When Starla Shines

Starla Devine dashed into the room five minutes late.  

The members of the therapy group observed her entry and they knew.  

Dee Dee first noticed the glow in Starla's cheeks and the light in her eyes. The fact that her hair was swept up into a becoming twist and she was wearing dangling earrings was what Yetzo noticed. Dixie thought her outfit was rather "festive" for a mere support group session.  Joseph, although not usually very observant about his own behavior, did not miss the way Starla glided across the room and gracefully sat in her seat.  It was the keen eyes of Miss Martha that saw how she looked at him.  Yes, Starla herself may not have known it, but no doubt her fellow support group members did.  The membership of the Relationship Recovery Group knew that Starla was in love with their leader, Dr. Thad Daniels.

A Knight in the Ally

GT  and Sahara had been together forever.  They had been inseparable in preschool. He was the knight and she was his princess.  GT carried her back pack. He even let her lead him around like a puppy. GT kept following Sahara, all the way through college.  Entertaining her every whim, he was right there supporting her dreams of fame and fashion.  And his dreams?  His dreams had always included her.  Sahara had always been there and he thought she always would be.  GT never dreamed that one day he would be standing on the sidewalk, watching his princess drive away in a blue Volkswagen beetle.  

Abby Calvert kept telling herself it could be worse.  Working in a bowling ally had benefits.  The music was always good, the people were never dull and her bowling game had definitely improved.  None the less, Abby seriously doubted she would ever meet her knight in shining armor in such a place.  

Sahara had gone in search of her dreams, leaving GT behind.  Now what would he do? He stood on the side walk wondering what a knight does, when he's lost his princess?  That's when GT Holland decided he would do what any reasonable knight would do, he would go bowling.

Meeting Mr. Fabulous

Maribel Coleman's evening was turning into a disaster  She was on her second trip to her local grocery store because she forgot the item she had gone out to get in the first place. She had just sideswiped a Black SUV ripping a large gash into it's side panel. She had dumped coffee in her freshly detailed car.  And oh yeah, it was starting to rain.  Just when Maribel did not think it could get any worse, he stepped out of the damaged vehicle.  Yes, it was him.  It was Mr. "gorgeous in his suit and tie, walking his dog every evening at 6 p.m." It was Mr. "that's the reason I go out to jog at 5:45 every night." It was Mr. "I have fantasized about meeting you," that was coming her way.  And Mr. "Fabulous" currently looked more like Mr. "I am going to have your head for this."  Yes, Maribel's day had just gone from bad to worse.

Head Over Heels

"Mam, are you okay?" Kurt Brady said as he reached for the woman kneeling in the grass.  She was obviously in pain.  He had spotted her as he jogged down one of the quaint streets of Pikesville.  Thinking that she was simply tending to her yard, Kurt was about to pass the house when he realized something was amiss.  

Five minutes ago Genevieve Sears was celebrating her independence.  She was unattached, confident and strong.  Genevieve didn't need anyone to help her move the old bed frame from the house out to the street.  She didn't need anyone telling her to move to the left, move to the right, slow down or speed up.  Then as she reached down to move a rock, Genevieve slammed her head into the bed frame.  The blow to the tender spot immediately sent her to her knees.  Genevieve's head radiated pain and she found it hard to breath.  Her independence had little appeal as she hovered in the damp grass.  Then from out of nowhere he appeared and she was no longer alone.

Sweet Dreams

Excuse me, do you mind if I try out this side of the bed?

Carly Paris could not believe the words that had just come out of her mouth.  Had she actually asked the tall handsome stranger if she could share the bed?  Usually considered timid, Carly was all of the sudden struck with a boldness that surprised her.  Maybe it was the confidence that  her new running shoes gave her.  Maybe it was landing the lead role in the ballet's spring production of Cinderella.  Or maybe it was the allure of his dark eyes and  dark, wavy, thick hair.  Whatever it was that had moved her to do so, Carly was now sharing the same sample bed at the department store with the good looking stranger.  The stranger was Josh Ivey and he had insomnia.  Josh knew deep in his heart that his inability to sleep had more to do with memories from his past than his bed.  However he knew that although he couldn't change his past, he could change his mattress.  What he had not expected was that someone else was going to want his bed.

Borrowing Trouble

Ivory had promised them Rice Krispy Treats and she would make it happen even if it meant knocking on the door of her creepy neighbor.

Ivory Norton had discovered on her way out to work that morning that her roommate had eaten the marshmallows intended for a promised desert.  She could not believe that neither drugstore, which she had visited on her way home, sold marshmallows. Now there was no time to go to the grocery store and still get the Rice Krispy Treats made and delivered on time.  Ivory had one last hope.  Maybe, just maybe, her neighbor in apartment B would have a bag of marshmallows she could borrow.  She had never met the guy in B, but based on her roommate's description she had not been eager to do so. Yet this was for the kids, so Ivory headed out the door to meet the creepy guy in apartment B.

Jace Edison had been through the ringer that day and was relieved to be home at last. With the sound of Fleetwood Mac on vinyl and the aroma of burger and fries filling the air, Jace had just settled down on the couch to unwind.  That's when he heard the frantic knock at the door.   Reluctantly, he got up and walked over to look out the peep hole. First he took in the mini dress and boots.  Then he noticed the empty measuring cup. Lastly, Jace realized that it was the crazy lady from Apartment C. 

Look Out Lady!

Her birth certificate read Carol Camry Grey but she was known around Lancaster town as Lady Grey.  It was the social worker's gentile manner that had afforded her the nickname Lady, however today she felt anything but ladylike.  Her boyfriend's text had proclaimed him to be hunting just minutes after she watched him walk out of the upscale restaurant with the lovely blonde.  As she marched down the street to confront him, Lady did not see the hulk of a man that headed her way.  UPS driver, Whit Saucony was thinking about wrapping up for the day and making that evening's focus group on time.  Therefore he did not see the Lady on a mission headed his way. Whit had no idea that his focus was about to change.

Inspiration pieces: arrival of new Saucony running shoes; following a Camry down the road; a story told by a friend; a cup of Lady Grey Tea;  a conversation with my school's social worker; Driving by Carol's Closet, Lancaster Music and Whit's Salon; seeing a UPS truck; attending a Focus Group,