The Truth of Past and Present

Chapter 5: The market and a boy

Despite that near miss in the cantina, I was feeling pretty confident as I strode through the markets. The directions Wabser had given me were cemented in my brain, but I couldn't help stopping to look at all the different stands as I passed.

There were Marusian spices, Hirenean Boobla fruits, Drekkian gringa juice, and more, plus many inedible things like Kelpian coral necklaces and pearls, Orentine fabrics, and Terrintian precious stones. So many things, so many colors, so many wonderful smells! I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of it all that I just stopped and stood there, in the middle of the market, taking it all in.

I spied a stand selling one of my favorite things: Ganerian Arentile fruits. Sweet and tangy at the same time, I loved either eating them raw or making them into an Arentile pie. I approached the stand.

"How much for a dozen?" I asked, reaching for the cash credits I had gotten before coming to the lower sector. They use raw credits here, not digital, so Garek told me.

"120 credits." The owner told me, looking eager for a customer.

I dug in my satchel, but just as I was about to pay, I noticed a boy who had suddenly appeared next to me.

"Now Tringo, last time I passed, you were selling these fruits at 3 credits apiece, not 10." 

The shopkeeper froze. "What of it, Daniel?" He scowled.

"You wouldn't be trying to cheat this little lady, would you?" The boy looked at him evenly.

"What would you care, Jonser?"

"Well, I wouldn't care a Boobla, but...if your customers were to find out..." here he raised his voice, "Tringo's fruits are covered in Farten slime?!?" 

At this, several people in the market looked up, one choked on a fruit he had been eating, and several potential customers turned away in distaste.

"Alright, alright! 36 credits, it's 36!" As I paid the money, the owner, Tringo, got into the boy's face. "Don't think I will forget this, Daniel Jonser. I have friends in places you would hate to be, and I know your every move around this part of town. Don't think I'm not watching you!" he snarled.

"Always a pleasure to speak to you as well, Tringo!" the boy, Daniel, backed up, tipping an imaginary hat. "Milady?" he proffered his hand to me with an exaggerated flourish. I finished packing up the dozen fruits I had just bought, stared timidly at the boy's hand, not knowing what to do, and walked away.

"Hey!" he called. "Wait up!"

I kept walking. The sound of footsteps got closer and more persistent. I didn't know if I should run, or continue walking. Should I signal an official? I searched for one with my eyes, and kept moving towards the depot...

"Hey, I just saved you!" the boy was right next to me.

"Saved me? From what?" I said derisively. To be fully honest, I did not know what I had against this boy, but I felt almost...uncomfortable around him. He was so open and dramatic, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or to run. Why wouldn't he leave me alone?

"From being swindled by that good-for-nothing Tringo!"

"My hero." I mumbled.

The boy was offended. "He was going to make you pay triple for those fruits!"

"Save me!" I gasped dramatically, pretending to faint. 

Then I tripped on a crate and started falling, for real this time.

"Gladly." The boy said. Next thing I knew, I was in his arms, inches from the hard pavement. 

"Happy now, milady?" the boy said as he helped me to my feet.

I nodded, my cheeks flaming redder than a Boobla fruit. "Thanks." I murmured.

"No problem," he answered graciously. Then the conversation lapsed as we both stood back, a little embarrassed by the contact we had just made. As much as I tried to resist, I kept looking at this boy.

He was maybe 2 years older and 8 inches taller than me, with a dark tan, almost warm olive skin tone and well-formed biceps. I could tell that wherever he was from, this boy had worked hard, with apparently not much to eat. His face was the most mesmerizing. He had black, shaggy hair framing his face, which looked like it hadn't been cut in a while, a strong jawline, an unbroken nose, and forest-green eyes. His eyes were so green and deep, I felt like if I looked into them too long, I would be pulled into a sylvan wilderness...

Daniel's POV:

This girl was so weird, so...naive. She literally had no clue about the lower sectors, I could tell from the uncertain way she moved away from me. Why had I chased after her? I still had no clue. She was different, I could tell that much. Probably a rich girl from an upper sector, stretching her jeweled leash as far as it would go. I didn't want her to take anything the wrong way, but I couldn't help looking at her.

She was pretty short compared to me, and her skin tone suggested more days in a classroom than outside, being pale and sophisticated. This girl had no blemishes whatsoever on her perfect skin, but she wasn't all flesh and bone, like some of the little princesses playing at being "bad girls" I had seen around here. I could see faint muscles, mostly in her arms, but her face was what got my attention. 

She was seriously pretty, not that I'd ever say it to her face. Her long, dark-brown hair gleamed in the sunlight, and I had smelled lavender and Arentile fruits when I caught her. Her nose was smooth and long, she had defined cheekbones, and her eyes looked like the deepest ocean, with tiny golden specks appearing when she looked directly at me. 

I cleared my throat, knowing I should say something.

I felt like I could drown in those ocean-eyes...

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So hey, my loyal readers! 

This story is a new one, a new venture, and I would love to know what you think, what should happen, what characters I could add, anything you want to say!

This is my first attempt at varying POV's, so I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. (XD) I would love any input you all would offer to my inexperienced self.

Speaking of input, I have been browsing this site, and a user named MarloweThoughts recommended their book to me: The Insanity Revolt. From what I've read so far, it is a really engaging story, and I encourage you all to check it out!

MarloweThoughts, Keep Calm and Write On!