Shadow was alone. It wasn't very weird for her to find herself alone like this. She was new in town after all. Well, not too new. She'd been there for a few months, found a job at a local cafe by her house and realized that she failed to really make any friends. She was a very kind person but extremely shy. She'd stutter greetings to her customers, and have problems making eye contact. She sighed and blew a strand of red hair out of her face trying to push back the thoughts of her social shortcomings. The puff of air shimmered in the cold frosty night. It was December after all, a time where people were with their families and she was alone. Snow was starting to fall as if telling her it was time to go. She knew she'd get sick if she stayed too long but she just couldn't find the will to move. She stared up at the night sky clouded with beautiful snowflakes sparking in the moon's rays. She was in awe for a moment but snapped out of it when a single snowflake hit her nose. It sent shivers up her spine and she reminded herself she should leave.
She was about to get up off this bench slowly being covered in snow when her cherry eyes spotted something in the distance. She froze, it was late after all, who is up at this hour? She certainly shouldn't be and neither should this person. It'd be smart to leave and walk away. Not get caught up in the mystery of what caused this person to be out at night. They could be crazy, dangerous even. It'd be smart to leave, yet Shadow stayed planted on that bench waiting for this person to pass her. As they got closer she noticed it was a man around her age, chestnut hair with a beanie on it. She took note of the skateboard he was holding and figured he stopped skating when the snow started, it was probably dangerous to skate in the snow. The closer the man got the more she could see his face. Hard set eyes with a scowl adorning his mouth. He had this aura that screamed he was some punk looking for trouble. The way he walked looked like he had nowhere to be and not a care of what happened to others. He looked, to put it bluntly, mean. Now, this is the part where Shadow should have called it a night and left. She should be long in bed but no, she's sitting at this bench watching this stranger that looked like he beat up people for fun come towards her. It was weird though, as if the gods were listening to her pleas to not be seen by the scary man, he didn't look her way. She stared at him hard though, he had to feel her eyes right? Was he ignoring her? Maybe she wasn't worth his time. She could only hope that he'd keep going and leave.
Suddenly as if he read her mind his eyes met hers, and she swore time stopped for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat that she figured was fear of being spotted. What surprised her though was that the man's face darkened in the night, was he… blushing? Rather odd to see a look like that on such an intimidating man. Maybe he was harmless? Assuming never did anyone any good, perhaps she judged too fast. As her mind was running through these thoughts the man snapped his head away from her and started rubbing his neck nervously, as if he was trying to figure out what he should do too. Shadow mused to herself that she might be the creep here, staring at some poor guy for longer than a minute was probably weird, especially when her stares didn't flatter when he looked back. As shy as she was, she was too curious to look away. Every stranger was a potential friend she heard and she didn't have any friends. What would it be like to talk to this man? Who was he? What was his story? Why did he blush? Was he nervous too? Did he think she was pretty? Maybe he has a resting bitch face. Who knows, but she wanted to know.
It was late at night and Shadow wasn't properly thinking. The man noticed her stares remained on him. He started shuffling his feet, trying to ignore her looks and get past her. Yet there was something in her eyes that almost made him want to stop. Stop and see who this random girl on a bench was. Didn't she know it was dangerous at night. It was almost two in the morning and she was sitting here, alone, in the snow. Was she stupid? This girl was just staring at him with the most curious look in her eyes, like he was a puzzle she wanted to solve. Maybe he should sit, maybe he could talk to her. He feared females though, they were too fragile and he was too rough. He could hurt her if he wasn't careful. A flash of a falling sword swiftly entered his mind, he shook his head and decided he should keep moving. Being close to people hurt, he closed his eyes as images of people walking away from him flashed in his mind. He's lost so much, why would he stop for a simple random girl? Easy, he wouldn't. He nodded to himself as if he had made up his mind and decided it was time to stop shuffling under her stares. He just needed one good harsh look at her and she'd leave and he could sit on this bench. Why did he want to sit on this bench? Well, she was there and sitting on it after she left would be like a victory dance in a way. A way to show that he won, it is his bench and he didn't need anyone, let alone a strange girl that couldn't mind her own business.
Shadow jumped a bit when he suddenly faced her with a harsh glare. It screamed for her to leave if she didn't want any trouble. She really should leave, this was a strange man pretty much telling her to go away if she knew what was good for her. She should listen to that voice in her head that was telling her to run, the voice that said no good would come of sitting here, the voice that screamed he was dangerous. Yet, she stayed put. Why was she sitting here still? She didn't understand, did she want to die? She was lonely but not depressed, she had no will to die yet she still sat here, rooted to the spot like she had a death wish. She needed to leave, somehow will her legs to move but they wouldn't. Was she paralzyed in fear? No, she felt too calm. It was like despite the glare there was something about this man telling her she needed to stay. Was she so desperate for a friend she'd let this perfect, scary stranger talk to her?
He was beyond confused when she jumped but didn't leave. Why wasn't she leaving? His message was pretty clear, she looked rather skittish despite the stares she's been giving him. What is with this girl? Did she not understand social cues? Everything in this situation screamed that she should leave. What gives? Why is she still here? He frowned when the glare didn't work and trudged to the bench and sat a good foot away from her. Maybe that'd scare her into leaving. He was asserting his dominance. This was his bench damn it, well not really, but it was right now and she was going to get off his newly claimed property.
There they were, just two strangers on a bench in the middle of a cold snowy night. None of this made sense to the two. He should have kept walking, she should have left, yet here they were, sitting on a bench, together. Shadow wanted to say something, she wanted to know what his voice was like as her eyes bore into his face. The man wanted to tell her to go away, all this staring was rather unnerving and strange. If he showed fear he'd lose, and if she spoke the mystery would leave. So they sat there for a while, she staring and he ignoring. Who would make the first move? Who would leave first? Speak first? Do anything but sit here first?
Finally the man swallowed his pride and decided he needed to tell this girl she needed to stop, "What's wrong with you?"
Shadow looked confused, she felt like she won a battle but lost a war. He spoke, his voice was captivating, it was harsh, blunt, but at the same time it felt so real. He spoke first, he made the first move, did she want that though? Why did she feel like she messed up. Perhaps it was the question he asked, she was acting strangely after all, who could blame the man.
Her eyes glanced away from him for a moment before timidly returning to him, "You're up so late, I was curious as to why."
He looked rather taken back, that wasn't the answer he was expecting, he was expecting anger and her leaving with a huff. He ended up with an honest answer that showed no anger, just maybe some regret for staring so hard at him, "I'm a stranger it shouldn't matter. You shouldn't be staring at random men, they'll get the wrong idea."
"What's that idea?" Shadow tilted her head to the side clueless as to what he could mean.
The man's face reddened as he realized how innocent this girl was, "Uh w-well you know… perverted things."
"Perverted?" Shadow repeated as it processed in her mind then her face went apple red, "Oh my, I, that's not, I just, and you, and curious! Oh man, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to come off that way. I was curious I swear, you just looked interesting?"
Interesting came off as a question, this girl was weird. She stared at him because he made her curious? What reasoning was that? "Interesting? From walking down a street late at night?"
She didn't even pause to answer, "Yes."
The man wasn't very impressed with this girl but decided to move on, "Why didn't you run?"
"Why did you sit?" She countered.
"To scare you", was his easy response.
"I was spooked but I couldn't seem to get myself to leave", she gave him a kind smile, the kind of smile he hadn't seen since someone dear to him died.
"You're weird", was all he said.
"So I am…" She mused to what seemed to be mostly to herself.
There they were, two strangers on a bench, both seemingly losing this battle to each other. What were the winning conditions? Neither really knew at this point but somehow it seemed neither would be the victor. Shadow thought maybe she should leave now, it was nearing three and she had work at seven. She let out a sigh watching the air she blew out come out in what looked like a puff of smoke, swirling through the night sky. It was a pretty sight and almost distracted her from the fact she needed to go. He could tell she was going to leave soon, he should have been relieved and yet…
"Why are you here?" His voice echoed out to her.
She snapped her attention back to him, "I don't really know. I've been on this bench for hours looking for… something, what that something is I don't know. Why are you out so late?"
He shrugged, "Nowhere to be I guess."
"No family? No friends?" She asked.
"Not any I care to see right now", he gruffly responded to the strange girl.
"Why?"
He glared at her for a second time, "None of your damn business."
She nodded and decided it was finally time, like her purpose was fulfilled. It was a draw, she got up and she turned to leave. He was sad to see this strange girl go though, like there was still something more here. This curious girl was asking harmless questions and he snapped. He was getting what he wanted by her leaving but it wasn't what he wanted anymore, "I'm Yata!"
Shadow turned back to him with a kind smile, "Shadow."
She went back to leave, "Why are you leaving now?"
"I guess I found what I was looking for", she shrugged, not bothering to turn back and head on her way.
"Did you figure out what it was?" He called her out her retreating form.
"No", she called back.
He should let her go, it was obvious that the conversation was done, this weird crazy situation was over, yet he didn't want it to be. There was no reason to call out to her again, no reason to ask this perfect stranger of a girl to stay. Well, Yata supposed she was no longer a stranger, they had told each other their names after all.
"Shadow!" What was he doing he mused to himself.
She spun around to face him as he stood, "Yes Yata?"
His face flushed briefly at how beautiful it was when she said his name. When did hearing his name from people make him blush? "Stay?"
Shadow blinked in confusion, she thought he wanted her to leave, "Why?"
It was Yata's turn to be stumped, "Dunno."
Shadow raised an eyebrow in amusement, she didn't know why she was at that bench for so long or why she decided to stare at him for an unreasonably long amount of time, she guessed that he didn't have to give her a good answer to her question either.
She turned and walked back, brushing off the newly fallen snow in her seat and sat once more. It was silent again, he got her back here but now what? What did he want? He let out his own sigh, "I lost a lot of things this year. I've been in a slump as of late so I don't really feel like seeing people."
She looked shocked, he answered her previous question, "Why tell me this?"
"Because you asked", he responded.
"I know, but you didn't want to answer before", she mused.
"I changed my mind", he retorted.
She smiled again, "I see."
"Why are you here?" He asked again.
"You asked me to stay", she easily replied.
"Why did you?"
Shadow paused and thought it over, it was a good question, why did she? She owed him nothing, yet she felt compelled to come back even with his poor reason as to why she should, "I dunno."
Silence fell over the two again, what were they doing? Neither really knew. Two people that hardly knew the other sitting together on a bench for no reason that they could think of. It didn't make sense, they should leave, go home, never think of this again. This wasn't some fairy tale chance meeting, this was real life and them being utterly stupid.
Yata ran his hand down his face as he tried to sort his thoughts, Shadow stared thoughtfully into the snow trying to sort out her own. Why? That was the question eoching in their heads, but did there need to be a why? Shadow pondered that for a moment and spoke, "Do you believe in fate?"
Yata shrugged, "Not really, I make my own choices."
"Then why can't we answer the simple question of why we're here right now, sitting with the other for no reason we can think of?" Shadow questioned.
He paused for a moment this time, "Uh…"
"Exactly!" Shadow jumped up, joy in her sparkling red eyes, "There is no reason other than, we felt like it! Why feel like that though? Perhaps that is fate, tying us together any way it can. Two perfect strangers meeting and talking for no reason. Doing things out of my own character such as staring at a perfect stranger longer than a minute! It's fate, it must be the world deciding we must know each other!"
"That sounds insane", Yata pointed out.
"Who cares it's fucking three in the morning! Does the why really matter? I know you now, and you know me! Let's give the world what it wants and be friends!" Shadow spun around in the snow enjoying the way the snow twirled around her.
He watched her gleefully spin, he figured lack of sleep was making her a little loony but the way she looked at that moment made him want to agree with her, give fate what it wanted, "Alright."
She stopped spinning and looked at him, "Really?"
"Yeah", he said with a sheepish smile and a red tint coloring his cheeks.
"Amazing!" She grabbed his hands and pulled him up, spinning him with her, "Let's play a game!"
"A game?" He asked skeptically not too sure how to respond to this whole event.
"Yes, 21 questions! I want to know you, and I'm sure you want to know me!" She giggled at him.
"You mean, we ask questions back and forth to try to get to know the other?" He asked.
She grinned at him and nodded ensuthisactically. Her cherry eyes were glittering and a grin played at her lips. This was new to Yata, he'd never really been around females before and he found her completely captivating. He should be telling her no and walking away, this whole thing was weird, strange, maybe even forced, yet it felt right. He felt compelled to play this stupid game. "Sure."
"Favorite color?"
And just like that the two fell into an easy conversation playing that game. Asking meaningless questions back and forth, chatting about their answers. They laughed at what they agreed on and even on what they didn't. It was pleasant. And soon the two were back on the bench leaning against the other, no longer strangers in the night. It was five in the morning when they finished their questions and chatting.
"I have work at seven", Shadow sighed glancing at her almost dead phone.
"Call in sick", Yata said as if it was the most obvious thing to do.
"Tempting", Shadow said with a sly smile but it was quickly interrupted by a single sneeze.
Yata got up and held out his hand, blushing face looking at anything but her as he offered her a hand up. Shadow sniffled a little trying to recompose herself after her sneezing fit and took his hand. He hoisted her to her feet and she gave him another kind smile, "I think I will actually. I should get some rest to prevent me from actually getting sick."
He nodded and let go of her hand, "Let me take you home."
She nodded and started leading them to her apartment. He wasn't a stranger anymore but this wasn't anymore smart. He seemed safe though, so she'd give him her trust and hope for the best. It was a short walk filled with laughter between two new friends. Laughing at how weird this whole thing was, at the chances this could happen and musing about fate. Shadow hadn't felt so alive in ages, and Yata hadn't felt this kind of joy in quite awhile. When they reached her door neither wanted to say goodbye.
"Do you have a phone?" She asked.
Yata held up his wrist with this phone type watch, "Sorta."
She nodded and gave him her number. He quickly imputed it into the watch and gave her a brief smile. They promised to meet again. He was about to leave and Shadow really didn't want him too. It seemed he wanted to stay too. They've been talking for hours though, they really both needed some rest. It'd be less than appropriate to invite him into her home. So why were they standing there frozen on the spot. They have the other's number, they can talk anytime. The magic won't leave just because they went home and decided to sleep. Shadow stared once again at him and he paused. They should part here, they both told themselves. It's fine, they can meet again, so why were they so desperate to stay together? What was this feeling drawing them together. Two perfect strangers now are good friends after one night. Shadow briefly smiled musing at how little sense this made. She should have left as soon as she saw him but didn't, so why let him leave now.
"Stay?" It was her turn to ask that dreaded needy question.
He turned around and gave her a lopsided smile, "Why?"
"Dunno", she shrugged letting a smile grace her lips as she threw common sense out the window.
He let out a small chuckle and smiled at her, "To hell with it."
He walked in, she made coffee and once again they started another easy conversation. This time about goals, dreams, what they wanted in life. It was weird, it was strange, none of it made sense but they seem to like it that way. Two perfect strangers meeting by chance on a lone bench at two in the morning. What were the odds? Neither knew, but neither cared. All they knew was that they had found a friend in the other, it was the start of a beautiful friendship, one where common sense was thrown out the window.
