The outsider

Chapter 1

Ebony black of a sparkling blanket covered the sky as the rotten yellow tinted street light outlined a truly lustrous figure resting on the graphite floor leaning against the rusted pole. Coiling grey wisps of smoke dance in a mesmerised trance around the figure's lengthy physique, her curves meticulously sculpted by an angel's delicate touch, putting nature's towering suns to shame and a graceful moderately sized hand balances the withering addiction between fingers that are thick yet streamlined. The pristine pale skin was defended from the elements by a thin layer of cheap crimson silk that flowed gingerly down her thighs to her knees; the flowing material was seized close to her by the faint outlines of a corset beneath a tawny top that held in a small yet broad chest held up by tethered straps, whilst her toes sought shelter in calf-covering sable socks and flat onyx slip on shoes. Rose lips contrasted harshly against the harmonious colouration ,however looked perfect on her skin. Pristine gems of peacock blue stood out most of all against pastel skin and straight blonde hair, falling smoothly halfway down an arched back.

In the darkness, a figure slowly approached the angel with her dandelion halo.

"Um...Excuse me,"The stranger began wearily as they were met by enchanting eyes. A sharp cough of the stranger broke the temporary silence. "Is anyone with you?"

She stared up at the stranger with exhaustion and confusion. Then looking down upon her body to see if she was making herself obvious enough to the strange man. "You do know what I am, right? Or are you just trying to get a discount 'cause if you are then trust me it ain't gonna work, I can make this really painf-"

"Oh n-n-n-no, oh God no, I apologise if I offended you I didn't mean to. I am fully aware of your profession and I find it perfectly understandable that you deny a discount as it seems extremely unfair for someone of your position and whatnot," he blabbered out with little prior thought as she glared at him with distaste for his choice of phrasing, reasoning and overall ideology, "However, I'm getting ahead of myself. I do not wish to indulge any of your services." He was met by a surprised questioning look, "Uh...um...well, you see..." Words began to fail him again. Those hypnotic eyes kept getting to him." I was wondering if you possibly would like to - have dinner with me?"

Unrestrained howling laughter left delicate lips, steam stuttering out, like a flock of swans ascending a crowded lake; her slender torso curled forward and tumbled backwards on the freezing floor. "Ok, ok," she released a staggered sigh to regulate her breath, "so, basically, you're asking me out on a date?"

"Well I mean - yeah... I -"

"Right, now why on earth would you be possessed to do that?"

"I mean... look at you," He was met by a glower of extreme apathy. "Let me be more specific, I think that you are ... extremely pretty." A nervous chuckle was all that passed between them as a blush crept onto her firmly pointed cheeks.

"Ahem", she continued, attempting to cover her newly glowing cheeks, after a small but extremely awkward pause, "so then, riddle me this, what and where would this dinner be? If I may ask."

"Well..." he slowly pulled his hands out from behind his back to reveal a small bag.

Her eyes shoot daggers into him and in spite of that she sighed lightly, an amused small smile gracing her lips, "You are well prepared I will give you that, so, I take it that I had very little say from the beginning, then."

"O-o-f course not, I would never do that. It's just that I live in a tiny flat very close by so I often pass you by and...well, for as dumb and cliché as it sounds... I thought it would be nice to buy you some dinner so you weren't alone-no wait-alone is the wrong word. I mean, like, to have company that wasn't, physically demanding," a dumbfounded expression swept over her face as her blush returned with a vengeance, frozen in place as words betrayed a flustered mind. "If that's ok, obviously." An expression of great concern clung to his face as he carefully watched her.

A tiny smirk inched up her flawless cheeks, "I must admit that you are rather charming, maybe a gentleman even," now it was his turn to blush, fuelling the fire of her irresistible grin, "so I shall give you the benefit of the doubt and return such kindness by 'having dinner with you' since you went through all the trouble... you do realise that you can sit down now, you look really dumb, standing up like that and it's hard to see you properly."

"Oh yeah well-ok yeah..." he stuttered out awkwardly, it was decided that the best course of action was to be done with this tomfoolery known as speaking and sit down.

Once he sat under the street lamp were his features revealed, he was a well-built man dressed in a soot-coloured jacket with a light pink shirt and loose indigo tie, navy trousers contrasted the whole aesthetic, from certain angles, he finished it with an old pair of beige brogues. Retrieving from the ivory bag of mystery for the evening's feast of 2 orders of fish and chips.

Surprisingly, the night wasn't all that terrible, as a harlot and a plain office worker sat on a cold, hard concrete earth with only the clothes on their backs and an old golden light watched over the blossoming pair. With dinner long devoured, it was truly enjoyable as harsh night air was cast aside for general chat and interesting discoveries, such as a shared interest in literature.

The office worker was known as Gilbert Malando: aged 23, from a family of five, an aspiring author on the side (earning a light-hearted simper), born and raised country boy who sought life outside of empty fields and strenuous labour opting to find his own way.

Whilst, the ethereal harlot was Briley Stuart, aged 20, an only child, raised on the outskirts of the city and abandoned (well 'left due to family money troubles') at the ripe old age of 12, thus starting her on the road down this contentious career; it began around her abandonment as she was approached by a little boy who saw her in an alley and paid her to be his girlfriend for the day, so this seemed like a good way to earn money since she wasn't the most intellectual person and had no chance for a job.

"Personally, I think that you could be a writer."

"Oh really, is that so?" She purred like a coy Cheshire cat.

"I mean you are extremely creative and have good taste in books..."

"Go on."

"Yeah, and your good with words too,"

"Mm-hm. So you think I should switch careers?"

"No of course not, it's very hard to be a successful writer."

Greenish-blue eyes wandered sarcastically up and down Gilbert. "I can tell."

"Hey! A bit rude. But I digress, I mean you certainly are suited for you career I'll give you that I mean you're beautiful." He smiled sheepishly, only to be met by a saddened expression.

"But I'm not, though."

Bewilderment overcame Gilbert as he scrambled out "no y-"

"Let me finish!" Briley sharply countered.

"Ok..."

Briley sighed deeply as she prepared for the rejection most likely to occur. "Look, I just want to tell you now because you are lovely and I don't want to feel disappointed or betrayed because... I'm a man..."Silence answered him as Briley willed himself to look up only to find a face of inquisitiveness and no anger to be seen, "Well, that's a first... because I thought you would probably run away or hit me or something..." Gilbert's mouth crept open to speak but was defeated by slightly fat but slender finger. "But just let me explain somewhat for you, you see at home my parents couldn't really afford to spend time or money on me so I never really learnt much only really how to teach myself thing like not too good cooking, household jobs and make-up from watching her get ready in the mornings, stuff like that but all sharp objects were hidden seeing as I was a little kid and all so my hair was super long and that... so when they left that kid paid me and it just made sense to be a girl really so.. yeah, here I am." A faint smile glided across his lips, "So, now that you know that what do you think?"

Gilbert simply shrugged, "What is there to say really I still think you are cute and I still like you for the person that I got to know today so... I mean if would like to we could possibly go out on a second date, as you like to call it."

Smugly smirking Briley stood up, replying. "Alright then it's a date."