Sing us a song you're the p i a n o m a n

"Yeeeaah," Frankie laughed a little nervously, searching through the few flowers caught in the crossfire. She found one still in tact and held it out for the man. "Here ya go!" She said, holding up a red gerbera. "Oh, I’m okay, don’t worry about me." Frankie replied, sure she might have a bump on her head for a bit, but that was the last of her worries. "What are a few bumps and bruises in the grand scheme of things?" She said, brushing the street dirt from her hair.

When asked about the flowers Frankie looked down shyly. It wasn’t much a secret, but still, the idea of remaining anonymous made the whole thing more fun. “It might be…” She said, subtly nudging her backpack behind her, though it didn’t do much to hide the wild arrangement that still visibly stuck out behind her back. “That depends, do you plan to unmask me?” Frankie asked, trying to bite back her smile.

"True, sometimes bumps and bruises may be worth it but it all depends on the situation that is" he nodded, as well dusting his trousers off.  When she answered his question he could not help chuckling a bit, she was on this mysterious delivery apparently and it did seem so much fun in the piano man's eyes.

"Unmask you? Well it depends, do you want me to?" he joked chuckling "Though I find it quite obvious now that I saw your backpack, it's full of flowers, how did you manage to get that many?" He was truly amazed, and also admired her for going and spread flowers all around. His fingers twirled the red gerbera between his fingertips, the flower slowly spinning. Now that he got to think it, the flower would do a very good decoration to his jacket's pocket later at work. Suits and flowers were known to match nicely didn't they?

"I'm Drew" the piano man introduced himself with a smile and a hand held out her way, he had learnt time before to only say his first name for saying it completely sounded too formal –and might as well make people look him weird– "Were you heading somewhere?"

There had been a mistake, that much was certain. Just an hour ago a florist came by with several delivery men flanking him, claiming that they received an order from her address. The mass of flowers had already been paid for, and now Frankie stood in the center of her loft surrounded by dozens of flower bouquets. At first, Frankie was confused beyond all comprehension, but after a few minutes of nothing but a rainbow of colors and sweet smells, Frankie took it as a good sign. So, she wasn’t the one who ordered all these flowers, but that didn’t mean this was a mistake.

Then she had an idea, an idea so brilliant and sudden she quickly checked to see if there was an actual light bulb over her head. Frankie ran to get dressed before going downstairs and out onto the street. With a backpack overflowing with flowers, Frankie started towards town. With every person she passed, Frankie would draw a flower like an archer drew an arrow, and handed it to the stranger. “Happy Friday!” She added, before carrying on down the street. As she walked through town, Frankie would drop a flower anywhere she could, in mail slots, on door steps, car windshields.

She had just finished fastening a flower to someone’s bike when she turned and collided with someone. In a flurry of colorful petals and bright blue hair Frankie fell, taking the stranger with her. “Oh man,” She groaned, rubbing the side of her head. “Are you okay?” Frankie asked, reaching to check on the other person. “I’m so sorry, don’t suppose a flower could ease the pain?” She said with a sheepish smile.

It was a funny thing he thought, that throughout his walk he'd seen a lot of flowers. People carrying them, on the door's steps; for a moment he wondered if he had missed any flower festival or holiday around, any festivity in Alexandria, but later on, the thought escaped his mind.

He did not expect to run into anyone for the day, actually one doesn't really think that they'd collide into someone for that matter but life was never sure and there was a high percentage of accidents throughout the day.

So Drew fell backwards as he ran into the blue-haired girl, petals everywhere, –a rain of petals was a nice sight to witness nonetheless– but then there came the pain, he'd hurt his elbow and hand attempting to cover himself from any hard hit. "Bloody..." he sighed out, rubbing his elbow as the tingling painful itch from his hand began to settle ever so slowly. Hearing the other and already sitting up, brown eyes met the sheepish smile of hers and brought a genuine one on him.

"To be honest, it may not ease the pain but brights up the day" He half smiled giving a clap to dust off his hands. "Are you alright though?" He asked, standing up and held his hand out to her to help. It is when he caught a glance of her backpack, the petals laying on the floor, the flower on the bike when it all clicked in his head. "It is you who's spreading the flowers around aren't you?"

The more he lingered, the more the stranger looked familiar. Small and scruffy, with an accented voice and odd mannerisms; visible signs that he had trouble with smiles and easy conversation, like Charlotte. He talked slower, too. Jason listened with an earnest patience.

Christmas shop, Christmas shop… he’d run into a plethora of people at a Christmas shop… “…Oh!” Jason stuck out his hand. “Drew. You’re Drew. Good to see you again.” A neat smile crossed his features. “What brings you here? Do you work for Make-A-Wish?”

He waited for the reply, maybe the other guy did not remember him at all and the more time passed he was becoming slightly nervous. None did remember him sometimes, not at work, and he moved so many times from place to place he was certain that by then he was a faint memory on people's mind... After all he decided himself as a person that could not leave a meaningful impression.

As wary as she was for offering a ride home to a stranger, her guilt would not allow anything less than being as helpful as she could be. The possibility of catching a cold in this weather was extremely high. If she could prevent at least one miserable illness this flu season, she’d count it a success.

"Are you su–" he was about to ask when she made a gesture to follow her. She was right, it was a chaos completely out there with the season and the rain, no different from what he remembered of London or New York anyway.

"I’m sure." She was still working on her coffee and the cheesecake was only half-gone. Whenever Charlotte was nervous it was difficult for her to eat a substantial amount. Which meant that she rarely ate much at all, as she was nervous most of the time.

The predominant stressing thought that was occupying her mind at this particular moment was wondering what his intentions were exactly. It was probably just a friendly coffee chat with a stranger; something spur of the moment and completely innocent, but she could never know with 100% certainty. And that was something that kept her mind spinning in multiple directions, each explanation for his behavior getting more and more ridiculous.

"I like..." He paused, bringing the cup of coffee to take a sip for a better phrasing of his answer. "Mhm, I like what it means. You know, the whole gathering with family and friends, dinner and gifts, all of that warmth you are told Christmas is." He began saying, half smiling as he placed his cup on the saucer again. "That's something I'd like to experience someday, maybe. I have no family left" and that was a lie though, somewhere his biological father resided but he had not the care in the world to know where exactly. "And friends I have a few but I wouldn't like to invade their homes when it should be a family gathering...so I spend it alone most of the time, me and the piano"

Drew looked up from the table cloth with a soft smile on his lips, saying the very reason why he didn't like Christmas much wasn't a good topic to talk over a coffee table with someone you don't really know much right? 

"And you? Do you like it?" He asked, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. He could sense ever so slightly her nerves, hoping he wasn't really making her uncomfortable though she had told him he wasn't. "It's a merry holiday though, there's no doubt." He picked his cup and took a sip again.

The second crash of lightning made her jump and cling to Drew’s sleeve, but she didn’t tremble. Drew was near, and he was talking to her in such a soothing tone that she felt more at ease, even with the storm brewing around them. She stuck close to him under the umbrella, wanting to hide in his jacket and never leave. Cling to him like a koala to safety, to peace.

Once inside the taxi, she curled into Drew, hiding in his jacket once he gave it to her. She smiled, despite herself, knowing this is what she had wanted her uncle to see. How Drew cared for her. How he came in the middle of a storm with no car, to come and find her and bring her to safety. How could her uncle say such a man would want her for only one thing, when Drew show he cared so much? “T-That sounds good..” She stuttered, shaking in the cold. The taxi driver raised the heat in the cab, Madelyn slowly beginning to relax. She didn’t look at Drew, ashamed for dragging him out in such a mess.

"I… I am terribly sorry.. For making you do this.. I shouldn’t have bothered you but.. I did not know who else to talk to.." A whimper left her and she suddenly moved, wrapping her arms around Drew with her body shaking from not heat, but the need to sob. She felt so.. Horrible. "I am so sorry.."

"It sounds tasty doesn't it? I think I may have marshmallows to put into it." he smiled, thinking if he did buy those at the store or not. He was lost in his thoughts until he heard her talking again, his gaze warmed as he saw Maddie clinging to her, ashamed and feeling terrible. He hadn't minded going out in the storm to get her, in fact he wouldn't have felt well knowing she was out there alone and in such weather.

"It's alright Maddie, I'm glad you did. I cannot imagine what could have happened if you stayed there on your own." he began saying and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, soothingly. "Don't be, it'll all get better you'll see"

"I'm just a bit worried, you know my home is not near here..." he said his thought aloud, what if her uncle got angrier at her for going to his home? He could take her home later, maybe just stay a while on his place until the mood got better? Drew apparently had forgotten the storm in the safety of the car until a loud thunder reminded him. She'd have to stay, they couldn't go out with that storm.

The car drove for another while, until it parked at the front of the townhouse. "We're here, let's go inside." Drew smiled and leaned to pay the driver. Letting go of her slowly he went out the car and opening the umbrella he waited or her to come out and join him.

"Are you hungry? I'll even attempt cooking something"

"It’s quite alright," Brenna replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.  "We’ve all had nights like that.  Granted, I don’t think I’ve had a night like that since my twenty first birthday."  She couldn’t understand why self-respecting adults would allow themselves to get so trashed, but she was not the type of person who would judge them for those actions.  It was none of her business anyway.

"Thank you, for both understanding and helping me that night. I cannot thank you enough to be honest." He was telling the truth, though it didn't take away the embarrassment from it.

"I'm relieved to hear that, it's not that common to find a drunk man in your path I bet. I do remember though, telling you I was quite harmless" he chuckled, the memory coming to his mind. "See? I wasn't lying"

"That autographed jersey of yours sold for two thousand. That’s four times as much as it would sell for at a regular auction."

"We’re really making a difference," Jason said, blandly, setting his glass on a passing tray and letting his arms fall to his sides. 

"All the autographed balls are selling like mad. The money we’re making doesn’t just make a difference, these are gonna go to the kids."

"I guess." It was one of the backup outfielders pestering him. Jason let his gaze slip over his face and into the pool of hobnobbers. "I have to talk to Brian. I’ll be right back." 

Before he could move, though, he was startled by a tap on the shoulder. A much shorter man was beaming up at him. ‘I’m so sorry to be so abrupt, I’m pretty sure I know you. We’ve met before haven’t we?’ Jason gave his face a thoughtful look. Familiar. Barely. He glanced back, and his teammate had vanished, evidently annoyed by his placid attitude.

So finding someone familiar in that sea of people was like a haven, not that he couldn't do any friends at the meeting but everyone seemed to know who they were talking to and probably knew who they wanted to talk with.

"Don't worry, it's alright" Drew smiled softly, though feeling he'd really had interrupted something important as the other man had gone away in such way. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt there" his hand gesture and sight went towards the walking away figure before focusing his attention back on the man before him.

The voice was familiar as well,  and he was glad and relieved that he was not mistaken the man. Surely that night Drew wasn't going through any sadness stage due to holidays and his features seemed a little different, maybe the guy would not recognize him... Who'd recognize someone that you met randomly one day at some shop?... Oh that's right, Drew was.

A boom of thunder had her scream in fear and she sank lower, cowering in the corner of the booth. The lightning hit something far off, there was a spark and the street lights were gone, as well as the lights of every apartment on the block. She was now surrounded by darkness and the fear was crippling. How her night ended up this horrid bothered her to her core, because she never saw this coming.

Her uncle uncomfortable with her having someone in her life. A friend… Drew was a dear friend, they grew closer every day, and if they became more.. She didn’t think she would mind. He understood her, listened to her as she did him. They had so much in common and not, he was interesting to her. He made her laugh, he made her think. She had thought her uncle would be happy for her, not so angry and protective..

The door to the phone booth opened, jarring her from her thoughts. She prepared herself to give up her phone, her only item worth much on her person, when she heard the voice, felt gentle hands bringing her to her feet, looking her over with sad and worried eyes. She trembled in Drew’s arms before rushing into them, sobbing as she clung to him.

"We got into an argument.. He was yelling and he said awful things and I got upset and left.." How she spoke between sobs was a miracle, but she clung to Drew, shaking in sadness and fear of the storm.

"It's alright" he'd say in a soft and gentle tone to help her calm down. When she finally talked and he was able to understand what she was actually saying, the frown appeared on his features. He was still worried and felt bad for Maddie, but for the meantime priorities made a change of order. He needed to take her away from the shaking phone booth first.

"Leaving like that was an impulsive thing for you to do Maddie... More in a storm like this, I bet you didn't think this through did you?" What would seem like a scolding to some others, in the tone of Drew it looked like a piece of words thrown to be thought of than anything else. "Come on, you're soaking wet and I'm no better, you'll get sick if we remain here. With luck the taxi hasn't left yet, because I forgot to tell him to wait"

He peeked out the small door just in time when another thunder stroked in the sky, making the man jump slightly in his place. "And we better hurry because the storm is getting worse. Come on" With a soft smile he finally remembered there was an umbrella in his pocket and he opened before leading her to the car.

"We'll talk about what happened with a warm mug of choco and biscuits, how does that sound?" Drew was trying to get her to smile, at least the slightest curve of her lips was good; but he couldn't think of any joke –or lame joke whatsoever– at the moment to light up the mood.

Opening the door for her he waited till she had entered and he went to the other side to take his seat. "We're going back from where you picked me up please" he told the driver and within the safety of the car, the piano man took off his coat holding it to Maddie. "It's not that wet, it'll give you some warmth"

She busied herself with the cheesecake when the attendant came and exchanged brief words with Drew, shaking her head to decline the man’s offer to bring her anything else. 

When Drew spoke again she was quick to respond, a little bemused that he thought she would mind his ordering another cup. “Not at all! There are far worse things to be.” Charlotte pointed out, smiling softly. “Though I do know how dangerous it can be to stand between an addict and their morning cup.”

"That's partially true, there are some that cannot function without their morning cup. Grumpy blokes they can be, but I can assure you I'm not one of those."