Ancient History

Chapter 1. First Encounter

She suddenly spoke saying "Don't worry mister, I'm sure if you apply you will definitely get the job. Who wouldn't want to hire a handsome man like you?"

At the mention of him being handsome Jack felt his heartbeat speed up and a slight pink tinged his cheeks, 'How on earth is my heart racing from a little comment from this tiny woman.' He was a large built man and quite steady so he was startled at the ups and downs of emotions he was feeling about this tiny woman just from walking in the door of this cafe. Being caught up in his own mind and staring at the lovely young lady in front of him he was suddenly brought back to attention as she reached to pat his arm saying.

"You can do it mister, you just have to believe in yourself" and then balled both her hands into tiny fists to show a fighting spirit. 'So cute!' He thought. 'She is so sweet! I don't know why her father was so worried about this.'

Suddenly as she was returning her hands to her lap she accidentally hit her hand on her cup of steaming hot tea and it went flying cross the table. The contents of the cup of hot tea splashed all over Jack's arm soaking quickly through his shirt and scalding his arm. His face grimaced in pain as he was unexpectedly burned. And the tea cup that had been sent flying, fell to the floor of the cafe with a crash, shattering the delicate glass into pieces.

"Oh no!" She gasped. "I am so sorry! Let me help you!" She grabbed a handful of nearby napkins off the table and rushed to help him clean up. As she turned back quickly to help him with the napkins she turned too fast towards him and her hand filled with napkins smacked him in the stomach with a loud thump. "Oof" Jack wheezed out as he doubled over, surprised to suddenly be knocked in the stomach.

"Oh my goodness! I am so sorry are you alright?!" Darby called out in concern as she grabbed Jack with her small hands to help him stand up straight so she could check his condition. But as she stepped toward him to check on him the heel of her shoe came too close in the rush and stepped sharply on Jack's foot. Jack's eyes widened in pain as he stopped himself from yelping from the sharp stab on his foot. Darby gasped in surprise and stumbled back trying to get off his foot as quickly as possible. As she hurried back she knocked into the table she had been sitting at and the plate that the tea cup had been resting in earlier was jostled and tumbled to the floor joining the shattered tea cup at her feet.

"Oh no, I am so clumsy" she sighed exasperated as she crouched down to try to pick up the pieces of glass off the floor and clean up the mess.

"Let me do that!" Jack exclaimed bending over quickly to help clean up, not wanting her to be hurt from the glass shards.

"What?" She asked looking up suddenly, as he brought his head down towards her and the back of her head hit into his nose with a crunch. Jack grabbed his nose, in pain again and a trickle of blood slowly fell from Jack's nose.

Darby gasped in alarm and asked with great concern in her voice "Are you ok?!"

Jack could see her face crumble and her eyebrows creased together obviously upset for hurting him. "Yes, yes I am fine." he assured her, not wanting her to feel bad. He moved again to pick up the glass saying "This needs cleaned up"

"Oh please let me do it!" Darby also reached for the glass and lifted a piece abruptly, just as Jack reached for the same piece, cutting the side of his finger. Jack inhaled through his teeth at the sharp pain slicing his skin.

"Oh no! You are hurt! This is awful! I must be bad luck.." Darby said, her voice filled with distress and her eyes watering as if she was on the verge on tears she lowered her head down dejectedly. Jack's heart panged a little at her sadness and hurriedly assured her

"No, No, Miss, I am fine!" and gave her a warm smile. For a split second there was a surprised expression on Darby's face that was quickly replaced with a delicate smile. She spoke softly and said.

"Let me clean this up, I won't get hurt." She cleaned up the mess quickly much to Jack's surprise, and then stood up, gathered her things and said.

"Well mister good luck with your future career path. Maybe we will be seeing each other more. I've got to get back to work now! Good bye!"

And just with that she walked out of the cafe and was gone. All of this had happened in a matter of seconds leaving Jack spinning in the whirlwind of an interaction he had with her. He held one hand up to his nose and clenched his sliced finger into his other hand. With a dazed expression on his face he stuttered out quietly to the empty space she had once been in.

"O-oh, yes, goodbye." He stood there, his mind confused and muttered softly to himself "What on earth, just happened...?" Outside on the street, someways away by now Darby walked along the cobblestone sidewalk, her heeled shoes clicking as she went along on the bustling street on her way back to work. Abruptly she started shaking and she bent over in half clutching her sides. And a loud laugh burst from her perfectly pouty pink lips.

"Hahahaha!" Her boisterous laugh echoed along the street. She got some weird questioning looks from people passing by. She continued to laugh and propped herself up with one arm on a nearby building, seeking support as she was losing her balance from laughing too hard. She beat her small gloved fists on the bricks, trying to control her amusement. Finally winding down she wiped tears away from her eyes and straightened her outfit, rumpled from her sudden outburst.

"Ah, That was close, I almost cracked near the end there." She chuckled and then smiled to herself "Nice try, Papa." Smoothed her skirt again and then started off down the street again, occasionally giggling to herself as she went.