Vendor of Courage

It had been about 3 months that she started an entirely new job in an entirely new atmosphere. Lucky for this young lady, her charm and social skills are what made her the perfect candidate for the position. Only downfall is that it was a desk job and she grew very tired of monotony quickly. Every morning, swipe in the building, make very small talk with the security guard, wait a grueling 5 minutes to get to her floor because she always got stuck on the local elevator, pretend she was on her phone, and finally plop her many bags on her desk and start her day of work with a sigh.
She tried to make it a new habit to speak to different people everyday and try to get her morning coffee and snack at different times to avoid the routine. Her first days there however, she was completely caught for a loop. The most gorgeous man she had seen stepped off the elevator on her floor and walked into the office next to hers. This social butterfly making conversations with the coffee cup in her hand and the elevator doors as they closed, was speechless.
It had been a trend added to her routine; bump into him on the elevator, smile and go into her office talking to her coworker about their latest interaction. This had eventually become a part of her daily schedule that she looked forward to instead of fearing.
As time passed they would get in a "Hello" beyond the casual smile. One day, however, she was caught off guard.
She grabbed some change for the snack machine in the employee break room. She pondered which beverage to get, the all to stylish Diet Coke or the ever so sweet Snapple Fruit Punch. She opted for the latter and deposited her dollar into the machine. But to her surprise the machine ate her dollar but kept her 50 cents. " Shit!" She said as she pounded at the machine and ran to her office to grab another dollar. She grabbed her wallet and ran back to the vending machine to find the mystery guy about to put a dollar into the same machine and get a drink. "Hey, wait!" She yelled,startling him. "That's my money in there!" He put his hands up and stepped back and smiled and said "Sorry." "It's okay. The fricking machine ate my dollar so don't put any in. " He pushed the change button and all of her coins came to the bottom of the machine. He picked them up and gave them to her as they locked eyes bash fully. " I almost got a free drink." He coyly replied as she grabbed the change and tried again to crave her thirst. She retrieved her Snapple, and said "Almost!" As she shook the bottle at him and went back to her office. Completely sweaty and red and short of breath, she plopped in her chair and stared at the ceiling. "What happened to you?" Her coworker asked with concern. " I talked to him... And now I can't breathe."
"Oh wow, you're nuts." Her coworker replied as she swung her chair to continue working. The young lady completely excited and exhausted from her encounter had to share her news with someone enthusiastic and instantly called her best friend. "You'll never believe what happened to me. I'm gonna die." She started as she headed out the office to the elevator.
Had she chosen that was the beginning of a chance at love.

Fouled Out

She had been attending her son's soccer practices for about a year; no doubt the apple of any single fathers eye. She was tall, exotic and beautiful, but best of all...single. Every Saturday she would cheer her son on at practice and never missed a game. To any 11 year old on the brink of puberty, it was probably a bit annoying, but nevertheless an event she looked forward to all week.

It hadn't dawned on her until one day that her son had a new coach. Maybe it was because she was distracted by the admiration of her son's soccer skills or maybe it was because he blended right in with his students. A young man, by all senses of the word, but an old soul living within it. This young man made it a goal of his to speak to the beautiful mother only to throw his heart on the line. She was 40 years old and he was at the mere age of 17.

The thought never crossed her mind and probably to this day has never surfaced, but she admired the teen's ambition and courage. He got her phone number from the parent's contact list of his students and out of the blue texted her, with enthusiasm behind his words. With much surprise and haste she quickly tried to remind the boy of their age difference and that it was inappropriate. He understood but didn't let that be the end. He texted her from time to time, complimenting the way she looked at practice or the one time she made her laugh by writing, "I'm almost 18..." as if to re-spark any hope he had for them as a couple.

Sure to lots of outsiders looking in, this was completely disrespectful and morally wrong, but to others who understand the feeling of a first love that couldn't happen, this story is but the beginning of a tough rough ahead for the young coach. She never pursued, kept conversations to a short "hello" and "goodbye" on the field and every now and then replied to his texts with a smiley face, just to show her appreciation.

But maybe in the future, this could be a chance at love.