In an empty lot across the railway track, approximately one mile away from the station there was an abandoned building that once used to be a lamp factory.
It was a nice romantic little spot. Perhaps, it was one of the most romantic places in Arkhangelsk. Firstly, it was about the beautiful view around the building. Although the inside of the building was considerably destroyed, neglected and devastated, the roof was still strong enough to get on using the half-demolished but still existent stairs. And, secondly, due to the remoteness of the place it was rarely visited. So, if you were a young loving couple wanting to get somewhere private, but unable to afford a hotel - a romantic summer night on the roof of the neglected lamp-factory building would be a perfect option for you unless it wasn't rainy or windy.
That warm August evening two laughing young people got on the roof of the abandoned lamp-factory building. The young couple looked exhausted but happy and somewhat inebriated, even though neither he nor she had drunk a drop of alcohol that day.
"Okay, that's enough! I cahn't go any further!" the girl drawled out with a strange accent and burst out laughing again, "My legs are going to fall off, really!"
"Didn't I tell you you shouldn't have put on these high heels?" the guy chuckled holding her by the waist, "We are close, though."
"Promise we don't go any other place tonight." the girl on high heels declared and, totally exhausted, collapsed onto the concrete curb at the edge of the roof.
"Are you going to stay the night on here?"
The guy squatted down in front of her and carefully took her shoe off her foot. He gasped at the sight of it: her foot was bleeding and literally ground to the bone.
"Oh my goodness!" he said terrified,"As luck would have it, I've got no first-aid kit on me. Okay, then, I'll try and use my magic."
Daniel took her foot with both hands and, stroking it, whispered something under his breath. Olive blushed crimson red and curled her toes. To say she felt terribly awkward and embarrassed was an understatement. How could one not feel embarrassed having one's sweaty hoof in the hand of one's biggest crush?
"Relax," said Daniel, "Take it easy. Or I won't be able to help you."
"Maybe you shouldn't?" she mumbled in embarrassment and drew her bare foot under herself like a heron.
"Alright, then" he murmured and walked aside.
It was too much for Olive. She lost her nerve and burst into tears all of a sudden. Tears gushed from her eyes; the cheap mascara and facial powder run down her flushing cheek. Olive drooped her head trying to hide her face behind her hair, but Daniel approached her and, without saying a word, brushed her hair away from her tear-strained face.
"Don't look at me. Please, don't..." she sobbed, turning her face away from him, "I probably look so ugly right now..."
"No. You don't look ugly. You are very beautiful," Daniel said quietly, looking tenderly in her eyes, "Don't hide your smile from me."
Olive put her face back in her hands.
"It's not true. I'm ugly and pathetic! You are just lying to make me feel better."
Daniel forced her hands off her face.
"Who said you were ugly?"
"I was told about it every single day!" Olive jumped up and turned her back to him, "You want to know the truth? I have never ever had a boyfriend! Never! You know why? Because it's only here you all know me as Olive, but there, in Moscow, I am a pathetic loser, a miserable sad sack!"
Olive didn't even know at what point it came out and when she realized what she had said it was too late. A word spoken is past recalling, they say. She started mumbling incoherently, now demanding that he leave her alone, then begging him to forget all she had just told him, and eventually she broke back into tears.
"I have already forgotten," Daniel said shortly, stroking her hair, "There's just one more little thing you should know..."
"What?" she raised her head.
"Don't wear makeup. I doesn't fall very good on you."
"Not at all? What would I look like without a makeup?"
"You will look like yourself. You've got a splendid natural look, and such a great dark natural color of your hair." he touched the dark roots of her red hair, "I can't conceive why you tried to dye it blonde. Why be making someone else out of yourself, which is not even typical to you?"
"Because nobody really likes the way I am," said Olive with a deep sigh.
"That's rubbish," Daniel brushed his fingers against her cheek, "You've just been crying now and your tears have washed away all your clown makeup. The wind has loosened your hair and ruined all that crow's nest on your head," he took the slide off Olive's long straight hair and stroke it gently, "And now I can finally see y o u. The natural you I like a lot better."
Olive gave him a trustful look in the eyes.
"Is that true? Do you really... like me?"
"Yes, I do. And if you learn to love and appreciate the way you are, I will not be the only one to like you."
Olive flushed crimson.
"But I want you to be the only one," she failed to finish and drooped shyly her eyes.
Daniel gave a sudden smirk and got up abruptly. He had got what she was saying. Was it his understanding or something else, but after that all Olive's light had suddenly gone out as though someone put her out like a cigar. Daniel could no longer see that sparkle in her eye, that exquisite beauty of her face coming from the inside of her soul. Now her flaming red hair had turned drab and dull again, that fascinating smile on her face seemed somewhat sick and pathetic, her eyes had grown dim. Her whole appearance had lost its charm in Daniel's eyes, and Olive now looked to him as plain and dark as ever.
"Goodness me, how predictable you girls are!" he noted to himself, "Now, what do I do with you?"
"It's all good and well," Daniel said aloud. "But it's late, I suppose; we should call it a night."
The tone of his voice sounded somewhat cool and mocking again. Olive shrank with embarrassment. Her awkward smile slowly slipped down from her face giving way back to its usual look, sad and plain.
"So soon?.. Oh, okay, then... So this is goodbye..."
She got up with difficulty and, hunching her back, her head drooped, staggered on her high heels to the stairs.
"Olya, have I offended you?" Daniel embraced her shoulders.
Olive halted.
"No."
"Why are you so upset, then?"
"Upset? Me? Oh, come on!"
Daniel gently put a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I wouldn't like us to part like this..."
"Neither would I," Olive said giving him a passionate look.
"Well, actually, if you don't want to go home, we could stay here."
"Really?" she asked timidly.
"Yes. You can do whatever you want. It's your night."
Olive smiled.
"Whatever I want?"
"Whatever. Just..."
"Just what?"
Daniel became serious.
"Just remember it's only tonight. Hope you understand..."