Sound Storm

Chapter 2

Present day, 3027

"Oops, sorry," I am running through the busy streets, trying to get to work on time. My bosses coffee in one hand, and the fashion design ideas in the other, "Excuse me." I reach the stairs leading to the subway, I run down them, my tight plaid skirt threating to rip at any moment. I slide past a group of musicians, one of their instrument cases hits me in the leg, tripping me into a guy walking aimlessly around the subway station. Finally the subway shows up, it's wheels hovering inches above the tracks. As I am trying to fight my way through the sliding doors, I lose my white high heel in the crowd. I quickly turn around trying to look for it. It's no use I am never going to find my shoe.

"Miss in the plaid skirt." It's a mans voice, but the question is who. It has a familiar tone, I turn around to see who called. The guy has my shoe, I run as fast as someone can with only one shoe on.

"Hi, is that my shoe?" I ask, my voice sounds more rushed then I intended. The guy has brown skin, and I think green eyes. I think I might...

"Neptune? Oh my Gosh, is that you?" He says that, before I can finish my thought.

"Surge! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, it's been a long time," I can't believe it's him, "You....should come over." Oh, no, What did I just do?

"Sure, that would be nice." He says, his words say one thing, his face, while that is a different story.

"Okay, great what about Sunday after church?" I say, moving my bright purple hair out of my eyes. I look down at my wrists to see my black watch, the time reads 8:35am, I'm late. I nod toward the shoe in Surge's hand. He hands it over, I put my shoe on. I wave goodbye, and catch the next hovering subway.

I get into the crowded subway and find a seat. Thoughts start rushing into my head. What are you going to say when he comes over? When he asks why you started ignoring him? My head starts spinning, making me nauseous. I stare at the floor to make my vision focus and think about those questions calmly. I will say hello, and explain why I started ignoring him. Lets see, it all started a year after my mothers passing, and I was going to tell him that I liked him, like had a crush on him. When I told him I wanted to talk he came right over, he told me that he had something important to tell me too. When he got to my house, we both started talking really fast, Surge being the gentleman he was, and probably is, said I could say my news first. So I took a deep breath and told him that I liked him. This next part I remember clearly, his faced changed to a smile from ear to ear, to that expression someone gives you when they know something you don't. I remember the feeling of my heart dropping, dropping fast. I told him to tell me his news, I wanted to quickly get off the subject of what I said. He had said that he had a boyfriend, I was super happy for him. I was happy that he had come out, and told me. But there was that voice in the back of my mind saying He won't like you the same way you like him, you will never get to be with him. After that I was to embarrassed to even look him in the eye, so as a result I started ignoring him, slowly, but eventually our friendship sizzled to a crisp. A beep and a voice comes through the intercom announcing the location we are stopping at. It jerks me out of my thoughts as it reads the location I am supposed to be at. I get up taking my bosses coffee and the important fashion design folder with me.
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My boss, Nile, walks into the glass conference room. The twelve other people in the room divert their gaze toward our boss. He has a sly smile on his face, his brightly patterned suit almost blinds my eyes. Nile sits down at the metal table, his eyes narrow on me. I quickly stand up and walk toward him. I hand over the coffee, and the folder with the fashion designs in it. "Thanks Neptune, you are probably the best assistant ever." He says nicely. Nile flicks his green, long hair out of his eyes. Nile is the best boss ever, he is nice, and appreciates everything I do here, which is literally just setting up folders full of designs and getting coffee. I make my way back to my seat as Nile starts opening up the folder. A big blue button sits in the middle of the folder, Nile presses the button. A holographic screen projects into the thin air, fashion designs flash for the whole conference room to see.
Dresses, skirts, shirts, and pants with different styles and designs flood my brain until it is the only thing I can think about. Then my least favourite part of the day starts, finance talk. Now my brain is flooding with confusing numbers. "I like that one," I say pointing at the screen, which has a picture of a sun dress. I don't usually talk, but it is a really nice dress. Everyone around the room slowly nods in agreement, even Nile.
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"Hey, Neptune do you want a ride home" Nile says, a huge smile on his face.
"Oh my goodness, really. That would be great, as long as you are sure you want to drive all the way down town," He nods and takes his bag from the conference room chair, he gestures for me to follow him. We get into a small glass elevator that goes extremely fast. Nile slowly presses the button and we are taken to the building's garage in seconds. We enter the garage and there are only a few cars in it, including Nile's. We walk over to his lime green car, it is a pretty nice model. "Actually can you drive me to my uncle Leon's, he is a little closer to here." Nile unplugs the car, we get into the seats and buckle up. He steps on the gas, we stay quiet whole car ride, I usually have a lot to say, but right now I don't. Until Nile breaks the silence.
"So do I turn down the next street?" He says nicely, I never realized how tired his eyes look, with big bags underneath.
"Yeah, hey, thanks for driving me home, the subway sucks!" I say letting out a little laugh.
"No problem, I thought I would give you a break from the subway, since that's why you were late to work." He says not in a mean way though, I start to laugh, and so does he.
"I guess that is always my excuse," I say through the laughing. Once our laughing dies down I can finally speak with out stopping to laugh, "Be prepared my uncle Leon likes to talk, that's a lie loves to talk." I say seriously, but still in a jokingly way.
"Don't we all." We both burst out laughing again! Wow I guess we both really needed this. After a half hour we reach Leon's house. It is bright blue, with colourful flowers lining the ground. I walk out of the car and make my way for the door. The door opens before I get there.
"Neptune, come in, come in, oh and invite your friend to come too." He says pointing at Nile, I wave for him to come over. Once Nile and I are both in the house, Leon gets us tea, and cookies.
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After talking for hours about fashion, friends, and life we are finally done the evening, Leon drives me home in his orange car. It is really bright and shines the most in the night, I got to say, it suits him. We get to my small, light purple house, with sun flowers at the front steps, I guess my house suits me. I get out of the car, there is a baking smell lofting through the air, I guess my neighbour Archie was baking. I wave goodbye to Leon, saying thank you. I walk up the steps to my house and there on the front door mat lies at small piece of paper, it's a note.