The Perfection

A Story by Jane

So this is the first chapter of a piece I'm working on, let me know how it looks.

I thought I was the one to be intrigued by him first, but I was wrong. When I hear people tell their life story I look for the before and after. A big event happens where they are never the same, they change. Someone dies, or they get divorced, or even fall in love.That day was the second last day of my before. I remember it clearly, and like it was a past life. The boats on the dock were dancing on the sea, swaying back and forth. The wood was rotting and cracking, creating the sound that I love. The sun was shining on the beauty of my perfect scenery. This was the one part of my life that was beautiful and clean, now every part of it is a mess thanks to him.

He was tying up his boat, the muscles flexing under his nice blue button up shirt. His hair was brown and messy in the best kind of way, that sexy I just got out of bed kind of way. His cheekbones made his face, or maybe it was his eyes. His beautiful brown eyes, the mystery they could hold in them. He stood up with a jump in his step and saw I was watching him. He smiled. Not an arrogant smirk, that only true brash guys can master. The way any man who was lucky enough to look like him would. I know guys who almost look as good as that, almost retaining that sort of perfection. They strut it, because they know it, and they know you are aware of it. No one in society who looked like that wouldn’t know it. Impossible, and that smile threw me off. That modest smile, with an expression I couldn’t touch on. He looked familiar in a way. He turned around so his back was facing me, and he was gone. Or so I thought.

“I like your boat,” he said as his head turned over his shoulder. His eyebrows were raised, inviting me in.

“Oh, thanks.” It shocked me he said something, I don’t know why. I guess I’m not used to guys talking to me that I don’t know.

“Is it new?”

“Ya, I love boating. I’ve been doing it ever since I was young. It’s nice to clear my thoughts, the sea and everything. Being by myself in the middle of a great body of water.” I was rambling, I always ramble when I’m nervous.

His eyes lit up. “I know the feeling. I’m assuming it’s your parents boat?”

I looked down and blushed. That comment reminded me that he was a man and I’m a seventeen year old girl who couldn’t afford my own boat. He’s an adult who can, I would say early to mid twenties.

“It’s my parents.”

“They must trust you if they let you take out a boat like that by yourself. Can I take a look at it?”

“Uh, ya.” He stepped in before me. I took more time, trying to be as graceful as he was. Sitting down first, and using my hand to steady myself against the dock. I could feel the strands of wood underneath them, threatening to splinter me.

“I’m Jake by the way.” He said with shyness.

“I’m Kirsten.” I realized I wasn’t being really talkative, but I was so nervous, I couldn’t do anything about it. I do have a boyfriend, his name is Mike. We’ve been together for nine months. Though I wasn’t sure if we are anymore, I didn’t know if I could forgive him. What I thought I knew, I wasn’t sure of anymore.

He studied the boat, looked at the engine. Felt the leather seats, by placing his hands on them and feeling them as he walked. “It’s a nice boat, it smells new.”

“I love that book.” He looked at me with a charming smile. I gazed over to see a copy of Catcher in the Rye. He walked over to pick it up. He carried himself well, placing slightly more weight on one foot as he stopped. I could see the shape of his muscles through the back of his shirt.

“It’s my favourite.” Not many people under the age of thirty have read that book unless it was for school. This took me by surprise.

“No one writes like him, I’ve yet to find a character as interesting as Holden.” He looked at me like he was making a decision. An important one. “Well thanks for showing me your boat. I wish I had one like this.”

He jumped out of the boat with ease. He turned around and I stared up at him. Getting out of a boat with people watching is always awkward because no one looks good doing it, just clumsy. He offered me his hand, with that smile on his face. I looked down and took it, his hand was tanned. Mine was so small in his, his grip was firm. I could feel the rough dry skin against my soft pale hand. I could feel the calluses of his fingertips brushing against my smooth skin.

While getting out of the boat I felt so light, just floating out and onto the wooden dock. He held my hand a second longer than necessary, his eyes staring down into mine with intensity. I looked down to our hands, and he let go suddenly.

“Are you from here?” He asked.

“I stay over in Kierland Greens.” I said. This was all bazar to me, it felt like somebody took my familiar beautiful boat, my favourite place in the world, and placed something in it to shake it up.

“Oh ya? I live there to.”

I didn’t think I had seen him before, but there was something about his face. “You look familiar.”

“I’m just heading down there now, you want a ride?”

A happiness came over me, an excitement. I was about to say sure without thinking. But then I looked at him and was confused. I just met this person, and even though I wanted to, I knew I shouldn’t. I also took my car here, and needed to take it back. “No, that’s alright I have a car.”

“Ya, no problem. I’ll see you around Kirsten.”

I watched him walk away, as I stood there in a daze. It was such an unusual encounter, he left me confused. I must have seen him before. He was smaller now, I had to keep watching him. I knew when I couldn’t see him anymore it would be as if it never happened. It would feel like a dream. Something I created in my own reality. Then he was gone.