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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 25, 2013 11:16:57 GMT -5
******This came to me this morning on my way to work while listening to Mythology. More to come.
Caroline unpacked her suitcase and placed clothes into different piles; ones to put away, ones to wash, ones to hang up. Her summer internship in Dublin suddenly seemed a lifetime ago as she stowed away the large bag and began going through gifts she had brought back for family and friends. As she pulled out a book a photo slid from the cover and down to the floor, bending to pick it up, she stopped as she saw the warm brown eyes looking back at her. A sigh involuntarily escaped as she sank onto the bed with the photo in hand. Those brown eyes had never been part of her educational plan. Warm nights on the town, early mornings of tea and bagels over looking the river, weekend jaunts to the country, she hadn't planned on any of it and yet here he was staring back at her from a photo. The crinkle in his eyes when he smiled. She remembered the first time she had smelled the horrid stench of the Liffey in the summer heat, how he had laughed until he nearly howled. Not only seeing his smile and hearing his laughter but seeing it as it reached from his lips all the way to his eyes.
"Caroline, your parents are here", came her roommate's voice.
"Coming!", she replied tucking the photo back into the book.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 25, 2013 13:16:58 GMT -5
You have no idea how excited I was to see this! Summer in Dublin is one of my favorite tracks on Mythology and I can't think of anyone better to write about it!!!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 25, 2013 13:59:57 GMT -5
Neil strolled slowly down the sidewalk the seperated the road from the beach. Waves lapped softly against the sand, gray clouds reflected in the water. September was still warm and hazy awaiting the sweet relief of the first cool down of fall. He pulled his sunglasses over his eyes as he sat on a bench that over looked the water. Something was missing, something warm that had been with him for the long summer months. Sweet emerald eyes that matched the rolling hills of Ireland, thick eye lashes that would bat shyly when complimented. Dark chesnut hair that hung to the middle of her back, but was mostly swept up into a clip or held with a pencil. As he gazed at the photo on his phone an ache swept through him and he knew that summer in Dublin was one that would not soon be forgotten, she would not soon be forgotten. He sighed as a text message came through about his flight in the morning. Clicking off the home screen he took the long walk back to his car.
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 25, 2013 14:27:24 GMT -5
Caroline answered the questions about her summer long teaching internship in Ireland. She smiled, nodded, laughed, talked about the weather. But she couldn't talk about him, he was locked away inside and that is where she wanted to keep him. He had been hers, maybe it had only been months, but it felt like much more. She remembered the day they met on a hot day at the beginning of June, she had been in Dublin only a few weeks and was still learning.
The sun cast it's long afternoon rays across the cobblestone street. Pools of haze gathered and appeared like shimmering liquid as shoppers strolled through the market set up on Moore street. Caroline Salinger twisted her hair up into the floppy sun hat she wore.
"I thought Ireland was supposed to be rainy and cooler", she said fanning herself.
"And where did you hear that?", her flatmate Aislin laughed in her musical lilt.
"From nearly every person who has been here."
"It's June and you're in Dublin, city is always hotter."
"I should have asked for a position on the coast", she took a sip from her water bottle.
"Then you wouldn't have the best flat mate in all of Ireland!"
"Very true", she adjusted the bag on her shoulder,"Few more things and we should be set." They meandered through the market that was set up Monday through Saturday, vendors with fruits, vegetables, homemade jams, and othe various items. It attracted locals and tourists a like. In the summer time you could barely walk through the market due to the heavy traffic, this afternoon was hotter than most and the market was sparsely busy. The two girls stopped to examine handmade scarves when she noticed him. Darker hair that had been frosted to a lighter shade, aviator sunglasses, jeans with a rip in one knee and frays along the bottoms. Boots that looked slightly out of place for the heat, but she could see he was comfortable. The guitar he played gleamed in the afternoon sun and a guinness sat at the ready,"We should go hear that guy play", she said to Aislin.
"He's probably just wanting the money, that's what most of them do if they're down here."
"So", she shrugged,"Let's see if he's any good."
"Fine", she said as she was tugged away from the scarves she had been admiring,"You wanted to come over here, you should talk to him.
"And say what?", she crossed her arms.
"Hello, for starters!"
There was no need for her to speak as he beat them both to it,"Ladies", he nodded,"Anything you'd like to hear today?"
Caroline had been immersed in the Irish lilts since her arrival but there was something different about his that made her knees feel slightly weak,"No," she shook her head,"Um...... just came to get out of the sun."
"It's wicked all right", he took a pull from the pint on the small table,"You should grab yourselves a drink and then come enjoy some music."
"Okay", she agreed following Aislin. They both got a pint and rejoined him at the small table.
"I'm Aislin and this is my friend Caroline."
"Nice to meet you," he shook their hands,"Where do you ladies come from?"
"Right here in Dubline", Aislin said.
"I'm from the US", Caroline replied.
"Aye, visiting our fair city then?", he asked.
"Summer teaching internship", she nodded as he lifted his sunglasses.
"I'm Neil, and I'm here visiting as well. Doing a bit of this and that, but I'm from Wicklow, near Bray.
"The seaside town", she said, happy she had been paying attention during the study abroad presentations,"I've heard of it."
"At least someone has", he smiled. The three sat chatting amicably until the sun began to disappear,"I think I should be going," he stood up placing his guitar in its case.
"Invite him to dinner", Aislin whispered to Caroline who shook her head,"Do it or I will."
"Ummm.....do you........have any plans? For dinner, I mean."
He thought for a moment,"A pizza from the freezer."
"Here's our address,"Aislin thrust a piece of paper at him,"Be there at seven thirty, bring a friend if you want."
Neil looked at the emerald eyed Caroline,"You'll be there as well?"
"Of course", she laughed nervously.
"See you ladies at seven thirty", he took the case and whistled to himself as he walked.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 25, 2013 14:53:17 GMT -5
Aislin moves fast! lol Love it!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 25, 2013 15:48:00 GMT -5
Neil checked his guitar cases and tossed a few last minute items in a large suit case. Time for another tour, another tour in the US, and that meant being close to her. How close, he wasn't sure, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. Those shining summer months in Dublin had been more than he had known from even his longest relationship, but they had both known that the possibility of keeping that fire going was nearly impossible. He recalled that first night of dinner.
He had coerced his friend and bandmate Ryan to join him. They were all in Dublin anyway and he didn't want to show up alone to a flat with two women,"What should I bring for dinner?", he asked as they perused the wine section of the small corner store.
"They usually like wine, I guess anyway", was the reply,"They literally just asked you to have dinner with them?"
"Yes!", he laughed,"We were talking, I said I needed to go and the one girl, Caroline."
"Dark hair and green eyes?"
"Yes, that one, she asked if I had plans and then the other one handed me their address and said to bring a friend."
"This wouldn't have happened to the rest of us, you know that right? Well, maybe Keith, but to the rest of us, it wouldn't."
"Not like I was looking for something", he laughed selecting a bottle of white wine,"Let's go." They made their purchased and arrived shortly after seven thirty.
"Don't be nervous mate", Ryan clapped him on the back.
"I'm not", he shook his head.
"Hey there!", Aislin said with a bright smile,"Come on in."
"This is my friend, Ryan", he introuced them.
"Aislin", she shook his hand,"Caroline is in the kitchen finishing up the salad."
"We brought wine", Neil held up the bottle.
"That was sweet", she took it from him,"Would you guys like a glass or maybe a beer."
"Beer", Ryan said.
"Me too" , Neil said as they followed her towards the kitchen. He felot his breath catch as he saw Caroline in jeans and a black top that hugged her. Her hair hung in loose waves as she bustled about the kitchen.
"Ryan, would you like a tour?", Aislin asked as she looked at Neil.
"Certainly", he accepted the beer and followed her back towards the living room.
"Can I help?", Neil asked before taking a swig from the bottle.
"I think I just about have everything", she dusted her hands on a small towel,"I hope shepherd's pie is okay, I know it's probably too traiditional, but it's something I could make without ruining it."
"It's fine", he laughed,"Trust me, it's better than I would have made for myself."
"I'm going to know a lot of different dishes before I leave this place."
"I believe you", he nodded,"Where in the US are you from?"
"Californina, wine country actually."
"Should have rethought that bottle", he grinned.
"My family owns a vineyard, they don't understand why I want to teach when I can just go into the family business."
"You don't like grapes do you?", he teased.
"I like them fine", she leaned against the counter,"I've just grown up around it and it's not for me."
"Well, if you're not into grapes, what do you teach?"
"I teach art to young children, they are so free spirited and the inhibitions that we adults have, they don't."
"Hey you two, dinner going to be served soon?", Aislin and Ryan came back into the kitchen.
"Yeah, if you all want to take a seat I will bring everything out."
"I'll help", Neil said grabbing potholders. Dinner was filled with talk and laughter between the four people. Caroline talking about growing up on the vineyard, the two men talking about their own childhoods in different parts of Ireland. Aislin interjecting whenever a moment presented it self.
"Sorry about my room mate" Caroline said as she and Neil sat out on the small fire escape.
"What do you mean?", he asked.
"She's very forward and I'm not, I never would have asked you to dinner like she made me do."
"Are you glad she did though?"
"So far", she smiled with a blush in her cheeks.
"Lovely shade of pink their, Califonia."
"Is that my nickname?", she took a sip of her glass of wine.
"Just trying it out?", he leaned against the wall,"Don't worry, I'm not going to kiss you tonight."
"What?", she sputtered almost spilling her wine on him,"Where did that come from?"
"I mean, I like you and all, but I think a kiss would be inappropriate at this time."
"Why are we talking about kissing?"
"Because", he began as he stood up,"Because the evening's winding down and my mate and your flat mate seem to have hit things off. Now it's just you and me, so I didn't want you to thinK I would try anything funny."
"I think I can handle myself", she laughed as he placed an arm above her head blocking her from going back inside,"Cute, really."
"Sure about that whole handling yourself thing?"
"Quite", she kept her eyes even with his as their lips came closer.
"I'll be a gentleman", he said.
Caroline almost gave a shudder as she could feel the air from his lips brush across her own,"Thank you", she said slipping inside the window.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 25, 2013 18:03:58 GMT -5
How do you do it? How do you write so perfectly? Gah!
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Post by celticbear on Feb 25, 2013 19:01:56 GMT -5
FALL! You have the start of another CT literary masterpiece on your hands!
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 26, 2013 10:15:25 GMT -5
Caroline placed the paint sets on each one of the tables in the new classroom she had been assigned. She would be teaching art to third graders in her home town of Sonoma, she had gotten the job only a few weeks after returning home from Ireland. She had left her room mate and gotten her own small apartment close to where her family was. She checked the apron suppply and hung one on the back of each chair. The simple tasks reminded her of him. When he waited for her after her classes were done or the banter between them as he helped her to set up for the day.
Sunshine streamed warmly through the window as Caroline pulled her hair into the usual clip and began laying out the supplies for the day. She looked up at the knock on the door and saw Neil wave,"What are you doing here?", she smiled ushering him in.
"I have this thing for art teachers," he grinned with a glint in his eyes,"Very hard to stay away."
"Apparently," she laughed,"Thought we were having dinner tonight."
"We are, but I thought you could use a morning rush", he held up a cup of coffee.
"How did you know?", she took the cup gratefully. The creamy, sweet vanilla hazelnut flavor slid over her tastebuds,"And my favorite flavor. You do pay attention."
"Every so often", he shrugged,"Want some help with this stuff?", he looked at the sheets of construction paper laid out on the small tables.
"Sure, why don't you get out the glue sticks while I finish up the paper and scissors?"
He nodded and took the basket of glue sticks she handed him. They had been seeing each other for a few weeks, between his rehearsals and her teaching they had found time. Often those times could be late at night or early in the morning, but they managed,"What will the wee ones be working on today?"
"Construction paper gardens."
"My favorite!"
"Hush, you wish you could cut and paste all day."
"I do", he laughed,"It's a secret desire really. Cutting and pasting, throw in a little coloring and I'm sold."
"So I'll bring a coloring book to dinner for you?", she jumped as his arms came around her from behind.
"I'll color a picture for you", he pressed a kiss against her neck.
"I'll add it to the collection from my students", she laughed turning to face him,"Are we still going for our picnic tomorrow?"
"We are", he kissed her softly,"You, me, and no one else."
"Sounds like a plan," she murmered as they allowed the kiss to slow and linger. Both of them jumping at the sound of the door,"Better go."
"Tonight", he winked and kissed her cheek.
She felt flushed as her students began to file in one by one. She greeted them explaining what they would be doing for the day.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 26, 2013 11:25:50 GMT -5
*sighs* This summer romance is so sweet.
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 26, 2013 14:39:12 GMT -5
Neil stowed his things in the luggage area at the side of the large tour bus. A few personal items came on board with him such as his guitar and lap top. He strummed the guitar as the others began to board the bus.
"How's everything mate?", Ryan sat across from him.
"Fine, I guess", he tuned the guitar.
"Heard anything from her?"
He shook his head,"We cut it off comletely."
"I still speak with Aislin."
"If you don't mind", he stood up and walked to the back of the bus. He sat on the couch and began strumming chords again. She had loved to watch him play and told him on several ocassions.
The July sun was high and hot on a Saturday afternoon as Neil an Caroline drove out to the country side. An afternoon picnic had become one of their favorite outings together. They could get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the quiet of nature. The trills of birds filled the air and honey bees hummed their quiet song as they buzzed to and from different blossoms. Neil sat with his back against a tree and guitar in hand. Caroline sat with her knees up and a sketch pad propped against them.
"Are you ever going to let me see that?", he stopped strumming and placed the instrument next to him.
"No", she laughed,"It's not finished."
"But you've been working on it for days", he reached for the pad.
"What's your point?", she laughed as he unbalanced her. Landing basically on top of her as they both dissolved into laughter.
"That I want to see just how talented you are", he kissed her neck,"Maybe I can persuade you", he kissed her lips and her neck again.
"Nice try", she giggled as he nipped at her ear.
"Well,if I can't see my drawing, can I see some others?"
"Make you a deal, play me another song and you get to see my work."
"You drive a hard bargain", he propped himself up on an elbow and traced a circle over bare knee,"But I suppose I could."
"Thank you", she kissed him before helping him up. She sat next to him with her sketch pad as he began to play and sing a song that she presumed was Irish, it wasn't one that she knew. His voice was as smooth as velvet when he sang, inflections of tone gave the song more heart and meaning. As he finished the song, she handed over the sketch pad.
"Caroline, you are good", he cast her a smile as he flipped through the hand drawn works of art. He could hardly believe the ones of himself,"I get to keep one right?"
"If you want", she shrugged as he placed a soft kiss against her shoulder,"What was that for?"
"Nothing", he smiled ejoying the colors that played along her cheeks.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 26, 2013 14:52:12 GMT -5
This is so sweet yet so heartbreaking. It's perfect.
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Post by fallingn2ct on Feb 26, 2013 16:44:57 GMT -5
Caroline sat in the middle of her living room going through sketch pads, selecting items to hang on the currently bare walls. She found her book titled "Neil", she felt her breath hitch as she opened it. A charcoal sketch of him stared back at her, eyes hidden behind the aviators he loved so much, legs stretched out infront of him while he tuned his guitar. The next one held a photo of him taped to it, in the photo he was holding a photo of her, the sketch itself was unfinished. She remembered the day they had printed the photos off.
"Let me see it!", Caroline reached for the photo Neil held away from her.
"No, it's my photo", he laughed wrapping an arm around her to keep her at bay.
"I let you see all the ones I've taken", she pouted playfully.
"Fine, fine", he relinquished the photo to her.
"It's adorable", she teased,"You're holding a picture of me."
"There, now you see why I was embarrassed."
"You should be embarrassed about the goofy face you're making", she teased.
"My kissy face", he nuzzled her cheek.
"It's a cute face", she kissed him,"Can I use it for a drawing?"
"You just want to keep my kissy face", he laughed as they made their way out of the store.
"Well, just in case I forget your lips, somehow, some way. I'll have this to look at."
"Wow, that was a good line", he hooked his thumb in her belt loop as they walked.
"And you thought only guys came up with gems like that", she grinned.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Feb 26, 2013 16:47:51 GMT -5
You're on a roll today!
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Post by celticbear on Feb 26, 2013 19:42:05 GMT -5
I'm loving this story! I want Neil and Caroline to meet again and rekindle what they had in Dublin and this time NO WALKING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER!
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