Cars blared their horns, as he walked dangerously close to the edge. One cars occupant rolled down their window to give him a piece of their mind. Lark was curious. Aloof to the fact that his presence on the highway was both dangerous and disruptive. He continued on, walking past the residential homes and towards a more commercial area of the neighborhood. Lark could see a small structure in the distance. Some of the moving objects that carried the nermeins were going to the small building. Lark decided to go there. He wanted to see more.
“Oh wow!” a young woman said, as she exited her car. Her older sister exited the driver’s side, then smiled at Lark. She looked him up and down holding the door open for him, as he approached the gas station. He nodded and entered. The women were intrigued. They chuckled at their own flirtatious behavior, as Lark looked on. His shirtless physically fit body was all the rage. Women stared as they passed him. Some took note of his odd wardrobe and lack thereof. He was topless, shoeless and wearing leg wraps made of a strange material.
But the clothing did little to deter the attention. He was handsome. Sexy. He looked like good danger waiting to happen. That rock star quality with its tempting allure and the promise of abandoned rules in pursuit of happiness. Lark smiled nervously. He looked around. He was hungry. Thirsty. He watched as a man picked up a bag of chips and opened them on the spot. Lark waited until the man walked away and went to the chip stand. He grabbed a bag and tore it open. The flat chips crumbled between his fingers and fell to the floor. His rough handling made it hard to eat them intact. He looked around nervously then grabbed a few more. This time carefully placing them in his mouth. The strange food item was pleasantly tasty. He grabbed more. It was divine.
Lark stood easting potato chips, taking in the scenery. It was all new to him. The clothing. The cars. It was a lot to take in. Lark brushed his fingers across the surface of everything he came in contact with. He followed the women around. watching as they picked up items, reading the words on the packaging. Lark was apprehensive. He wasn’t sure they were nermein, but rather a species that looked similar. Something told him they were different.
“I’m going to go to the bathroom. Grab me an iced frappe,” the older woman said to her younger sister. Lark stared at the dark-haired beauty. She was tall and slender. Her hair long and flowy. Her eyes made more vibrant against her dark, olive colored skin and dark features. He was mesmerized, as he watched her walk towards the back of the gas station. His curiosity was peeked. But more than her attractiveness was a thought that maybe she knew Fin. It was possible. And Lark made his way down the aisle, following her back to the women’s restroom to ask if she did.
The swishing sound of the toilet, was one of many sounds that Lark was fascinated by. The door opened. Their eyes met in an uncomfortable gaze. The woman became nervous. But something about his demeanor eased the situation.
“May I help you,” she asked. The men’s restroom was further down. She wasn’t sure if he was waiting to use the bathroom or if he was waiting on her. She hoped it wasn’t the latter. It would have been creepy. And she liked him.
“I’m looking for someone. I hope you know her. Her name is Fin. She stays just down the way?” he said. “Fin?” she asked. “Yes. The Queen?” he replied. The woman let out a light chuckle. “Queen! Around here? Queen of what country?” she asked. Lark furrowed. “Mojarro,” he replied. The woman looked off. She was sure she’d never heard of the place. But the world was large. There were many continents. Many small countries. It was possible but she couldn’t be sure. The man didn’t appear crazy. The only thing strange about him was his pants.
“I don’t know her and I’ve never heard of Mojarro,” she replied. Lark looked despondent. Chloe wondered if he needed help.
“Do you need a ride? Can we take you somewhere? My name is Chloe. My sister’s name is Piper,” she said. Lark smiled. “In that thing. Sure… That would be interesting. My name is Lark. I’m going just down that path,” he said as he pointed. The woman squinted then chuckled again. It was a strange reply. “Lark’s a cool name. Okay. Come on,” she said.
“What in the world... You can’t even go to the bathroom without picking up a stray,” the young woman said, as her sister approached with Lark right behind her. Chloe’s eyes widened at the candor of her baby sister. “He asked if I knew his friend. I think he’s lost,” she said. Piper looked Lark up and down. “Those pants,” she whispered. Chloe gave her a look. “Stop! Don’t be rude,” she said. Piper could tell her sister was up to something.
“I told him we could give him a ride,” Chloe blurted. Piper looked fiercely at her sister. The man was handsome. Sexy. Charming. But he was also a stranger. He was different. His clothing was odd. And she didn’t like the idea.
“A ride…,” she said, as she paid for her items. “Yes! A ride. He’s cool,” Chloe said, looking back at Lark. The male cashier gave Lark an intense look. Lark glared back. He didn’t appreciate the look from the stranger. It was an unwelcoming and menacing look. It reminded him of Andreus.
“That will be a dollar,” he said, looking at Lark. Lark narrowed his eyes. He looked puzzled and the cashier cleared up the confusion. “For the chips you ate,” the cashier stated. Lark reached in his pocket and pulled a diamond. He sat it on the counter. “Will this do?” he asked. The cashier picked up the stone. “No actually this won’t. Just a dollar sir,” he said.
“I’ll pay for the chips,” Chloe said, as she took the stone from the cashier and handed it back to Lark. She reached into her purse and handed Lark a dollar. “That stone is beautiful. Don’t give it to anyone,” she said. Lark smiled. “It is yours,” he replied, placing the stone in her hand. The cashier took the dollar and the women turned and walked out with Lark close behind.
“That was a diamond. Probably from South Africa. That thing was huge. No way he just got a hold of that here. A rock that large would go for millions. Easy,” a customer said, as he stepped up and paid for his gas. “Really! Just looked like glass to me,” the cashier replied. “No…That wasn’t glass. My grandfather used to look for them at this park in Arkansas. He was pretty lucky with finding them. Nothing looks like a diamond. Especially when its raw. The shape. The oily appearance. That looked a lot like one,” the man said, as he grabbed his bottle water and left.
The man walked out quickly, glancing at the trio as they pulled off. He wished he could have bargained for it. He wondered if the man had any idea what he had. “Damn!” he said, as he got in his car. “What happened?” his wife asked. “That man with the girls had a huge raw diamond. Tried to trade it for chips. For a fucking bag of chips. Can you believe that!”
Chloe pulled over and parked on the side of the home. “Oh wow! This house is phenomenal,” she said, as she gazed out at the dark but still noticeably impressive home. Lark was a gentleman and his conversation on the drive there had her enthralled. She wanted to hear more. He spoke of travelling the ocean and going around the world. Chloe and Piper assumed he meant by boat. The fact that he stayed in the neighborhood gave them the impression that he was an eccentric millionaire. They were also from a wealthy background. They understood his unusual ways. It was nothing they hadn’t seen.
Money made people strange. Different. Free to explore whatever quirky side of themselves they wanted. But Lark was magnetic. His eccentricities were overshadowed by his sex appeal. Chloe wondered why she never met him. They knew everyone in the neighborhood. Their father lived just a mile up the road. Chloe and Piper were home on break from their studies at the prestigious UCLA. The family planned to travel before the sisters returned.
“Want one?” Chloe offered her guest, as she pulled a bottle of water from her bag. Lark grabbed it and stared at the top. “Here…Let me,” she said, as she twisted the top off. Lark took a huge gulp, swallowing the contents within seconds. Chloe looked at Piper and smirked. Lark was different than the other men she’d met. He seemed slightly older than her. She guessed his age to be late twenties. Lark relaxed hi
s body. Chloe watched him in the rear-view mirror. She had so many questions. But it would be rude to besiege him with an interrogation when she’d just met him.
Piper leaned her head back. The women were comfortable. Relaxed. They had driven nearly an hour from their mother’s home to spend the weekend with their father and they were tired. Chloe hoped to see Lark again after he rested. She wanted to see him during the day. It would be more appropriate. Meeting strangers at night was something her parents always warned her about. But there was something about Lark that compelled her to break the rule she adhered to so faithfully.
“I must go. Thanks for bringing me here. It was kind of you to offer. The walk there was unsafe,” he said. Chloe looked back at him and smiled. It was just a ride. She saw no fun in it. She liked the way he spoke. The way he interacted with the world around him. It was as if he connected to everything. His personality was refreshing. She hoped to see him again.
“This is my number. Call me. Maybe we can hang out,” she said. Chloe wrote her number down on a receipt and handed it to Lark. He stared at the paper then pushed it between the folds in his leg wraps. Chloe unlocked the door and watched as he struggled to figure the door out. “The handle is right there. Do you see it?” she asked, as she turned on her interior lights. Lark tried pushing it several times then finally pulled it. The door popped open to his amazement. Chloe smiled as he exited.
“Lark wait,” Chloe yelled, as she jumped out of the car. She ran around to the passenger side and pulled the stone from her pocket. “I can’t keep this. If this is really a diamond, it would be worth a lot of money. No way can I keep this as payment for a bag of chips,” she said, holding out her hand. Lark looked intensely at her. Piper rolled down her window and watched as the two stared at each other.
“It is a diamond and it is my gift to you. I won’t accept it back. It’s not for the chips. You are beautiful. And I want you to have something beautiful,” he said. Chloe was floored. It was the nicest gesture. Her heart melted. He wasn’t real. The men she met didn’t speak so warmly. And they didn’t do grand gestures. Chloe slipped the stone back in her pocket. She doubted it was a diamond. She thought he believed it was. If he went mining, then it was possible he believed it with all his heart. Chloe didn’t think he would lie. Something told her there was a lot more to know about him.
“Will you call me?” she asked. Lark smiled to hide his confusion. He was sure call meant if she would see him again. “Yes. Which way will you be?” he asked. Chloe chuckled. “I live that way. On Sunnydale,” she said, pointing north. Chloe blushed as she walked around and got back in the car. Lark walked up to the brick and iron gate and pushed it open. He had already compromised the lock. His extraordinary strength snapping it with ease.
“Did you hear that. Did you hear what he said to me. What a gentleman. I like him,” Chloe said, looking forward and staring off. Piper continued to watch him. “Yeah. Me too,” Piper replied. He was not odd. Or strange as she originally thought. He was a complete gentleman. A kind hearted, generous man and the women were both enamored with him.
“I wonder if he’s single,” Chloe said. Piper had been wondering the same thing. She didn’t think he was. “No way Chloe. He’s handsome. And look where he lives. He definitely has someone. What about that Fin woman he spoke of,” Piper questioned. Chloe wasn’t so sure. He spoke of the woman as if he was merely looking for her. There was nothing that implied something between them. She was hopeful. “Time will tell. Let’s see if he calls,” she said, as she pulled away.
L
ark hung around Fin’s old residence, swimming back and forth between Mailbu to Madaka. He had familiarized himself with the home, and the surrounding area. It had been three days since he was there and he had become adjusted to living in the unique and comfortable setting. Lance left clothing behind and he helped himself to the sweat pants, slacks and shirts that were placed in a bag and left inside a closet. Clothing that helped him blend in.
He realized that he didn’t look like the locals. He remembered the way Chloe and Piper looked at him. And the comments Piper had made. But he was now moving around among the locals. He dressed the part. He spoke the part. And living among what he thought were nermeins in a newly discovered world was an eye-opening experience for him.
Within several weeks he had become acclimated to the ways of Californians. He was still keeping away from the prying eyes of the neighbors on both sides of the house. He wasn’t sure what would happen if they saw him. It was a crime to steal someone’s home in Madaka. He figured the same rules would apply to the new world. He was quickly understanding their ways. The rules were similar. Right and wrong were universal. And life was good. He was getting used to things. A feeling that kept him wracked with guilt. Madaka still needed him. He was still, the King of Mojarro.
A loud sound jolted Lark awake. He jumped up from the floor, where he lay on a bundle of clothing, and went hurriedly to the front door. He could see the silhouette of a woman through the frosted glass. Lark smiled excitedly. It was a woman. Possibly Fin. She had returned.
He grabbed the door and turned the knob, anxious to see Fin again. Madaka was waiting. Andreus was becoming bolder. His men more ruthless in their quest to carry out his orders. “Fin!” he said, as he opened the door. Lark paused. The excitement drained from his face as the reality hit. It wasn’t Fin. It was Chloe. But Lark soon found a new reason to be excited. He was happy to see her.
He couldn’t believe she was there. He thought he’d never see her again. He had walked to the area she pointed, hoping to locate her. The long walks down the busy highway had yielded nothing. Lark even went back to the gas station hoping she would be there. He began waiting around outside. People handed him dollars believing he was there begging for money. He used the money to buy chips and juice. A now favorite snack that he enjoyed immensely.
“I looked for you,” Lark said through the door. Chloe smiled then stood waiting for him to open the screen. She looked at the handle then nervously chuckled. “Aren’t you going to open the door,” she asked. Lark turned the handle on the iron, vine shaped door and Chloe stepped in. He was speechless. She was beautiful. Enchanting. The last time he’d seen her was in the middle of the night. She looked different in the sun. Her skin had a glow. Her eyes, bright and piercing. Lark was smitten.
“Hi,” she said nervously. “Hi,” Lark replied, as he gazed into her eyes. “I’m sorry to come by unannounced. When you didn’t call…Um…I don’t know…I guess I wanted to check on you. If this is inappropriate, I can go. I hoped you lived alone. You didn’t seem rushed to have us pull away that day. I figured that meant no woman lived here. If I’m wrong…,” Chloe said, as she glanced around, hoping she wasn’t stepping into the lion’s den. Piper’s words played in her head. That he was married or otherwise not available.
“No, its fine. I didn’t know how to call you. I came looking for you instead,” Lark said. Chloe blushed again. It seemed Lark could do nothing else but cause her to blush. His words cut to her core, always warming her heart. “What’s your number? I didn’t get a missed call from you,” she said. Lark looked bewildered. “Number?” he asked. “Yes! Don’t worry. I don’t know mine either. Get your phone and I’ll call my phone,” she said. Lark remembered seeing people talking into small objects. He believed that was the phone she was speaking of. “I’ll get one,” he said. Chloe smiled. “You don’t have a phone?” she asked curiously. “No!”
His answers were always a little off beat but heart felt. It didn’t bother her. He was different. The reason she was drawn to him. Men had told her she was different, her whole life. The way she ate. The way she applied her make up. The hats she liked to wear. And the colorful way she liked to dress. She gave no explanation. A person either got her or they didn’t. She was always the sun child among men of moons. And dating for her was trying, despite being beautiful.
It seemed being a vegan with an odd taste in clothing wasn’t popular among the yo
ung men she had come into contact with. There was always a question. A sly comment. And she never felt like she quite fit in, blaming her eccentricities for the failed attempts at dating. The daughter of wealthy immigrants, Chloe never felt like a part of anything. Her families vast fortune and attempts to keep anyone from it had Chloe and her sister living sheltered lives at a time when they should have been dating and enjoying life. The scrutiny of their father was hard to bear. They lived under his watchful eye and despised his attempts to reject their suitors. But with Lark she felt a connection. An attraction. It seemed he saw her for who she was, and approved. Lark was different. And she saw him.
“You want to grab something to eat? I know this nice sushi restaurant near Lagoon Beach,” she said. It was a tempting invitation. He was in love struck. He wanted to go. He wanted to spend time with her. But he could do nothing, until he found Fin. Madaka was in trouble. He desperately needed Fin. And his life would need to be put on hold until he found her.
“I can’t leave. I am waiting on Fin to arrive,” he said, watching as the glow she arrived with fade from her face. Her smile seemed less vibrant. “Oh! I should go. Maybe next time,” she said, trying to mask her feelings of regret for having shown up without an invitation. Pipers words never rang truer. Perhaps he did have someone. Maybe Fin was a queen. His queen.
Chloe turned to head out. Lark watched her walk to her car. He could tell she was disappointed. Something in her eyes spoke to him. He was unwilling to let her leave that way. Lark dashed out the door, yelling her name. He needed to catch her. Start over. Get back that look in her eyes that made his heart melt.
Chloe turned around. She watched as he desperately made his way to her. “Chloe!” he said, as he ran up to her. He stopped and stood close, his face almost touching hers. “Are you sad?” he asked. Chloe looked deeply into his eyes. The seriousness of his emotions blew her away. “No, not sad. Disappointed. But I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you to be ready,” she said. Lark smiled. “I am ready. I just need to do something,” he replied. “Is Fin the woman in your life?” she asked. “No! She’s like family. Like a sister. She has her own family,” he replied.
Pretty Fin- Raging Seas Page 9
