Re: The antique store: Ella & Will
There were plenty of things beyond beauty that were untouchable. Really, it fell rather neatly into two camps; you were either so desirable you were beyond contemplation or you were so beneath it everyone forgot about you. Will knew exactly where he fell and it wasn't flattering, but it was true. Ella fell some way short of the ideal but the ideal wasn't something you could take hold of. She looked like the sort of person who was gratifyingly normal; who had family, who had friends, perhaps a cat, who laughed and loved and spent time in the sunshine acquiring freckles. Ordinary. Will was wistful after ordinary as most people were the untouchable kind of beauty.
He disappeared with due haste on the route to the backroom. It was cool and dark and it smelled like green in here, if green had a smell. Damp and clean and fresh. Will rootled around for ice, as Ella called and she sounded hurt enough that guilt welled up where it needn't have been (he knew in all honesty he hadn't been the cause, but he'd been in the way and wasn't that bad enough?)
He salvaged a cloth that looked near enough clean and bundled ice into it. "Here," he returned at haste, and paused very briefly to admire the flowers. It wasn't as if he bought them regularly, but the flower shop was laden with specimens. "You must enjoy it here. It feels peaceful." He smiled; it was kind-looking even if it wasn't particularly well-practiced. "Where do you want the ice?"