*Company

Here's to hoping even the scenery can have a happy ending. If you don't like happing endings, just stop before the last paragraph. I hope it'll break your heart.

Creative writing exercise, a short story based on the word (and with the title):

Company


Yesterday I introduced Lynn to my inner circle of friends. I'd been working the evening shift with her for a while, and she's nice, intelligent and even funny when I'd managed to get her out of her shell. It's a real shame she's so shy. She doesn't seem to notice what an interesting person she is, she just notices that most people don't seem to give her a second, or even first glance, and decided to spare them the effort, blending into the background like an intelligent bit of scenery.

So I discovered the other day she's into gaming, and decided to bring her along to one of the all-night gaming-nights. Soda, junkfood, games, and a group of friend slowly getting high on lack of sleep. It was always great fun, and the strangest ideas were born on nights like these.

I brought her over to my place, and while we waited for the rest to arrive I was reminded of a conversation I'd had with Alison. She'd accused me of praising the poor, shy introvert above and beyond reality. She'd accused me of a lot more, in fact, and in the end I had to admit, with a sigh, I was really sort of taken with Lynn. Alright, I eventually conceded, I have a crush on the girl. And ever since, I've only gotten more fascinated with her. It's just like me, always falling for the straigh ones.

I think, once or twice that night, I noticed how quiet she was. Even though she was right there, sitting next to the aforementioned Alison, holding a controller and even beating our asses an even fifty fifty, it seemed like she was only there to watch. A silent bird sitting on the edge of a campfire, not sure what those odd humans are up to, but gratefully accepting a thrown crust of bread. A sad-eyed dog barking along with the music, trying so hard to belong, but knowing all along that when the music stops, everyone will go about their normal business again, forgetting about it's amusing little trick.

Today at the evening shift she asked me how long I'd know that little group of last night. I told her all but one were my faithful comrades during most of high school, close in the way people get, when they get to see eachother grow up and mature. She looked up at me, she's almost a full head smaller than I am, and I could see an elusive shimmer in her blue eyes. What she told me then broke my heart and it was all I could do not to crush her as I hugged her close. It was a little glimpse into the mystery of her inner working, and it was so lonely, so cold.

"I wish I knew what that's like."

It only took three more game-nights for her too loosen up, and two more weeks until our first kiss. It turned out she wasn't straight, after all.