I don’t know what’s up with me.  This one was rough.  Although I think this time isn’t on me and more on the prompt.  We just didn’t see eye to eye.  Much like the exchange between the two below.

A Year of Writing Prompts by Brian A. Klems and Zachary Petit

January 11

Literary Road Show – J.D. Salinger Edition

“…one author’s stray lines become your source of inspirational gold?”

“C’mon, I’ll take ya home. No kidding.”

“I can go home by myself, thank you. If you think I’d let you take me home you’re mad. No boy ever said that to me in my entire life.”

“Probably because you’re a raging bitch.”

Her eyes widened.

“How dare you say that to me. Do-“

“Yes, I know who your father is and no I do not care. I don’t have to offer you a ride home after you brutally rebuff my advances, but I thought it’d be the gentleman thing to do.”

She began to storm down the wet sidewalk, her heels clicking on the cement.

Richard sighed and hung his head. At one point he had been madly in love with this woman, which was why he had mustered up the most courage he could offer to ask her out on a date. Then he lets his ego get to his head and he becomes a bully.

“Lily, wait.”

He chased after her and she only picked up the pace.

“You are ridiculous. You call me filthy names and expect me to stop.”

He placed a hand gently on her shoulder to stop her. She in turn reached a hand into her purse to retrieve a pink sparkle pepper spray can. The red spray arched over his right shoulder and onto the cement below.

“Hold on there, I am not going to hurt you. Please, let me just say one more thing before you decide to end whatever this could be.”

She held the can aloft, pointed threateningly at his face.

“I have been in love with you the moment you stepped into the library.”

Her angry expression lessened some.

“The past two months I have tried desperately to work up enough courage to ask you out. I do know who your father is and that is terrifying to me. Father’s in general are terrifying to the potential man whom may steal his daughter away. It’s just a fact of life.

“I know this night has been nothing you’re accustomed to. I don’t have the kind of money some people do at times. My money requires careful thought and planning. This whole night was planned from the get. The walk along the river, the dinner at Rivera’s, and I had planned a poetry slam before you, for some reason, decided not to enjoy my company any further than it had gone.”

Lily closed her eyes, lowered the can of mace, and sighed.

“Rick, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had such strong feeling for me. If I had known that I wouldn’t have agreed to this.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I only agreed because I’ve seen you around campus and I knew what type of person you are. My father is an ambassador and would have hated the very idea of me being out with you.”

Richard’s shoulders slumped.

“What I didn’t expect was to enjoy the night as much as I have. I felt terrible that I had even given a thought to use you as some sort of pawn. It was terrible of me. That was why I had decided to just end the evening.”

Richard stood silent for a moment, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“But you said you were having fun.”

Lily laughed.

“I did indeed.” She paused. “I’m sorry I tried to mace you.”

“I’m sorry you’re a terrible shot.”

The two looked into the other’s eyes.

“I’m sorry I called you a bitch. Can we please start again?”

Lily bowed her head.

“Another time perhaps. But I would gladly let you walk me home.”