Reflections

Chapter 1

Soft melodious notes traveled from the outside and pounded against the window demanding to be heard. It was slow and soothing and seemed vaguely familiar which caused my fingers to unconsciously tap my pencil against the wooden desk in front of me. I soon found myself humming along as if I had known its rhythmic beats all my life but I couldn't quite locate it in my memories.

I took a deep breath and looked at the scattered papers in front of me and sighed. There was so much to do and so little time. There's no time for distractions, I thought. I need to get this done. I closed my eyes preparing myself for the much hated work that would soon nauseate my eyes with dizziness. I took deep breaths in hopes that my breathing would help me forget the music and make me focus. It didn't.

A voice joined along with the beats making it even harder to forget and ignore. It was too deep to really compliment the soft notes and only made it that much harder to ignore. The unwanted stranger kept singing despite his offbeat lyrics and got louder and louder with every minute passed. "Come to me in harmony where flowers bloom all year," he sang. "Come to me, oh princess! Let the people finally cheer." The music only lasted a minute more, and for that, I was thankful.

I looked towards the window wondering if the mystery man still stood outside of it or if he left. My question was answered when he yelled out once more.

"Come to me princess! Let me absorb the blinding light that is your beauty!"

I started to laugh to the point where I couldn't breathe and instead started choking on air. No one said things like that anymore and it was extremely funny hearing someone try to. I gave him credit for trying though but questioned who the strange man was. I did know why he was singing though; many men had tried standing out and had done some exotic and surprising acts, all for the attention of one person. Each one was more determined from the last and each one tried a new tactic- singing was definitely a new one.

Looking back at my work, I knew that going to the window was my only chance of a break and decided to happily take it. I pushed back my chair, stood up, and walked to the window, lifted the glass and leaned against the window sill. As expected, a look of pure shock took over the strange man's face. His firm jaw dropped and his crystal blue eyes widened.

"I am so sorry," he stuttered.

I frowned pretending to look hurt. "What's wrong, my handsome stranger? Is it my hair? I gazed down at the strands of hair that I held between my thumb and fore finger and inspected its length. "I cut my hair about a month ago, stupid me. Now you can't climb up my obnoxiously long hair and confess your undying love for me! If only you were here last month.

I planted my face in my hands and pretended to cry making loud sobbing noises. The man below me chuckled deeply causing me to eye him once again but this time I showed no emotion.

"She isn't here."

"Who?"

"Becca, my roommate. She probably ran off with another one of her many suitors but if you come back later, you may get about ten minutes to yourself before another comes along."

Looking back down at the man, I saw his expression instantly fall making me feel bad. It was true that Becca had many gentlemen callers and she was nowhere near modest enough to deny any of them and their actions or gifts. She was actually leading more on, as well but it wasn't my place to tell any of them off. She wasn't a bad person, she was sweet and caring and loved to have a good time so it wasn't a surprise that she would be in the spotlight as the most popular girl in the room. Her looks definitely helped too; guys just loved her dark curly hair and bright green eyes. She was absolutely beautiful and knew it too.