A beacon of light

“Mmmm, no.” He grabbed the book from her hands, “And you’re not reading anymore.”

“In that case what am I doing? Staring at you while you refuse to repeat yourself. Sounds thrilling.”

        “– No, I wasn’t. I wasn’t talking at all, actually… But I can be if you’d prefer it.”

“I just was distracted and wanted to make sure. I don’t mind either way.”

“You see them too,” Willow replied after glancing to her side to be sure nobody else had joined her while she wasn’t paying attention.

Elijah let out a soft laugh. “Fair enough. I didn’t mean to bother you, though. I apologize.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not bothered. In fact I was lost in thought and a distraction from that is rather nice even if it only lasts a moment.”

“In that case I’m reading. Go away.”

“Uh, no, I’m sorry. I was probably just mumbling to myself. I swear I’m not crazy, though.”

“I swear I am crazy,” Willow answered with a slight shrug. “Which is basically me saying I wouldn’t mind either way.”

“Haha. What were you saying? I just zoned out. I must be tired or something.”

“Head out where? Here is cozy. Here is nice. Here is.. You’re here.”

“Head out home, where I will also be.”

    “The pleasure is mine,” he mused inching himself for comfort. “I’m –uh– new to town, anything special I should be aware of?”

“New to town? Is run while you still can too intense of a welcome to town warning,” Willow answered jokingly before pausing to consider what to say. “Honestly though it’s a pretty intense place at times but also it’s home. If you ever need help getting around you can feel free to ask.”

“Possibly because jobs are extremely mundane and it’s hard to find something you’ll enjoy,” Willow offered as she looked at the paper despite it being upside down in front of her. “Maybe going into places you’d like to apply to and talking to someone would make it easier? All this crossing out seems a bit like admitting defeat or something.”

“Obviously this town doesn’t know how to throw an awesome St. Patrick’s Day party if it was honestly as boring as people are making it out to be,” though she was sure that most people were happy to have a some peace after Valentine’s fiasco, however, that wasn’t the case for Ophelia. Tossing the phone into the sand so she wouldn’t hear the beep, beep as her parents sent more texts, she looks up at the woman. “No parades? No people painted green? No kissing strangers? Whoa, Oak Pines is losing its touch which is such shit since there’s so many rich people running around.”

“Basically everyone got drunk together and if you weren’t getting drunk that was about all that happened. I mean maybe I missed something in the whirlwind of drunken people surrounding me but I don’t remember any parades or green people. Green shirts that said kiss me, yes, but even then they weren’t getting many kisses.”

    He nodded, a little dramatically. “You know what’s funny about that? Boring someone to death? I’m actually quite terrified of that being a thing. So, maybe you shouldn’t tell me.” Shortly after a pause, David laughed, shaking his head. “I’m David, and am completely kidding.”

Tilting her head Willow couldn’t quite tell if he was being serious. It wasn’t until he laughed, which prompted a blush to break out across her cheeks that she knew. “Wow okay you really had me there for a moment. I’m Willow. It’s nice to meet you, David.”

“Sure you did. Do you think it’s about time to head out now?”

Savannah’s eyes tightened despite the pain, and for a moment she abandoned her task of cleaning the cut on her face. “No shit Sherlock,” She snapped. “I also think my cheekbone is fractured, not to mention the multiple scrapes and the hairline cut I have going on here, but hey. Who cares? Nothing like a little beating, right?”

“Oh so you’ve decided that it is what it looks like now and it’s my fault you were playing dumb before,” Willow snapped back, unable to stop the swell of anger that rolled up inside of her. One touch and the other could be healed in moments but she was too irritated now to even offer.

“Are you standing outside my door for a reason?”

“Oh sorry. I guess I didn’t realize I’d stopped.”