#johnxoc

The light streaming into the room hit Catlina’s eyes as she slowly opened them. There was a bright light before they adjusted to take in the master bedroom. The walls a polished light pine wood and vaulted ceiling. Logs crossing over her appearing golden against the black iron light fixtures hanging between the rafters. The bed sheets, white and pristine, rumpled on the wooden bed frame that didn’t have the same golden hue as the rest of the wood around her. There was a moment where she thought she had just dreamed the whole thing. She was never brought to Eden’s Gate, she never lost Theo...she was simply in the cabin like was originally planned. 

Her eyes strayed to take in the details of the room; books stacked on the nightstand next to her, the dresser in front of her the same color as the bed, a candle unlit sitting on the top next to a few trinkets that didn’t seem to matter once her eyes took in the framed image above it. The cross symbol of Eden’s Gate hanging on the wall, the glaring jolt to reality. The stark reminder of the memories of the previous night; The bridge. The pain and hollowness in her chest. John. “I’m not going to let you or your god take this from me too.” The feeling of being free. Cold water against her skin. The contentment as it seemed to all work out. How she was so close to winning, to feeling that real release she had craved. 

Worthless memories now. 

She wanted to scream, as she felt the tears well up in her eyes. Frustration brewing as she felt the tickle on her arms like something needed out.  

Click, the soft sound had her bolting up in bed. Her jaw clenched as she saw it swing open, John following behind it. She tried to read his face, figure out what he was thinking, how he felt. It was a blank slate despite the sympathetic smile he projected. She wished he would just stop it already, she hated how much he tried to act like this whole thing was okay. Or just something that didn’t matter. It had to matter to him, there was no doubt about it. She just wanted to know what. She brought her knees to her chest hugging them tightly staring him down. 

“You’re up,” he walked to her side of the bed, sitting in front of her, his chest angled to face her. The scarred word SLOTH crossed out enraging her for the sole fact that it was a part of him, “Can I get you something to eat?” She didn’t say anything, just looked at him, studying his features for any telling signs to his thoughts. She just felt angry at him, she was here because of him. A slight jaw clench before he spoke to her again, “You have to eat something. I’ve hardly seen you eat a thing in your time here.”

She didn’t want to eat, she stayed quiet. Her eyes not leaving him, she dared not look away, she was going to find something, maybe something she could use. It was a few minutes of silence before John exhaled, a slight nostril flare, as he stood from the bed quickly. The movement made her flinch and she felt the pang of a similar memory. Her mom walking away from a sterile bed, emotions churning in Cat’s heart. He made his way to the door calling for someone, she assumed he asked for food to be brought, taking the decision out of her hands. “I’m not a child. I can decide when I want to eat,” sharp and bitter. She looked up to John as he made his way back to her. 

“You gave up that privilege when something in you deteriorated to a point that you tried to throw yourself off a bridge.” She could hear the underlying anger in his voice.

You lost that privilege with you deciding to become dramatic. “I wouldn’t have been your problem anymore if you just left me there.”

“I couldn’t do that,” You’re stronger than this. You have your whole life ahead of you. “You have a purpose here.” Her heart felt like it was confining something and whatever it was wanted to come out.

“I don’t see it really. Especially if I have to suffer for it.” Let’s stop here to get something to eat. 

“What’s making you feel like you’re suffering?” Your life hasn’t been terrible. People have it worse. Cat thought she could hear some real curiosity and sincerity in his voice.

There was a knock on the door before she could reply. It was your fault. You stupid girl. John got up to answer it. There is no reason for you to react this way. You’re being ungrateful! John set the plate in front of her, “I’m not hungry.” You have to walk the path. John handed her a piece of the toast-she started to rock back and forth just the slightest-in an attempt to encourage her to eat. She can be of use to us. She slapped it out of his hand, “Stop!” She could feel her blood boil, it ran to her cheeks as she felt a few tears form in her eyes. “I’m not a child,” her teeth ground together, she paused. Her hands were shaking even while being fists, her knuckles white. She took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself, “and I’m not stupid,” the tears that escaped were cool against her flaming cheeks.

John’s eyes stayed level with hers before she looked down, “I know you’re not,” his voice sounded as calm as his brother’s. I won’t join you. You may not have a choice. The fire in her chest was beating against its cage harder now. The memories were so loud, I don’t know what I did to deserve this. Her heart started to beat louder, I was a good mother. I’m going to call it. She wanted to cover her ears, her eyes shut tightly. You will serve the purpose God has given to you. “What happened?” Her jaw clenched as she gripped her upper arms. I don’t know who you are anymore. Her nails dug into her flesh the pain being the only thread attaching her to earth. This was all your fault. You killed him. You lied. You broke your vow. It’s your fault he’s dead!

“Stop! Stop! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” She screamed against them as it felt like she was being swallowed.

“I have no choice!” Her eyes opened, her breathing ragged, her mind still and quiet. Her eyes found John’s as he sat in front of her seeming to have leaned back an inch or two. She didn’t mean to scream it at him. She felt her nails still digging into her skin as she tried to bring herself back to what was really around her. She let the tears fall freely and silently, “Ever since I’ve been here I have been told what I’m going to do. Everyone keeps taking away any decision I’ve made, you included,” her voice cracked with the realization, “I told you I wasn’t going to let you take away my choice in my life ending but you still did.” The box broke open but it wasn’t the anger that escaped first. It was the pain, “Any little thing I can make a decision about,” she closed her eyes catching her breath, “it’s- it feels worthless if in the end I’m forced into a life I didn’t choose. One that’s been thrusted upon me.” 

“Look I understand how it feels but-“

She glared at him a near snarl on her lips, “Do you? Do you really actually understand?” The anger took it’s stand, “Because from where I’m standing it looks like you could give less of a shit of having no choice in this either,” she looked him up and down, “If you actually want this then just tell me. There’s no need to hide any of that. At least your brothers can be honest with me.”

“I have been honest. It’s not my fault you can’t see that.” His chest puffed out, the veil getting thinner with his anger.

“Half truths don’t count as honesty,” she said matter of factly, “especially when it has to do with something this big. I’m sure I was the last person you would have wanted to be married to,” she looked back down to the plate of food, “It’s okay to tell me. The more I know the better this whole thing can be navigated.” She shut her mouth hoping he would start talking. She started to feel tired, her emotions stabilizing.

“I don’t want this either,” he turned facing the wall to her right, “I’m only doing this to appease my brother and the plan that was given to us.” She thought she could see the hint of an eye roll, “We all have our paths to reach the new Eden when the collapse comes and this must be where mine goes.” He exhaled, hanging his head scoffing before he spoke, “When I say that I understand not having a choice, I do, or I can at least sympathize with you. If I want to be safe, stay with my family, then I have to accept what is given to me, even if I don’t like it.”

Cat loosened her arms around her knees, her left hand holding on to her right wrist  resting her chin on them. It seemed they were both bound to this by some notion of safety and familial obligation. She sighed feeling the tension in her body release, if they both weren’t happy with it then it was time to make the best out of it, “When we both have more level heads we should figure out how we want this to look and navigate the public eye you love so much.” She gave a half laugh letting her legs go and moved the plate closer to her, “I’m sorry you have to feel as stuck as I do,” he looked to her as she said it, “this whole situation just kind of sucks doesn’t it,” she gave a small smile hoping he would return it. It wasn’t. This whole thing was just a mess, she should have fought harder that first day in the church...“Can I ask you about something else?”

He shrugged, “I don’t see why not.” His voice was still cold and he didn’t turn to look at her.

She cleared her throat sitting a little straighter, “The first day I was awake, you, or well someone, handed me a water bottle and it put me to sleep.” John shifted turning towards her a few inches, “I don’t think it was pain medication, was it?” There was no response as she pressed on, “What was it?”

He sighed pulling out a small vial from his pocket, handing it to her, “It’s called Bliss. Many take it within Eden’s Gate,” Cat took it from him looking over the light green almost white powder, “It’s a drug of many uses. It can cause hallucinations but we mostly use it to help people become free of their past, accept the will of the Father by connecting them with their faith better, and even help some that come to us with addictions.”

“So it’s a mind altering kind of drug,” she looked up for confirmation, John nodded. “What do you mean when you say helps people be free? Like does it just take away the negative emotions?” Turning it over she thought back on her time here, the tumultuous emotions, the despair, the suicide attempt, the hollow feeling and the feeling of feeling everything and nothing all at once. She missed having a normal level of feelings.

“I guess you could say that.”

“Do you take it?”

“Not very often. It’s rare. Take it too much of it and well there are negative consequences like any drug out there.”

“How addictive is it?”

“It depends on the person. Some are I think but there are plenty of people that aren’t,” he looked at her curiously, “Why do you want to know?”

She was unsure if she was ever going to have her medication again and if she was going to be stuck here she would try to make the best of it. Part of that was not being her depressed unmedicated self the entire time, she was sure whatever hormones that would come with pregnancy would play a role in her mental state too. She had to be prepared for whatever she could be. “Just curious. Why give it to me?”

“Try to keep you calm. You did sort of freak out after the service.” Calm, that’s what I need. “If you don’t want to take it you don’t have to.”

“Have you given it to me since?”

“Does it matter if I have?”

She looked at him bewildered, “Uh, yeah. It kind of does.”

“It wasn’t my idea, but an order. To keep you calm, so that you can find the path.” 

She rolled her eyes, “John,” she warned, “Be honest with me.”

“Just last night. It was requested that I try harder to follow what my brother said.” He sighed, “I just went to the one thing I know for sure would allow me to follow that order.”

It made sense to jump to that conclusion. He was no doctor and it was the easiest route and he seemed like someone who didn’t have a ton of patience. If she was being honest she would have done the same thing, especially if it seemed like the person was in pain. “Is this the first time you’ve given it to me consciously?”

“I placed some in the food this morning.”

She studied his face, there wasn’t anything saying that he was lying to her. Or she just wanted to believe whatever he said, “Thank you for being honest with me.” She sighed giving the vial back to him, “If you want to or have to give me some you can,” she pulled it away quickly before his hand could touch it, “Just only give me a small amount. I don’t want to be hallucinating and living in a haze 24/7. Deal?” She held out a pinky.

He gave a half smile at the gesture, before wrapping his tattooed one around hers, “Deal.” She gave the vial back and finally took to eating the food that he had brought. It seemed almost instantaneous with how she felt her mood change. Part of it was that she actually had food in her, but there was more from the new drug. She could feel how floaty she was, almost leaving her body, by the time she was done she couldn’t help but smile. It may have been too much of a dose this time around. John stood up holding a hand out to her, “Let’s get some fresh air. I hear the sun can do wonders for a person’s mood.”

She took it standing noticing the sharpness of the colors, “I should get ready first. Just give me ten minutes.” She made it half way to the bathroom before stopping turning to him, “I should apologize for yelling at you earlier. Whether it was justified or not doesn’t matter, I’m sure it hurt you. I’ll try to keep my emotions in check next time, or guess it would be better to say there won’t be a next time,” she shook her head clear, “Either way. I’m sorry, John.” She didn’t hear him say anything as she turned back to get ready for the day. By the time they went outside the full force of the Bliss was coursing through her body. I was definitely too much but she didn’t care, might as well enjoy it while she had it. 

The woods and sky were so bright everything seemed to sparkle. The sun felt perfect, as it warmed and tanned her exposed skin. The air never felt crisper entering her lungs. The hole in her chest wasn’t hurting so much right now. She felt lighter than air and she took to holding John’s hand so she didn’t float away. Her light blue sundress flowed as the breeze passed them by. Life felt so beautiful. How could she ever have felt like this place was her doom? She was wrong, she did like it here. She could even grow to love it.

“What did you like to do growing up?” Cat asked him as she stopped for what was about the fifth time to pick up what looked like shiny mica. It wasn’t.

“What do you mean?” She saw him lean against a tree as she looked for other things catching her eyes. The pink daisy-like flowers that sat next to what she recognized as she and her sisters would call Indian Paintbrushes. 

“Like did you do sports, debate team, oh wait!” The grass brushed her ankles giving her a slight scare, “You’re older than me by...uh,” she counted on her fingers, “six years so that means you got to grow up with some video games as they came out right?” She tried to gauge what he would have played, “I bet you were a Mortal Kombat player in the arcades. Had to be rebellious against mommy and daddy.” She caught sight of some milky quartz and bent down to dig the small rocks out. 

“Firstly six years is not that big of a difference.” She held up one of the cube-like rocks to the sky shrugging off his comment. “Secondly, no mom and dad for me. Joseph and Jacob took care of me, they’re my family.” She picked one of the red paintbrushes and made her way back to him, placing the three quartz pieces in his pockets. “I didn’t really participate much in anything with school.”

“Well then what about as you got older? I’m sure you did more than just sit around all day.” She started walking again looking for more flowers or plants to go with her red flower, “I guess better phrasing is: what are your hobbies, what did you like to do.” He just had to make this hard for her didn’t he?

His footsteps matched hers and seemed quieter than hers, “I liked to throw a lot of parties if that’s a hobby.”

“With eyes like yours I’m sure it was easy,” she looked at him giving him a half smile, “So were you one of those kids that had like a super religious background so when you were finally on your own you just went buck wild cause you never learned restraint?”

He looked at her like she was crazy, “Where do you get that idea?” She saw some white star shaped flowers that smelled what she thought honeysuckle would smell like. 

“Oh, well, there are a lot of people that do that.” She picked a few along with some bell flowers a few feet away, “I saw a few in college and man do they go hard core.” She looked ahead feeling the softness of a petal of one of the flowers she had picked, her voice becoming melancholy, “It is sad to see it though. They can get dangerous with themselves and well the ones that never stop either end up dying or spending the rest of their lives trying to hide the pain from themselves any way they can.” She grabbed a few strands of long grass, the feel of them like the buffalo grass her grandparents had, as she walked in stride with John. 

It was silent between them for a while, “Were you like that?” John asked, having put his hands in his pockets as they walked.

“Me?” She shook her head, “No. Far from it. I was never one for parties, I wasn’t the cool person in school...or life really.” She wrapped one of the grass strands on the stems of flowers.

“Sounds like there’s some pain there,” she caught him looking at her like he caught her in a web, “Did you ever do anything to hide the pain from yourself?”

“Good question. Did you have a way to mask the pain Mr. John?” She tied off the grass having created a little bouquet, or maybe it was more of a boutineer, “Throwing parties as a hobby is mostly for rich housewives, which doesn’t seem like you.” She looked at him with a playful smile on her lips. It quickly faded as she observed his lack of positive emotion, “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to sound bad.” She stopped to face him putting the bundle she held in his shirt pocket, “I should know by now that people who ask things like that mostly want validation.”

“I don’t need validation.” He grabbed her hands, putting them back down to her sides, “I am free of that pain.”

She searched his eyes with sympathy, “No, not really. Pain doesn’t leave.” She looked down to his hands turning the left one over to see the words on them, “It transforms. It becomes a kind of motivation for your person in the future.” She dropped his hand and shrugged, “But what do I know? I was only ungrateful for my pain free life.” She heard the bitter tone in her voice as the last sentence left her lips.

She turned walking towards whatever destination they would find, John following behind her, “You never answered my question.” 

“Seems like a bit of a downer of a question don’t you think? Especially when the afternoon is so bright,” she countered, holding her arms out, hoping to change the subject. “Besides it’s not like you really care about the answer.”

“And what if I do?” She side eyed him with a smirk, “You know it doesn’t seem fair that I should bear my soul when you won’t do the same.”

“So that little stop was you bearing your soul?” He didn’t respond, “Never one for full truths are you?” She sighed, “To answer your question though, I did.” It was a statement leaving no room for explanation. “I asked second, so yes or no did you do something to mask the pain?”

He looked ahead pensive, “Yes.”

“Then we have at least one small thing in common. We both have had bad ways of masking the pain we felt.” There was a silence between them for a while, both lost in their heads. The sounds of birds and rushing water became music to Catlina’s ears as she brought herself back to the woods they were in. She was feeling good and didn’t want to lose that, Cat wanted to change the subject. 

“Okay here’s a random question; How come it seems like out of your siblings you seem to have more concern about your appearance? And don’t say it’s ‘cause you’re the face people see. Everyone sees plenty of their faces too.” 

John’s smile returned, “You’re right that is a random question. If I have to answer it’s because it was a high priority in our house.”

She tilted her head confused, “If it was a high priority then why the lack of care on their end?” He briefly looked like he was caught in a lie. “Unless it was where you grew up. Where was that exactly?”

“Rome.”

“Not Italy I assume.”

“Georgia,” his eyes darkened at the memories that were most likely passing through.

“I thought I heard an accent!” It was overly cheery; she just didn’t want to lose him to his thoughts, “Well hidden. You know I had a friend grow up there, I think she lived in Rome too, but only for college.”

“Did she now? What did she go to school for? Not very many colleges out there.” He asked as his body relaxed, having another person to take the attention from him.

“Music, she’s a great sax player! You know you ever come visit me back home I’ll see if we can see her perform.” She felt another tangent starting. She just wanted to shut up, she was tired of hearing herself talk at this point. “Did you go to school? I feel like you have based on the way you dress, probably had some decent job.”

“Lawyer, mostly did real estate though.” She looked down to the white flats she wore, kicking a rock, “Why the sad face? I thought women loved men with rich salaries?”

“Firstly, not all, though yes it plays a part in the attraction of a person, but that is a conversation for another time. Secondly, you picked real estate? I thought you were going to say you were some cool lawyer like on tv. Be like ADA Barba, he’s my favorite lawyer.”

“Do you just base your whole life on references to other things?”

She shrugged, “Not like I had many other life experiences to keep me occupied. I also sometimes can’t forget things and thinking about it now I probably developed this weird way of remembering things so I do nothing but make references so I don’t forget things.”

He looked ahead of him trying to piece together what all he was hearing from her. He honestly looked confused, “I will admit, I have talked to so many people and even people that are very inebriated don’t talk in so many circles in their conversations then you are right now.” 

“Is that good or bad?” He didn’t give her a response as he walked them to a little area by the water to rest. Cat took off her shoes and placed her feet in the cold clear water. She was looking over the sparkles across the water in the warm afternoon sun, “Tell me about your religion. About your god.”

“Does that really matter to you?”

She kicked up a little of the water, “I should know what I’d be helping you preach don’t you think?” She sat figuring this was going to be a long conversation and her legs were tired.

“Eden’s Gate is about preparing and creating a new way of life,” Cat looked up at him taking in his relaxing body as he fell into a role he knew all too well. “One that is free from the pain and cruelty that society has created.” He started to use his hands to talk, he was preaching. She found it a little sad that it was just her. “My brother has seen what is going to happen to the world. There will be a great collapse and much like Noah’s ark it will free the world of those that are not worthy of a life in His New Eden.” He squatted down so she wasn’t having to look up to him. “Those that are with us will be safe because they have been freed of their sins, chosen to take the path and too help us in our mission of saving as many as we can from the collapse.” John’s eyes met hers, a smile on his face, that seemed to falter the longer she stared back. 

She tilted her head biting her lip, “If this is like Noah’s ark then shouldn’t it just be you and your siblings? I don’t remember God telling Noah to save all the people he could, just his family and two of every animal.” 

He blinked, rolling his eyes, “I feel like you’re missing the point here.” He sat himself next to her just far enough back so his shoes didn’t touch the water.

She knitted her brows, “Not really. He was only allowed to take his family and didn’t seem to be given the option to save anyone else, or at least given the chance to try and save others.”

“He was righteous and the only one among the people. Everyone else was cruel and evil.”

“So are you sure it’s the same God? Why would he choose to be benevolent now, it’s almost impossible for people to be pure beings like it’s implied Noah was. God was always wrathful and cruel.”

“You doubt his mercy? When all that you have been through is merely a test of your faith,” Cat turned away from him clenching her jaw, “You have proven that you are worthy and can join us to salvation. It’s the reason you’re here now.”

“People shouldn’t have to suffer to find salvation,” she picked at the edge of her dress, “Suffering isn’t a test. It’s not something you pass or fail.” She took a breath through her nose, “I have had many people tell me that all my suffering has made me a stronger person, but I can’t help but wonder if I could have been just as strong without the amount of suffering. I know it’s a part of life but there comes a point where it’s too much.” Shaking her head she brought her knees up pulling the dress over them, “Too much to justify any purpose to it.”

A breeze blew by strands of Catlina’s hair to her eyes as she and John sat in silence. Looking ahead of her she was able to take in the river that showcased the trout as they jumped on occasion. The sun was high, very few shadows surrounded them, it was lunch time for the fish and there was no short supply of their meals. She waved a hand in front of her scattering the two buzzing UFOs. There wasn’t much that could be said as she stared out to the river in front of her. She counted the fish as they jumped through the air leaving little trace as to their activity. The purpose of suffering is to bring you to salvation, what a load of crap. People should be brought to salvation because it is the right thing to do, everyone deserves a place free from harm and suffering before they have to suffer themselves. Salvation wasn’t something that should be earned, it was something that should be freely given. She rested her head against her knees facing John on her right, the thin green grass surrounded the two of them but not enough to hide his hand. 

She studied them closely, she didn’t get a chance to read the words written on them when she held his hand earlier. The writing was upside down but the letters were legible and she could see it was in a different language. Luxuria, Gula, Avaritia, Tristitia, Ira, Invidia, and Superbia. She furrowed her brows trying to figure them out, she should know them somehow, there were parts that were familiar. Avarice was the first thing to come to mind looking at the third word, greed. Sophomore English was where she first heard the word while reading Dante’s Inferno and her class had all agreed that Dante was a hypocrite. It had to be Latin, she was sure of it. The seven deadly sins all in their native language, it paired nicely with the tally on his other hand. 

It wasn’t something that seemed common to get, “I’ve only seen one other person have the deadly sins on their body.” Her voice was quiet as she asked, not wanting to disturb the sounds around her. She didn’t look up, feeling the warm sun speeding up her need for a siesta much like the wildlife around them. “He was about nineteen, got one of his friend’s dad to do it on his inner wrist,” John shifted as she kept her eyes on the ground where his hand was. The grass stood back up slowly, “I asked him why he chose to have the reminder of the negative aspects of life right where he could see it all the time.” She took a deep breath, the smell of the algae coming in with the breeze, “He told me it was his way of taking back power. His guardian used to withhold food from him telling him he was too greedy with how much he ate all because he got two meals at the school. He was beaten after their guardian caught him with his girlfriend and then again when he was spotted waiting for the bus with kids from school. Guess he wasn’t allowed to have friends.”

“Get to your point,” there was a slight growl in his voice. Cat noticed how his shoulders started to stiffen.

“You were abused weren’t you?” Cat looked up to his eyes, “Made to believe that you were all those sins tattooed on your hand.” He looked away from her towards the opposite river bank, it was his turn to bring his knees up. He rested his forearms on them as she turned to face him crossing her legs beneath her. “I’m getting a bit close aren’t I?”

He sighed, hanging his head, “Not like it’s much of a secret around here.”

Cat started to reach a hand out towards him, she hesitated pulling back a little before finally placing it gently on his shoulder, “Do you want to talk about it?” She saw his eyes look to her, “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just. Well if it is no secret I’d rather hear your story from you,” she spoke softly, falling into the role she was most comfortable with.

He looked back up again, his eyes losing their light as he started, “Our father was burly and drunk always ranting to us about God and how to live a righteous life his way. Old man didn’t know how to live on himself according to Joseph and Jacob. I was still pretty young when we finally left there. I was still going to school and a teacher had called in to social services. Maybe I should have lied,” Cat looked at him with sympathy knowing regardless of him lying or not his teacher would have had to call by law. “The three of us were then sent to people who just wanted farm hands they didn’t have to pay. I don’t remember it being too bad but it was only a few months so maybe that’s why.” The farther he got into his story the more out of place his voice sounded. He was removing himself from it, she knew he wasn’t consciously aware of it. She moved closer to him watching how fast she moved and how she moved her hand to lightly rub his back. “Jacob set the whole place on fire, he killed the couple too. He was taken from Joseph and I because of it. Locked up until he joined the Marines.” It explained a lot of her interactions with Jacob. “Soon I was taken from Joseph to live with my parents,” he hissed and Cat brought her free hand to hold his left one giving a light squeeze. She was here for him, ready for what he had to say. “It was fine at first and then one day the beatings started. Over and over. Day after day. “ He narrowed his eyes, giving her hand a hard and strong grip. She saw the tightening of his jaw and the snarl on his lips. He was getting angry and she didn’t want to know what that looked like in its rawest form, yet.

Cat winced at the pain as he almost crushed her hand, “You can stop if you need to John,” she took her right hand and made sure it was at eye level before she gently turned his face towards her. “I can figure out the rest.” She wrapped both of her hands around his left, “There’s no need to for you to relive any more. You can come back, you’re safe.” Slowly she saw the light come back to his eyes and they seemed to focus back to the world around him. She gave a small sympathetic smile, “There you are,” she exhaled.

He rolled his shoulders shaking his head, “The past doesn’t matter anymore though. I have been born anew.” She nodded, as John glanced at his watch, “ We should probably start going back,” he was removing himself from her arms before she could protest or even say anything.

He groaned as he brought himself up to his feet, holding out his hand for her. She took it helping to lift herself up brushing the rocks and dirt that stuck to her legs. She slipped her shoes back on as John dusted off his pants. When he seemed to be finished Cat grabbed his hands, “John,” she waited until his eyes met hers before continuing, “I just want you to know that everything that happened to you...it wasn’t your fault. None of that was your fault.” She kept her eyes level with his. She wanted him to know how sincere she was in her words, “I’m sorry that happened to you and your family. All of you deserved better,” she placed a hand on his cheek, “You deserved better.”

The one thing that always made him happy, was seeing Charlotte running around camp with Jack, her older half brother. A while back before Mary and John got together, John had a brief fling with Abigail. That was to be expected though, given John's track record. But the real shocker was Mary accepting Jack into her life, when she married John.

The kids since adopted a stray dog named Cain, he was a good boy - a good watch dog too. Always following Charlotte around like her personal protector. He was also a bit of a tattle tail when Jack and Charlotte got into some mischief.

Charlotte had a new gig, going around patching up everyone who got hurt and it usually wasn't anything more than a scratch, but it made her feel good. Even Bill and Micah played along... well they did after John threatened them.

"Daddy! Uncle Dutch had a splinter!"

John chuckled as he knelt down to her level."Yeah?"

"I fixed it!" She jumped up and down.

"She's real smart there Marston, sure she came from you?" Arthur teased.

"Hush up." John grunted. He kissed Charlotte's head."I'm proud of you kiddo."

She smiled."Do you have any splinters?"

"Hmm, I don't think so. Go ask Uncle Arthur."

Arthur looked up from cleaning his knife, he set it down on the table when Charlotte came up beside him. She took ahold of his hand in her small and began inspecting it thoroughly.

"You have lots of scars."

He faintly smiled."Yeah, I'm kinda clumsy."

"Oh." She frowned."I can't find anything!"

"Well now don't have a fit, hold on, I might have a cut somewhere." Arthur rolled up his sleeve and pointed to a scratch on his forearm."Here, this one hurts."

Charlotte grabbed her ointment and put a little dab of it on the scratch, then wrapped his arm with some extra gauze.

"Thank you, sweetheart."

She smiled and skipped back to John.

After tending to a minor concussion and having seen the exchange between Arthur and Charlotte, Mary walked over to the table that Arthur occupied.

"Thank you for humoring her."

Arthur chuckled."No need to thank me. She's a good kid."

"Well I'm sure Micah and Bill would disagree."

"They can just fuck off then." Arthur stated as a matter of fact."...They're all talk anyway. They see her comin' and they roll up their sleeves for inspection."

Mary giggled."Only after John threatened to kill them."

"Marston parenting at best."

"You better be nice." She teased, a proud smile on her face."He's trying. It's just double the work now, so it hasn't been easy on him."

"Told him for years not to think with his dick, it'll get him in trouble."

Mary blushed."Do you have to be so blunt?"

He quirked a brow."Yes."

"I figured as much."

Dutch walked over to the table with a bandage wrapped around his hand and took a seat next to Arthur. Mary couldn't help but laugh - that girl was leaving her mark on everyone in camp.

"What's so funny?" Dutch questioned.

"My child." She stood up and walked over to Mrs. Grimshaw who was entertaining the children and Cain, with a story about John and Arthur as kids. 

She had a bandage wrapped around her pointer finger. Come to think of it, everyone in camp had at least one appendage wrapped. Her child was going to waste supplies. With a shake of her head she walked over and stood behind the two children, but Cain alerted them of her presence.

"Hi Momma!" Charlotte greeted.

"Hi." Jack waved.

"I see you've been busy, huh?" She ran her fingers through her daughters brown hair.

"People keep getting hurt!"

Mary smirked."We need to talk, come with me."

Charlotte took her hand, as her mother lead her toward the lake. And much to Jack's annoyance, Cain followed behind her. Mary lifted Charlotte on to a rock with a smooth surface and kneeled in front of her.

"Listen, I know you want to help around camp, but not everyone needs help. We need to keep the supplies we have incase of a real emergency. Like when Daddy's face was bleeding or when Uncle Arthur's shoulder was bleeding."

"But I wanna be like you."

Mary smiled."And I love that you want to be like me, but...How about this, the next time there is an emergency, depending on how bad it is, I'll let you help."

Charlotte nodded and wrapped her arms around Mary's neck. Cain whimpered and stood up wagging his tail. He ran over to John, who was walking up from the water, and jumped on him nearly knocking him over.

"Hey boy." He scratched behind his ears and gently pushed the dog away."There's my girls."

"Daddy!" Charlotte stood on the rock and leapt into his arms.

Mary put her hands on her hips."We just had a talk about her doctoring."

John chuckled."Yeah? How'd that go?"

"Good. We discussed that we aren't going to waste supplies and the next time we had an emergency, she could assist."

"Good."

He looked down at Charlotte sitting on his forearm, playing with the brim of his hat. He reached up pulling the hat off and dropping it on her head. She giggled as it fell over her eyes.

"It stinks, Daddy!"

John laughed."Probably should bathe soon."

"Yeah you're starting to attract flies." Mary teased, poking his arm.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his side, rubbing his stink on her. She laughed and pushed at his chest, successfully escaping his grasp. He carefully sat Charlotte down and stood back up, fixing his hat back on his head.

"You might be in luck, Sadie looks like she's gonna kill Pearson." He pointed over to the food wagon.

"Jesus..." Mary muttered, shaking her head.

Jack stood up and sprinted over to Charlotte, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the commotion."C'mon, lets go see!"

"No!" John scolded."You two stay here, Uncle Arthur's fixin' it."

Mary placed a hand on Jack and Charlotte's shoulder, holding them back until things cooled down. Arthur thankfully managed to get in between Sadie filleting Pearson and feeding him to the fish. Pearson had a funny way of talking to the ladies, especially those on cooking duty.

In the process of his bickering and swinging knives around, he managed to slice his finger open. He definitely needed a few stitches. Mary beckoned Charlotte and Jack, her assistant's, to help with the minor surgery.

"Alcohol." Mary instructed.

Charlotte pointed and Jack handed her the bottle of medicinal alcohol. Mary poured it over the wound and Pearson nearly fell over from the sting, she had to fight back a laugh. She dabbed the wound with a clean cloth and lit the needle with a candle to prevent any unwanted germs.

"Maybe next time you won't be such a dimwit?"

Pearson shrugged."That girl is-"

"Best be careful what you say, I have the power to sew your mouth shut." Mary warned.

Pearson raised his brows, but ultimately kept his mouth shut.

Four stitches later, Mary finished. She left the gauze wrapping up to Charlotte and Jack, while she cleaned up and washed her hands.

"I need ointment." Charlotte ordered.

Jack nodded and handed her the little container."Here you go."

Charlotte applied some ointment to the stitches and began wrapping his finger. Pearson couldn't help but smile.

Mary left the tent, knowing Charlotte could handle it. She walked toward the domino's table and John stood up, meeting her halfway, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head.

"We've got some special kids." John boasted."Like they're gonna make something of themselves, I just know it."

Mary smiled."Yeah they will. I'll make sure of it."

 “Ugh that guy is the worst when he comes in here. So arrogant and dismissive. You want me to take this one?” She whispered while Cat focused on the order being said to her. 

“Is he a regular?” The next customer came up as Hayley nodded, “Then I should at least get used to him.”

“Whatever. I’ll get his order started though it’s always the same thing.” 

“Hi welcome to Bittersweet what can I get started?” Catlina asked as he came to the counter with a smile on her face. Maybe he just always had something else on his mind or had a bad day when Hayley interacted with him. 

He still was talking on the phone when he came up deep in conversation while his hands worked to get a card out of his wallet. She was ready to ask him again when he turned to her, his blue eyes the most noticeable feature of his face, “Usual.” He threw down his card going back to what he was talking about. 

“I don’t even know what that is,” she more whispered to herself. “Hey Hayley what’s his usual?” She quickly asked while the man was turning to go to the pick up window. 

“Just put the mocha down. It’s the closest we have to his order that’s fast to put in. Not like he pays attention any way,” she made a point to look at his card, which was black meaning it had no limit. 

Catlina nodded and put the order through handing him back his card, she noticed the name on it before he snatched it away, John D. There wasn’t enough time for her to see his last name as he grabbed his drink not even bothering to sign. “Hey wait! You need to-“ he had already made it out the door. “Never mind I guess.” Staring at the screen the prompt was for a tip and then he would have been asked to sign. “Hey Hayley does he normally tip?” She scoffed, “So that’s a no.” Well if he didn’t seem to check his account what was the harm in putting an extra three dollars to the order. She did that and signed his name a little messier not knowing how he signed. “Maybe that’ll teach you to not be so rude.” It really wasn’t going to do anything but hey she could feel good about it. 

It wasn’t going to be the last time she did that. She started to get braver after the fourth time adding on another two dollars. Now it was a 100% tip he had to notice, nope still seemed to look through her. Everyone there seemed to adjust for him and make his life easier which was fine when there was no one else there. 

It was a bit of a busier day with midterms in full swing and students either celebrating or just trying to keep their brain going for the day. That day she saw him start to walk up on the street and warned one of her coworkers so they could get his order in the line. This day he seemed like he was in a rush but that didn’t mean he got to just jump ahead of the five people already in line. He came up and did his normal bit with her waiting for his card back. Cat looked behind him making eye contact with the person behind him. 

“I can help who’s next in line.” She waved her hand and the person hesitated coming up at first. She waved again and they made their way up to the counter placing their order. She never even touched his card so it sat in front of her without being swiped. When she called the next person her coworkers seemed confused as to why his order didn’t come on the computer. By the third order they figured it out. She was making him wait his turn in line. There were two more people that came in line so he had to wait behind them. 

It was the fourth person in the original line next when he hung up his phone and looked around him. She saw his eyes dart back to the card still where he left it and then to the pick up area where his order wasn’t in sight. “Did you not hear me the first time?”

“Sorry I was helping another customer at the time. Can I get the next person in line?” She pointedly looked behind him and she could hear her coworkers suppressing their laughter. 

“Yeah that’s me.” He seemed to get annoyed by her antics. 

“Oh I’m sorry but that’s not where the line is sir. And this young man was waiting here before you even walked in.” She focused on the customer in front of her while sliding his card back to him. “You’re more than welcome to take a spot at the back so I may assist you.”

“Where’s Hayley? I'd like to speak to her,” She could hear the slight anger in his voice. She felt her heart rate increase but stood her ground. She came too far and had to finish this. 

“She’s not in and I can’t disclose when she will be sir. That would be a violation of her rights.” She saw another person get in line. “Now sir again if you want to order please get in line before it gets too long or you can go somewhere else.” Her voice was starting to shake ever so slightly.

He looked at her stunned, but huffed his way to the back. When it was finally his turn he actually looked at her with his pretty blues, “I would like my usual order, please,” she could tell he was holding back his anger as she put it in the computer. 

“Can I get a John D,” she called out behind her. Her coworkers knew what she meant and got to work as she processed his payment. His eyes didn’t leave her as he went to wait for his order actually signing this time. No tip but she already tortured him enough today. He was making his way out the door with his order when Hayley came back from her lunch. He shot a look to Catlina but looked at the time figuring it was a battle for another day. 

The shop slowed down after that and her coworkers started to laugh at the stunt that Catlina had pulled. “What did I miss? Did Cat here spill drinks?” Hayley asked, wanting in on the joke. 

“Catlina stood up to that lawyer that always comes in here.” One of her male coworkers mused. “Should have seen it. He just cut in front of like five people wanting us to wait on him hand and foot and Cat just stood her ground helping the people behind him first. Got him a little angry but so worth it to see his face when he realized what she was doing.” He laughed and went back to work getting ready for the next wave. 

“I hope that doesn’t bite you in the ass later.” Hayley told her. 

“Well that was really rude and I just- I don’t know, got tired of it. It didn’t harm him other than take more time than normal for him.” The blonde sighed and shook her head. 

He didn’t come back in for about two weeks after that which made Catlina a little sad. She had to admit she missed seeing his eyes and his tips were a nice bonus for everyone at the end of the day. Not having him be rude was better for everyone but it just meant that he was taking it to someone else which sucked. It was a rainy day in Georgia when he came in next with some guy next to him. They looked like coworkers and could confirm based on their conversation. 

There was one person in front of them still deciding and his coworker almost stepped ahead of them, but John stopped him whispering something she couldn’t hear. “Hi welcome to Bittersweet what can I get started for you?” She asked them once it was their turn. “Would you like your usual sir?” Her fingers were ready to place it in.

“Yes please but add on a danish.” She started to ask him if he wanted it warmed, “Yes I would like it warmed and then whatever this guy wants.” He took a step back and let his coworker order. The coworker took his leave to the pick up area and then to a table. John waited at the counter for the food. It was no problem the cafe was empty. 

“I didn’t ask but any preference on flavor?” Cat asked him pointing to the display. “We just started serving our blackberry and pomegranate danishes for the fall.”

“I’m sorry for a few weeks ago.” He told her when his friend was out of ear shot. “You had the right to make me wait my turn, what I did was rude.”

“Well I forgive you for that incident. You need to be at least a little more polite especially if you plan to keep coming in.”

A small smile came to his lips, “Yes ma’am. Surprise me with the flavor, I’ll be at the table waiting.”

She rolled her eyes as he walked away. Seriously? What am I his servant? She grabbed the blackberry danish and put it in the glorified microwave as one of her favorite songs came on the speakers. She started to hum along, giving the danish to John at his table. When she moved to cleaning up the other tables she was singing along quietly. By the end of the song she wasn’t singing as quietly as she thought she was and turned to see John and his blue eyes staring at her. She quickly apologized and ducked to the back of the counter blushing. 

“Lunch and a performance, glad you were disappointed in the other cafes around here.” She heard his coworker say to him as she felt his eyes on her still. “Here, I got a picture for you.”

He pushed the phone out of his hand, “I think we should go.” 

“You’re not even going to ask for her name? Is there an alien invasion? What have you done with John Duncan?” His coworker was making fun of him all the way out the door. John Duncan, that was his full name. She should be calling his orders a Duncan, though maybe they could get copyrighted. 

He started to come in more often as fall turned to winter, almost everyday and was nicer each time he came in. He always had a smile for her and some quip or random question that she answered most of the time. He started to make her blush each time he looked at her and she would falter being around him. His charm was coming out and boy did it work wonders on her. She never gave much back knowing she was looking for better work and why get hung up on the first guy to give her any attention in Georgia. His eyes though kept bringing her back to him, she loved the way they lit up when he smiled on the days she managed to find words to what he said to her. She looked forward to those moments. 

It was snowing and the city was shutting down, it was only about three inches on the ground with some ice. The cafe was open still and it was debated on if they should stay open since the owner was out of the country and hard to get a hold of. “The roads are getting bad. We should close, keep us all safe in driving home. I doubt anyone is going to come in.”

Cat pointed to the few students that had made their way into the cafe, “What about them? It’s finals and we have free wifi and caffeine.”

“Well I can’t stay here. They just closed the schools saying it might get up to five inches by the end of the day. No one can drive through it.”

“I can. My car is still set up from back home.”

“But it’s so hard to drive-” Hayley gave her a second look, “Oh right, you came from the mountains. Would you be okay closing the place up?”

“Show me what I should do and I will be. I might have to limit what I can give out but nothing too bad really. I learned almost all the drinks here.”

“That’s fine. I’ll show you a few things and you can bring the keys back in the morning with your shift. Don’t be afraid to close a little early for the day okay?”

“You got it boss,” Hayley showed her around to what she should focus on when the end of the day came, before Catlina sent her on her way to her kids. The shop stayed quiet except for the music that she put on in the background. It was easy money to make with the lack of customers, so she took to setting up a stool behind the counter with a book and drink for herself. It was nearing two in the afternoon when she saw John come through the door patting the snow off himself. The gel in his hair was becoming ineffective in the snowy weather falling in his face, it made him more attractive. 

She started to put the book down taking another sip of her drink. He smiled at her, “Surprised to see this place open in this weather. Though I am thankful because there would be no other place that could make what I like correctly.”

“Right,” she realized in the moment she never made his drink before. Everyone else took to making it since they all knew it by heart. She looked at him sheepishly, “What is your order?”

“You make it all the time you guys all know it by heart it seems.”

“Yeah but see I never had to make it myself, that was my coworkers and as you can see,” she gestured to the empty back counter, “none of them are here.”

“I’ve had to tell you the ingredients before though right?” She shook her head, “Oh well let me tell you,” he proceeded to order and she put it in the computer making notes mentally on how she would put it together. The main part of the drink was one she was not that familiar in making. She didn’t take his card and went to work in case he changed his mind in wanting whatever she made him. She repeated the steps out loud to herself as she went from one machine to the other, she could feel John’s eyes on her. The steamer gave her the most trouble and shot the drink all over self, thankfully she kept the apron on today. 

“Fuck, stupid drink having to be complicated. Couldn’t just have been a mocha with caramel and three shots of espresso.” She was grumbling to herself trying again which produced the same results. She started to hear John laugh to himself as he watched her. Third time had to- nope that also failed and she tossed the cup in the sink in frustration. Her dark hair fell in her face frustrating her more. She turned to see John still smiling, “It’s not funny. I’m having a really hard time with it.”

He laughed, “Hey you were trying. Tell you what, make me something you love and we can sit and talk.”

She sighed and went to clean up what she could quickly and made her version of hot chocolate. Two pumps of strawberry flavoring, milk, cocoa powder, and a scoop of the mocha powder. She made him a small one not knowing how he was going to like it, placing whip cream and marshmallows on top. She made herself a fresh cup, the other one having grown cold and almost finished anyway. “Here drink of my own creation.” She told him sitting across from him in a way she could keep an eye on the register.

He took a sip his look going from content to the familiar taste of chocolate to confusion as the strawberry flavor hit him, “What the fuck? Is that strawberry?”

“Yeah, what do you think?” She took a big drink of hers.

He took another sip trying to figure out how he felt about it. “I hmm well I’m not sure. It’s not bad, just...different. You came up with this idea?”

“As far as I know. Never had anyone else ask for it unless I told them about it. Usually get people asking for mint flavoring but never strawberry.”

“Unique, just like you. Or should it be a strange drink for a strange woman.” 

“You don’t even know me that well.”

“I know your answers and responses to me can either be normal or off the wall.”

“When have my answers been off the wall?”

“When I asked you why you thought someone would throw a zombie themed wedding, do you remember what you said?”

She sat back trying to recall that conversation, or at least come up with her answer then and there. “Cause they met during a zombie crawl?”

He laughed, “That was the second reason you gave, I had whiplash at the change. No what you said at first was-”

“Oh yeah! That subconsciously they knew their relationship was already dead and they were trying to find a way to keep it alive! I remember now, you wore a striped tie that I didn’t think matched your outfit.”

“Yeah that answer, wait you didn’t think that tie matched?” He looked to the one he wore today. Today’s tie was dark navy and worked with the light blue shirt and black suit ensemble. 

“To me at least. I think it was because I didn’t like the pattern of the stripes. The yellow line was in a weird place. But how is that answer off the wall? Am I wrong?”

“I never said you were wrong it just seemed to come out of nowhere is all. I expected a simple because they liked it, or they loved halloween, or-”

“They met on the set of a zombie movie or tv show?”

“See right there, how does that come about? Normally I can predict what a person can do or say but you sometimes just throw me for a loop each time I think I have you figured out.” This wasn’t the first time she heard this line of thinking, she got told that when she played games with her friends, it just seemed to have a different context coming from him.

“Why do you want to figure me out? I’m not that interesting.”

“I beg to differ. Your drink choice is indicator number one that you are far from uninteresting.” 

Cat saw one of the students get up to leave, “Give me a second. Hey do you want some pastries and a drink to go?”

“I don’t have much money.”

“Don’t worry about it, we’ll be closed tomorrow apperently so all these will have to be eaten or thrown out. Drink cause well why not? You need something to wash it all down.” The student looked happy and picked out a few things before walking out. 

“Well that was sure nice of you.” John said having leaned back in his chair. “Why do it?”

“Why not? I don’t lose anything by being nice to them.”

“What about your job?”

“As if. We try to give away what we can, though it mostly goes to us workers but again it’s only me and I am not going to attempt to bring that much home with me.” She set out the rest with a few boxes for people to help themselves to some as they came in. “Why were you trying to figure me out?”

“You’re interesting to me.”

“But there are so many more people that are interesting here but you only seem to interact with me. You never ask the other workers questions when they take your order.”

“I like your brown eyes the best.” He had this charm about him that came out with every compliment. “They also aren’t as clever as you.”

She rolled her eyes, “Okay then question for you, you never seemed to ever ask my name and I forget to wear my name tag a lot. Why is that?”

She saw him become stumped, no quick response meaning it never occurred to him that he didn’t even know her name. “I’m sure I saw it when I first came in.”

“Then what is it? You never have introduced yourself to me properly, very ungentleman like if I do say so myself.”

“Maybe I just like the allure of the mystery. Keeps me guessing.” He leaned a bit closer to her, “My mystery beauty.”

She leaned close to him, “Well I’m not very fond of being boiled down to a trope of mysterious woman. That’s too much to live up too.” She smiled and sat back in her seat, “So I ask again. What’s my name Mr. John?”

It was a staring contest between the two of them, she wasn’t going to budge on her stance. She saw his eyes look her up and down then to the counter where the apron she was wearing laid on the stool the name tag out of sight. “Maria, seems to fit you.”

“Bzzt! Wow and you managed to stereotype me into the dark hair spanish beauty. Try again buddy.”

“I never said you were spanish, so I can’t be stereotyping you.” She smiled laughing softly at his uncomfortableness. He sighed and looked behind her to two students trying to mime the letters to him. “Cat? No wait that’s short for something. Catherine?”

“Do I look eighty? But you are getting warmer.” 

“Why is this a game to you?” He was getting frustrated. 

“Why can’t you just ask?” It was nonchalant as she finished her drink.

He looked like he was chastising himself in his head at the idea that he should have just put his pride away. He put his hand out to her, “Fine from the beginning then. Hi there my name is John. What’s your name, beautiful?” He put his charm back on as he asked her. 

She grabbed his hand shaking it, “Nice to meet you. I’m Catlina.” 

“Catlina,” he said to himself softly, trying to commit it to memory. “Wait how did you know my name already?”

“Your friend said it the day you apologized and I glanced at your credit card the first day I worked. Though it is nice to officially meet you after all this time.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.” He brought her hand that was still in his to his lips. It was so old school but boy did it make her melt. She had to admit that after all the small interactions that they had she had developed a crush on him. Her coworkers would roll their eyes but her friends back home made fun of her, he was just her type. 

She finally caught the time on his watch, “Shouldn’t you be heading back to work by this point?”

“Work? Oh yeah, I didn’t work today.” 

“You drove all the way here just for some drink? In your fancy sports car that I’m sure is pure shit in this snow, you came out here. Why?”

“I like your company and didn’t want to be alone during the snow.”

“He also wanted a date with you,” one of the girls behind her yelled out. She turned to them confused, the brunette that spoke up rolled her eyes, “I’ve been coming in here to study for weeks and he’s attempted to ask you out at least three times.”

“No he hasn’t. Have you?” She felt her cheeks turn red at the embarrassment.

“He asked you to dinner once, then another time I was here tried to see if you wanted to watch a movie after work.” Her friend, Cat assumed, chimed in.

“I assumed he was working late that day.” She tried to defend feeling herself getting redder. She just wanted to hide behind the counter at this point.

His smile was hiding behind his drink, “It was a Saturday I wasn’t at work.”

She thought back trying to think of that day, she swore it was Friday or maybe a Thursday. “Well I just had my days mixed up is all. My bad.”

“You know Val we should start heading back and let them have their date.” The brunette said gathering her stuff and a few of the pastries, “You might as well close up no one’s leaving their homes now. City shut down while you guys were talking.” The two quickly took their leave giggling and talking as they went through the door. 

“Was I really that oblivious to you and your advances?”

“Kind of. Just figured you weren’t that interested, but I did really want your company and I don’t have your phone number.”

“I’m sorry,” Cat looked out the window and saw how empty the streets were, she really should just close up. “Look let me take you home at least to make up for it?”

“Probably the better idea. Can I do anything to help you clean up?” He stood ready to get to work. 

“Pack up the pastries in boxes. I'll take care of the rest.” She turned up the music now that the cafe was just the two of them. She was finishing cleaning the table when the sounds of a trumpet came over the speakers. It was Dream a Little Dream of Me and she felt John come up behind her.

“Can I have this dance?” He whispered in her ear as he held out a hand to her which she took and he spun her closer to him. He placed a hand on her waist while her free hand went to his shoulder. He took the lead in dancing them in the small space between the tables, “Should this count as a date now?”

She looked up to his blue eyes, “I think so, but maybe a proper date is in store.” She started to hum the tune as he spun her around at one point. “Maybe we should go dancing but only if you can find a place that plays older music like this.”

As the song came to the last few lines he spun her into a dip, “I’ll see what I can find my Catlina.” He lifted her up once the next song started. They stood there looking at each other, neither one wanted to make the first move. Soon his hand came up to brush hair behind her ear pulling her in for a kiss. She didn’t fight it and closed the distance between them interlocking their lips. It was soft and warm and just felt like a movie until he pulled away. “Can I see you again after this? Maybe next Friday night?”

“Yes, you may.” A thought just occurred to her, “Though I should probably pay. I don’t want to lie but I kind of put tips on your orders when you were still being a jerk.”