Chapter Four: perfect

            It seemed like only seconds passed between the time Tyler closed his eyes and then reopened them at the sound of the alarm clock. He could still feel sleep tugging at his eyelids, trying to convince him to stay in bed. That option was out of the question though, and he rubbed the nagging sleepiness from his troublesome eyes. The clock still buzzed loudly from the small bedside table, its annoying shriek ringing in his ears. He reached out a hand and switched it off, reissuing some peace and quiet to the room.

            Beside him, Shannon stirred, and her eyes flickered open, “Time to get up?” She groaned sleepily, her words disfigured by a long yawn.

            Tyler nodded as he got up, that cold floor once more nipping at his feet. He was reminded of the previous nights events and glanced curiously to the window, a magnetic force pulling his head in that direction. Perhaps he had dreamt it, or maybe he had awoken, but conjured the strange occurrences in his tired mind.. It didn’t matter now though. It was time to get ready.

            “I’m gonna jump in the shower. I’ll leave the water running for you.” He said over his shoulder to Shannon as he walked groggily into the bathroom, switching on the lights even though a flood of it was already rushing in through the windows. He turned the squeaky brass knobs in the shower, and the water began to spray out, first cold then gradually warmer, steam filling the small space. Undressing, he climbed in, letting the hot water cover his body and refresh his dry skin. He purged himself of dead skin cells by lathering up with soap and scrubbing himself thoroughly until he was satisfied that he was “squeaky-clean”.

            “Hey babe, I have to get in, too.” Shannon’s blurred form said from the other side of the misted glass, “You’re not the only one with places to be, and aren’t guys supposed to take short, to-the-point showers? I swear you must use all my fragrant body lotions and what not of mine. No wonder you always smell so nice.”

            Tyler came out from the shower as she finished her comical rant, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist, “It’s all yours, your highness.” Shannon rolled her eyes in an over animated fashion, but for once no snappy comeback whipped him in the rear as he shuffled over to his side of the bathroom. His countertop, although not nearly as full as Shannon’s, was a neatly organized bounty of supplies to make the human body look, feel, and smell better. He smiled and posed for the mirror, the reflection reminding him of the cover of GQ magazine. He surely met the requirements to be one of their, or any other companies, models. With a sigh of satisfaction, Tyler reminded himself that this wasn’t a morning for dawdling.

            Noticing is face was stubbly, Tyler retrieved his electric razor from the overly orderly counter. Switching it on, its buzz like a swarm of bees almost drowned out the shower. And this he performed the ancient and delicate art of shaving for an audience of one: Two if you counted Shannon, but she was singing in the shower, and oblivious to his task. Running a hand down his cheeks, his chin, and around his neck, he was satisfied with the job, his face feeling, as they say, “as smooth as a baby’s bottom”. Once more put the shaver away in its designated place, wedged between a tall bottle of cologne and a can of shaving cream. He finished his other routine hygiene rituals, meticulously following some unwritten agenda.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the hazy form of Shannon in the shower, her milky curves as beautiful as ever. He smiled, his attention drawn to her, mesmerized. Like a parent who claims to have eyes in the back of their head, Shannon whipped around, aware of being watched.

            “Looks like I have my own, personal stalker. I’m so honored!” She exclaimed with a giggle. Another squeaking of the handles and the loud spray of water diminished to a steady drip. He imagined she was perfect in every possible way.

            “Well, your personal stalker is going to be late for work if he doesn’t stop stalking and start getting ready.” Tyler responded, not waiting for her to come out of the shower before he vanished into his large, walk-in closet. He heard her say something, but the closed door of his closet filtered it out.

The space was barely used by clothes, but mostly taken up by miscellaneous junk and trinkets, which only a pack rat would refuse to part with. Tyler was one of those types of people who held onto everything that couldn’t be clearly defined as “trash”, and Shannon had learned not to even attempt organizing or cleaning his personal spaces. Even risking throwing away one soggy, crumpled, dirty movie stub might result in an outburst that no one wanted to risk. He imagined Shannon would forever respect his privacy in these matters. After all, he couldn’t recall ever getting into a single argument with his dear, darling, beloved Shannon. His perfect Shannon. But right now—time to get dressed.

            Of the clothes that were in his closet, most of them were for business. Sharp button-up, collared shirts, dress pants, a few suits, and a plethora of ties heavily outweighed the shorts, jeans, and t-shirts that poked up now and again, mostly in wads on the floor or halfway folded on shelves. None of his non-work apparel had the honor of a hanger. Choosing a rich, sky-blue shirt, a pair of black pants, and a patterned tie with both black and blue in it, Tyler dressed in the confines of his snug closet. He could hear Shannon humming in the bathroom, probably piling on make-up at the same time. Her perfume penetrated even the closed doors where sound could not, and met with his nostrils.

            Coming out from his fort of privacy, Tyler almost ran smack-dab into Shannon as she walked from the bathroom to her own closet, or more accurately described: a department store. Her scent almost knocked him down, but he buckled his knees and remained firm, not melting into butter as he thought he might.

            “Wow babe, you’re all ready before me. That’s a first. B-”

            Without further commentary, he kissed her with a passion that had not dwindled since the day they met and for an amount of time that might warn of the coming apocalypse. When her lips were free once again, she finished her sentence like nothing had interrupted her, although an unmistakable smile had worked across her face.

            “But you took the shower first and made me wait. So I take back my astonishment and the kind words I gave to you.” She winked at him, mascara lined eyelashes momentarily covering up one of her green, emerald like eyes. She walked like a well-trained model down the catwalk to her closet, leaving Tyler as bubbly and childlike as ever, “I’ll see you this evening babe, and I’ll bring home some of those sleeping pills at the pharmacy. Should be able to get a discount since I work there and all. I better be able to at least.”

            Tyler grinned at the door just as if it had been her, “You’re the best.”

            “Better than the rest.” She replied, sticking her head out of the doorway, “How ‘bout one more kiss before you go out there and tackle that big, bad world full of boogie men.”

            “I can’t complain with that offer. I imagine you’re a great kisser.” He leaned in and claimed her lips again.

            When the kiss ended, Shannon spoke softly, “You imagine?” She laughed at his funny choice of words, “Well I hope that cast out any doubt you had.”

            “It did. You’re the perfect kisser. The best.”

            Without breakfast or even skimming the newspaper, Tyler hopped into his newly purchased Ford truck, bright red—extended cab, extended bed, all the extra features installed. He imagined it was the best truck anyone could purchase.

            There it was again, that funny wording.

            “Imagine…” He said out loud, startling himself as if not expecting to hear the word come from his lips, “It IS the best truck.” He corrected himself, and with pride he scooted from his lovely driveway and onto the even lovelier Belmont Drive. It was a great neighborhood. He imagined it was the best. No. No. It WAS the best.

            And so, for now, he and Shannon parted. He went speedily towards the towering headquarters of Vaughn Media, name unchanged even in light of the recent, tragic events, and she would soon leave for her job at the pharmacy. With all the fortune they had unexpectedly received, bold, strong, stunning Shannon had not quit her job to bathe in luxury all day and night. She still worked, her job a well-armed fortress that not even an army of money could take down. Such unwavering, extreme dedication made Tyler love her even more.

            7:47 am. The usual drive to work, unhindered by traffic, was long enough as it was. Now a traffic jam appeared before him, barring all hopes that he might arrive to work on time at eight.

            8:00 sharp. In the lobby of Vaughn Media, being greeted on all sides by faithful, adoring employees, Tyler made his way without pause to his office on the tenth floor. Sometimes Tyler though he had a strange, hidden power to manipulate time to his advantage. This was one of those mornings that Terrific Time stopping Tyler had struck again.