Red Velvet

Chapter 3

This chapter is dedicated to Emma Rose (winx1348) because her stories are absolutely lovely and heart-warming.

RECAP- Parker takes Shimmer to Cupcakes & Miracles in Philadelphia and shows her a sort of bucket list of people ( remember the BEFORE I DIE board). Anyway, you also need to remember Jeffers (Shim's landlord) right about now.

Moving on, the chapter begins in 3...2...1 

'Skydive,' someone has written in enticing, cursive handwriting with a bright pink chalk. It's the word which draws your attention the first time you run your eyes over the board, it's also the word you read and inwardly laugh because you have zero dollars in your bank account.

Same goes for 'glacier walk in New Zealand', 'go to La Tomatina of Spain' and the list is endless.

"Do people actually do this or has it all be written in the spur of the moment?" I half joke, half question.

"I bet half of these people have only written this stuff because it sounds cool, but there are people who do take it seriously," he responds.

"Here," he points to a fading yellow piece of writing. "Read this one."

'Kiss Ayla Roman.'

"What?" I can't help but laugh. "Ayla Roman as in the theater artist?"

"Tall, brunette and gorgeous. Yes, that's the one," he quips.

"I had no idea that you find entertainment in theater," I look at him with questioning eyes.

"I don't," he shrugs casually. "I find entertainment in Ayla Roman."

"Hey!" I scold him. "She is a very talented actress, show some respect." Her face graces the newspapers almost everyday especially after the immense success of her latest play –'Les Ailes Brisées'. Critics worldwide are lauding her performance as one of the greatest of our generation.

"And very attractive too," Parker is quick to say.

I roll my eyes. "Don't you just love her?" I joke.

"Nah, I find her pretty. I can't love her," his voice floats casually.

"Why not?" I ask. 'Isn't she every man's dream come true?"

I'm only mocking him and he knows it. Ayla Roman might be every man's dream but it will hardly ever come true.

"Not every man's dream," he says. "Anyway let's see what else do we have here."

"Road trip with Jordan," he begins to read. "Dance in the middle of Times Square, go on a date with Megan Fox."

"What?" we say simultaneously and throw each other entertained looks.

"People and their fantasies," I say lightly.

"Well, you never know."

"Wait! Don't tell me you're the one who wrote it." I turn to face him with disbelief plastered across my face.

"You know I didn't. I haven't written anything here...yet," he is trying hard to keep his lips sealed in a straight line but his eyes are filled with amusement and I know he desperately wants to laugh.

I shake my ahead and turn towards the board.

"You know I used to think that optimists are dead," I speak softly. My fingers are hovering centimeters above the board, careful not to touch it and erase something.

I know these things are far fetched but these are precious. If I close my eyes and think hard enough, if I drown out every other sound here, then I'm pretty sure that between the tunes of the eternal music, I'll be able to hear the laughter and cheery voices of the people who wrote it.