guns for hands.

Birch is not quite sure why he can’t leave the restaurant; even after his shift is over, his feet don’t move. Perhaps it’s because it’s the one place he’s getting familiar with; the place he’d been dropped off at and set up with a job before his guardian and mentor disappeared with an urging for him to stay put. As if he’d be back. Or maybe it’s his eyes, cold blues, drawn to the door of the Italian restaurant– As if something were out there.

India looked up at the restaurant, always  wanting to go in but never getting the courage to. It might have been the fact that it was intimidating as hell, or the expensive price tag that was often attached to it. But, the girl wasn’t in the mood for being home and she was hungry. Pushing open the door, taking a tentative step in, India looked around. Just as she suspected. Though, not knowing what to do, the girl sort of loitered, noticing the restaurant was surprisingly empty.

Leslie smiled politely at the stranger who was trying to hit on her before spotting and making eye contact with someone she knew across the room. “Help me,” Leslie mouthed.

“Yo, Blondie, someone’s stealing your car,” India announced, walking towards Leslie. She looked over at the stranger, squaring up with them.

“Mmkay, girlie, movin’ on. What do y’mean? Nobody’s on the team. There isn’t a team.”

“ Ah. Is there a team in a city close by? Like commute and stuff? Or? “

“So clarivoyants also fail, then? That kinda gives fake ones a lot of room to work around.”

“ No. Yikes, I’m bad at explaining. We only see the future as it’s going to be at that point in time. Like, example, let’s say before school you get your fortune told and it says you’re going to go to Stanford. At that point, that’s your future. Then, after, something completely random happens like you run into someone and both your papers scatter everywhere. You decide to rush and just pick up the papers nearest to you to make it to school on time instead of taking time to check each one. You have a major report due that day and you ended up picking up someone’s bills. Well, if you got your fortune told after you messed up and missed the deadline it could say something like you’re now going to community college and that would be the future at that time. Does that make sense? “

“Yea, there was this one time where I heard a gunshot and I ran into the building it came from. I wanted to help, but I didn’t think about the fact that I could get shot too. Luckily it was just a gun range, but the owner was really creepy. He- sorry, I’m rambling.”

“ You... ran towards a gunshot? Seriously? “

“Oh, I love the name Arwen. There was an elf named Arwen in some books I loved to read as a kid, Lord of the Rings. There were some movies too. If you like really old movies, I’d highly recommend it.”

“ Peredhil, technically. And if we’re getting even more technical she gave up her immortality to be with Aragorn, so. My parents are fans of the books, so I know all about it. “

“ Lynyrd Skynyrd, A.C.D.C, Rolling Stones. ‘You blast those bands, I might consider you as a potential friendship candidate. And maybe, just maybe.. You can become just as edgy. “

“ Sorry, I can’t listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd because not only do I not live in the American south but, I do not watch Nascar. No rockabilly. I can’t believe you recommended AC/DC and the Stones and had the audacity to call Creedence Clearwater Revival shit. Stones and AC/DC are good and CCR is right up there with them! -- Don’t care about being edgy. “

“ Uh—-I can’t exactly help you there. I’m not too sure where you can find them. Mine happened to be a gift from my father. Don’t really know where he got it, but what I do know is that he was in London at the time.”

“ Right. Okay, London. Thanks, though, it was help enough. Better than nothing! “

“ ‘Damn right. “

“ So, Edgy, since my music is garbage what do you recommend? And if you say some bullshit like Slayer... “

“Do you mean like… they’re hippies or something like that? Black sheep are always misunderstood to be honest, you have my sympathy.”

“By the way, the name is Melanie. I don’t mind the nickname but I figure it was time to introduce myself.”

“ I mean they’re exactly hippies. Thanks, I think? “

“Yeah, okay, that’s legitimate. My common sense is flawed at times.”

“ You don’t say? “

“Ooh! That’s a pretty name. It’s nice to meet you, India.”

“ Thank you. I’ve got a sister named Arwen... so alternative names are my parents’ forte. “

“Ah, that’s shit luck, huh? Out of everyone to stop and ask, it happens to be the only other person with a useless phone.”

“ Bringer of bad luck, right here. Try a restaurant or something. Just buy a drink and ask to use their phone, that should work. What do you need to make a call for? “

“True, true. You make a very valid point. It’s like those people who seek thrills - it’s all about the adrenaline. Or like secret relationships. The thrill of secrecy.” 

“ Secret relationships? Are you in a secret relationship? Secrecy is more stressful than anything. Risks are more fun. “