Willing Heart

Chapter 2: An Odd Day

~Sales Guy P.O. V~

"Damnit..." I muttered to myself. She still ignored me, no worse, she basically rejected me. I feel so pathetic.

"Got away from ya, huh?" My manager asked. Of course, he was listening in. Nosey Nancy over here loves drama.

"Yeah. I don't know what it is about her, I just... I'm in love. She's gorgeous, successful and boy does she have a cold heart. But, that makes her more attractive." The beautiful white hair that glows when the sun hits it, the blue eyes that shimmer like sapphire, her skin pale and fair. She was tall too, like 5 foot 8 or something. 

"I hear ya, but seriously. Keep trying, bud. She'll come around." He patted my shoulder then continued on with his work. I maybe a perfume salesman in a lawyers building, but the ladies love the smell. Well, at least most did. Ruby? She hates them. No matter which one I try she always ignores me and covers her nose. I wonder if she knows she does that. I still remember the day I first started here. 

FLASHBACK TO 3 YEARS AGO~

        Finally! My first real job, ma and pa are going to be so proud of me. I mean, I would have to write them, but still. They are only in North Dakota, it's a few states up and over. And my sister is going to be so jelly. I mean, she is already 21 and no career goals. Me? I have always wanted to make perfume and now that I am working in a kiosk that sells this stuff, I can finally live my dream! As I was walking, I noticed a tall woman walking to the elevators. Her hair was glowing like fire from the sun. Yet, it was pure white, how could that be? I found myself staring at this woman. I had to ask her out. But how? Oh, I know! I snapped my fingers and prepared our 'White Lily' perfume for her. It smelled amazing. A mixture of white rose and tiger lily petals. On her break, I will offer her it and if she likes it, I will ask her out. 

    The hours went by slowly, the woman fawned over the new and cheap stuff, but no where was that gorgeous woman yet. I kept looking and looking until noon hit and that is when I saw her again. Holding another Starbucks coffee. She seemed to like those a lot. Wait! How did she sneak past my keen senses to get coffee?! It doesn't matter, now was my chance. I went up to her with the 'White lily' perfume.

"E-Excuse me, miss? H-Have you tried our latest perfume? I promise it's all natural." I smiled, but she seemed less than disinterested. s**t! I'm losing her.

"No. Now, move? I need back to my office." She politely asked. I moved out of her way. Oh, she made my heart soar. Brutally cold, but I liked it. I have tomorrow, I can ask her then, right?

"Hey! Get your ass back here! You're still on the clock!" My manager yelled to me. I went back and sold twice as much as my coworkers.

END OF FLASHBACK~

        Ever since then I have been trying to woo her with all kinds of different floral perfumes. I made each and every one of them. One of these days, I am going to find out what she likes, aside from coffee that is. It was recently that I noticed her name was Ruby. I thought it weird that her parents named her a red gem when clearly her hair resembles Opal more. But, I don't care, I just want her to notice me. Oh, God. I sound like a thirsty anime girl screaming, 'Notice me, Sempai!' I truly am pathetic.

"You keep staring into that poster and it'll become your girlfriend." My manager teased and laughed at me.

"What would you do, Nick? I am hopelessly in love with her." I asked my best friend.

"Well, that's a hard one. She doesn't like the perfume, right? Maybe get her some flowers and go to the Starbucks to ask what her favorite drink is there." I hadn't thought of it like that. Maybe I should.

"Thanks, Nick. I'll try that." I smiled at him.

"You have a good head on your shoulders, Seth. Just keep trying." That was his answer for everything. I lost a sales battle? Keep trying. My perfume became flammable? Keep trying. I broke a vial? Keep trying. It was his one and constant thing I could count on. "See ya tomorrow, Seth. And remember-" I cut him off.

"Just keep trying. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get going before you miss your bus, you old fart." I laughed at him. He was laughing with me as he left the kiosk. I closed the kiosk and put the money in a safe. Then, I took the cover of it and zipped up. Another day, another cold rejection from her. One day, one day soon I'll be noticed by her. However, it is her weekend and won't be back until Monday. Guess I gotta suck it up.

~Ruby's P.O. V~

        I woke the next morning feeling exceedingly refreshed, but still in my Unicorn form. I looked at my red marking first, hoping it wasn't there. To my disappointment, it was, I hoped that it would have faded over the last 15 years, yet that glowing red spot on my flank taunts me. Reminding me of why I ran from my herd. For the first 3 years of living with the humans, I would shift to run some when there was a place I could. A forest that was grass free but still huge, I took morning runs there until they destroyed it. The humans killed the one area I loved to go to here. But, I had to make do and adapt to their culture, as much as I hated it, it was still necessary. That days was the day I decided not to use my unicorn form again until absolutely needed. 15 years is all my magic can hold out for? Was that it? I know of some that could pass as humans for decades. I laid on my bed, remembering my days as a foal. No other colts or foals wanted to play with me, my parents were already killed by then. I sat alone when meals were brought for the herd. I was out casted because of this mark, I would sometimes wish I was born only white. A solid color like the herd. Why? Why me? That question rang through my head for the past 2 decades.

        Once I was done with the self wallowing and the pity train, I shifted back to my human form to get food. I didn't feel like cooking from home today, I went to my closet and put on some informal clothes. Just a plain dark blue bra with matching underwear, a yellow t-shirt, blue jeans and a pair of sandals. My hair never needed to be brushed thanks to my magic, just washed every other day. I looked at my phone and noticed it was already 11 am, so brunch time then. There is that diner that I have wanted to try. Shari's Café and Pies, I heard they were good from other coworkers, but I never thought to try them out. Well, I guess today is the day I do that. I grabbed my purse and a thin coat before heading out. I turned on my directions from Cortana and went to the closest one. The drive there was quiet but peaceful, I was right to soundproof my car.

I parked the car and then entered this Café, I was immediately greeted by a tiny waitress with short black hair and brown eyes. "Welcome! Is it just you today?"

"Yes. May I get a window seat?" I hated being too far in that I couldn't see the sky, I told my project manager that and he agreed to let my desk be near the best window to provide the best view.

"Of course!" She had to be in her late teens early 20's. "May I pay you a complement?" 

"Go for it." I couldn't care less of what this tiny server said.

"You're absolutely gorgeous. Is your hair naturally white?" The one thing I constantly take of.

"Thank you. And yes. My parents said I was blessed by the moon the night I was born, it was closer to the Earth than any other year." I couldn't tell her the truth.

"That's awesome!" She led me to a table that was next to the windows. "Well, my name is Katie. I will be your server. Anything to drink?" I also hated questions that I know no one has the answer to.

"Water, please?" 

"Of course!" She left and thankfully didn't return for some time. I saw her flirting with some other guy and he was totally into it. I only smiled and waited for my food and drink.