I really wonder how you feel on these nights so alone

“if only you could see”

Thomas Bailey Aldrich. (part five)

Dec 30, 2009 || 2:31 AM || comment?

(note: i intend to add more to this post, will write "edit" when i have. i want to post it though because i haven't posted recently. enjoy.)

Up to her chamber window
A slight wire trellis goes,
And up this Romeo's ladder
Clambers a bold white rose.

I lounge in the ilex shadows,
I see the lady lean,
Unclasping her silken girdle,
The curtain's folds between.

She smiles on her white-rose lover,
She reaches out her hand
And helps him in at the window-
I see it where I stand!

To her scarlet lip she holds him,
And kisses him many a time-
Ah, me! it was he that won her
Because he dared to climb!

"Keep your eyes closed!" Lidiya demanded as Aleksandra was about to open her eyes. She felt too anxious to sit still.

"You don't want me to poke your eye, eh?" Lidiya asked as she continued brushing eyeshadow over Aleksandra's lids.

"No..."

Lidiya continued in relative silence; Aleksandra was tapping her fingers nervously against the chair she was sitting in. After carefully applying eyeliner, and painting Aleksandra's lips a rosy pink, Lidiya had finished.

"Okay, you can get up now."

"Good!" Aleksandra exclaimed as she jumped out of the chair and bolted to the mirror. She delighted in her appearance. She turned around and smiled at Lidiya.

"Thanks so much!" She said, then gave Lidiya a tight hug.

"Just remember your promise..."

The sun was shining in such a way that it made it hard to look around without shielding the eyes. Aleksandra held her hand above her forehead, but the sunlight was still intense. Viktor took his hat off and dropped it on Aleksandra's head. It fell over her eyes and she laughed lightly. She turned around to face him, and lifted the hat so his face wouldn't be obscured from her vision. He rose his brow at her and she smiled again. He took the hat, placing it back on his head.

"Thank you for taking me out with you." Aleksandra said.

"Of course, it is the very least I could do." Viktor smiled back at Aleksandra, who felt herself getting very lightheaded. She wrapped her arm around Viktor's for support, and they continued walking in this manner. Aleksandra looked around in amazement, not recognizing any of the stores they passed along the sidewalk.

"What about this store?" Viktor asked as they passed a viewing window with three mannequins in various styles of dresses, no doubt worth more than anything Aleksandra had ever owned in her life. She turned to him, looking slightly shocked.

"This is..."

"It is what? I would be upset if you turned down my offer." Aleksandra shook her head then looked down at her feet.

"No, I'm sorry...I would really like it a lot..."

"Then why the hesitation? I'm sure there is something in here made just for you."

Together they entered the store, and soon Aleksandra felt overwhelmed by the quality of the clothing and felt even more ashamed that she could never hope to afford anything in the store. A woman soon approached the pair, and with a too-cheery smile said, "Welcome! Is there anything I can help you with today?"

Viktor nodded. "We're looking for a dress. Whatever suits her style." He motioned to Aleksandra, and the saleswoman directed her attention to the young woman.

"I...I'd like to look around for a bit, if that's alright." Aleksandra said quietly.

"Not a problem! Let me know if you need anything!" The saleswoman disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. Aleksandra stood still for a moment, staring at her feet. Viktor gently placed his hands on her cheeks, and bent low towards her.

"Do not worry so much about the price. I want you to be satisfied with your dress. Go ahead." Aleksandra looked him in the eye then nodded. He let go and she slowly drifted around the store, rummaging through rack after rack of dresses. It wasn't that Aleksandra felt picky, it was she couldn't decide on only one dress. Each dress was more beautiful than the last. It was only when she thought she'd never be able to decide on a dress did she pull the last hanger on the rack.

It was a charcoal dress made of silk chiffon that stopped a few inches above her knees when she held it against herself. The front of the dress was gathered at the chest, with a belt of fabric below the bust. The dress was pleated below the belt, making gentle ripples in the fabric. It was beautiful.

She turned around, still holding the dress against herself and smiled at Viktor. He stared for a moment, presumably imagining her in the dress and he nodded. Her heart filled with excitement and she gave him a hug. He kissed the top of her head, then called over the saleswoman.

"Oh, excellent choice! Why don't you go change while we take care of the transaction?" The saleswoman pointed to a back room, where there were two stalls to change in. Aleksandra walked in and pushed in the button that locked the door. She quickly got undressed then slipped into the dress. It was extremely comfortable and looked even better than it had on the hanger. She twirled around, watching the skirt billow with delight. She stumbled over her own clothes and nearly fell on the ground. Feeling her cheeks reddening, Aleksandra stopped playing around and quickly gathered her things and stepped out of the room. Viktor was leaning against the wall just outside of the back room.

"Well..." he started, and stared at her once more. "That does seem very fitting for you. I knew there would be something in here just for you." Viktor offered her his arm again, and she gladly took it.

"Thank you," Viktor called out to the saleswoman as he and Aleksandra made their way out of the story. Aleksandra turned around, and waved to the saleswoman, who returned the wave with that overly cheerful smile.

"Goodbye now! We hope to see you soon!"

The restaurant was dimly lit, but alive with the buzz of people conversing. Soft music played to keep an ambient mood, and Aleksandra felt like she was in some scene from a movie. She grew increasingly quiet over the minutes, playing with the edge of her napkin as the two waited for their entrees. Viktor took a sip of his wine before speaking.

"I'm starting to think you're not enjoying yourself now that you've gotten so quiet," he pointed out. Aleksandra looked up, then smoothed out her napkin.

"I'm sorry...I really am enjoying this. It's a little overwhelming though..." She began twirling her spoon now, trying to divert her nagging thoughts to any manner of action she could.

"Overwhelming? Perhaps this is a bit much. But I wish you would speak to me instead of playing with your spoon." As soon as he said this, Aleksandra let the spoon fall to the table with a light clang. She felt her cheeks getting red, so she avoided Viktor's gaze.

"I'm also a little worried.."

"..About Natalia?" Viktor finished Aleksandra's thought. He sighed and took another sip from his glass. "There is nothing you need to worry about. She will learn the hard way, if necessary." Aleksandra was confused at Viktor's statement about Natalia, but she did feel comforted that he would make sure nothing would happen. The waiter returned with their meals and Viktor looked delighted.

"I was starting to get a little impatient."

Labels: fiction junction, Viktor's Girls