"Excuse me?"
I looked up to see a man with afro-like hair and a goatee staring down at me. His voice was surprisingly soft for the way he looked. His face was flushed red, his eyes bloodshot, a grin on his face, and smeared makeup along his cheeks and eyelids.
He looked fucking mental.
But, if I had to talk to him to make money, I would. "Hey, man." I was stationed at one of a few different tents selling baked goods for donations outside of the animal shelter. Since my friend ran the shelter, I volunteered.
"I suppose I'd like to buy a cookie." he told
me, not really sounding sure of the statement he'd just made. It sounded a lot like he didn't really want a cookie, but I bagged one up for him anyways.
He slid a few crumpled up bills into my hand, letting his cold fingers curl around mine as he placed them in my palm. Amidst the bills was a slip of paper.
He winked and left with his cookie.
Jesus christ.
I'd assumed that him handing me the slip of paper was just a mistake, but I decided to unfold it to check.
737-263-9297
Serj ♡
I grimaced. The insane looking man who I assumed was called Serj wanted me to call him. That was what I deserved for running a stand in the city I suppose.
There was a apart of me that was curious, though. I was slightly alarmed, but there was something intriguing about the strange appearing man.
When I got home that night, I dialed the numbers into my phone, strongly hesitating to press enter. My heart was racing as I forced myself to call him.
A muffled "Hello?" could be heard on the other end of the line when he picked up.
"It's uh... it's the girl from the stand earlier."
"Ah! I apologize for how sudden that was. I thought you were pretty and went for it. I'd just gotten done with a show as well." he chuckled to himself.
"Oh. Are you in a band, or...?"
"Mhm!"
"That's cool." I responded, not knowing what else to say. The call seemed surreal, for whatever reason. "Oh uh- my name is y/n by the way."
"Hey, that's really pretty! Suits a someone who's as beautiful as you."
I awkwardly laughed at his sappy comment. I didn't want to admit that I might've been drawn to his sappy words. He was sorta charming in his own awkward way
There was an uncomfortably long pause until he said, "Anyways uh... I know we don't really know each other, but I'd like to know you. You wanna go out sometime?"
Against better judgement I said yes.
-
I walked down the sidewalk, an unlit cigarette propped between my lips.
I'd agreed to a date. Serj told me to meet him at the bar that was just a few blocks from my home, so I decided to walk to clear my head a bit.
I was pleasantly surprised with a slightly less insane looking Serj greeting me at the entrance, smoke trailing from his lips. His hair was less unkempt, his face was clear from smeared makeup, and he was wearing a simple outfit of jeans and a tee shirt.
He greeted me with a soft smile and a wave. "Hey, how are you?"
"I'm good, how about you?"
He responded with a shrug and put out his cigarette. "Let's go inside." We sat side by side on barstools when we got inside. "You look really nice by the way." He told me.
I was wearing a simple outfit. Fitted shirt, jeans, and sneakers. I was surprised he'd complimented me.
I had to admit that although he was eccentric looking, he was handsome. Maybe this could actually go somewhere.
-
part 2?? :3
