(Above is the prompt that started it all! Credit to the one who made the post in the first place, this was very inspiring, and I had very good fun writing it when I was about 17 or so, it was really nice to do!)

It's not unusual, though it can be endearing, that even the greatest love stories can begin over something so small.
Just an everyday object, or even a sentence spoken at the right moment, found at the right time, can spark romance between people.
No matter how trivial the object may be, it would be enough to trigger a strong, passionate love story of adoration.
This story, as strange as it sounds, began with a pair of socks.

It was about mid-afternoon in sunny Cornwall that something, or rather someone, had gotten washed up on the sandy beaches which were dotted with shingle, seaweed and dead jellyfish.
Salty spray sparkled in the air as the waves crashed against the shore like a thousand watery hands.
It was that sunny May afternoon that she washed up on the Cornwall shores.

Her purple tail faded into delicate magenta and peony pink scales which shimmered in the sunlight, her ocean blue eyes glittered, all the while her delicate and petite figure still sported the sparkle of brine on her smooth, creamy skin.
This beautiful mermaid lay on the warm sand, looking out into the waves before feeling a tingling sensation in her tail.
She watched in amazement, seeing her tail turning into feminine-looking human legs, as if by magic.
Her platinum hair flowed elegantly in the summer breeze, and she pushed herself to her feet with steady hands, trying to get used to standing and walking on land.

She stumbled clumsily for a few minutes on the sandy shore, soon straightening up and walking elegantly, her bare feet leaving prints on the wet sad and shingle.
Finding a stray towel someone had abandoned on the bay -still wet and a little tattered- coloured mint green, she wrapped it around herself, for she was only wearing her purple bikini and a small, waterlogged bag made of damp canvas, obviously scavenged from the trenches of the deep ocean.
Carefully, and with a determined nod, she headed for the small row of shops along the promenade. The beach and seafront were unusually quiet today, but she didn't seem to mind.

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"What are you, stupid, lady?! It's £5 for each pair of socks! You have, like, ten pairs of socks here!" the cashier growled at the startled mermaid, who held multiple pairs of socks in her hand, the other fumbling in her canvas bag.
She tipped out ten very pretty scallop shells but the clerk glared at her.
"And what are those?!" he snapped.
"T-they're shells" she replied nervously. "Each different shell equates to a different amount of money."
Tears brimmed dangerously in her eyes, and she flinched at the clerk's bark of cruel laughter.
"Oh really?! Pay me with real money, or get out of my shop, you stupid tart!" he spat.

Distressed, the mermaid held the socks closer as she moved to gather the shells, only to have them shoved off the counter, causing many to chip and break.
Once she feverishly gathered up the broken shells, she ran out of the shop, minus the socks and sobbing quietly.
"Were all humans this cruel?" she thought.

From a nearby cafe, a young woman heard the ruckus going on in the shop, making her frown a little while she looked into her coffee mug at her reflection.
Paying at the front desk once the mug was drained, she strode with powerful steps towards the shop.
This woman was about 29, a little older than the mermaid, and she had dark chestnut skin and a large, curvy body with small love handles on her back.
Her deep brown eyes displayed authority and a dutiful caring look, and she wore a simple navy and white striped shirt, black skirt and black canvas sandals on her feet.

"What seems to be the problem?" she asked the clerk, who gave her a few muttered words about the blonde-haired customer.
She sighed, running a hand through her red, frizzy hair before picking up two striped socks in the colour of blue and white, the blue a lighter shade than the hue on her shirt.
"Here, I'll pay for them, Mr Hanson. God forbid you get annoyed with my friend again. She's new here, don't you know?" she remarked, confidently staring at the shopkeeper.
"What the? she was your friend?" Mr Hanson parroted back in disbelief.
"Yes, why? is that so hard to believe?" the young woman asked, a little incredulously, Mr Hanson's small black eyes trained on her.
"I do have a life outside duties, Mr Hanson, and I would appreciate that you don't harass my friend. Here, I've paid for them now, so you don't have to worry and you can get on with your day" she told him, leaving him dumbfounded at her firm words, the female walking out of the shop once more.

After a short amount of time, she saw the girl sitting on the edge of the promenade, her bare feet on the sand.
Cautiously, the redhead approached the blonde female.
"Hey" she spoke up in an unsure tone, a pair of sea blue eyes staring into her own brown eyes.
"I, uh, I heard what happened in the shop, and I got these for you" she said softly, bringing out the pretty pair of blue and white stripy socks, giving them to the mermaid who let out a squeal and slipped them on quickly and effortlessly.
"T-thank you...what's your name, if you don't mind me asking?" the blonde asked the redhead.

"I'm Stevie Malloy. It's nice to meet you" Stevie said, extending her hand.
The blonde looked at her, confused.
"It's a greeting, like this" Stevie informed her, grasping her hand and shaking it gently but firmly.
"Wow! Oh, uh, s-sorry! I'm Cordelia Coral" Cordelia replied after. "Nice to meet you too, Stevie."
"You look a little shaken, Cordelia. Looks like Mr Hanson gave you a right fright" Stevie observed with a worried frown.
Cordelia looked down with an embarrassed look.
"Hey, don't be ashamed. You know what cheers me up when things get rocky?" Stevie asked.
Cordelia  looked at her, a lost puppy look in her eyes.

"A cup of tea."

This made Cordelia tilt her head.
"T-tea?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, tea. It's like hot water with special leaves, and it's delicious" Stevie explained, Cordelia's eyes lighting up.
"T-that would be wonderful" Cordelia replied with childlike awe.
Stevie chuckled, taking Cordelia by the hand and walking towards a small cafe Stevie was in beforehand.

It was a plain, white-washed building with chairs and tables on the outside, a few flower bushes around the border of the building, some hanging baskets near the door, but inside it was warm and inviting.
A small vase of roses was by the window, and beautiful paintings of animals and landscapes, as well as photos of famous celebrities were on the walls.
The mahogany tables and tiled floors were cleaned and shining in the gentle light coming from the fixtures on the ceiling.
The whole place seemed to generate a homely, welcoming vibe, customers and pedestrians looked in even if they didn't go inside, enjoying the look of the cafe and the people inside.

"Well, this is the place. Gylly Beach Cafe" Stevie declared, Cordelia gazing at the building then at the woman beside her.
"It looks beautiful" she told Stevie.
"Shall we?" Stevie asked, holding out her bent arm.
Cordelia giggled and nodded, linking arms with her.
"Yeah, we shall" Cordelia replied, both females walking inside the cafe and choosing a table.
Cordelia fixed her hair while watching Stevie as she placed the order for two teas. She blushed, taking in the older one's curves, her light and luscious curled hair falling about her shoulders and contrasting to the worn navy and white shirt she wore.

"The teas are on their way" Stevie told Cordelia, her hips lightly swaying as she strode over to her seat.
As they talked and sipped the hot beverages, Stevie couldn't help but admire Cordelia, seeming to hardly look away from her.
Her silky blonde hair, her gleaming eyes, her heavenly voice had ensnared Stevie.
She knew, without a doubt -as did Cordelia- that both of them were a perfect match.

They felt their hands connect, and a light blush adorned their faces.
Though their interaction had been short, Cordelia and Stevie hoped that it was one of many good days in each other's company, for years to come.
As the steam from their hot drinks rose from their cups, the two women continued to talk, blush still growing as their hearts beat together.

*THE END*