. She looked at me, waiting for me to continue.
“I’m not a smoker.” I confessed. She gave me a confused look, so I decided to continue.
“I was just walking through the mall when I spotted your business. I just got a really strong urge to go in, and when I did, the atmosphere was just so… friendly. I haven’t been in a place that felt like that in a long time, and I didn’t really want it to end, so I applied. I thought it would be nice to have a nice person to be with for a week, even if they were getting payed to do so.” I finished, feeling worse and worse as I heard myself admit that.
Redheart was silent, just looking at me. I decided to speak a little more.
“I now realize that I took you away from your business, and potentially took you away from helping someone who might have actually needed help, and I feel rotten about it now. I originally told myself it would be fine, because I’m paying you, and in the business business, money is what matters. But I know that was wrong now. Please don’t hate me.” I said, closing my eyes, waiting for her answer.
I eventually heard her sigh, and braced myself for her to lash out at me.
"I'm going back to work. I don't have time for people who take advantage of me." she said, quickly sitting up. She walked over to her suitcase and began to pack up her things. I suddenly felt scared.
"W-Wait Red! Is there anything, absolutely ANYTHING I can do to make you stay? I really enjoy your company!" I pleaded. Red stopped just as she was about to walk out the door, and turned to me.
"Anything?" she asked. I nodded.
"Anything. I feel really bad for lying to you, and I still hope we can be friends." I said quietly. Redheart crossed her arms.
"Fine. There is one thing you can do." she said. I looked up hopefully. "You can take me out on a dinner date." she finished.
“You want me to take you on a what?” I asked, believing I had heard her wrong.
“A dinner date. If I’m going to stay with you, I figure we should get to know each other better. Besides, you owe me for lying to me.” she said, shaking her finger at me. I blushed.
“Alright, point taken. We can go out to dinner tonight. Anywhere in particular you’d like to go?” I asked. Redheart thought.
“Olive Garden sounds good. I love their food.” she said. I nodded.
“I’ve been there on occasion, and I like their food too.” I said, thinking of the delicious cooked meals.
“Alright, it’s a date.” Red said, smiling. I looked at her.
“Uh… date?” I asked. Redheart chuckled.
“Relax Jack. A dinner date, not a romantic date… unless you’d like it to be.” she said, suddenly closing the space between us, batting her eyelashes. I apparently turned an extremely bright shade of red, because Redheart started laughing.
“Wow! I haven’t seen anyone blush that fiercely in a while!” she said. I turned away, grumbling.
“Stupid brain.”
Red finally stopped laughing and put a hand on my shoulder.
“Oh come now Jack, it’s only natural to be attracted to someone. Especially someone pretty as me, wouldn’t you agree?” she asked, trying to appear innocent.
“I suppose so.” I mumbled, avoiding eye contact. I suddenly remembered something.
“Hey Red, I have to work a few hours today. What are you going to do while I’m gone? Need me to drop you off anywhere?” I asked, glancing at the clock. Redheart thought.
“Umm, no. I’ll just stay here. I can always walk into town if I want something to do. When will you be back?” she asked.
“Probably around three or so. I work the morning to mid-afternoon shift. I actually better get going.” I said, grabbing my car keys. The part-time job I was managing to hold onto currently was a mail room clerk, so I didn’t have a specific dress uniform.
As I headed out the door, I glanced behind me.
“You sure you won’t get bored?” I asked. Redheart nodded.
“I’ll be fine Jack. I’ll be here when you get back. Drive safely.” she said. I nodded, and closed the door behind me.
...
(This section is from Redheart’s P.O.V.)
With Jack gone for a while, I could think through my plan a little more carefully. I went to Jack’s bedroom, where I was currently staying, and pulled out my suitcase. I moved a few shirts aside and found what I was looking for. A strapless black silk dress, perfect for the dinner date tonight. I giggled in excitement. I could hardly wait for the date. I had developed some feelings for Jack just a few hours after meeting him.
I don’t know if I’d call it “love at first sight”, but there was certainly something about him that I loved. He was handsome, kind, caring, and seemed like a genuinely good guy. But when he admitted lying to my business about being a smoker, I was put off a little. Although he did seem genuinely sorry for doing so, and his explanation for why he did so was a little touching, he still lied.
But, I just really couldn’t bring myself to be mad at him. He just was so… pure. I remembered when we first met, how he kissed my hand, and was so polite.
I faked being angry with him to get an idea as to what his conscience was like. But what was really surprising was that he seemed so off-put to the idea of me going. He really seems to enjoy my company, which makes me feel sorry for him. I know he doesn’t have many friends. Poor guy. I can’t imagine how he doesn’t have more friends. Maybe he’s shy?
Anyway, I unfolded the black dress, and smoothed it out. I looked through my briefcase again, finding that I didn’t have any shoes that went with the dress.
“Time to head to the store.” I said to myself, grabbing my wallet. I closed the door to Jack’s bedroom, for the rare occurrence that he got back before me, so he wouldn’t see the dress and get suspicious. I stepped outside Jack’s house, closing the door behind me, and headed into town.
...
(We now return to Jack’s P.O.V.)
Man, was work a drag today! Mail sorting isn’t exactly the most interesting job out there, but at least it payed. As I was driving myself home, I found myself wondering about Red’s true intention’s behind her sudden suggestion of a dinner date. I just assumed this was her way of getting back at me for lying to her, but a few signs coming from her possibly suggested otherwise. I didn’t really know for sure, so I stopped thinking about it. I rolled down my car window and finished my drive home.
Once I arrived, I walked in the front door, and found Red sitting on the couch, watching the television. She flipped it off once she saw me.
“Hey! How was work?” she asked, scooting over so I could have a place on the small couch.
“It was just an average day, boring, but paying. Anything interesting happen while I was out?” I asked. Red shook her head.
"Well, I'm actually getting a little hungry. Would you like to go on our dinner date soon?" I continued, glancing at the clock. It was five thirty.
“We could go now, if you’d like. Just let me change into nicer attire.” Redheart said, walking towards my bedroom. Was that a smirk on her face?
She took a good ten minutes to change, but when she finally stepped out, I was dumbfounded. She was wearing a gorgeous black dress!
“I… uh…” I stumbled over my own words. She giggled.
“What, you didn’t expect me to go wearing a wrinkled-up T-Shirt, did you?” she asked. I raised an eyebrow. I honestly hadn’t given it any thought whatsoever, but I deemed it a good idea to change into something a little nicer as well. A simple white shirt with a black outer suit, to be exact. It was one of the most expensive clothing sets I owned.
Once she saw me, Redheart smiled.
“You look very handsome. You should wear nice things more often.” She said, picking up her small hand purse. I smirked.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Shall we go?” I asked, holding open the front door for her.
A fifteen-minute drive later, and we had arrived at the restaurant. I rarely went out to eat at such a place, so it was a nice change of pace.
We got out, and walked inside, pleased to see that, despite it being the dinner hour, the place wasn’t overly packed with people.
“Table for two please.” I told the waitress. She smiled and led us to a table in the far corner of the building, a nice window to look out of nearby.
I pulled out a chair for Redheart, and then took my own seat.
“Order whatever you’d like.” I told her, hoping that the total price of our meals wouldn’t be too expensive.
We both looked at the menu’s for a few minutes, before a waitress came over to take our orders.
“I’d like the cheese filled Mozzarella sticks, and a steak, medium rare please.” I ordered, the waitress scribbling on her notepad.
Redheart set her menu on the table.
“I’d like the salad, with a steak as well, well done.” she said. I raised my eyebrows. I wouldn’t have taken Redheart for a big meat lover.
The waitress offered us a bottle of red wine, which we accepted, and then went to give our orders to the cook.
“I wouldn’t have taken you for a big meat lover.” I said, unfolding my napkin, and placing the silverware in the proper positions. Redheart shrugged.
“I’ve always been a meat lover, I just don’t usually eat it much, unless it’s a special occasion.” she said, blushing slightly.
I nodded in understanding. Then, realized what she had just said.
“You consider this a special occasion?” I asked, somewhat surprised. She nodded.
“Of course! It’s not everyday I go out to dinner with a cute man I met and...” she stopped suddenly. I smiled.
“Um… I meant...” she stuttered, looking down at the table. Luckily, the waitress arrived with our food at that exact moment, temporarily relieving Redheart of her awkward situation.
I began to cut my steak, while Redheart began to nibble at her salad in silence. I decided to switch topics.
"So..." I hesitated, unable to think of a topic. "How about that weather we've been having?" I said.
SERIOUSLY, did I just ask about the fucking weather?!
Redheart glanced at me.
"Um, it's been pretty good. Nice temperature and all..." her voice trailed off, once again leaving us in silence. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Damn it Red, don't worry about what you said. It's okay if you find me cute, handsome, or whatever. I don't mind hearing your honest opinion. In my opinion, you're very pretty." I said, hoping to loosen her up.
She looked at me in surprise, by both my abrupt attempt to lighten the mood, and my confession of finding her attractive.
"I'm sorry Jack. I've made this dinner date awkward. I wish I could just restart the entire thing." she said, putting her face in her hands. I chuckled.
"I told you, don't worry about it. One little word doesn't make a difference to me. Just enjoy yourself." I said, taking a bite of my steak.
She sighed, but she once again had a smile on her face.
"Thanks Jack." she said, beginning to eat her food at a normal pace.
After our meal was finished, the waitress came to collect payment. I covered the bill, which only made me cringe slightly. Redheart had offered to go half and half, but I denied her, knowing it was the gentleman's duty to pay, whether it was a real date or not.
We walked outside, and Redheart sighed.
"I love the night so much. It's beautiful. The twinkle of the stars, the cool light of the moon. It always helps me relax." she said, looking up into the sky.
I nodded in agreement.
"I hear you. The night is always a peaceful time of day that helps relax people before the time of slumber arrives." I said, wondering if that sounded wise, or weird.
We slowly walked back to my car, which was on the far side of the parking lot. I didn't notice right away, but I eventually became aware the Red's hands were wrapped around my arm, and she was walking only mere inches from me.
It was a little chilly out, so I chalked it up to her needed some warmth. That beautiful dress probably didn't do much in the sense of preserving body heat.
We arrived at the car, and I opened the door for her, so she could get in, then got into the drivers seat.
"Would you like to go back home, or was there somewhere else you wanted to go?" I asked. Red thought.
"I don't know. I'd kinda like to go somewhere. I don't usually get to enjoy the beautiful night much with company." she said, looking at me. I started the car.
"Anywhere in mind?" I asked, waiting for her suggestion.
"Um, I don't know... maybe the beach?" she said. I raised an eyebrow. I had never thought to visit the beach at night. I looked at the radio clock. It was only eight in the evening. We had plenty of time to drive to the beach and enjoy it for a while.
"Sounds good to me." I said, putting the car in drive.
After a twenty minute drive, we arrived at the beach, which was deserted, as I expected. We got out, and walked onto the sand, which was a cool gray color in the moonlight, the calm waves gently hitting the edge, creating a calming sound.
"Man, I thought the beach was nice during the day, but at night..." I trailed off, just taking in the sight.
"It's beautiful." Redheart finished. I looked at her for a moment, and could barely believe what I saw.
Standing on the beach, next to me, was Redheart. But she looked so different from how I usually saw her.
I saw a beautiful woman in a gorgeous black dress, radiating in the moonlight, her gentle pink hair gently blowing in the breeze, her ocean blue eyes practically shining the moon's reflection. Her arms wrapped around her chest, gazing peacefully at the water.
I could scarcely believe I hadn't noticed her true beauty before, but I sure as hell was now.
How had I gotten such a beautiful marvel to be friends with me?
...
Suddenly, she looked at me, and blushed.
"What?" she asked.
I walked a little closer to her.
"I can't believe I never saw it before." I said, tucking a stray bit of her hair behind her ear. "We both talk about the beauty of the beach at night, how it can sometimes take some time to see something for what it truly can be."
I took her hand in mine. She looked directly at me with her glowing blue eyes.
"Redheart, you are beautiful, something I can't believe I never truly noticed until now. You glow in the moonlight, and your hair flows with the breeze as effortlessly as air itself. I've never seen a woman as pretty as you, and I haven't the foggiest idea as to how I managed to get you to become friends with me." I finished.
Even through the darkness, dimly light my moonlight, I could see Red's fierce blush. She leaned towards me gently. No words were spoken. No words needed to be spoken.
We didn't need words. We had instinct and feelings.
We kissed, the moon gently watching over us this peaceful night.
The kiss lasted for about five seconds. The gentle lapping of the calm nightly waters adding a soft ambiance to the otherwise silent moment. In a word, it was perfect. The perfect moment, the perfect kiss.
Once we finally broke, neither of us could find words to speak. We gazed at each other for the longest time, and then, she put her hands on mine, and brought them up to her chest. My breathing became nervous. But then, Redheart smiled.
“Jack... that was beautiful.” she said, releasing my hands, and leaning against me. I put my arm around her, and we both looked out upon the water.
After another few minutes of silence, I quietly spoke.
“So... now what?”
Redheart looked at me.
“I don't know. I mean, Jack... I have to admit, I find you quite attractive, and have developed some feelings for you, although it's only been a few days. I wouldn't mind if this turned into something more, but that's me. I don't know how you feel.” she said, taking my hand again.
I didn't need to think very long.
“I like you Redheart. I dare say you ignited a spark in me the day I met you that I haven't felt in a long time. I haven't felt much for a woman in years, mainly because they never seem to take much interest in me. But you...” I paused, once again moving that pesky strand of pretty pink hair from her face. “You made my insides feel warm the second I saw you. Although I can't remember exactly what I thought when I saw you, I'm sure it was along the lines of: Holy crap! That's whose going to be with me for a week? I must be the luckiest man on Earth.” I finished. Redheart was nearly in tears.
“I-I really made you feel like that?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. I nodded. She suddenly buried her head into my shoulder, and let out a sob. I wasn't sure what to do. It certainly wasn't the reaction I expected.
“Are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you?” I asked, concerned. She chuckled in between sobs.
“Are you kidding Jack? That was the most romantic things anyone has ever said to me.” she said, hugging me again. I patted her back.
“So, does that mean you want this to escalate further?” I asked, smiling. She looked at me with big, tear filled eyes.
“Of course. I'd love to call myself your girlfriend Jack.” she said, hugging me tightly. I smiled. After so long of being lonely, I finally had someone special.
We sat on the cool beach sand, and looked out at the water. We leaned on each other, and I put and arm around her.
“You know, I know lying is a bad thing, but imagine. If I hadn't gone into your business and lied about being a smoker, I never would have met you.” I said, giving her a small kiss on the forehead. She smiled, and nuzzled against my shoulder.
“Don't get cocky Jack. That was one lie that turned out fine, but I don't want you lying about everything all the time. I like my men honest.” she said. I smirked.
“I promise.” I said, laying back onto the sand. Redheart did the same, and we both gazed at the starlight sky.
“Isn't it lovely to see the stars at night. You can't see them when you're in the city, but when you're out in a more rural area like this, we can see them all.” she said. I response for that, and although I knew it was way to soon for a comment like this, I said it anyway. I rolled over, and looked at Redheart, the stars twinkling in her eyes.
“I can think of something more beautiful to look at.” I whispered. Redheart blushed.
“Wow. Laying the flattery on thick, are we? Not that I mind...” she trailed off, turning her gaze towards me.
I smiled.
“Sorry, couldn't resist. I never really had enough time to say things like that with my previous girlfriend's before they left me, so I figured I better start now.” I said. Redheart looked hurt.
“You mean to say I'm expected to break up with you so soon? I hate to tell you Jack, but I'm not like those other girls. I intend to stay with you until you do something that would make me not like you anymore.” she said, poking me in the side.
I laughed, and sat up.
“I'll try not to be an asshole if I can help it. I fully hope to keep you around.” I said. Red smiled.
“Good. Like I said, I don't scare away easily.” she sighed. I looked back at the water.
We remained there for another hour or so, until we both realized we were getting plum tuckered, so we called it a night and went home.
Although... Redheart seemed a little more hesitant to let me sleep on the couch, and not join her in my bedroom.
I lay awake that night while Redheart slept that night. Everything had happened so quickly. A simple, supposedly innocent dinner date, then a night trip to the beach, then the kiss.
That kiss had changed everything for the better.
Of course, at first, I was shocked, and thought Redheart would call it quits then and there, but it was her who had liked you from the start. The two of us were an item now, only a couple days in. But now that that was that, what would become of Redheart?
Would she go back to work, and help someone who actually needed it, or would she stay with me for the rest of your week? And what about after the week was up? How would the two of us stay in touch? The more I kept thinking, the less I was able to sleep, so I got up off the couch, and quietly walked to the kitchen for a beer. Sitting back on the couch, I popped the cap off of the beer, and took a good sized swig. As the liquid washed down my throat, I leaned back and sighed.
"I guess I should just enjoy it while I can..." I muttered, before taking another swig.
"Enjoy what?" asked a voice. I quickly turned around to find Redheart standing behind me in her pajamas.
"Oh shit, did I wake you? I'm sorry." I rapidly apologized. Red smiled, and sat next to me on the couch.
"That's alright. I heard you talking to yourself out here through the door." she said. Had I been saying all my thoughts out loud that entire time? I grinned sheepishly.
"I didn't realize I had been talking. I thought I was just thinking. Sorry." I apologized again. Red's brow furrowed as I took another gulp of beer.
"What's wrong?" she asked. I raised an eyebrow.
"What makes you think anything is wrong?" I asked. Red took the beer from my hand before I could finish the bottle.
"You don't seem like the drinking type, so I'm assuming something must be weighing on your mind pretty heavily to be making you drink at two in the morning." she said. She had me there.
"I'm just wondering what will happen to us once the week is up. I've been going through scenarios in my head, and I find that I don't like most of them." I admitted. Redheart chuckled.
"I told you last night, I don't scare away easily. We'll still be able to see each other once I go back to work. I can stop by after work any time." she said. That made me feel a little better, but the lingering feeling was still there.
"Yeah but... I'm getting used to you being around all the time. It's going to be hard when I don't have you by my side." I said quietly. Redheart put an arm around me, and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"You say the most romantic things. It will all work out, you'll see." she said, closing her eyes. I closed my eyes as well, and leaned my head onto hers.
Between the warmth from each others bodies, and the sound of our gentle breathing, we finally fell asleep in each others embrace.
. . .
The clock struck six, and I was actually the first to wake up. I felt a weight on my lap, and looked down to find Redheart curled up on it, her head resting against my chest. I had forgotten about her intervention last night. As I watched her peacefully sleeping, I couldn't help but smile.
The most beautiful woman on Earth sleeping in my lap. My life was complete.
I wanted to get up, but I didn't want to disturb her, especially since I woke her up with my bullshit, so I sat in silence until she woke, which took the better part of the hour.
"And you told me I slept to late." I teased once she opened her eyes. She looked up at me without moving, before cracking a smile.
"This isn't something I usually let happen, just so you know. But we were out late, and somebody woke me up in the middle of the night, so I deemed it necessary to sleep here." she said, picking her self up. I smirked.
"Maybe if it weren't for the fact that you literally told me that you had the hots for me, I might've believed that one."
Redheart stuck her tongue out at me, and I chuckled, before throwing a pillow at her.
"Why don't you go and get yourself cleaned up?" Red asked, walking backwards towards her room so I couldn't surprise attack her.
"Speak for yourself, bedhead." I replied. Red's hair was in an absolute mess, frizzed in all directions. She blushed, and closed the bedroom door behind her.
"Girls." I muttered before heading into the bathroom to take a shower and shave.
. . .
Once I had finished with my cleansing and trimming, I waited outside my bedroom door until Redheart opened it. As attractive as she was, I wouldn't want a repeat of what had happened the last time I entered unannounced. When she finally did open it, I gasped.
Redheart was standing there in a light green sleeveless shirt, with a string around her neck holding it up, leaving a good one third of her back exposed. Her midsection was still slightly revealed, and she still wore the same pair of Yoga pants. Her pink hair, however, was different. Instead of being in its usual pony tail style, it was unrestrained, hanging straight freely behind her, lengthening just past her shoulder blades.
"Holy shit..." I breathed, looking at her. She blushed, and wrapped her arms around herself.
"What?" she asked. I stood up, put a hand to her hair gently.
"Your hair. I've never seen it straight before." I said. She chuckled.
"Oh that? I usually leave it straight before I wash it, then I put it into a pony tail." she said.
"No, don't! It looks amazing down!" I nearly yelled. She looked surprised, but then took some of her hair in her hand, and looked at it.
"It doesn't look messy?" she asked, looking unsure.
"No, it looks beautiful! You've got gorgeous hair Red, let it flow." I insisted. After a few more seconds, Redheart finally gave in.
"Fine, if you like it so much, I'll wear it down for today. But I still have to wash and brush it." she said, continuing her way to the bathroom. I watched her close the door, and then entered my bedroom to get on a fresh set of clothes.
. . .
Another twenty five minutes later, and we were both sitting at the kitchen table. Redheart's hair had a gorgeous shine to it, and it was straight as an arrow. It changed how she looked as a whole so much, it was unbelievable. She looked like a nice girl before, but with her hair down, she looked like a real woman.
The two of us sat as the bacon and eggs sizzled away on the stove. Redheart was reading the paper, and I was staring at the table absent mindedly. Eventually, the food was ready, so I got up and put a nice amount of eggs and bacon onto both of our plates. As I set Redheart's in front of her, she folded the paper, and took in a long sniff.
"Why does your cooking always smell so much better than mine ever does?" she pouted, before taking a bite of the eggs, and smiled. "And taste better?" she added. I smirked.
"I like cooking. You do it well enough, and it can become an art form. Not only does it look good, but if it also smells good, and tastes good, it's pleasing to everyone in three different ways." I said, sitting to enjoy my own food. As I ate, I became aware of Redheart watching me quietly.
"What?" I finally asked. She smiled.
"There's a lot about you I don't yet understand. Sometime's, you just seem normal, but then you say something so interesting, or do something so sweet, and I'm reminded that you're very different. Which is a good thing. I like different." she said. I smiled.
"I'm glad my quirks please you." I said. Redheart frowned.
"They're not quirks, they're just things that make you who you are. I can tell you are very smart, just from the things you say sometimes." she said.
"Tell that to the job industry. One of the reasons I have such a difficult time finding a decent job is because I never went to College." I said. Redheart shrugged.
"Neither did I, but I still managed to get my business up and running. Sometimes you just have to believe you can do something, and it will happen sooner or later." she said. I sighed, and threw my fork on my plate.
"Red, I've been job hunting for three years, and the part time one I have now is the only thing I have to show for it. Sometimes, I just... I don't know. I feel like such a failure, and that I'll never amount to anything. I can barely get by with the money I make. How will I ever move up in the world if I can't move on?" I asked. Redheart placed her hand on mine. Her touch was comforting.
"Because I believe in you. I know you're destined for something. With your personality, smarts, and good looks, something is bound to happen eventually. I know it." she said, smiling. I forced a smile back, but I didn't feel a whole lot better.
"I have to work today at least. That will give me a little more money." I said, looking at the clock. My shift started in a few hours.
"What time will you be back?" Redheart asked. I shrugged.
"Probably around six tonight." I replied. She leaned back in her chair.
"Maybe I'll stop by Redheart Rehabilitation today. I probably have some paperwork to catch up on." she said. The thought of her returning to the business made you uncomfortable, but you said nothing.
"Hey, if you don't work for a few hours, do you want to go out and see my place? I've never even gotten to show you yet." Redheart suddenly said. I smiled.
"That would be nice." I said, standing up from the table with my dishes.
. . .
Once the rest of the morning chores were finished, Redheart and I climbed into my car, and she gave me directions to her apartment building. It was an old brick building, with moss growing on all sides. Twenty windows were on the front, and a rusting hand rail was next to the cracked stone steps that led to the front door.
"Wow. This is... nice." I said, trying not to offend her home. She scoffed.
"No it's not. It's a run down old building that should be knocked down entirely. I only live here because it's the cheapest apartment in town, so I can afford it. Running a business, especially a new one, is very costly." she said.
We stepped out, just as it began to rain.
"Eeee! Hurry and get inside. I hate getting wet!" she shrieked, pushing me towards the front door. Rushing inside the small lobby, we just beat the rain as it began to pour.
"Close one." I said, shaking the small amount of water off of me. Red inspected herself.
"Definitely. Can you imagine how quickly water would turn my shirt transparent?" she asked. I blushed at the thought.
"I'll try not to." Redheart smiled, and patted my cheek.
"That's because you're such a gentleman." she said, leading me up a flight of stairs. "I live on the top floor. It was the only room available when I moved in." she said, fiddling with her keys as the two of us reached the end of the looping staircase. She led me down to a door at the end of the hall. A loud CLUNK was heard as the deadbolt slid from its locked position. Redheart opened the door.
"Welcome to my humble getaway." she said. I walked inside, and looked around the room. It wasn't much, but I could see that Redheart didn't mind. She sat on her couch and sighed.
"To be honest, I've been trying to get out of here for awhile, but I just can't afford anything else. This place is to small for me, and it's in awful shape. But, I'm used to it." she said. I scowled.
Okay, she did mind, but just couldn't do anything about it. I had an idea.
I would enjoy seeing Redheart everyday, even after our week was up, and she would enjoy living in a nicer place.
"You really want to move out of here, right?" I asked. She nodded.
"I would. Unfortunately, with the costs of my new business, it won't happen for quite a few years." she said. I looked around at her living space. Peeling paint, not much space, old furniture, a less than sufficient heating and cooling system. I wouldn't stand for it.
"Would you come and stay with me? In my house?" I blurted. Redheart's head jerked up to look at me, her eyes wide.
"N-No! I couldn't!" she stammered, clearly surprised by the suggestion. I sat down next to her, and took her hands in mine.
"I'd love it if you did. Then we could see each other everyday. We could have breakfast together, go for morning walks together. Your problems would be my problems, and we would always be there for one another. You would never have to set foot in this apartment again." I said. Redheart bit her lip.
"B-But, you don't even have two bedrooms." she tried to argue. I smiled.
"That hasn't been a problem so far, has it? I'm fine sleeping on the couch, and we just take turns changing and doing our morning routines. It's a small price to pay, but I don't mind it at all." I said. Redheart sniffed.
"You would really invite me to live with you? Would you really be okay with that?" she asked. I nodded.
Redheart blinked her eyes a few times, before she began to cry. She leaned her head into my shoulder, and I held her in my arms.
"Thank you. So much." she said. I patted her back as she cried. Life would certainly change a little, but it would most likely be for the better.
