The Black Rose

Pre-Valentines Day

Anna

            It’s the day before Valentines’ day and I have to work. Sighing, I get out of bed and head for the shower, only to be interrupted by knocking at my door. I hurriedly run for the door, not caring that I’m wearing my snow flake pajamas. Upon opening the door I hear footsteps charging down the stairwell.

“Wait!” I call out, but he’s already on the street below, climbing over the brick wall between my apartment and the Kohl’s parking lot. “Shit!” I exclaim under my breath. There’s no way I can chase after him in my pajamas. I laugh to myself at the sight that would be for my neighbors. I guess he’s won this round.

Looking down I see a pretty good sized package with his signature black silk rose. I pick it up and return inside. This time the card reads: For my sunshine angel. Inside the package is a beautiful golden wind chime with little suns and crystals hanging from it. His thoughtfulness warms my heart and I feel like my smile at that moment is brighter than the sun itself.

Later that day, I’m on my lunch break. I work at a convenience store, so when I take a break I have the opportunity to walk the aisles and check out all the corny Valentine’s Day gifts. My favorite is this bottle that has a teddy bear inside it holding a note card. The bottom of the bottle comes off so you can write on the note card or stick something else inside. It’s corny but it’s also cute and sweet. I smile and continue to walk to the break room at the back of the store, wondering if my follower will stop by.

When I return from my break I notice that the teddy bear message in a bottle has vanished. While stocking shelves, I absentmindedly asked a coworker if someone had bought it. “Yea.”, she replied, “Some scary looking dude said he was buying it for his girlfriend.” I ignored the ‘scary looking dude’ comment and continued stocking, secretly hoping that my admirer had purchased it.

I arrive home that night completely exhausted and quite literally crash into bed, only taking the time to slip out of my work cloths before sleep and dreams of my fantasy stalker claim me.

Stalker

I only knocked once and suddenly it sounded like a herd of elephants was going to stampede through the door. I think I missed a few steps when I raced down to the street. Hearing her voice call out to me as I jumped that wall, my heart nearly exploded. She was speaking to me! I was shaking as I drove out of the parking lot. The effect that girl has on me, I swear, one day she’ll know.

I wish I could have seen the look on her face when she saw the wind chime. It cost a pretty penny but money is of no concern when it comes to her. I would do anything to bring a smile to her face. Buy anything, say anything, and kill anyone. Ok, maybe not kill, but if anyone ever hurt her they’d have to deal with me.

Now I’m here at her place of work, making sure she doesn’t see me. Tomorrow’s a special day and even though I do have some other gifts just for her, I need one more thing. I’m hoping that while I watch she’ll give me a hint as to what that other thing is.

She walks down the holiday gift aisle, scanning the shelves. I can hear a slight hum in her voice. Then she stops, takes a bottle off the shelf and stares at it thoughtfully. A small smile lights her face and her eyes seem to close slightly. She replaces the bottle and walks off, a slight bounce in her step.

I walk over to where she was standing and see the bottle with this little fuzzy white bear inside of it. I chuckle at the sight of it, it’s so corny. Regaining my composer I take the bottle to the front register.

“Good evening sir, will this be all?” The pleasant cashier asks “Yes, thank you.” I reply,” I’m buying this for my girlfriend; I think she’s really going to like it.” The cashier gives me a funny smile then says, “That’ll be two fifty-nine.” I give her the money and after a minute she gives me my receipt and change. I exit the store with a smile on my face. I have a lot of planning to do if I want to leave these gifts without her seeing me.

That night, when I’m certain she’s asleep; I go to her door to plant my gifts. Unfortunately I trip over the stupid door mat and bump my head on her door. “Dam” I curse under my breath, rubbing my head where I’d hit it and praying no one had heard the low thud noise. Then I glance up and realize her door has swung open. I freeze.

I glance cautiously both ways, no one’s around. I look in her apartment; she doesn’t come running out of her bedroom to see what’s happened. She hasn’t heard. It’s empty and it’s quiet. I would have wondered if she was even home, but I saw her come home. I can’t believe that she would forget to lock her door, unless she did it on purpose.

Still shocked, I enter with her gifts in hand and close the door behind me. I can see from the moonlight shining through the vertical blinds that it’s a simple room divided in half, one side being a kitchen and the other the living room. She’s decorated the living room with a couple of tables and a book case.

One of the tables holds only a keyboard while the other holds a multitude of random items, like a shrine to all her favorite corny things, as well as some art work. The bookcase holds several books, their titles hidden by the darkness, and a few jewelry boxes. I smile as I notice the wind chime I gave her hanging from a hook on the ceiling.

I walk down the small hallway, there are only two doors. The open one leads to the bathroom and the other doorway is closed. I quietly open the closed door, knowing it must be her bedroom. The moonlight illuminates this space as well and I take in the atmosphere of her private place.

On one wall there’s an entertainment center with a TV and Play Station 2, as well as several movies. Her bed lays parallel to the opposite wall and there’s a night stand next to her bed, a vase, filled with the black silk roses I had given to her, sits on top of it. Her still sleeping form lies beneath a dark maroon quilt.

I can’t help myself, I tip-toe to her bed and sit on the very edge, staring down at her peaceful face. She’s so beautiful and silent. Her lips hypnotize me and I think I must taste her. I bring my face closer to hers’ and feel her soft cool breath on me.

I let my lips touch hers, keeping my eyes open to be sure she doesn’t wake, and surprisingly she kisses me back. I caress her cheek with my hand, and then let it fall, traveling down her body. My eyes close lightly as my hand reaches her thigh and suddenly she emits a soft moan.

I pull away, fearing I have woken her. Her face screws up as she gives a protesting whimper and her body slightly rises toward me. Then she falls back into her dream, oblivious to what had happened. Her face once again peaceful, I breathe a sigh of relief.

After placing her gifts on the nightstand, I exit the bedroom and remember the dilemma of her door being unlocked. I can’t just leave her here unprotected; some stranger might waltz on in and try to feel her up or something. So I search the kitchen draws hoping to find a spare key. Luckily I find the key and, taking one final look around, leave the apartment locking the door behind me.