A New Beginning [BE11], Naomi Green

June 8, 2012
11:00 pm

Marley felt a little more free. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She felt... alive.

She had stopped drinking a couple of minutes after Josh Brewer had left and now spent the time just sitting at the bar, nursing a club soda with lime, and just... listening.

The music.

The sound of obscure conversation.

The laughter of people enjoying themselves.

She wanted to be one of those people and she definitely planned on becoming just that. She wanted to return to that person she was four years ago.

She wanted to be happy, carefree and fearful of nothing. The kind that would dive feet first into the unknown. Someone who would try anything, no matter how scary it seemed. The person who managed to get past a slight fear of heights by jumping out of an airplane.

A fear of heights... Quite comical don't you think? But it was possible. Although she couldn't see how far down things were, she could feel it. The sway of a slight loss of balance... The wind whipping around you that was unlike what you'd feel when on the ground. And the uncertainty of exactly how close you were to the edge or how much or little there was between you and nothingness. She had experienced that type of fear when visiting the Eiffel Tower. But she didn't want to be that way.

And she didn't want to be scared by life anymore either.

Today was the start of the rest of her life.

Naomi was excited to be in Evergreen. She's only been in the town for a day, but she loved the town, and the new start it provided. Naomi has been around the world, doing fashion shoot after fashion shoot. And in all of the places she has lived, she has never felt as well placed as she did now.

After she moved into her apartment yesterday morning, she went for a walk around town. Looking at the boutiques and various stores for fashionable items. She overheard an employee at the dress shop talking about the EverGreen annual Gala, and the dress she would wear. As soon as Naomi heard the word Gala, she was all in. She immediately fished out for a dress from her closet. Found shoes, the makeup, and the jewelry. Of course, she needed her hair done. She'd just call her hairdresser and get her to do her hair. Yes, it was short notice, but it was done.

So, here she was, looking around a ballroom full of dancing people. Happily married couples, friends having fun conversations with one another. It made Naomi a bit sad that she had no one to have a fun conversation with right now, but she was always great at making new friends. So she wouldn't be alone in her thoughts for very long.

She fished out for the bar. She wasn't a huge drinker,because she tried to stay away from controlled substances since her overdose. She went overboard with pills, and she feared that if she let go of one vice, she would pick up another. And drinking was a pretty bad vice to have. But, this was a celebratory occasion and she could have one glass of champagne. She stood at the bar, awaiting her drink. And when it came, she made a toast to herself aloud. "Okay Naomi. " She started. "To a new beginning." She raised her glass to the ceiling, and then brought it to her lips and sipped.

"Okay Naomi." "To a new beginning."

Marley heard the woman toast herself and knew how it felt.

Hear! Hear!" she agreed, lifting her club soda in agreement. She turned towards where the woman's voice came from. "I know what you mean. I have decided that today is the first day of the rest of my life."

She smiled warmly.

"Naomi is it? My name is Marley. Marley Grayson," she intriduced herself. She jutted out her hand. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

It was true that Marley had no problem talking to women, so there was not a huge stretch there, but a person starting a new life had to start somewhere, right?

Plus the fact that she was really, really getting tired of sitting by herself at t he bar. She is sure the bartender would have talked to her, but at the Gala, he was really too busy.

"Are you new to town? I am. I came here to test out the service here. My first match got derailed before we even got to the altar, but I think I am ready to try it again. I am going to call them tomorrow."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Carpe diem and all that. Maybe it will go off without a hitch this time," she laughed a little at that. "No pun intended."

Naomi was startled by the woman's sudden response to her toast. Any other person would think she was out of her mind for talking to herself, but not this woman. Instead she initiated a conversation."Hear! Hear!" The woman started lifting her drink. Naomi smiled, happy that someone could relate. "I know what you mean. I have decided that today is the first day of the rest of my life." Nataly's smile began to become bigger. "Yes, that's exactly what I've done! Well, as you can see."

"Naomi is it? My name is Marley. Marley Grayson," Naomi smiled huge and shook the woman's hand. "It's nice to meet someone in this town that isn't on the go!" she said. Every time she has tried to talk to someone, they were either already busy, or just brushed her off. Marley seemed nice, and Naomi welcomed that trait in someone's personality.

"Are you new to town? I am. I came here to test out the service here. My first match got derailed before we even got to the altar, but I think I am ready to try it again. I am going to call them tomorrow."

Yes! Naomi was only a day old Evergreen resident. She was happy that someone else was also new, so she didn't feel so awkward. Naomi's hopeful attitude of the Vow system took a blow when Marley told her about her first try with the Vow. Before the altar? That seemed pretty bad, and Naomi hoped it wouldn't happen to her, and her match. She was young and naive at it's best, but she knew she didn't want an immediate marriage fail. Her parent's marriage was borderline perfect, and that's the life Naomi wanted.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I mean, it was just a lesson learned. I'm sure the Vow is gonna find you one hell of a guy, so I think you should try again!" She started, trying to make the situation seem better. "And yes. I'm very new to evergreen. I just moved my stuff into my apartment last night. I haven't even un-packed yet. And I hope the Vow works for me, I'm so excited though. Taking a chance on love, in a way.. I was matched as soon as I got here actually. I got an email about the guy and everything." Naomi didn't expect to be matched so soon but she hoped it was the right decision.

"Carpe diem and all that. Maybe it will go off without a hitch this time, No pun Intended." Naomi couldn't help but smile at the comment. Yes, she said no pun intended, but Naomi still heard it and found it funny. "Well, I hope you do get hitched this time. I mean, that is the ultimate goal!" She smiled again at the woman. "What kind of guy are you looking for anyway?" Naomi asked, hoping the woman wouldn't take it the wrong way.

Marley was happy that she found someone like her. Both of them seemed positive and ready to plow into the next stage in their life. Naomi was a breath of fresh air.

While Marley had been there a few weeks, it was like she had just got there yesterday. It was hard to get out and meet people.

Naomi fell a bit silent when Marley mentioned how her engagement with Simon hadn't exactly gone well. She didn't mean to worry Naomi about the Vow. Things just didn't work out.

"I didn't mean to sound negative of the Vow. Things between me and my intended didn't work out because we weren't in the right place. I think someone from his past came back into his life. I wish them both the best. I am thankful that it happened before the nuptials."

Marley hoped that it helped ease Naomi's mind.

She also smiled when she found out that she was living in the apartments.

"Last night? Wow, you are new! Are you in the Engaged Complex? that's were I live. For all we know, we could be neighbors!" Marley exclaimed. She tried to think whether or not she remember hearing the sound of movers or someone lugging boxes around. Her brow scrunched up a little. "I don't remember hearing the scuffle of boxes in the hallways though."

Marley didn't want to press Naomi about who her match was. Knowing her, she would know the guy and he'd be a heel. She would feel the need to tell her.

"Well, I hope you do get hitched this time. I mean, that is the ultimate goal! What kind of guy are you looking for anyway?"

Marley smiled.

"Hmmm... That's a good question..." Marley thought for a minute. "I want someone who is romantic. And strong. Someone who takes care of himself. I may seem shallow, but I depend on my sense of touch a lot. I don't think I can handle anything but a solid guy."

She blushed a little at that. It seemed even more shallow as she said it. But hey... it's true. Some people wanted their spouse to be easy on the eyes. She didn't have that option. So she guessed that it was just her version of it.

"He needs to be sweet and laid back. I don't want him to treat me like an invalid. I have a career. I am independent. I don't need a nursemaid."

The thought of John wandered its way into her peripheral and she subconsciously batted it away.

"Course if he was a superhero, that'd be great too," she said with a chuckle. "What girl doesn't want to feel like her husband would be there to protect and defend her?"

Some people might think she was exaggerating a bit, but to Marley, it was something that was a literal desire.

"Oh! And if he could cook? That'd be a plus too. I am tired of the microwave meals I usually partake in. I guess that's why I eat out so much."

"I didn't mean to sound negative of the Vow. Things between me and my intended didn't work out because we weren't in the right place. I think someone from his past came back into his life. I wish them both the best. I am thankful that it happened before the nuptials."

Naomi smiled,"Oh it's fine. Just sharing your experiences!" She understood what she was trying to do. And it worked. Naomi's mind was a little more still, now that she knew the Vow didn't purposely match her with someone incompatible. "Well, I'm excited to become a wife. It excites me. I've dreamed I would have a marriage like my parents' since I was two." She laughed aloud of the memory.

She just really hoped that the Vow would get it right. Divorce, was not an option. Although if she felt like she had no choice, then the papers would be written up within seconds. She loved the ideal of marriage, kids, a sporty mini van to commute between soccer practices, the whole bit. She wanted the date nights with her husband, and the family game nights, like she had with her parents. The big family for those Sunday dinners and such. She wanted it all, but she knew it wouldn't turn out exactly like she planned. Which was okay she guessed. As long as they turned out happy.

"Last night? Wow, you are new! Are you in the Engaged Complex? that's were I live. For all we know, we could be neighbors!" Naomi Smiled. "We might be neighbors you never know!"

"I don't remember hearing the scuffle of boxes in the hallways though." Naomi wondered why she wouldn't just see the boxes. Duh! Marley was blind. Naomi wasn't one to make a big deal of anything, but she still found it pretty awesome that Marley was independent and blind. "Oh, then we probably don't live that close to each other. But in the same building is cool too!" she exclaimed.

Naomi listened to her describe her perfect match. She nodded with each part of the description. They wanted around the same thing. Except for the nursemaid part. Even though she didn't live through that, she still understood why she didn't want to be treated like an unable child. "Out of curiosity, is it a struggle to be treated like a blind person? Or do you struggle trying to prove to others that they don't need to treat you like so?" she asked, waving at the bartender for another round of drinks. Naomi was a nice girl, she liked to hear people's feelings. And she wondered that about Marley. Because she seems like a normal woman to Naomi. Like a woman that doesn't need people to treat her like she was disabled.

"And I want the same thing. I've spent so much time modeling, that all the models and I would ever eat, is restaurant food. Or plane food, because we were always on the go." she said sharing the information about model life.

"Out of curiosity, is it a struggle to be treated like a blind person? Or do you struggle trying to prove to others that they don't need to treat you like so?"

"It can be. I have found that it has been a bit hampering in the dating department. At least in the circles I happen to be born into," she admitted. "I am blessed by the fact that money has never been a problem for me or my family, so that brings out another different dynamic. It seems like the people I tend to meet are either scared by the prospect of dating a sight-impaired woman or they are gold diggers."

God, she hated that term. Sight-impaired.

"Being blind has never held me back. I am very independent. I live on my own. I use whatever resources that are available. It freaks my folks out by living alone, but I rather like it," she continued. "It's lonely sometimes though. I want someone to share it with. That's why I signed up for the Vow. That's why I am going to try again for a new match."

Marley listened to the woman talk about being a model.

"I wouldn't mind doing the model thing for a while. I like traveling. I like having a career. It would be exciting, but I am sure it would probably grate on the nerves after a while. I have heard that it is very cut throat," she said. "But I wouldn't quite fit in there."

She paused for a second.

"You must be quite attractive to fare well in that line of work."