Gen One: Chapter Five – True Love?

In the weeks following her kissing me, Jelly seemed to act normal. I lay awake at night thinking about her, wondering why she had kissed me. None of it made sense, Had she really kissed me to ‘see what it was like’? And what had she meant by that? Hadn’t she ever kissed a guy before? I found myself watching her every time we had a meeting, begging her to give something away that the kiss couldn’t be just a one time thing. I needed conformation of her feelings before I could let her know my intentions.

One day after work I was walking home when I spotted Blueberry, I wasn’t sure if I should just walk away or approach her. But as I watched I saw a man come up and hug her. Grimacing I started in the opposite direction. I didn’t need my feelings about Blueberry getting in the way

As I continued on my way home I heard running footsteps heading in my direction. Stopping I glanced over my shoulder and found that it was Blueberry.

“Karmel! Hi.” she panted as she caught up with me, “It’s been a while.”

“It has.” I was gruff. I really didn’t need her on my plate right now.

“So..You still up for that coffee?”

“Of course. Name the time and place.”

“Well…How about we exchange numbers, and then we can pick a time together.”

“Sounds plausible to me.” As she pulled a notepad and pen from her shoulderbag I rolled my eyes. Of course, when didn’t a woman have whatever she needed in her bag? She jotted her number down on the notepad before tearing out the page and handing it, and the notepad to me. I scrawled my own number in scribbles before handing the notepad back.

“How’s your fiancé?”

“Oh, Everton? He’s good. Really good. He’s really moving up the ranks.”

“What is it he does?”

“He’s a fireman.”

“Ah. Right.”

“Hey, Karmel…I was wondering…Do you want to come to the wedding? I mean…If you can.”

“Sure. Can I bring someone with me?”

She seemed surprised that I could have found someone I wanted to take with me.

“Of course. Who is the lucky lady?”

“Jelly Bean? Do you know her?”

In a matter of moments Blueberry managed to gasp and begin choking.

“Jelly Bean? Do I know her? I went to school with her. Seriously Karmel, of all the eligible women in Sugar Valley you picked her?”

“I wasn’t aware there was anything wrong with her…”

“Wrong with her? The woman is insane! Whatever’s keeping her together right now can snap so easily it’s not funny!”

“I’m sure she’s fine. If there were something wrong with her she’d tell me.”

“You’d think, wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t see why this is any of your business anyway.”

“You’re right…It’s not. It’s your funeral Karmel.”

Turning she walked back in the direction she came from, leaving me wondering: What the heck was wrong with Jelly? If there were anything wrong with her she’d tell me, right?

Chalking it up to jealousy of missed chances I continued on my way home. Sliding between the covers I knew what I had to do the next day. It would be perfect.

— — —

Waking up the next morning I went for a shower and started off for work. Since my classes had finished the previous week I had become a regular employee. My days had been cut, but at least I was getting paid more, and now I had opening duties, so I could no longer go for my morning jog. I had joined the local gym instead.

When I reached the salon I began the usual opening procedures; turned on all the lights, flicked on all the power switches to makeover stations, and the downstairs tattoo studio, and filled the coffee pot in the break room. I grabbed myself a cup and headed into the main room as I waited for Cola to arrive. Not long after he walked through the door, smiling.

“Hey newbie. Good night?”

“I guess. How’s Soda?”

“She’s coming along alright. Going for her second ultrasound today. She’s hoping on a little girl.”

“After two boys I would be too.” I laughed, finishing my coffee and throwing the empty cup in the bin.

“Mmhmm. Listen, you have a full day today. We have a double appointment with practically the entire Muffin family, so don’t mess anything up. They’re very influential customers.”

“Yessir.”

Never agree to something you cannot do.

First was Wildberry Muffin, whose hair got burned during a straightening.

Then Taylaberry Muffin had a wardrobe malfunction and lost her shirt.

I was wondering whether I would be keeping my job when Blueberry came through the door, smiling her smug smile. At that moment in time I think I hated her more than anything. Suddenly she was so stuck up. What happened to the nice girl I met at the protest?

When she saw me she smirked and left the salon again. Just what I needed, I needed to stay focused, I had something very important to do when I got off.

Finally when I got off work I practically sprinted over to Jelly’s office. Panting I stood at the receptionist’s desk.

“You look like you just ran a marathon.” Strawberry Heart Cake laughed as I leaned on the desk, catching my breath.

“I sure feel like it. Listen, I have a-“

“Appointment, got it. Just go on up Karmel.”

“Thanks.”

I nervously ran my fingers through my hair as I slowly took the stairs to Jelly’s office. Swallowing one last time I knocked on the door and heard the soft ‘Enter!’ from within. Opening the door I saw Jelly standing in the middle of the room, she appeared to have been pacing.

“Jelly…I have something important to say…”

“Oh, are we going to delve into your past again?” she grinned, waving a hand at the chair, motioning for me to sit.

“I’d rather stand for this.”

“What…?”

I stepped up to her, taking her hands in mine as I smiled. She seemed a little anxious having her hands in mine, I just smiled comfortingly, hoping to calm her.

“Jelly…I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel as though I have known you for my whole life…I guess what I’m trying to say is-“

She cut me off.

“Is this what I think it is?”

“It might be, if you let me finish…” I chuckled as I moved to kneel on one knee.

“Jelly Bean…Will you marry me?”

“Oh, Karmel…I…”

———————————-

So, will she say yes? Will she say no? And what are these issues that she has? All will be revealed in the next chapter!