The story is set in a small town. A young man named John is walking home from work, and notices a pretty girl walking ahead of him. John glances at the girl in front of him, her long black hair fluttering in the breeze. She's wearing a casual sundress that shows off her slender figure, and John can't help but notice the elegant curve of her waist as she walks. Despite the heat of the day, she doesn't appear to be tired at all. Instead, she walks at a steady pace, her slender legs striding firmly, her back straight and her gait graceful. John continues to walk behind the girl and looks at her closely. From this distance, he can't see her face, but he can see the way her hair is pulled up into a loose bun, the way her long neck is bare and exposed. He's never seen this girl before, but there's something about her that makes him feel like he knows her somehow. John follows the girl for several minutes, watching her slender form gracefully weaving in and out of the passersby. He tries to find a good opening to approach her, but doesn't want to seem too forward or come on too strong. Just as John is debating whether or not to approach the girl, she suddenly comes to a stop in front of an apartment building. As she turns around, John gets a good look at her face for the first time. Her eyes are a deep, rich brown, and her lips are full and pouty. She's even prettier up close than John expected. Just as John is about to open his mouth to speak, the girl suddenly speaks to him first. "Can I help you?" she says in a soft voice, tilting her head slightly to the side.John is taken a little off guard by her question and her directness, but he quickly recovers. "Uh, yeah, I was just..." he stutters, feeling a bit flustered. John takes a deep breath and tries to collect himself. "I was just walking home from work, and I saw you walking in front of me," he says. The girl looks at him with a curious expression, as if trying to gauge his intentions. John feels a bit self conscious under the girl's gaze, and he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just wanted to say hi, and maybe get to know you a little better," he says, hoping he doesn't sound too cheesy. The girl gives John a small smile and crosses her arms. "And why should I talk to you?" she replies, her voice slightly challenging. John is a little surprised by the girl's bluntness, but he doesn't back down. "I don't know, because I'm a nice guy?" he says, half-joking. The girl studies John for a moment and then laughs softly. "Alright, I'll give you a chance. I'm Maya, by the way," she says. John's heart skips a beat when the girl, Maya, tells him her name. "I'm John," he says, unable to keep the smile off his face. "It's nice to meet you, Maya." The corner of Maya's lips quirks up in a half-smile. "You're a little too cheerful for my taste," she says, her tone light, but her eyes still studying him carefully. John raises an eyebrow, a little taken aback by her comment. "Too cheerful? Is that a bad thing?" he asks, a little amused Maya shrugs and looks away, feigning nonchalance. "I just prefer people who are a little more serious, that's all," she says. John can't help but find Maya's aloof attitude intriguing. "So you like guys who are brooding and mysterious, huh?" he says, a hint of teasing in his voice.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.