Chapter 1
I walk in the streets, the effervescence around me carries me. This neighborhood is constantly in motion, during the week there is a market full of fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of people come and shop there. It’s not uncommon to see the same familiar faces every week.
A little further down the street, around the corner, there is a tattoo shop. It is not uncommon to see men come out with a crude tattoos. I could almost say that most people don’t even remember why they did it. As I walk, I pass a guy coming out of this tattoo artist with an « I love Ken » inserted into a huge red heart. The confusion on his face makes me smile slightly.
Just a few meters away, there is a hairdressing salon from where the clients come out with « trendy hairstyles » but I could simply say that they were styled with a firecracker. Sometimes even a colorful firecracker. On weekends, I walk through the stalls that have settled in all the streets of my small neighborhood. Most of the things for sale are a bit pathetic antiques, I must admit. The sun dominates and the warmth of early spring is enveloping. I enjoy watching the different scenes that take place every day before my eyes.
I have a lot of friends who live in this neighborhood. One of them is Alice. Alice is a funny girl who follows the wind and the opportunities. So naturally she invested all her savings to buy a bar. Dana’s bar.
This is where I spend my days and years, in this small village in the heart of the city. Notting Hill. A village made of house, sometimes colorful. I have a house with a blue door. This pretty house I bought with my ex-boyfriend before he left me for another.
Since I was alone, I’ve never met a person I could start a new life with. I had adventures, man or woman I don't care as long as the attraction is present. My bisexuality has never been an issue.
So I’m living a rather strange single life, in a roommate with a funny girl, a bit crazy but whom I adore, whose name is
« Shaaaane »
« Hi Kennard » she said after a few seconds, arriving at the corner of the kitchen only wearing a boxer. « I have an existential question to ask you »
I laugh as I pass by her, Shane is a friend of Alice’s so it is quite naturally after my separation that I offered her the roommate. I couldn’t keep the house alone and didn’t want to leave it either. I loved this neighborhood. Shane when she wasn’t meant to live alone, you just had to see all the things she left behind. She needed a certain framework and guidance. She’s the biggest lesbian Notting Hill could know, and I have a little hidden interest in all her sex stuff. She doesn’t know much about romance.
« As existential as 'the end of global debt?' »
« Yes. » She said very seriously « I finally have a date with Carmen, you know the beautiful brunette and I wanted you to help me choose the coolest t-shirt. That I can make a good impression, you know. »
I turn around and say, « Already putting one on would be nice, you spend your time naked in this house. »
« Tina… Wait, look » she said, before going up the stairs 2 by 2 and down again with a t-shirt, 'I love blood like vampires'.
I look at her a little confused, she has never been very good at relationships, I try to help her as much as I can. « She expects something maybe more neutral ? Or more romantic ? »
« Yes it’s true wait I have another one » she removes the previous one to come back with her second choice, a tshirt with written «Lick here» and a huge arrow down.
« It seems to me t… »
« Good ? » said Shane, cutting me off.
« Yes.. Yes, Well I’m not sure »
« Cool ! Wish me luck. »
I barely have time to answer that she’s already jumping off.
« Good luck » I smile as I watch her leave. This woman is sometimes lunar to me.
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It's an ordinary day, a day like any other, a Wednesday. It's an ordinary day when my busy life has been turned upside down forever.
I work not far from home, I have a small bookstore called “The travel book”. I mainly sell books on travel.
To be honest, I don’t necessarily sell a lot, but that’s enough for me. I diversified a bit, I also sell a few novels that I liked. I’m not a gold digger but I’m happy to run this shop. Books have always been important. I am not very interested in movies or other popular series. I hardly ever watch television.
That’s when she came in, and I first heard the doorbell ring that someone had come in. Then I saw her.
She was a woman, she seemed a little older than me. She was wearing a long black leather jacket and black fluid pants. Her jacket was open and a simple white shirt could be seen that fitted perfectly to her body. Her hair was curly and loose, falling naturally on her shoulders. A pendant adorned her neck. She wore sunglasses that she did not take off while she was inside. The lenses on her glasses were not too dark and showed the stranger’s black eyes. She was not wearing makeup. It was a raw, natural beauty.
I caught myself thinking I could drown in that dark look.
I blushed looking away, suddenly realizing how I was detailing her.
I tried to return in vain to the work I was doing a few minutes earlier, while my eyes were again set to search for the mysterious brunette. She was behind a shelf and she seemed to be looking for a book. She took one out and put it down. She seemed to hesitate.
I cleared my throat trying to stay professional.
« May I help you ? »