Hey guys! Part two time, lets see how this goes. Please be honest, even brutally if need be. I need all the help I can get. And what do you think about the title "Little Dove"? It comes into the story later, but would you read a story by that name?
“Almost there…almost there,” October huffed to herself. She could see the bridge just ahead. Her legs burned and her back ached. If someone were to ask her, she would have sworn that her heart had exploded and lungs collapsed eons ago.
In a moment that made her heart swell with relief, she reached the peak of the hill. It was all downhill from there to the bridge. She hadn’t made it before dark but the shops were still open and the streetlights were bright and comforting.
Coasting felt like a blessing to her aching muscles, but as one discomfort was alleviated another replaced it. She was starving! When had she gotten so hungry? All of her thoughts were so focused on getting to The Art House, she hadn’t even noticed her ravenous backbone gnawing at her backbone.
She guided the ten-speed into the parking lot of the Union Diner. The place was nearly empty, save for the potheads with the munchies and the workaholics who hadn’t gotten home in time for supper. The teenagers that ran the place had stopped cooking fresh food and were serving whatever was left but October didn’t mind. At that moment, any food was a rare delicacy to her. She thanked society for being so screwed up that these places could stay open all night and flourish.
In a whirlwind, desperate for food, she kicked her bike onto the sidewalk and turned to hurry inside.
“Hello again,” a familiar voice called out.
She turned and felt a smile spread across her lips but as she remembered the last time she had seen him her smile faded. “Hello Vallen,” she said stiffly.
He was wearing on old-fashioned leper’s cloak, the hood up and the sunglasses hiding half of his face. Sitting on the concrete sidewalk, his back against the wall, he looked truly like a beggar. He smiled at her, then noticed the tiny furrow between her eyebrows and the slight bend to her lips.
“I’m sorry I ran off so rudely yesterday,” he said, sincere but obviously not offering an explanation.
October hesitated but just shook her head and let it go. She was on the street now; it was probably a good idea to have at least one friend.
“All right…just tell me something.”
A dark brow peeked over the rim off his glasses. “What?”
“Are you a crazy maniac serial killer?” she asked honestly but with a smile.
“If I was crazy would I know it? If I was a killer would I confess it?” He smiled back.
She drew a deep breath. “Good point. Umm…” She looked to the door behind her then back to him. “I’m just going to grab something to eat. Wanna come?”
Vallen paused and bit his lip. “They don’t really like me to go in. It disturbs their customers apparently.”
Shock rippled through October. “Did they tell you that?”
He nodded.
“That’s so cruel!” she breathed, disgusted.
“Its not that bad,” he said lightly.
“No it really is that bad! Here, come on!” She reached out, took his hand and coerced him into standing. She started off to the door but he didn’t move and she was yanked back by her own momentum. His arms were strong with lean, well-defined muscles and she was acutely aware of them as he steadied her.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“We’re going in and we’re getting something to eat,” she said indignantly with her chin held high. Even when she was making herself seem tall, she only came up to his shoulder. “Put them in their place! A big FU!”
Vallen was silent as he took in the fire burning in her eyes. Slowly her passion filled him and he felt as if a big FU was exactly what Union Diner needed…but more than that he felt as if he would faded away if he didn’t feel October in his arms. His whole body yearned to hold her but instead he just grinned devilishly and nodded to her.
October gave a curt nod too and they stepped into the harsh fluorescent light together. It wasn’t until they reach the counter that they noticed they were still holding hands. October blushed and withdrew as the cashier stepped forward. His nametag announced him as Eugene.
“Can I help you?” he spat impatiently though the storefront was empty. He was a large man with a huge gut that hung over the belt of his pants. As he spoke his chins waggled.
Vallen looked to October, meaning for her to go ahead.
“Umm…I’ll have I number one and a Coke,” she said with her chin still held high. She was practically daring the guy to give them trouble.
“Anything else?” Eugene grunted brusquely.
She turned to Vallen, making it clear that he was to be served along with her. “Vallen?”
“I’ll have the same.”
Eugene huffed and gave her a total. She started digging for her money but Vallen lightly touched her elbow.
“Here, I’ve got it,” he said, handing the money forward.
“No,” she protested, pushing his hand back. “It was your heroism that got us the ice-cream. I can get this.” But Vallen didn’t listen and handed the cash to Eugene. He accepted it gingerly, obviously not wanting to touch Vallen.
“Help yourself,” he barked, throwing the change and empty cups on the counter between them and motioning to the soda fountain behind them. Vallen sucked in a harsh breath but remained silent. He worried that they would treat October more harshly if he made a stink. Guilt settled in his stomach. He shouldn’t have let her subject herself to ridicule.
October stared at Eugene as she collected the change, handing it and a cup to Vallen. She saw the pain and anger in his face and her heart broke. She rested a hand on his arm.
“Will you get me a drink?” she asked after running an idea over in her mind and handing Vallen her cup. “And a booth?”
“Tobie?” Vallen searched her face. “You aren’t starting any trouble for yourself,” he whispered to her.
“But--,”
“No. you get the drinks and the booth. I’ll wait on the food,” he insisted, urging her toward the soda fountain. She threw him a look, then shot another, stronger one at the cashier and went along to get the drinks.
Eugene watched them with a cocked eyebrow, clearly surprised that October and Vallen were friends. It was evident that he believed that humpbacks didn’t deserve friends. As Vallen turned to him, his nostrils flared and his eyes roved over Vallen as if he was a sideshow attraction.
Vallen smiled. It you only knew.
Startled, Eugene recoiled but he quickly regained his composure. Without a word he thundered off into the kitchen and came back to plop the tray of food onto the counter. Without pausing he disappeared again.
“Why didn’t you let me do something?” October demanded when Vallen slid into the seat across from her.
“I don’t want to get beat up in an alley later,” he said under his breath. He laughed when October’s eyes grew to be gigantic grey moons. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” he calmed her. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it.”
“No! why do you let them get away with it? Why do you hide?” she asked as she reached across and fingered the sleeve of his cloak.
“Let’s just say that its easier on everyone,” he said as he watched her fingers twist the heavy, black fabric.
She shook her head, not understanding. “On who? On you? How so?”
“Tobie…” he breathed. He didn’t want to lie to her but he couldn’t tell her his real reason.
“And what’s with the sunglasses? it’s the middle of the night! Is there…something about them that you’re embarrassed about?” Her curiosity was running wild now that she had let some of it have its way with her tongue.
“Tobie, please!” he begged.
She saw that she had overstepped the boundaries and looked at the burger in her hand. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“No, don’t be,” he said. “I just…I’d rather not talk about it.”
They were silent for a while as they both scarffed down their burgers, despite the sawdust taste in their mouths.
“Wait…what did you call me?” October asked after a moment. He thoughts were still with the earlier conversation but this question was the only thing she trusted herself to ask.
Vallen blushed and ducked his head. “Umm…Tobie? Do you mind? I thought it fit you better than October.”
She contemplated that. She had never had a nickname before. “Go ahead. I like it.”
This brief intermission didn’t stop the awkward silence from continuing. They both had things they wished to say but couldn’t. Finally Tobie couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.
“Vallen, I really am sorry if I…upset you,” she said quietly. She stared at the table, afraid to look at him. “But please know that you can trust me. I don’t care about…the hump or your eyes or whatever. You don’t have to hide from me.”
Tobie heard Vallen sigh and saw him rest the sunglasses on the table between them. He reached over and gently touched her chin, lifting her face.
“I don’t want to hide from you,” he whispered as their eyes met.
At first Tobie could find nothing wrong with them. They weren’t damaged or warped, instead seemed to fit perfectly among his otherworldly features. Then, she realized what it was. They were silver! Not a watery grey like hers but a true metallic silver! In them, the harsh light grew and they seemed to glow.
“Oh my God!” Her lips moved to form the words but no sound came. She covered her slack jaw with a hand and just stared.
Vallen sat quietly, awaiting her verdict. He didn’t show it but he was terrified. What if she really couldn’t accept him for what he was? What if she thought she was different from Eugene but deep down she was just as hateful as every other human?
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, leaning back into the hard cushion of the booth, her face still void of any emotion.
Vallen, misinterpreting, nodded and put the glasses back on. “I understand. I’m sorry. Its okay to be freaked out or whatever. I’m…I understand,” he repeated when words failed him.
It took a moment before Tobie understood. And when she realized that he thought she was disgusted or upset, she shook her head violently and leaned forward again.
“No! Vallen! There’s nothing wrong with them. I’ve never seen anything like them before, is all. They’re beautiful,” she ended with whispered awe, then realized what she had said and blushed.
“Are you sure you aren’t…scared or disgusted or something?” he asked fearfully.
“No! why would I be?” she asked, her own eyes wide.
He gulped. “My family told me that if I ever showed anyone…they would be.”
“Well they lied!” she assured him. She stared at him for a moment and tried to gather some courage. Finally, she did and found herself stretching across the table to pull the sunglasses off again. Now that she knew what was under them, it irritated her for him to wear them.
Vallen smiled widely. He was relieved but in the back of his mind he knew that this was just the beginning. He had more secrets and she had the power to eventually wheedle them out of him…at both their expenses.
Interrupting their moment, Eugene appeared at the tableside. He shot Vallen a curiously irritated glance as Vallen lowered his eyes.
“We’re closing up,” he grunted before waddling off again.
“I guess its time to go,” Vallen said as they stood. Tobie shrugged and slung her backpack back onto her shoulder.
Cool night breezes slipped over them as they stepped outside. They both hesitated, unsure of what to do or where to go.
“And this is where we part?” Tobie asked, watching his eyes catch the red neon lights.
“I guess so,” he said reluctantly.
She drew a breath to steady herself. “But we’ll see each other again?”
Vallen smiled. “You’re going to get a reputation around here, you know. People will start think of you as the girl who hangs out with the humpback.”
She laughed. “Well I do, don’t I? I can't object to such a title.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Be here for lunch tomorrow?” Tobie suggested.
“Don’t you have school?” he asked.
She shook her head, startled by his question. “Its…the weekend. No school on the weekend.”
“Okay, then…lunch.” He nodded.
They both hesitated, neither willing to leave quite yet. But Tobie’s exercise for the day was starting to take its toll and she could feel the energy draining out of her. She said goodnight and started off towards the bridge but paused and turned back.
“I forgot to ask and I hope you don’t mind but…what make your eyes that color?”
He smiled. “Genetics.”
“Oh…well…goodnight, then,” she said again.
“Goodnight,”
With that, they finally left each other. She slowly spanned the bridge and he faded into the trees as he had after the ice-cream.
Tobie found a room in The Art House easily. The gate was unlocked and everyone inside was already asleep or drop dead drunk, so no one gave her any problems. The room she settled in used to be a library and the smell of old books still lived there, comforting her. As she settled down, letting her body practically sink into the floor, she started blankly at the walls. Her thoughts were drawn to Vallen like a moth to a flame and when she finally slept she dreamt silver dreams.
(Hey, This version is not exactly what I meant to post. Its slightly less...edited grammatically, so...sorry for any issues with that. I went through just now and tried to fix what I saw but still, I'm not too good with grammar. Forgive me.)
You didn't mention her Grandma 