FAGEtastic Four
Title: October
Written For: Aurelle Angelus
Written By: BeMyHeroSeverrus
Rating: K+
Summery/Prompt Used: A forest to end it all will also begin it all for Zinnia. The Dark Stranger has come and took the breath out of Zinnia. He has his secrets and she has hers. will their secrets bring them together or tear them apart.
Chapter Three: October
October came in a flurry of dead leaves and black bats as Halloween drew nearer. Bexhill celebrated any holiday in a fever, seeing it as a time for town unity. Zinnia was hanging up some decorations in her shop when the bell rang.
"Just sit anywhere," she called behind her. A bark answered her call.
"Echo?"
Zinnia's large husky came bounding towards her and hit the chair legs.
"Echooo!"
It wobbled before completely giving out.
"Ooff." Zinnia landed in a soft pair of arms. "Oh, hello Tobias. I see you've met my dog, Echo."
He placed her firmly on her feet. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, just a bit shaken up." Zinnia straightened her clothes.
"This is your dog?"
"Yes, Echo." She bent down to pet him. "Who shouldn't be here. What are you doing here, boy? You don't go past the dirt road."
"My fault, I'm afraid. He followed me."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Whatever happened to stranger danger, pup?"
Echo put his ears down and whined.
Zinnia took a deep breath in surrender. "Alright, I'm not mad. You're too cute to stay mad at."
He gave a happy bark and bounced around Tobias feet. "He is a very...lively dog."
"Yes. He still thinks he's a puppy sometimes. Would you mind looking over the shop real quick? I have to take him home."
He looked like he wanted to say no, but it was his fault in the first place. Besides, as far as he could tell, her shop never saw more than a few people. "I don't mind."
She smiled. "Thank you." She patted Echo on the head. "Say goodbye to your new friend. We are going home."
Echo gave a bark and walked to the door. "Be back in a few."
Zinnia walked out with Echo at her heels. She had to hurry, her shop would be full tonight and she couldn't leave Tobias there too long. "Echo, of all the days to get out, it had to be today?"
He gave her an innocent bark and continued to walk, with a little bounce in his step. "If I didn't know any better, I would swear you planned this."
Echo ran as the house came into view. "Okay, stay. Echo, stay!"
Zinnia locked the doggie door behind her and hurried back to the shop. The sky darkened as night fell over the town. The street came into view, she almost ran to the door. Music and singing could be heard and the crowd was in full swing. She slipped in, and looked for Tobias. To her upmost surprise, he was standing at the counter completely calm and every table had drinks and food.
"Hi. Guess you have everything under control."
He responded with a nod. "Zinni."
Zinnia got pulled to many different tables. She went around greeting and gossiping with the different tables. After an hour, she made her way back to the counter.
"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't realize the time. Today is the first of many karaoke nights."
"Its fine. Everything is under control," he calmly said.
"Lots of good singers tonight," a middle-age man spoke from the little stage. "But we have yet to hear from our hostess."
The audience clapped loudly. Zinnia made a face at Tobias. "Oh no. Again, so sorry."
She was pulled away by many different hands and pushed up on stage. "Welcome!" The audience clapped loudly. "Okay. Okay, I get it, I'll sing." Again they clapped.
"Bill, give me number 183 and a stool please."
Zinnia took a deep breath as she sat before the audience. Usually out of all the karaoke nights, she only got tricked into singing a few times. A reason why she ran the shop alone; she wouldn't have to sing as costumers needed attention.
A slow acoustic sound filled the shop, and it quieted down as Zinnia started to sing.
"Took my love and I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down.
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love
Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I manage the seasons of my life?
Oh oh I don't know, oh I don't know."
Zinnia had a beautiful soft voice. Tobias watched her from behind the counter. She looked older, no longer like a teenager.
"Well, I've been afraid of changing'
Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older I'm getting older too
Yes I'm getting older too, so."
Zinnia was deeper then she appeared. She sang with such emotion—Tobias guessed the song meant something to her. She looked so lost and sad. He found that it did not suit her at all. No…smiles belonged on her face.
"mirror in the sky, what is love
Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I manage the seasons of my life?
Oh oh I don't know, oh I don't know."
Cause I've been afraid of changing'
Cause I, I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
And eveb children get older
I'm getting older now too oh yes
I'm getting older too
So, i took my love and I took it down
Oh and I climb a mountain and I turn around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
But the landslide will bring my down,
Yes i saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will brought me down
Well well, the landslide will brought me down."
The song ended, and Zinnia stood up with a small smile as the audience clapped loudly. She caught Tobias's eye, and to her surprise, he, too, was clapping. .
She cleared her throat. "Yes, well, thank you. I believe Mary is next. So come on up."
She stepped off the stage and walked to the counter. "Um, a word, please, in the back."
She closed the door, muffling the music outside. Tobias stood calm and silent, waiting.
"You did rather excellent tonight. I must say I'm surprised." She waited for a reply. Meeting only silence, she continued, "Well then how would you like to work here? Pay is decent and you can stay above the shop, rent free."
An awkward silenced ascended over them. Zinnia cleared her throat. "It's okay, you don't have to say yes."
"I accept your offer."
"Oh," she smiled. "Alright then."
He gave her a small smile in return.
She took a key ring out from her pocket. "Here are the keys. The stairs are in the back. You'll have to clean it out, so I'll give you the weekend and train you first thing Monday morning."
He took the keys and inclined his head as thanks. "Goodnight." With that he left.
Zinnia stood in the back for a moment, a goofy smile on her face. He said yes. Her dark stranger would be staying above her shop and working with her. She felt like a silly teenager in love—where butterflies never seem to leave her stomach and ridiculous notions of a love filled future played in her head. It felt stupid, yet almost right.