*****
When I woke up, I felt completely drained. My head was painfully pulsing from crying so much the night before and I could still feel the dried tears on the apples of my cheeks. I threw myself out of bed and took a quick shower. I brushed out my dark, thick curls and applied some light make up to make me look fresh. I didn’t want anyone to know what had happened the previous night. At this new job, I couldn’t show any sign of weakness. I needed to appear strong and independent. Plus, if a man like James had asked me out, Keisha was right; maybe I could catch another fish in my net. I grabbed my cutest dress. Light grey, with a cute black ribbon tied around the waist to accentuate my curves. I grabbed a pair of black stilettos with a matched black ribbon that tied up to my ankles.
My mother had always told me that whenever you are feeling bad about yourself, the best thing you can do is to dress up. It always brings out the best confidence in yourself. And that’s exactly what it did. I felt like I was on top of the world in that moment. Fuck Greg, and fuck drama. I was ready to take on anything at that moment.
I strutted out the door and onto the street to flag down a cab. In the backseat I could see the cabbie checking my out from the rear view mirror. I paid him a large tip and got out of the taxi.
Walking up the large steps of the library, I had a feeling today was going to be an amazing day. I wasn’t going to let anything bother me. I decided to not let any drama stop me from that moment on. It was time for me to conquer the world.
I reached the door and reached for the keys out of my pocket. I felt like an important person having personal keys to the most beautiful library in the city. If only theses bookshelves could speak. All of the pages that had been flipped through, all of the intellectuals that had the blessing of walking down the aisles, and all of the hot steamy hook-ups that had happened late at night in the hidden crevices of the bookshelves.
As I walked in to the library, I dropped my bag on the ground and my jaw almost hit the ground too. I too a big gasp and lifted my hand to my mouth. The entire library had been decorated in jasmine flowers. Beautiful, small flowers, each intricate in their own unique design. I couldn’t believe it. This was the most romantic thing I had ever seen. Even princess Jasmine didn’t have it this good. Who else could they be for? Jasmine flowers for Jasmine… it seemed almost obvious. At the same time, who would have done this for me? All of a sudden, it clicked. This was the beautiful working of James from the grocery store. In the background I could hear a record playing. It was coming from the upper level. With a huge grin on my face, I grabbed a bushel of the jasmine flowers and breathed in the aroma. I walked up the stairs and followed the sound of the music. It sounded like Dean Martin’s Somebody to Love playing on our old record player coming from the lounge area. When I reached the lounge area, I found no one. I wandered over to the record player and there was a note sitting next to it labelled “My dearest Jasmine.” I scrambled towards the letter and ripped it open. I scanned the letter which was beautifully written in calligraphy.
“My dearest Jasmine,
I know that we hardly know each other, but you’ve captured my eye and my heart. I think that meeting you at the grocery store the other day was destiny mixed with a little fate. It was no accident that I was there to help such a beautiful damsel in distress. I know you’ve turned me down, and normally I’m a modest man but I had a feeling you’re a hard one to get. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of decorating your work place in flowers. I hope this is enough for you to at least consider seeing me again.
If you’re interested in seeing me, meet me at the end of the pier at 7:00pm sharp. I’ll be waiting for you there.
-Love,
James.”
I stood there in a shocked stance. I could feel my heart pounding inside of my chest as my legs turned to jello. I wobbled over to the satin couch and sat down. I looked at the ceiling, even that was covered in flowers. I could practically feel James there. I wanted him so badly. My whole body was yearning for him. I had to go otherwise I would never forgive myself.
I began to pull the strains of jasmine flowers down off the pillars inside the library when my co-worker Samantha walked in.
“Holy shit…. What the hell happened Jasmine?! Is this all for you?”
“Uh… yeah. I think so.” I looked at her innocently while holding multiple ropes of flowers in my hands.
“Well why are you taking them down? You should be proud that someone would do this for you! Man, this guy must be really special huh.” She said.
“Honestly, I don’t know him that well, we just met at the grocery store, and now all of a sudden this. He left a note telling me to meet him down at the end of the pier at 7.
“So… you’re trying to tell me that a stranger did this for you pretty much? Woah lady, you got this guy in your back pocket. Boy is whipped!”
I giggled and continued to take down the flowers.
“Leave them! We have the janitor coming by later anyways, for now it makes the library have a nice atmosphere. I’m sure the customers will love it. “
I smiled and walked up to give Samantha a huge hug. I was thinking that these flowers were going to get me in trouble. Turns out it only gained me respect and popularity amongst my coworkers.
The entire day I couldn’t stop thinking about James. I wondered if he was wealthy or not. I mean, he did decorate the entire library in jasmine flowers… at the same time, what was he doing shopping at the budget grocery store in town? Either he was extremely modest, or he was the biggest romantic in the entire world. I thought it must have been the second one. No one with money would shop there, no one with money would dare ask me on a date either unless out of humiliation. I thought again of his chiselled jaw line and body, those sparkling blue eyes, his chestnut brown hair and his sense of style. Thinking about him made me realize how nervous I actually was. I had turned him down once already and not because I was cocky, because I had a lot of stress on my plate and partly because I was a little intimidated by him. I thought about what I told myself this morning about not letting anything bother me and I dropped the negative thoughts immediately. I knew Keisha would be there to give me a pep talk and dress me up to look like a beautiful ebony doll.
*****
After work I decided to skip the taxi and walk home for some fresh hair. I needed a chance to catch my breath after such as exciting day. It was only 4:30pm and I knew I had plenty of time to beautify myself. Confidence looked good on me. A combination of my killer curves, cute librarian dress and gleaming smile stopped men in their tracks as I wandered back to my neighbourhood.
When I got back home, Keisha was standing in the kitchen cooking dinner for us.
“Hey girl! You know, I won’t be eating with you tonight. I have a date.” I said as I tilted my chin up with an exaggerated smile.
“Whoa, slow down Jasmine! With who? Oh my god I want details so badly, let me mix up some margaritas!
She began throwing limes and tequila in the blender and her smile had grown equally as large as mine.
“So anyways, there I was at the library this morning working the early shift. I opened the door and the entire building was filled with Jasmine flowers! I could hear some music playing so I went to investigate. I reached an old record player with a note next to it. A note from James! He told me to meet him at the pier tonight at 7!”
Keisha’s mouth dropped open. She was stunned.
“Holy shit. That did not happen. Jasmine, you realize that if you are telling me the truth, that is the most romantic thing I have ever heard. This guy practically already loves you! Jesus! What are you going to do?!”
“What am I going to do?! Obviously I’m going! I have one hour to get ready before I leave. I need your wisdom! Help me!! Oh god you know I need help. What the fuck am I even going to wear? I have to look stunning!”
Keisha grabbed the blender and the two-margarita glasses and motioned for me to follow her to her bedroom. She poured me a margarita as I sat
down on her bed and she immediately began pulling things out of her closet.
“No offense Jasmine, but your clothes are all a little uhhh conservative to put it in a nice way. You need to look H-O-T tonight. Here try this on!”