Pictures Of You

Girl From Mars

Noel gazed out at the horizon line as dusk set in. He sat on the sand that was now gloriously cool. The sun peeked underneath the sea. The sky was like a milky pink and orange opal. Beautiful. But most beautiful of all was the woman on the shore line. Her dress billowed around her. The freckles on her pale skin had truly taken over due to their exposure to the sun for the past few weeks. That dress. That shoreline. That woman. His heart pounded as the fantasy he'd allowed himself to imagine briefly was presenting itself in reality in this very moment. She turned to him and smiled. He wished he could freeze frame this moment. This place. Her. He felt suddenly nervous now that the perfect moment appeared to have presented itself.

Maggie came and sat beside him kissing his mouth lightly.

"I wish you could stay."

Maggie nodded and sighed.

"Me too. I could do this forever. Just stay right here with you. We could live off coconuts and making love, couldn't we?"

Noel laughed but looked at her seriously for a moment.

"Yeah?"

Maggie nodded.

Noel looked at her deeply his blue eyes shifting dark, soft and almost a hint of fear.

"What's up?" She asked gently.

Noel shook his head.

"I've got something for you. Close your eyes."

Maggie quirked her brow and looked at Noel accusingly as he stood up.

"If you are gonna come out of there wearing silk suspenders I'll be really happy." She teased.

Noel laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Fuck off! Wouldn't do the suspenders justice like you. Now close your eyes I mean it."

Maggie obediently placed her palm across her eyes listening to the gentle lull of the waves and the sound of the sand shifting as Noel approached once more.

"Hold out your hand." He said softly.

Maggie felt his warm fingers place a small object in her palm.

"You can open your eyes now if you want."

Maggie's eyes settled on a small box in her palm. A ring box. She swallowed thickly.

"I felt bad that you've been going around without like an official ring on your finger so...yeah. But like I said I wanted it to be special."

Maggie looked at Noel softly.

"Noel...I never needed a ring. Your word is enough."

Noel shook his head.

"Look...I wanted to do this proper. Not that there's been much about the way we've gone about things that has been."

Maggie smiled.

"We have done things proper. And our way. I don't care if other people don't get it. I'm happy. You make me happy."

"Maybe. But like I didn't want you to doubt my intentions. Like I know you seemed surprised when I mentioned about settling down. And I haven't brought it up again because I dont ever want to pressure you. I'm not saying I want marriage and a home and kids all right now. That's not what I want you to think. I'm not asking you to give up everything in San Francisco for me-"

"But I would. I...I want that. Right now I want that more than anything. I was only surprised because I didn't think you were the settling type, not because I don't want to marry or have kids with you."