The next day was bright, the joyous summer's rays making Jesse wince as he wandered into the main hall, heading for the kitchen. As usual Shalimar had been up long before him and he smiled as he found her sat in the kitchen chatting animatedly with Emma. Once he had wondered what they could spend so much time talking about. They spent most of their days together, so they couldn't be talking about what they'd done. The one time he'd tried to listen in he had been caught, two indignant faces staring him down.
"You guys ready to go?" Brennan's voice called through from the garage, echoing strangely down the hall. "Is Jesse even out of bed yet?" He grinned as he reached the doorway, spotting the other man. "If you want breakfast you better hurry, man. Else you're going to miss the bus."
"Not in the car?" Shalimar questioned, frowning, as the others had to suppress laughter.
"He means we'll leave without him." Emma explained quietly.
"Don't. Jesse has to come too." She said, concerned now. This time they did laugh.
"Don't worry Shalimar, I'm just teasing." Brennan put in. Shalimar crossed her arms and sank back into the chair, pouting. She had been introduced to the concept of teasing and was still unsure why anyone would want to do such a thing. Things were confusing enough without lies or 'teasing'.
,,,
Jesse watched as Brennan and Emma made their way into the supermarket for food supplies, leaving him and Shalimar to wander through the mall.
It was a busy weekend and, in Jesse's mind, a little like throwing Shalimar in at the deep end, bringing her down here. But she had always loved the place and with the look on her face now, Jesse's apprehension was beginning to fade a little. She looked enthralled. Her eyes were wide open and he was sure if he let go of her hand where it rested in the crux of his arm, she'd be away like a rocket and into the crowds.
"Where do you want to go?" He asked over the noise of the sheer quantity of people. She spared him a momentary glance before turning her attention back to the huge expanse of shop fronts, cafés, elevators and people that filled her vision. He laughed lightly at her distraction. "OK, let's go sit in the café and you can keep looking." They took two seats around a small table outside of the café, in the small area cordoned off, and Jesse watched as a waitress meandered over to them. She stopped beside their table and glared at them. Shalimar cringed back a little. Jesse smiled at the girl, trying not to show his annoyance. It was the first time he'd seen Shalimar back away like that for a while. He had thought she was finished with thinking she was the target of everyone's anger. But it was hard to explain why sometimes people were unable to express their anger to its source and so passed it on to the rest of mankind. Human nature wasn't a good enough explanation any more.
"We'll have a coffee, black, two sugars, a coke and and a bowl of strawberries and cream." He finished, spotting his favourite on the menu. The girl grunted her confirmation and wandered off again. Free of the scowling menace, Shalimar was busy examining their neighbours on the table next to theirs. A little girl grinned widely at the attention she was getting and poked her tongue out at her.
"Shalimar, don't stare." Jesse advised as the girl's mother turned to find out what had her daughter's attention.
,,,
Almost an hour later, having made good friends with both the girl and her mother and devoured the strawberries with relish, Jesse and Shalimar were making their way back down the concourse towards the main entrance where Emma and Brennan would be waiting for them.
Jesse was reaching up to wave at their friends, having spotted them first when the face jumped out at Shalimar from the crowds.
And as soon as she saw him, he became all she saw.
He glanced her way, his eyes - as dark and hidden as always - flitting over her without focusing on her.
He was scanning the crowds for someone.
Looking for her.
How did he know she was here?
But he hadn't seen her.
She still had time.
Time to run.
,,,
Kevin Parteridge - once known by one lost girl by the knife he wielded - saw a flash of blond as a girl dashed across the hall and thought no more of it as his wife appeared from a nearby shop. He greeted her with a smile and an embrace before leading her towards the big main doors at the entrance.