Chapter One - The Routine

Koyaanisqatsi:

(n.) Nature out of balance; a way of life so unbalanced that you need a new way.

Chapter One - The Routine

06-24-2014

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Waking up next to someone is the best thing in the world, unless it's a stranger after a drunken night out. Luckily I get to turn around and watch her beautiful features, see how peaceful she is while sleep still overpowers her. She's absolutely stunning, but that's still the only thing I can say about her. For over six years I have known her and we were friends until three years ago. Nothing changed for me, the friendly feelings towards her kept being friendly. But somehow the pressure of my parents, other family members and friends became too much and I decided to ask her out.

I don't know why I have never felt anything towards her, other than the urge to care for her and make sure she's always safe and happy. Maybe she's just not the one for me and I will meet another woman somewhere along the way. Someone who will make my heart start beating faster. Someone who I will see and immediately know that she's the one.

But for now I'm content with being where I am right now, right beside her. My Charlotte is the sweetest girl I know. She's caring, loving and extremely nice to everyone. It seems to come so natural to her and that's seriously something I am jealous off.

I softly trail the tips of my fingers over her cheek, to the base of her throat. And then her eyes flutter open as she reveals herself to me, with a sleepy look plastered on her face. As she finally focus-es on me a smile graces her lips and she stretches her arm out so she can intertwine her hand with mine.

'Morning,' she whispers to me as she rolls herself over to me. She gives me a quick kiss on my lips before pulling the blankets off of her and stepping out of bed. Her naked form walks towards the curtains which she immediately pulls open, looking over to me with a smirk as she hears my frustrated groan.

'You hate me,' I whine as she runs out of the room while laughing, without a respond. I slowly build up the courage to get myself out of bed and get ready for the day ahead.

Within half an hour I am fully dressed and shaved and Charlotte is waiting for me downstairs, completely ready herself too.

'Coffee?' She asks, but pushes a cup into my hands without waiting for a reply. I never say no to coffee this early in the morning anyways. She gives me a knowing smile before making her way to the fridge and taking the things out to make us breakfast.

While sipping from my coffee I get the bread from the kitchen table and some cheese from the fridge. As Charlotte finishes our breakfast, I make our lunch.

We slowly eat our breakfast and I enjoy my cup of coffee, whereas Charlotte sips from her tea. As we finish I start putting everything into the dishwasher. I make sure that I have everything ready before I put on my shoes and coat.

'Char, are you ready?' I scream through the house and I get an immediate response.

'I am waiting for you,' she teases back and I chuckle as I see her struggling with her coat zipper. I slowly pull her hands away from it and zip it up before taking my bag in my hand and giving Charlotte's to her. She forgets her bag way too often.

I pick the keys from the table next to the door before opening the door for her to go outside.

As we are seated in the car she talks a bit about what she'll be doing today. She works in the morning as a secretary at the local hospital, but in the afternoon she always volunteers at the home-less shelter in a nearby city.

The talks we have are always the same, the things we do never chance and an oddly boring routine has made its way into our lives.

I drive to Charlotte's work and give her one last kiss, before she gets out of the car to start her day. In an annoying pace I make my way towards work to start my day, getting angry at all the people that take off when the lights turn almost red again. When I finally arrive at my work I turn around the corner to park at my usual spot, but today it's already been taken.

Now, this wouldn't have bothered me so much if it weren't for the fact that everyone always park their cars in the same spot.

With a groan I search for another spot that I can use and it takes at least half an hour to get my car parked. And then I still have to walk for like, five minutes.

So I start my day frustrated and I don't hesitate to show it. The minute I walk into the office all eyes turn to me and by the look I give them, they don't even dare to greet me.

I have been working at the same company for over 5 years now and I recently got promoted to company manager. It seemed like a great thing to me, until I started to see how much more time I had to spend in the office.

The offer came to me right after I had asked Charlotte to move in with me and the money was much needed. So I decided to agree anyway, just so I could take care of the both of us.

'Mister Donahew, there's a client here who wants to speak with you,' Grace says as she walks with me to my office. Now Grace is that kind of woman who gets everything she wants, but she al-ways works hard for it. And so she started off as a mail woman and she has now become my personal assistant.

'Thank you Grace, let him in when I give you the sign', I answer to her swiftly before taking the elevator to the upper floor.

When the elevator starts moving I start thinking about what I have to do today. I have at least 5 clients who need my direct attention and one or two companies that want to negotiate.

The ding of the elevator brings me out of my thoughts and I walk through the hall towards my office, saying my greeting to the people who are waiting in front of my colleague's offices.

I put my suitcase on the desk and shrug off my jacket, making sure to hang it up properly before sitting down and starting up my computer.

I check if everything on my desk is standing straight and take one final breath before pushing the button on my desk phone, which signals Grace that I'm ready. At least as ready as I'll ever be. The people that come into my office are usually annoying and very persisting. To get an appointment with me you have to have a big problem with the company.

So when they come into my office they are almost always angry and frustrated about the things that the company does wrong. About how we don't sell our products right, or how we don't commit to the promises we make. I don't get why people would start complaining about a company like mine, one that sells furniture and other household articles, but whatever.

A hesitant knock on the door breaks me out of my thoughts and confusion takes over. Nobody is ever this gentle when they knock, when they take the decency to knock that is.

'Come in,' I say with a firm yet soft voice.

To my surprise a young looking guy steps into the room, as far as I can see he's no older than 18. His blonde hair is perfectly styled and he brushes one lost strand of hair away from his eyes. I am almost shocked to see those bright blue eyes that stare at me from the other side of my office.

'Good morning sir, my name is Evan Knight.' The boy says and I am even more charmed as the words roll of his lips. His voice sounds sweet, but heavy for someone as fragile looking as him.

'Sit down,' I say while pointing towards the chair in front of my desk, trying to cover up the fact that I was openly staring at him.

The boy obeys my request and he gracefully sinks into the chair, making sure to stay as relaxed as he can. I can see it in the way he walks and talks, the way that he's so nervous can be seen from miles away. He is trying so hard to look composed, but I can see straight through him and it makes me pity him.

'Would you like something to drink?' I offer him and even I am surprised by my own actions. I never offer someone a beverage when they are here to complain about my service. A small smile makes itself known on his delicate face and he gives me a small nod.

'I would love a glass of water if that isn't a problem.' With a swift nod of my head I push the same button on the desk phone and within seconds Grace answers my call.

'What can I do for you sir?' Grace asks me and I give her our orders without giving her time to question my actions.

'So, mister Knight, what could I help you with today?', I ask him and his whole body seems to change. It's as if the matter we'll be discussing is something he will definitely get with less effort than a simple blink of his eyes.

'Sir I have to live from a small loan and I only have just enough money to pay my rent and get some food. So when I buy things from a company like this, after years of collecting money I expect it to be great. I expect the people who come and install the stuff are friendly and helpful, but your service has been far from good,' He seems to pause for a bit and he takes a much needed breath.

'The only thing I ask for is a solution for my problem,' he says and his voice has turned soft again. His whole posture changes once he finishes his rant and he slowly crumbles together.

'I can offer you the help of some other men,' I say to him and just as I start to fill it out into the system he stops me.

'Sir, that has already been offered to me and then again the help was useless.' I take a deep breath and give the boy a skeptical look. My eyes trail over his soft features and I try to decide if what I'm going to say is the best option.

'I could off-' just as I want to say something there's a knock on my door and Grace walks in without waiting for my approval. She doesn't spare the boy in front of me a glance, she simply puts down our drinks and walks straight out again.

Evan immediately takes his cup of water of the tray and he carefully sips from it, only looking up at me as if saying that I have to continue.

'I could come by myself, if that would please you,' I tell him and he seems to brighten up immediately.

'If that's a possibility, I would appreciate that very much sir', Evan responds sweetly and I reach my hand out to put it in my agenda in the computer.

'April fourth at one o'clock?' I ask him, ready to put it in and get on with it.

'Tomorrow at five,' he says and a small smirk covers his face. I scroll back to this month and watch over the date, tomorrow will be January sixteenth and I am completely booked. I take one look at his angelic face before deciding that I want to see him again, soon. And so I cancel the earlier appointments and put his name in bold letters for the complete afternoon.

'I'll see you in the afternoon,' I say and give him a hand in acknowledgement.

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A/N: That was intense... WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Words: 2122

Some people have asked me how long my chapters are so that's why I put the word count there. Chapters in this book are a bit longer than usual...

Please leave me a comment and vote ?

~Noortje