A new L.A (Larina)

Chapter two: the neighborhood

I finished most of my record finally and I have some free time before doing some promotion.

I've been exploring my new neighborhood more and went to a very beautiful park at the top of the highest mountain in Hollywood, the greenery here is gorgeous and watching the sun go down into the city was the most relaxing thing I've experienced in such a long time.

While I was returning home I saw a botanical store and decided to stop by to take a look. You know what, I'm not gonna hide, I bought seven different flower bouquets and a cactus. I have no self control.

Walking back home with so many things in my hands was a struggle but eventually I made it to my street, lost some petals on the way and lost some dignity too from falling in front of a group of people. The flowers were so tall they blocked half of my peripheral, but it was worth it.

Right as I was approaching the entry to my front garden, I saw someone leave something on my doorstep. They turned around to leave but I blocked their way, unintentionally, I just wanted to get into my house.

We stood face to face for what felt like ages, without talking or moving.
All I could see was her glimmering blonde hair, so long and delicate, sort of wavy like a calm river that reflects the warm beam of the sun as the sound of the crystal clear water makes you feel like you're in heaven.

I looked at it mesmerized until something else caught my eye, not only was her hair beautiful; she was beautiful. Her emerald green eyes matched her golden hair with impressive perfection, her fair skin made her delicate features look like a marble sculpture covered in silk and-

- Hi...sorry I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood and thought you weren't coming around yet.

I couldn't help but stare at her in full awe, her voice was so soothing and each word created such a beautiful melody that would make my heart wrench.
She started to pull back assuming I wasn't happy with her idea, I didn't want her to leave so I breathed deeply and talked to her.

- It's okay, I really appreciate it actually. I didn't want to scare you by the way.

She looked at me with a face of relief and I could tell she was smiling because of her eyes.

- That's fine, kind of my fault, a stranger dropping something on your doorstep and leaving instantly is not something you see everyday.

She laughed at her own joke, very quietly. For some reason that made me fluster, she was so dreamy.

- I guess you're right, why did you want to do it this way?

- Well I'm quite shy when it comes to new people, so I wanted to be nice without having to socialize...which sounds quite lazy now that I say it out loud.

- I understand, not the best at socializing here either.

Her eyes lit up but I could tell she was still holding back some of her emotions, she looked at me and said:

- Something very interesting is happening right now.

- What?

- I'm not having any trouble talking to you at all and that's...unusual.

- Honestly me neither.

We stayed in silence for quite a while again, just staring at eachother. Then one of the many flowers I was holding fell and all the petals scattered with the wind. My hands were so full I couldn't pick it up. That instance made me sort of snap back into reality, so I grasped my bouquets tighter and told my neighbor that I had to go home.

- I should go now or all the flowers will fall, it was very nice meeting you though.

- It was very nice meeting you too. I'm Lana, by the way.

- I'm Marina.

She started walking away slowly as I tried to reach my back pocket for my keys, I couldn't do it. I didn't think anything through and raised my voice a little bit so that Lana could hear me:

- Hey! Would you mind giving me a hand here for a moment?

Lana immediately turned around, she looked happy to know that she didn't have to leave yet:

- Sure! Whatever you need.

- Well, I can't reach my keys.

- Oh okay, where do you have them?

- In my left pocket, in my jeans.

She started reaching for one of the pockets in the front of my jeans, but it was in the back pocket.
I really, really, didn't think this through.

- Wait, it's uh... in the back pocket.

Lana looked at me and her cheeks got red, she looked back at my pants and said:

- Ohh okay then, can you... turn around then?

- Yeah of course.

She placed one hand in my lower waist and another one inside my pocket, feeling her gentle touch almost made me shiver. Then I heard the metal dangling.

- Here you go.

Lana tried to hand me the keys but she quickly realized I didn't have any hands available for them.

- Should I just open it for you?

- Yes please, sorry for the inconveniences.

She opened the door for me and put her hand on my back as a gesture for me to go first, I went inside and left the flowers and the cactus in a table next to the entrance. I looked at Lana again, thinking of her going back to her house made me miss her already.

- Do you wanna... stay for a chat?

- I'll be glad to!