Vanilla Rose

Chapter 1- Vanilla

The soft, warm summer breeze caressed her hair as she walked towards the ice-cream parlour. It was around three p.m. and the city was quiet. The only sound one could hear on the street was of Macaria humming a song she had just made up. It was a beautiful melody but of course, she would forget it later. Just like she forgot all the others. She entered the ice-cream parlour and then walked towards the long queue. It seemed like the parlour was the liveliest place in the city today. There were people chattering, laughing and most importantly, eating their favourite dessert. It was her favourite too.

Macaria scanned the menu and tried to decide what to order. Though, instead of a flavour name, her eyes met up with another's. It was a man or a boy? He was definitely her age. His eyes were light brown, so faded that she could see herself in them but not enough for them to be of any other colour. They were still deep though and his unkempt raven hair, which looked like it, was styled to perfection, at the same time. Macaria noticed how his lips twitched and then formed a smile. She also observed that the smile made him look strikingly handsome. She smiled back. He stood right in front of her and then who knows if it was the dull atmosphere outside that made her try to make it a bit brighter or the optimistic ambience in the parlour that she looked straight at him and used the only not-so-cheesy pick-up line she knew,

"Hi! I'm writing a phone book, can I have your number and your name?" Fucking hell! What did she just do?

He smirked at her and replied, "Only if you will tell me yours."

Tiern was amused. No other girl ever approached him in a public place or let's just say 'a family-friendly' place.

Macaria paused for a while; her mind ran in all different directions. They could become good friends. For all she knew, this could be the last time she would see him.

Then, she beamed at him.

"My name's Eviette." Macaria lied.

"That's a beautiful name. My name's Rance." Tiern lied.

There was a shared understanding between them. None of them pressed on the names. Tiern opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the man behind the counter. His tag read Brian.

"What flavor would you like?"

"Vanilla in a cone. Thank you."

Macaria looked at him with a face that said that his selection was absurd to her.

"Interesting choice." she said.

He chuckled and asked, "Why?"

"It's just so plain. There are so many different flavors out there." She answered.

"I never actually tried anything other than vanilla. I had strawberry once but that's it." Tiern said and stepped aside.

"What flavor would you like?" Brian asked.

"I would like rose today."

"Good choice." Brian said. Macaria looked at Tiern with a smug face. Tiern smiled. She started walking towards him and then suddenly, the floor was slippery, her body lost its balance and THUMP! She fell on Tiern and a human-ice-cream sandwich happened.

Both of their cones dropped in between their chests and it was a complete rose and vanilla mess. Macaria was mortified, she was never this clumsy!

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I...I am so sorry!" she fumbled and cursed while getting up. Tiern got up too and Brian, gave the two some tissues.

The once loud parlor was now quiet and all eyes were on them. Macaria wanted to hide in a corner and never face anyone again. Tiern wouldn't have that!