Hey. This is split into two parts because it's kind of long. I switched from present first person to past third person, so if I make mistakes there, please point it out. NOTE: So sorry if it's too long! This needs some critiquing [: Please and thank you! Don't forget part 2
*Recently edited.
______
A gentle knock rapped at the door. Which caused Rose Marie to smear her cherry red lipstick anywhere but her lips. Slowly, she found herself rubbing off the lipstick with a tissue. The door opened with a slight squeak and a loud bang then her manager, Frank, hesitantly stuck his head into the room.
"Come in," she called gently. Frank then opened the door fully, showing his short stature. Combined with the other girls talking loudly and the noise as Frank opened the door, everything rose a decibel louder.
“Rose, darling the men are waiting.” Being a Candy Stripe for the men could be a slightly good thing yet a bad thing at the same time. The good was that they were able to go where the army men went, all around the world. The bad, they saw death everywhere around them. Some of the men they all knew days before, would be missin’ or dead. Completely unknown or oblivious to the women.
“Be there in a few,” she said, nodding slightly so Frank would close the door. She stared at the mirror, and the pale face and dark lips all the way down. The other girls always looked the exact same. “Okay, girls. Let’s go make entertainment!” They all puckered at the mirror, and filed out the door, dresses shimming behind them all.
The bright lights, and swarms of army green uniforms mixed together in a rush. Rose’s fingers released the curtain, and it slid back with a light swoosh. Suddenly, her stomach dropped and she started to become nervous. This rarely happened, and when it did, it never went away.
“Honey, are you alright?” Catherine is a perky blonde with a personality children usually have, but none of us complain. She placed happiness where only sadness resided. That’s something we all needed.
Rose shook her head back and forth, with eyes closed. She started concentrating. On home. Of James, her wonderful fiancée who is stationed miles from where she stood. Of my family. A wave of warmth and reassurance flooded her body. She’s able to talk, “I will be perfectly okay. Don’t ya’ worry now.”
Catherine looked slightly unmoved, she had a look of worry clouded on her angelic features. “Come to me if you need anything. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”
“Oh there’s no need for all that,” Catherine hardly agreed with what I’ve just said. “Let’s just get this over with, shall we?” She nodded and gave her a small smile.
“Okay,” she said softly to Rose. She turned her attention to the women around them. “Okay, girls, let’s get this over with so we can go home!”
There are hoots and hollers as they all entered the stage. The lights are more blinding than she thought, they blared straight at Rose. By now, She has gotten used to the idea of the bright lights. The routine is over within fifteen minutes, and they stood out of breath in a line and bowed all smiles. They all flowed out to the right, and other girls did their routines and songs. It made the soldiers forget about what they’re really in, and that’s what she always loved about this.
The dressing room is welcomed, but stuffy. Each one of the girls sighed, as they started removing the makeup, which covered their true identity. The other girls would die without it, but she absolutely hated covering her face. A little powder and lipstick is all but fine for her. But Rose was different, and always had been. It’s what James loved most about his Rose. She wasn’t superficial. The memories flooded her mind all too well. She stopped everything.
*
“Hi, sweetheart!” Rose ran into his arms, which were held out waiting for her. Rose fitted into them almost perfectly, molded into him just right. She planted a kiss on him, and it gave her shivers throughout her whole body. Kissing him had always sent shivers down Rose’s spine, and never lessened.
“How are you, darling? Fine I hope.” He smelled of an expensive cologne, and cigars that he sometimes smoked. It’s a familiar scent she learned to love after a year.
“More than ever now you’re here.” She wrapped her hands around his neck and squeezed him with a force only a young woman could muster. He laughed.
“You are awful stronger than you assume.” He took her small hand and started walking. His step fell into her step, their arms swung back and forth. The stopped at the bench on the beach. It was a nippy, October day and the ocean was more grey than blue. It was sullen almost how the waves came forth and then left with no playful tendencies. But it didn’t stop Rose from her happiness.
“Do you remember when I first met you, Rosy?” He wrapped his warm hand around her fragile shoulders and pulled her close into his form. Her face rested softly against his chest, so close, she could hear his heart beating slowly and softly.
“I wouldn’t forget,” She whispered.
“It was this exact spot.” he kissed Rose on her forehead, and sent shivers running down her spine. “But a much warmer day, the sun casting light onto us, causing the water to sparkle like crystals. You were sitting there, caught in mid laugh. It was a beautiful sight, I remembered how time slowed for an instant when I first spotted you.” He sighed.
“I never noticed you then,” She told him.
“I know. At that moment, I just had to talk to you. I wanted to know you’re inner thoughts, what made you laugh or cry, even what foods you loved. I had to. And when we spoke, it was as if the world just stopped for the both of us. We ended up talking for hours, till the stars fell into place and twinkled endlessly till dawn. I reluctantly let you go.”
“I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to learn everything about you.” Her laugh filled the air around them, gently tinkling. “And I’m still learning.”
“Well, I hope to learn more and more about the woman I love. Till we are an old couple, with our children all grown and grandchildren giggling around us.” His warm finger traced the side of her face, and leaned in gently. Then passionately, he pressed his lips to hers, ever so light.
Leisurely, he pulled away from her, and reached into his coat pocket. Rose’s heart fluttered, and beating quickly. He pulled out a small box, covered with red velvet. She was sure she was going to faint, but she didn’t. His knee hit the sandy ground and revealed a delicate gold band with a small diamond on top. It sparkled in what light was left. A tear threatened to fall from Rose’s eyes.
“Rose, I have loved you since that very day I met you. Learning about your very essence has me attached to you in ways I never felt about a woman. I hope you’ll stay with me forever. Will you marry me?” His gaze looked meaningfully into hers and she was no longer was threatened by those same tears. They fell into her lap, but they were happy tears full of life.
“Yes. I will marry you, James, forever and ever. I will.” He placed the ring onto her finger, and kissed it with warm lips. He then got up to kiss her once more, and this time it was filled of more love than they had for each other combined.
*
“Rose,” a gentle hand shook her out of her trance. She gently spun the ring around her delicate finger. “Are you alright? Is there anything wrong with you. Is it this heat?” Catherine prodded and poked into Rose’s feelings.
“I just was remembering James, the day he proposed. I miss him.” She fully recognized she was crying silently as she sat there looking at nothing in particular. Rose swept the tears away. “Did you know three days after he did propose, he was shipped off to combat?” The ache was unmistakably there.
“I know, you’ve told me. It’s so heartbreakin’.” She sighed.
“Oh it was entirely too heartbreaking.” She shimmed out of the bright red dress, and found the pencil skirt and blouse laid out on the chair behind her. The skirt and blouse matched her figure just perfect, hitting at all the right angles. She was blessed with the body of her mother, who at the age of forty, still managed to have the same figure. Rose slid into the chair, and picked up the red lipstick and placed it on her lips. She gave the mirror a slight smile, but the green eyes told something completely different from happiness.
“Shall we go downtown for a little dinner?” She asked Catherine. Seeing as they were stationed at France for the most part, it was the ideal place to dine and shop.
“Oh, you bet. I need to find something pretty for my soldier.” She winked, that was a little too much information that was overbearingly embarrassing.
“Mhm, whatever you say, Cathy.” A laugh floated out of her mouth.
The warm lights of downtown Paris shown with bright demands. The restaurant in which they ate had the most fabulous wine, and food. They filled their stomachs till they couldn’t laugh without causing themselves pain. Shopping had been the best part of the whole trip, they bought many trinkets and clothing for their families back at home. The weeks were slowly ending, and they were days away from being in our hometowns. Rose longed to be back home, with James. Who would be coming home as well days after her.
The two women walked along the narrow sidewalks, hand in hand, they made their way back to the hotel where desert would be waiting. “I am so excited about seeing my hubby when we get home, I miss him so much.” Catherine told her, excitement visibly showed in her eyes.
“Same with me, I just hope he didn’t forget about me.” The truth slipped out. She heard men changed when they entered the war, and they never came back the way they were. Rose didn’t want to believe that James might have forgotten about her in that so called change. It was a horrible thought not worth her valuable time.
Catherine stopped midstride. “He would never forget you, Rose. How dare you say such a thing.”
“I know I shouldn't say such things. It’s just I have heard so much about men comin’ home changed. It’s scaring me, that’s all.” She earnestly told Catherine.
“I don’t let it change my thoughts about David. I know our love stands strong. Now shouldn’t you agree with me? I’ve seen you two together, it’s a love fest of smoochin’.” Catherine laughed, and Rose suddenly started to laugh with her. She was right, but deep down she had discontent.
“We ain’t that bad, Cathy.” A grin pulled to her lips. A true smile. One that wasn’t fake, tight, and unmeaning; rather a one of pure happiness. “You would know,” Rose winked at her.
“Hey, hey, don’t start any of that.” The blush signaled that she did more than we all wanted to know about in the first place. And that was good enough for her. Rose barely even wanted to know, that was Catherine’s business, not hers.
The tiny, yet cozy hotel started to appear, and they rushed to it as the breeze caught a chilly after tone. The welcoming smell was a mixture of roses and some sort of herb, it was something Rose never was used to after the year of traveling. She would always remember it, even when she was miles away. Catherine and Rose slowly made their way to their shared room, laughing while they were at it.
She made her own way to the bathroom to clean up a bit before crawling into the mass covers that laid perfectly made since earlier this morning. The welcoming pour of the warm water was warm to the touch, yet a little cold. It made no matter either way. Rose found herself shimming into the cotton night gown that slid all the way to her feet, it reminded her of home and the everyday things she took for granted.
When she opened the door, she was amazed to find Catherine fast asleep without even being under the covers. The plush carpet was soft under Rose’s bare feet as she made her way towards Catherine’s bed. She untangled the bed sheets and slowly tucked them into Catherine’s sides. Blindly, she made her way to the bed and fell into its softness and fell asleep within minutes.
“Rose,” a voice, soft as a whisper prodded. “Come on, it’s our last show. Let’s make the best of it.” The shaking continued, and it was actually getting on Rose’s nerves. To say the least.
“W-what?” She said groggily as she pulled the covers over her head.
“You heard me, Rose. It’s the last show. Then we get to go home!” The last bit was said excitedly, and truth be told, Rose was now excited as well. Her eye lids flew open. “Now you’re excited and awake, aren’t you?” She giggled.
“You bet,” She threw the covers away from her bed and jumped up, and grabbed the outfit that she laid out the night before. Which happened to be a light green dressed that flowed towards the top of her knees, and a hat to protect her head from the France heat.
“That’s a beautiful dress, did you buy it yesterday?” Catherine felt the fabric between her fingers, and felt the softness.
“Yes, from that little boutique we visited. Remember?”
“Oh my, now I do. I should have bought one,” she said doubtfully for she didn’t buy anything from there as Rose did.
“Maybe you can borrow it sometime,” Rose said as she closed the bathroom door, smiling.
Found one.
I think you missed this whole paragraph while editiing.
Uh. What?
I like this.
Awh!