New Story Idea

Some people prefer last words; I prefer the first ones. By the time your last words are spoken, you’ve had enough time to plan them out, get them to roll perfectly off your tongue and out into the world. It’s the first ones that will surprise you, pop out and make a mess of things. We don’t have control over our first words, and that’s what makes them special.

When he said his first words to me, it was on a dreary Tuesday afternoon. “Well, aren’t you just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” The man was mammoth. Tall in a way that made people stutter upon seeing him, and hair that reminded me of a dormouse, he was something else. All freckly and gawky, he wasn’t much to look at, excepting his height, of course. Then he smiled. He leaned over the counter, branding a flashing smile reminiscent of the old toothpaste commercials back when we had TV. I almost expected a sparkle to appear with a faint dinging sound.

I didn’t have time in my day to respond. So I didn’t. I still had a day’s worth of filing to do, not to mention my boss would’ve had my head if I fell behind again. Running around the store, I kept up with my work, not letting some behemoth of a man get in my way.

He spoke up two minutes later, grabbing my wrist as I rushed on past. “I do hate to be rude, but a girl like yourself should know that she really is beautiful.”

“I thought you were talking to the cat.”

His eyes flew wide, and his head tilted slightly to the right. “Don’t think too much of yourself, do you?” He asked, still holding on to my wrist.

I shrugged my wrist out of his grip. “No more or less than a normal person. It’s just a beautiful cat.”

I didn’t know that later, I would be dying to hear those first words from him again. 

Random Character Ideas

Savannah Edelman
Savannah Edelman knew a lot about very few things, but what she knew, she knew well. She knew that when people say they understand, they usually don’t. She knew that when people said they were sorry, it either wasn’t their fault or they didn’t mean it. But most importantly, she knew that the repulsive, pitiful thing that was Adam Moore’s beard had to go. 

Eddie McAllister
Eddie McAllister was no one’s bitch. Many had tried, but each ended up empty-handed, tail between their legs, and never brought up the subject again. She took the insult ‘bitch’ and made it hers; she owned that fucker, no questions asked. At one point, she even contemplated getting it tattooed, but she was drunk and the idea faded along with the alcohol in her bloodstream.

June McAllister

June McAllister didn’t speak often, but she made it count when she did. Her words were carefully chosen, usually loaded with barbs and could tear one’s soul into shreds. It’s not that she was rude; she spoke only to insult those that truly deserved to be insulted. It often surprised those around her when she did choose to speak, but considering who her sister is, it really shouldn’t be all that surprising. 

Adam Moore

There never was a boy more prone to hypochondria or exaggeration than Adam Moore. He thought very highly of himself and the only other thing he took seriously were his various ‘ailments’, and he expected nothing less than complete and utter compassion or commiseration. 

Jevon Walden

Jevon Walden was a weeper. Every little thing would move him to tears. He cried during TV Hallmark specials, infomercials (God forbid anything reminded him of Billy Mayes), a heartfelt lyric, anything. When he cried, he didn't care who saw - crying helped score him points with the ladies - and that's the way he wanted it.

Daisy Nolles

Daisy Nolles likes pretty things. She found nothing wrong with enjoying the simple pleasures in life, like a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or a good homemade apple pie. Some people would say she was lazy; she says she’s just enjoying the view. What view, people don’t really know, but Daisy likes to keep people guessing. 

Pairings

Savannah x Adam

Daisy x June

Jevon – ladies man

Eddie – independent woman who don’t need no man

Snippet #40

Yes, you might fail. But you know what? At least you tried. And that’s more you can say if you just walk away and pretend that it never happened. I find it easier to admit that I need to work harder, but I will never admit defeat. So Miri, go write that God damn book of yours. You could be the worst writer in the world, but at least you’ll have the evidence of it. 

Snippet #20

“There’s different types of strength, Miri. You have the strength to survive. To endure. I have the strength that looks good until tested; it shines and burns out. It’s flashy. I’m the supernova; you’re the candle in the window that never wavers. Both have their place, neither better than the other. But don’t you dare think that you’re weak just because you’re not like me.”

We sat in silence for awhile.

“Actually, if you ask me, I think you’re stronger than me. Supernovas don’t last that long. They’re under pressure and burn bright, but then disappear; candles can last days, months, years. I’m barely strong in moments when I need to be. That’s the flash. But you, despite everything you’ve had to deal with, you still get up every morning and live your life. If that’s not strength, I don’t know what is.”

______________________________________________________

I don't know, this sounds a bit 'off' to me. Does it seem all right?

Snippet #3

“It’s the curse of being human – feeling so entirely alone despite being constantly surrounded by other people. We all feel like no one would love us if they saw us the way we see ourselves. That’s why it’s such a great thing that people have eyes of their own.”

Snippet #2

“When people draw hearts, I just have to laugh. Do they actually know what they are drawing? Hearts don’t look like that. Hearts are clumps of blood and arteries and circulation and feeling and muscle. When I see a drawn heart, I see an abstract, pictorial penis and scrotum. Or like a top view of a guy’s butt and he just happens be have a boner at the same time. But what really gets me are all the young girls drawing them all over their notebooks or on their skin or posting the stupid less-than-three’s on the internet. And I just want to be like, ‘LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE DRAWING! THAT IS NOT A HEART.’”

“Someday, Sophie, you need to learn when to keep things you think to yourself. I’ll never be able to look at a heart in the same way again. They’ve lost their innocence.”

She shrugged. “It had to happen someday.”

“What did?”

“Losing innocence. Relationships fail, hearts break, people get broken. Life doesn’t let anyone remain innocent, and that’s the real tragedy.” 

Snippet #1

“Life is like a giant monologue, a soliloquy, full of your ambitions, motives and mistakes. What I’m most afraid of is that one day I’m going to wake up and realize that my whole life’s soliloquy is completely and utterly wrong and all my thoughts have been misguided and useless.”

“You worry about the strangest things.”

“Don’t you worry that your life is meaningless? In this big whole universe of infinite planets and solar systems and galaxies, most of whose existence we’ll never even know, and yet we’re given conscious thought. That’s something special, and a lot of pressure. I just don’t want to waste it.”