It’s Friday! YAY! Continuing with the Story September theme, here is another short story!
First Line: “The Wishing Well was feeling stubborn today.”
The wishing well was feeling stubborn today. Crescent grumbled as she scooped the coins out of the well. She loved her job but diving into this well was not her favorite task. Tourists believed that Aphrodite blessed the fountain and they came in troves to wish for a blessing from the goddess – love, fortune, or a new puppy – her own wish the first time she’d visited— leaving with a twinkle of hope for the future.
But today she was nothing but a wet, slimy hole and Crescent was annoyed. Her blue hair fell over her brow and her tongue perched on the edge of her lip, curling upward in concentration. “Almo…st..” She shrugged a bit more, reaching as far as she could without falling completely into the center. “GOT YOU, YOU SUCKER!” She yelled in triumph as the gold coin tumbled into her hand.
“I thought the point was to throw them INTO the fountain…” A voice spoke behind her. Crescent snapped her head up and tumbled backwards. She wrapped her fingers around the satchel of coins, holding tight so that they did not spill. “Ugh.” She said, looking up from her place on the ground at the person standing over her
“Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me, I just… You didn’t scare me!” She snapped at him, a little harsher than she had meant. He offered a hand to help her up and she accepted it, her rubber gloved hand slick in his. She forced a half smile and felt the heat rising in her flushed cheeks. Crescent cursed silently, hoping that the stranger didn’t notice.
“Robbing the wishing well, I admire such boldness.” He laughed and stuffed his hands in his pockets, rocking backwards a bit. His smile reached his eyes and for the first time she realized that he had the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Now it was her turn to stammer as she explained her duties as keeper of the Eternal Gardens. He chuckled again and Crescent heard herself sigh. She coughed slightly to cover it up and turned on her heels, crunching up the stone pathway.
“Hey, wait!” The boy called behind her and she heard his steps as he trotted to catch up to her. “I actually… Um.” He stopped in front of her, forcing her to pause and rubbed the back of his neck. His black curls wrapped around his wrist and she found herself watching with intent, wanting to reach out to touch them.
“Yes?” She said instead, raising an eyebrow, and tucking her own hair back from her eyes once again.
“Cute hair?” Crescent grumbled at him. It was the first comment she’s gotten since she’d cut her waist length blue hair to a short wavy bob, her waves always unkept. “Ok, Ok. I’m with the circus, and you’re always out here. I thought maybe you’d know where to go get some food?”
Crescent’s eye filled with light for a moment. The Circus! Aunt Calliope had forbidden her from going anywhere near the circus. “Food. Yeah. Kelpies. Down the road.” She pointed towards the boardwalk, lit up and lively. “It’s on Nymph’s Walk.”
He laughed again. “You ladies sure like your sea creatures.”
Crescent exhaled. “You have no idea.” She muttered. “I really have to..” She started.
“Yeah, yeah! Of course.” He looked pained before he turned to her once more and said “My name is Maverick. If you get done with that.. maybe come find me at the tents.” He smiled once more and waved then disappeared on his trek to Nymph’s walk and the food he sought.
Crescent smiled involuntarily. Her brain screamed at her but the curiosity of taking a peek at a world even more strange than her own got the best of her. She would be back, even if Aunt Calliope forbid it.
Once the city had settled for the night, well the respectable city anyways, Crescent slipped out of her aunt’s house and trailed down the wall of the outer gardens. She silently wished her aunt had less elaborate tendencies but she knew her guardian all too well to know that. Before she finished the drop to the road she tugged her gloves to ensure they were secure and pulled the hood up over her sun-kissed face. She wanted to ensure that her trip to the visitors didn’t get back to Calliope.
The trip there was quick with no traffic on the main roads. Once she crossed the threshold of the town center, Crescent let out a breath and ran as fast as she could to the edge of the fair grounds where the tents were dim but active, children ran about, even at the late hour of the night. She smiled to herself and let herself unwind, taking in the joy that radiated from the scene in front of her.
“You came.” A voice slipped up from behind her and tossed an apple at her. She caught it and turned around, a grin slowly spreading over her face.
“Hello Maverick.” She said, throwing the apple back at him.
“Hi swamp girl.”
“Fountain, and I have a name. Crescent.”
“Like the moon.” He smiled again.
“Well crescent,“ He began, dipping his head to her. “Let’s party.” Before Crescent could protest, Maverick grabbed her arm, firm in his grasp and without hesitation. She prepared herself for the scream, but nothing came. No pain, no energy transfers, nothing but warm skin on warm skin.
She blinked as he tugged her forward, completely caught off guard. She tested the waters, peeling her right glove off and placing her hand in Maverick’s. Still no reaction as they walked. A smile spread over Crescent’s face and she giggled.
“Yes, Let’s Party.” She released his hand and sprinted into the party, leaving her partner trailing behind her.