Scene 1

Her eyes were like glittering gems. Those were the first words to pop into my head as the doors of the train opened and she came running into it. To give a little context as to what I am talking about I first need to introduce myself. My name is Cairo Atkinson and I have been sent, against my will, to the middle of nowhere to spend my last summer as a high schooler in the care of my older sister. My sister is a famous artist and our parents thought it would do me some good to spend some time with her. I can only guess that they want her to convince me to pick a degree that has nothing to do with being creative like she did. In my head, my parents have no faith in me, but in my heart, I know for sure that they believe in me and that makes me feel like garbage.

“Babe! I cannot believe you are here in front of me…I missed you so much!”

Back to the situation at hand, the girl that came barreling into me now had her arms wrapped around mine and was dragging me out onto the platform. I could not believe what I was hearing, nor could I believe the crowd of people that were beginning to gather on the platform. My heart was hammering in my chest and the sight of people stopping to look at us and even taking their phones out had me screaming curses in my head. “Can you not do this. I do not know what kind of prank this is, but it is a lousy one and I do not have the time for this!” My voice carried over the murmuring onlookers and the occasional sounds of cameras clicking.

I knew my face was in a scowl because of the way some of the people avoided my eye when they looked at me. The girl wrapped around my arm just stared at me and she leaned into my ear. Her voice was like velvet, and it sent chills all over my body! The people around us lost their minds and caused an even bigger commotion. “Just play along,” the words playfully danced in my head as the girl let my arm go and was now holding my hands!

“Oh, do not be like that babe! I know you hate it when I hug you in public, but I could not help myself. You have been gone since school ended and I only got to talk to you through text!”

She sounded apologetic and she looked genuinely sorry, but I had no idea why! The whole situation made no sense, and this girl made it more complicated. I had no idea how to follow along anymore and I was about to tell her she had the wrong guy, but I stopped myself. You are wondering why, I already know, and I can only say it was the way she was looking at me. I can only explain it as she was talking to me with just her eyes. It was a strange thing and the neurons in my brain began to fire on all cylinders. My imagination began to kick into overdrive, and I could see it so clearly. The perfect scene to make the characters come alive!

“You should have just met me outside. There are too many people around us now because you could not control yourself.”

I scratched at the back of my neck and gently moved some of her curly brown hair out of her face. I could hear a couple of girls squeal excitedly and even see a couple older couples grab each other’s hands. I wanted to move the story forward, but I had too many ideas come to me all at once! This always happens and it drives me crazy. I wish I knew a way to pick the best plot points and connect them to make them more compelling. My inner frustration must have slipped through because the girl with beautiful eyes held my face and pulled me closer as she leaned up.

The crowd went silent, and all eyes were on us.

I could only stare as the girl stared back at me and giggled in a way that made my heart rate spike. All I could do was look at her as she pulled back and smiled at me like she was looking at the love of her life. It was unfair and even a little cruel the way she was looking at me, but I could not bring myself to feel anything negative about it. “That is so unfair, and you know it. How can you put me in this situation and just melt my heart with that smile and little laugh,” I whispered as my focus fell solely on this mysterious girl. I really could not figure her out and I had a strange feeling she knew that. She slowly walks around me and stops behind me. My vision went dark, and I could hear her voice in my ear. “That was good. Keep that tone up and add a little bit of that rough demeanor from before.”

‘How can her voice sound so soft?’

I asked myself this while mulling over what she had said to me. I began to build the character in my head and added in the details the girl said into the creation. I could now see it and the perfect scenes to utilize this character! I was amazed at how simple the answer was and a little thankful for it. I took a deep breath and let it out in a way that showed I was frustrated but resigning to my fate. I gently moved her hands away from my eyes and I turned around towards. For a moment I saw a look of surprise come across her face before it was replaced with that same loving look. This situation made no sense, but I was going to use this as an opportunity. I rubbed the back of my neck again and I made sure I took quick glances around before I proceeded to move on to the next scene.

I gently scoop her up into my arms and whisper into her ear, “Tell me if I am crossing the line,” and I gently place my forehead to hers. I heard nothing but my own heartbeat and once again I was met with those eyes. The girl closed her eyes and gently leaned in closer so that our noses were touching. She gently moved her head from side to side and I slowly began to do the same. This was so embarrassing, but I knew I had to end this and go. I placed her back onto the ground and gave her a hug. It made it look like a boyfriend just hugging his girlfriend, but it was really a thank you to a stranger that unintentionally helped another stranger.

“You have no idea how much you have helped me. I was going through a rough patch before I arrived here and the sight of you somehow made all that negativity go away. You’re amazing and I am so glad I met you.”

The words that had just come out of my mouth made me want to disappear out of embarrassment. I did not look around me afraid someone would make fun of me, but I didn’t have to worry about that. Because the girl whose eyes I couldn’t stop thinking about began to laugh! I felt my face heat up and I was about to run away but she stopped like she did every time since we met. “You are too cute.” Those words came out in a whisper as she quickly gave me a kiss on the cheek and began to leave. To say I was stunned was an understatement. I wanted to just shout out and ask her name, but I knew that would destroy the story we made together.

I just held my hand to my cheek and tried to make sense of what just happened, but I was snapped back to reality by my name being called. I turned towards the direction it came from and saw my sister waving her arms around like crazy to get my attention. That dreamlike feeling began to fade away, but it will not be forgotten. I never got that girl’s name, but she must have been an angel sent to tell me not to give up on my dream. As I was leaving the station with my sister I looked back to see if I could see the girl one more time and I did! She was waving at me, and she said something before quickly walking away. 

“Angels really like the chance encounter trope.”