She steps out of the Café into the summer lit sidewalk. The town bustles, but no more than any other day. Up and down the road she sees it, trucks towing boats, people riding bikes, and the occasional couple walking their dogs or strolling with their children. Pleasant, peaceful. Predictable. For her? Life was dominated by uncertainty. From the suspense of turning the next page of her freshly purchased book or the surprising direction her own writing took her, the journey was, suffice to say, spontaneous. A life of structure and poise gave way to the wonder of the mind.
Yuri, fresh off the coattails of her first published work, was enjoying some well-deserved R&R from a modest tour of promotion. Sales were humble enough for a first-time published Author, but it paid the bills, and she was already working on a second peace to further her portfolio. She fought against the light breeze that combed through her long violet hair, it fluttered and danced on the wind's breath much to her dismay. She takes a glance on her phone.
One unread message from Sayori
She had seen the preview and proceeded to ignore it. That part of her past was gone now. Tucked away into the nether regions of her mind and her heart. What mattered was the here and now, she moved on. With one arm clutching her belongings and the other pulling back the natural train of her hair she started towards the corner. Yes, what mattered was her career.
This high school passion of hers now sprouting into a promising career came with its own set of challenges. A minimalistic way of living was all she could afford while her tireless efforts to promote her writing style bore fruit. Her social life dissipated since Graduation; University was more or less a bust, Community College seemed to be right fit for her despite her initial protests. In the end, it afforded her time, energy, and the patience to focus on the things that mattered. "'Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.'" She mutters in a comforting tone. Still young and in her prime, she decided she would embrace the Unknown. It paid off. Though a vacation would be nice.
She rounds the corner of the Main Street. Each step she took, her mind dove deeper into the plot of her next writing project. Hmm. Yes. Maybe instead of a locket… Her mind trails off as her violet eyes narrow down on a man coming in her direction. Well built based on the fitness of his clothes, decent posture from how he walked mixed with a hint of determination, and familiarity. Yuri turns, pretending to not notice the stranger as he closes the gap between them.
"Ah here it is!" He says aloud before turning into a street-side bar. This 'early'? She stared, blinking in disbelief. It was only 10 in the morning, there have been the usual town drunks who frequent these places. However, something about that stranger didn't sit right, and she somehow felt he knew better. Yuri swallows hard, fighting back her nervousness and follows suit into the bar. "Get it together! You're old enough." She whispers. Immediately she's greeted with a sparsely lit interior that wreaked of booze, cigarette smoke, and God only knew what else.
She scans the entirety of the bar, past several individuals playing pool, others enjoying some wings while watching whatever sports were being broadcasted. Ah ha!
Towards the far end of the bar table he sat, alone, rather perky for a man wanting to drown out whatever could be troubling him. She hesitates, swallows hard again and marches forward. Moved on? Yeah, right. It's not Him. You're only seeing what you want to. She forces the contradicting thoughts from her brain as she continues her approach.
She stands adjacent from him but within earshot. "This seat taken?"
"It's a free country." He says without looking at her.
Well, that's rude. She signs and takes stool next to him trying to get a closer, better look at his face. He's distracted, completely not paying attention to the rather attractive looking woman right next to him. Should she make a pass? Say something flirty? As if you could swoon anyone! She tucks her lips in frustration.
"So," Yuri says as she struggles on how to continue, "you new around here?" The man casually bounces his knuckles on the tabletop. He turns his head to face her. He stares back at her for a moment before responding, "No. I've been out of town for a while and just got back."
She blinks, unsure on how to carry the exchange of words beyond small talk. The bartender slides over a bottle of beer. "Oh. I saw you walking by and…"
"And? You saw how devilishly handsome I was and just had to talk to me?" Yuri's eyes widen, her cheeks redden slightly. "No. I uh, thought you looked like someone I know."
He takes a swing of his beer. The bartender glares at Yuri. "Lady, are you gonna order a drink?"
"What? N-n-"
"She'll have what I'm having." The bartender pauses, shrugs, then leaves. Yuri looks down at the bar table. "I'm sorry. I guess I have the wrong person."
"Think so?"
"Yes." She pushes back from the table and stands up. "Sorry to have disturbed you." Graciously bowing she turns and starts towards the exit.
"That's just like you Yuri. Always the prim and proper type." The door opens and she's gone.
Zachary watches as the second beer is set down. "I'll take that one thank you!" The bartender scowls. "Two drink minimum before 5." He nods. "Noted."
Once again outside, this time the swath of feelings she kept locked away came crashing in. It's him alright. In bitter disappointment she briskly heads down the street. A few blocks more and she comes across a modest sized building. First floor, room 2-B, she enters the obsessively organized yet decorative interior of her studio-apartment. Prim and proper. Those words stung worse than lemon on an open wound. The day up until this point carried on so smoothly. "But I just had to know, didn't I?" She checks her phone again. Same unread message. It angered her, angered so much that one of her dearest friends had up and left without saying much and just drops in.
What was he thinking? She wondered as she placed her things on the counter and plops herself on the bed. No maybe it's my fault for staying here for so long. After all, one couldn't expect someone to not come back to their hometown, right? "I should have just left and put this whole place behind me." She curls up, hugging the pillows tightly to her.
Her phone buzzes. Instinctively she looks at it.
Two unread messages from Sayori
She signs, ignores the earlier message and looks at the second one. It's a group text to herself, Monika, and Natsuki.
U guys want 2 go out 2night for some dinner? Been awhile since the 3 of us got together.
Yuri sighs. So simple minded! Her phone buzzes again. Natuski agrees. Monika hasn't responded. This means a lot to her. Besides, it would be nice to see some friendly faces. Yuri sends a thumbs up emoji.
Zachary saunters his way home. Maybe he was a tad tipsy, though he couldn't tell. Two beers? Childs play! He chuckles to himself. In the 3 years in the Army, he's learned two things that for certain stuck with him: his alcohol tolerance is beyond any mortal human, and he has previously undiscovered love of firearms. Though he was meticulous in never to mix the two. Just something about his whole experience in the military that made it one of those once in a lifetime deals. He wouldn't trade those experiences for the world he though.
His mind began to wander. Natsuki didn't seem so appreciative of this yesterday. And today with Yuri. So what, he thought. Maybe his friendship and very existence had a profound impact on the rest of the Club when they were in High School, but they needed to carry on without him. That they did. And they hate your guts for it. Sayori may seem happy, but it's all a front. Really she's- "Fuck it." He muttered. "Fuck all of it."
He comes to the path leading up to the front door. His home, Fortress of Solitude, or maybe his hell away from home. He hadn't decided on that last part yet. I'll take a rain check. Zachary steps inside and looks over the hallow interior stamped with many memories, some happy, some sad, and very dramatic. God the drama. Back then it seemed everyone had some issue that needed sorting out, some philosophical take on what they were going through just trying to make sense of it all. He whips out his phone, scrolls though the list of songs on his playlist and selects one that became a dear favorite of his.
I'm dirty now and I'm on my knees
Been working so hard to fill my needs
He struts over to his couch, turns on the TV and grabs the controller.
Now I've been bit by the hand that feeds
And I'm burning cash like gasoline
I'm back to the grind
The sun begins to hang over the horizon, indicating late afternoon. Controller in hand, he pulls up a timeless favorite of a video game, another beer in his hand.
All I wanted to say
Is I've been walking this line for too long
And all I wanted to say
You know the time has come
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Still early in the evening, but the girls have had their fun. Though tense at first, it took Natsuki's typical outbursts to break the ice for them to have a good time. Laughter, some tears, general sharing of memories.
"Man, that was sooo good!" Sayori pats her stomach as a hearty belch erupts from her gullet. Natsuki and Yuri exchange looks of disgust. "That tiramisu wasn't supposed to be eaten all in one sitting!"
"But it was so good, and if that's wrong then I don't want to be right." Sayori snuggles up against the window of the car they piled in. They pull out of the restaurant just as night settles in. The four of them having small talk whenever a topic is brought up. The town quiets down, people return home after their long day of activities. "I think it's time to retire for the night."
"Awww. Come on! Let's do something else!" Natsuki says in a pouty tone.
"Some of us have jobs Nat. Lives." Yuri retorts.
"Hey! Let's go to Zachary's house!" Sayori blurts out in a food drunken stupor. The car decelerates to about half the speed of the legal limit. "Monika?" She looks over at the driver's seat. A woman with chestnut brown hair and emerald-green eyes with a dissatisfied expression taps the steering wheel with fervor. "Sayori! Why would you-"
"Fine." Monika says and makes a sudden turn.
They're all quiet now, averting their own gazes as to try and ease the tension so heavily present in the car. Monika pulls up in front of the house of their former High School friend. They pause for a moment, each one waiting for one of them to make the first move but neither wanting to be the first one out. Finally, Sayori pushes the door and stumbles onto the sidewalk, catching her balance as only she knew how. "Heh heh." She fiddles her fingers in embarrassment over the performance.
It doesn't take long, but all of them are now making their way up to the front door with Sayori leading the pack as she has the only other key inside. The music blares from just outside the door.
I've got no shelter in the driving rain
Got no lady to ease my pain
I've got an empty bottle with an empty glass
Could somebody please just make this pass
"What the hell is going on in there?" Natsuki asks.
"Sounds like quite the party he's having." Monika quips. "What kind of music is he listening to? Is, he heart-broken or something?"
The amber hair colored woman ignores their comments and opens the door. They follow in line towards the living room, the music masking their footsteps. To their immediate right on the kitchen counter is a speaker system where the atrocious music was making them deaf. Natsuki, holding her ears in desperation, hustles over and promptly shuts it off.
"Hey what the hell?" Zachary cranes his head over to see what was going on. A burglar? Circuit blown? No that makes no sense. Nothing in view and he felt unmotivated to check it out. If I die, I die. He keeps the corner of the kitchen in his sight they step into view.
"Oh. Well, hi there."
((I think this one came out better than the previous chapter. Let me know what you think.))