He pulled his coat collar up higher, shielding his neck from the harsh winter air. He shifted his legs to the acoustic guitar was more situated for playing, and with numb fingers, he strummed a few chords, trying to find the one that was just right to set the mood for the following song.
"Hey."
He glanced up, lavender eyes examining the newcomer before him. A girl in black pants and a Giant employee shirt on stood before him, her coat hanging open as if she wanted to let the sting in.
"Yeah?"
He was never one for speaking loudly, and especially not with strangers. Not that he knew anyone except strangers. He was a loner. No family, no friends, no social life. Just him and his guitar.
"You haven't played in, like, ten minutes now. What's the hold up?"
She leaned back against the pole, her stature casual, brunette hair brushing her shoulders as she tugged it out of her eyes.
"Which one do you want to hear?" he asked, giving a few plucks to the strings.
She shrugged her shoulders, taking a long drink from her coffee cup. "I don't care. Just play me one, and I'll see if I know it."
He was quiet for a moment, and then found that chord he was looking for and began to play. She bobbed her head with the music, starting to move a little, and then she nodded. "Yeah, I know this one."
He smiled slightly, barely hearing her words as the electric feel of the guitar spread through him. His fingers didn't need his brain to tell them where to go, they just knew. Guitar had been something he always loved, but lately it had been his route to survival—financially and emotionally.
"Her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining. Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying…"
He glanced up at the sound of her voice, a smile gracing his lips. Her voice was beautiful, and he strummed a little softer, giving her a look that meant, 'sing louder'.
She blushed, shaking her head. "No way, I don't sing."
He gave her a hard stare, and then shrugged his shoulders, nodding gratefully to a man who placed a five dollar bill in the hat at his feet.
"When I see your face…"
"Hey, if you're going to sing, you have to sing so people can hear you," he snapped, giving her another look.
She straightened up and sighed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes, only to have them stubbornly fall down again. "'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are! And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while, 'cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are."
He picked up the beat a little and felt himself moving with the music, foot keeping rhythm as his hands played the melody, his entire body going with the pulsing flow.
"You know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change. If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same."
His gaze travelled upwards, peeking out between silver bangs at his new cohort. She was really getting into it. Hips swaying, hands moving through her hair, belting out the melody. And her eyes… they weren't closed like most singers. She was staring into his eyes, and it was like she was talking to him. In a way, it was weird, because she kept calling him 'girl' and she said his laugh was sexy, but in another way… it was just right.
"The way you are, the way you are. 'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are."
They continued like that, and he noticed her gaze start to travel elsewhere. It was then that he realized a small crowd had formed, and his hat was filled rather quickly as they finished off their duet. Light clapping and a few more bills tossed into the cap… and then it was just the two of them.
"You're good," was all he said, and he knew it was lame, but it was honest. He wasn't much for poetry anyways.
"Thanks." Apparently, neither was she.
"How much of this do you want?" he asked, picking up the fedora and counting out the money, which was a nice sum now.
She shook her head, holding up her hands and taking a few steps back. "Nah, I'm good. Just got my paycheck, and it's enough to get me until next month."
He gave her a curious look, and she laughed.
"Okay, fine. Next week."
He smiled slightly, casing his precious instrument and pocketing the cash. He handed her a twenty and tipped his now empty hat. "Then we'll do this again next week, and you can make it to the week after that."
She didn't say anything for a moment, and then she nodded slowly, turning towards the parking lot. "Yeah, sounds good." She walked towards her car, and he started towards his apartment. A car was not a luxury he had. Yet.
"Hey, wait!"
He tilted his head, looking over his shoulder at her with a blank expression.
"You never told me your name!"
He let a soft smirk tug the edges of his mouth. "Zero. Call me Zero."
"Cool. I'm Kira. See ya' 'round!"
Zero waved slightly as she left, and then he continued his walk towards his home. He lifted his hand to his nose and breathed in slowly.
She smells really nice.
He shook his head. Never in a million years. Zero was not a second-chance-giver, and after her… no. Just no.
He glanced down at his watch.
Hour and a half until work… Great.