A Simple Life: Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Despite Kayla’s warning an hour later I am standing in front of the bathroom mirror obsessing over every little detail of my appearance to make myself look as good as I could before heading over to Winona’s.  There were three reasons why I disregarded my friend’s well intentioned advice.  First, this wasn’t a date.  We were simply making a character for a game.  Second, the way Kayla had described Winona as ‘going after’ me in some spiteful way just didn’t fit what had actually happened.  It had been a purely chance encounter that we met the way we did yesterday.  There could have been no plan or ulterior motive in us bumping into each other how we did.  Finally, deep down in my gut…this just felt right.  It felt natural.  I felt good on the inside about going to see her again.  And according to grandpa that was the most important thing.

That said I would definitely keep my guard up.  I trusted Kayla’s opinion and even I had to admit that it was a little weird that Winona had sent me to our mutual ex first before agreeing to go out with me.

I smooth out my tight blue jeans.  I straighten my black belt that was a perfect match for the leather shoes I’d be wearing tonight.  I make sure yet again that my gray t shirt under layer didn’t clash with the gray of plaid flannel over shirt.  I tease at my hair for the millionth time even though I knew it was all going get flattened once I put on my helmet.  Once I was absolutely satisfied with how I looked I finish it all off with a little spritz of cologne.

I walk out into the living room to the quiet side-eye glare of my roommate as he plays he plays his game.  I had forgotten to bring home the pizza and soda he asked for and he was not impressed that he was going to have to head out to get his own supper.  Doing my best to ignore I cross the room to stick my head through the curtains to look out our third floor balcony window.

“Oh no.”  I mutter to myself.

In the brief time I’d been getting ready the weather had turned.  It was now blustery, the sky was overcast and far in the distance I could see an ominous bank of dark clouds hovering over the Pacific.  I knew our local patterns well enough to know what a storm bearing down on Ehkolie looked like.  I hurry for my phone and call grandpa.

“Hey kid.”  He answer brightly.

“Grandpa.  There’s a storm coming.”

“I noticed.”  He chuckles.  “I’m all tied off and battened down matey.”

“Do you need any help or…”

“I’m okay Buttercup.”  He says, the warmth of his voice flowing through the phone.  “It’s not supposed to be that bad.”

“Okay.”  I say, his confidence alleviating my worry.  If there was anybody who knew how to handle the conditions around here it was my grandpa.

“Hey.  I still have a few things to do here.”  He says.  “But thanks for checkin up on your old gramps.  You’re a good boy Avery.”

“I love you Grandpa.”

“Love you too.”

I hang up to see Brayden making gagging motions at my sappy goodbye.  On this though nobody could make me feel bad.  My grandpa was the best.

I look the clock and swear under my breath.  “Hey…B-Brayden, could I borrow your car?”

“Why?”

“I-I need to g-go out later.  Just a c-couple of hours at most.”

“Nah.  Sorry dude.  I’ve got to go out and pick up my supper.”  He looks right at me.  “Thanks to you.”

I sigh.  Looking back outside I try to guesstimate the storm’s arrival.  If I was going to go to Winona’s on my bike I would either have to leave soon or drive through the storm show up soaked to the bone.  We’d never set up an exact time but my plan had been to show up at 8:05.  Early enough to give us an hour or two to make the character, late enough that I knew she’d have eaten her supper and so that I had an easy excuse for cutting out at tasteful hour and not overstaying my welcome, and the ‘:05’ so that it didn’t look like I was timing my arrival for the exact minute, even though I was.  This darn storm had completely upended my plans.

Maybe I should just cancel.  I consider that for a moment but after my brief talk with grandpa I had ‘the wind in my sails’, as he would say, and I didn’t want to squander that momentum.  In the end I decide that it had to be now.  I could handle getting drenched on the way home but I wanted to look my best for my arrival.  I hurry to grab my backpack and into it I stuff my goggles, rain gear, a pad of paper and a few pencils.  I hadn’t even eaten yet but to heck with it.  My belly could wait.

Helmet, jacket, and shoes on I am soon out the door and speeding eastward out of town.  Giddy with an excitement far in excess of what making a game character deserved.  As I approach the T intersection I could see from aways out that Winona’s truck wasn’t there and the whole garage looked dark and dead.  Damn it.  I’d come way too early.  Now what?

Having come all this way I follow through just to make sure.  If she wasn’t home I’d head back into town and figure things out from there.  I roll up and park my bike close to the building.  Taking off my helmet I smooth my hair in the mirror then make my way around back.  The moment I round the corner I see her suite window was also dark.

“Shoot!”  I kick the dust.

“Bang!”  Comes a voice from nowhere.

“Huh?”  I spin around looking for the source until quiet laughter draws my eyes upward.  There she was, Winona, or her face anyway, peering down at me from over the side of the room.  Her chin rested on the back of one of her hands directly on the roof just above the door, her other hand pointed at me with a finger gun, and her two long braids hanging down over the edge like Rapunzel’s locks.  I hold my heart.  “You got me.”

She blows across the tip of her finger like an wild west gunslinger.  “I never miss.”

“I-I didn’t think you were home.”

“Truck’s in the bay.”  She gets to her feet and dusts herself off.  She was back in comfy t shirt and overalls.  “I didn’t think you’d be so early.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s cool.”  She says.  “I was wondering if you’d bother with the weather.”

“Oh, uh, I-I’ve rode in worse.  It’s no biggie.”

“Sure.”  She smiles and waves me up.  “Come on.  Ladder’s over there.”

I put down my pack and helmet and walk around to the side opposite the drive to see the ladder.  I scoot up the ladder and climb up onto the flat roof.  The center was recessed from the border and in the middle sat a broken down old table, a couple of ratty kitchen chairs, and what looked like a driving green mat of fake grass.  Standing at the western edge of the roof she beckons me closer.

“Check out this view.”  She says.

Coming up beside her I look out over the peninsula, the town, and vast ocean and threatening clouds beyond.  It was a sight similar to the one I’d camped at yesterday, not quite as breathtaking but definitely one worth pausing for.

“Wow.”

“Reminds me of home.”  She says softly.  “The clouds rolling in over the plains.  It looked like the world went on forever.”  Glancing over at me then back to the West again.  “You ever been to the Black Hills Sprout?”

“No.”

“There’s magic there.”  She says.  “Real magic.  I feel it here too.”

“Do Lakota…believe in magic?”

She chuckles.  “I’m just talking for myself here.”

“Sorry.”

“Do you believe in magic Avery?”

I look up at her, struck once more by her regal beauty as she gazed off into the distance.  “Um…n-not really.”

“Hmm.”

We fall silent and let the cool moist wind caress our faces as we behold the grandeur before us.  Flashes of lightning flicker along the dark bank of clouds and the low rumble of thunder shakes the sky.

She turns and pats my shoulder.  “Come on.  Let’s roll some dice.”  She walks for the ladder with me tagging along just behind her.  “You eat yet?”

“Oh, um, that’s okay.”

“Have you?”

“N-No, but…”

“Great!”  She says as she starts to climb down the ladder.  “You make the salad and I’ll fry the chops.”  Her head suddenly pops back up over the edge.  “You aren’t vegan or anything are you?”

“No.”  I smile.  “I love pork chops.”

“Great.”  We get to the ground and Winona pulls down the ladder and takes it inside.  I scoop up my pack and helmet and follow.  “You want to visit the cats first?”

“Nah.”  I say.  “Mama will have them in a safe place for the storm.”

“Smart Mama.”  She pushes the locking latch open and uses the chain and starts to roll open one of the bay doors.  “Grab your bike.  Might as well keep it dry.”

“Oh!  Thank you.”

“No sweat my dude.”  She lets go the chain and wipes her hands against her overalls.  “Park it anywhere.  Close up and lock up when you’re done.  I’ll see you in there.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I watch her go more smitten with her than ever.  Winona sure had a wonderful way of making someone feel welcome.  It was in the simple things, the way she spoke and laughed and smiled with such honest warmth.  We barely knew each other yet she was treating me like an old friend.  I don’t know why given the drama of our first meeting but with her I felt…safe.  I was barely even stuttering!

Chapter 13