SMACK
My butt is damaged for sure, and I'm just about to fling a string of offensives at whoever when a hand reaches down. I take it, shaking my head, and meet a pair of warm brown eyes. This guy is at least three heads taller than me and muscled nicely, but not grossly to boot.
My eyes travel to his mouth. The smirk I expect to see on someone like him is not there; instead there is concern, real raw concern.
"Are you alright?" The voice is deep and..... hmm, strange, but definitely American. Getting around so much certainly helps when identifying dialects.
"My butt is broken, but other than that... you can guess." I said this snottily and immediately regretted my tone when his eyes dropped to the ground.
"Sorry. Just startled, thats all."
"I'm real sorry about that.. uh, do you need ice or something for it?"Concern, how cute.
"Nah. I can handle myself."
He looked up and a hint of a smile came and was gone just as fast.
"Hope I didn't ruin anything...."
"Ruin what?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Oh, I just thought you were in that production down the street. About the dancers or whatever. The dress is similar."
This was g-r-e-at. He truthfully thought I was in a play, he couldn't seem to see PROSTITUTE written all over me. Now don't ask me why I did this; I shouldn't care what this random guy thinks of me, but for some reason.. I lied.
"Yeah, I am but its all good. My butt isn't that bad. I'm just a drama queen. I guess it comes from the terrain of acting." I give a small laugh that I hope doesn't sound harsh and smoker-ish. I wonder if those play people in their fancy dresses smoke. Hmm, I suppose they don't.
"What's your name?" His smile has come back and it is a welcome thing.
Whatever you want it to be. My normal response runs through my head, and I am happy, today, to be me.
"Lori. My name is Lori." I pause, letting my words sink in, letting myself bathe in the glory of my name my real and actual name.
"What about yours?"
"Steven. Steven Grey."
And even though we didn't know it just yet, in that exact moment, everything had changed.
