Night Lights and Dark Places

Chapter Five - Faith

When he climbed over the wooden fence the next evening, she was already there, sitting on the bench in the bus shelter with her knees pulled to her chest. His steps must've been too quiet for her to hear, because when he crouched and peeked around the side of the bus shelter, she startled.

"I didn't realize I was late." He muttered, disappointed. Tolly hopped off the bench only to have her balance thrown off by the heavy swing of her messenger bag and he steadied her with as little physical contact as he could manage.

"No, you ain't, I'm just early." Standing up straight, she grinned up at him, though the expression didn't calm him much. Something about it looked forced. "My lab was canceled today and I get off work at five, so..."

"You didn't have to wait for me. It's still light out." James stated flatly. Sighing heavily, she shook her head, shrugged.

"I don't got any way to contact you an' I was worried you'd think I ditched you." To her credit, that was probably the conclusion he'd have come to. "My day sucked major ass an' I don't wanna go home, so I thought we could hang out. Like, apology date take two."

Did that mean she actually enjoyed his company? This was the most consistently pleasant anyone had ever been to him and he had no reason to doubt her. Even so, he regarded the sentiment with skepticism. "If that is what you want, then I have no objections. Were you wanting to do anything in particular?"

Tolly pursed her lips and scuffed the pavement with her boot heel. "No. But I do want a soda, so we're definitely going to the convenience store first."

James agreed, on the condition that she tell him what a "soda" was and how a store could sell convenience. The explanation was as brief as the walk between the stop and the store, the two locations barely even a block apart.

Inside, the convenience store was completely packed with shelves and display spinners, and it seemed even she had trouble maneuvering through the chaos. He remained near the entrance, overwhelmed and claustrophobic, and he watched her bound up to the counter. The clerk was a boy not much older than himself, dark-skinned and dressed entirely in black, adorned in various bits of metal that jingled with the slightest movement. Tolly knew his name, of course. How did she know all of these people? Was it just in her nature to engage in conversation with whatever stranger she encountered? Maybe she did, and maybe he had his work cut out for him.

"Hey, Sebastian," in response to her greeting, Sebastian waved half-heartedly, and James noticed almost immediately that the boy had claws. Black claws, glossy and reflective; what manner of human was this? "You mind if I grab a cup real quick?"

"Whatever. Root beer's out, though."

"Wow, tragic." Tolly said dryly, reaching over the counter and straining to pluck a styrofoam cup from a stack taller than she was. It was slightly adorable and he averted his gaze. Sebastian spoke up, drawing back James' attention.

"So what're you supposed to be?" Sebastian asked quite pointedly. Along with the claws, Sebastian had fangs and bright yellow eyes, with dark makeup that exaggerated his glare and made his eyes appear to be floating in a void. It was completely outlandish and it distracted James just long enough that Tolly answered in his stead.

"Just 'cause people ask you that shit don't mean you got any business givin' out to somebody else," She called from the soda fountain. Sebastian blew a thick coil of black hair from his face and snarled, and it was so un-intimidating that James had to stop himself from laughing. It was becoming quite apparent as to why Tolly was initially so comfortable with his own appearance; he must have seemed rather mundane in comparison.