Part Sixteen

Ailene Hastings was casually taking the small pins that held her hair together out when there was a knock on her dressing room door.

" 'Nother great night tonight, Miss Hastings. Job well done." The brutish Muggle that threw out Marden leaned against the door frame.

"Thank you, Mr. Gresham. Anyone try to sneak past you tonight?" Ailene said with a smile, glancing at him through the mirror.

"Surprisingly, just one, who was hot on your tail before I caught 'im. Said 'is name was McKinnon, or something like that-"

"McKinnon?!" Ailene said incredulously, this time turning and looking at Mr. Gresham. "Marden McKinnon?"

"Yeah, yeah! 'At's it! Tossed him right out onto the street. Told me you were an old friend and wanted me to tell yeh that you have a very beautiful voice."

Ailene sat in absolute silence. So he was able to find her? She thought she was doing a magnificent job not running into him after all these years. She moved out of her old apartment and moved across the city, and was even able to do her work right in the comfort of her own privacy, never having to venture out to a cafe to get some peace and quiet. There was not a trace of Marden to be found; she hasn't even seen a ruddy owl once.

"Thank you, Mr. Gresham." She said in a quiet voice. "If you see him here again, tell him I don't want to see him. Ever. I've moved on, and so should he."

Mr. Gresham stood for a few seconds with a rather concerned gaze before he nodded slowly. "Will do, Miss Hastings. See you next Saturday." He said before disappearing from the doorway.

Ailene slowly sat down in the chair nearby. To say that Ailene no longer cared for Marden would be a complete and utter lie. She still thought about him from time to time, maybe not as much as he thought of her, but it drove a steak in her heart every time she did. But she stuck by her decision five years ago, and was to continue to do so.

She honestly wouldn't know what to do if she came face to face with him again. Would she push him away? Or would she crash herself into him and never let go?

The ultimate test was just a few minutes away.

She quickly gathered her purse and threw on her coat before venturing out into the street. The light snowflakes earlier in the evening had accumulated dramatically, and the streetlights illuminated the flakes as they came down in gentle waves. It was much quieter now. Ailene slipped out of the back door and looked around warily before stepping out into the alley. She made it to the street and began to walk, her hands in her pockets and her face burrowed into her scarf to keep warm.

"Ailene?"

She heard the familiar voice call behind her and she slowed her walking to a stop.

Of course he waited for her, she knew him too well.

For a few long seconds she stood, waiting for something else.

"Ailene..." The voice was closer now, barely over her shoulder.

She slowly turned and looked up and gazed into those icy eyes. White flakes were stuck in his damp, brown curls that sat atop of his head so sweetly. He wasn't as thin and lanky as she had remembered, his face now had some substance to it. He still stood tall, his hands in the pockets of his robes.

She felt her heart beating in her ears. Her breath escaped her nostrils in twirling condensation that rose into the night air.

"Marden." She answered in an indifferent tone.

"You look beautiful."

"How did you know where I was?" She demanded.

Marden faltered for a few seconds. "I saw you walking al-"

"So you followed me?" She interrupted.

"Yes, well-"

"And you waited for me outside. After you were thrown out for sneaking in and trying to get to my dressing room."

"I wasn't trying to get into your dressing room. I wanted to catch up to you before you made it there. Do you not remember the gentleman that I am?" Marden now asked her. "And I wanted to see you, say hello to you."

"Well, now you see me." Ailene answered rather harshly, unsure where this hostility was coming from.

"Would you like to grab a cup of coffee with me? For old time's sake?" He asked with a curl to his lips and one brow raised.

It was very tempting. Especially with that smirk on his face. She loved his smirks. She looked back behind her before turning to him again.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Marden."

His smile fell. "Can I at least walk you home?"

"No. I don't think that's a good idea, either. We really shouldn't be seeing one another." She answered, watching Marden's face closely.

Now his lips curled slightly into a frown. "I see."

There was a long pause, and it was so silent they could hear the snowflakes whiz by their ears.

"Well then," Marden said slowly. "Goodnight, Ailene. Take care of yourself." And with that, he turned slowly and walked back in the direction from which he came.

It was now Ailene's turn to be rooted to the spot. Snowflakes buried themselves into the strands of her hair, and she watched him walk several long moments until there was jolting crack into the midnight air, and he was gone just like that.

Ailene blinked, but wasn't surprised. He was fantastic at disappearing.