CAPITULO SIETE ENTRE FAMILIA…ER I MEAN, CHAPTER ONE YAYAYAYA
(Chapter written by mi amigo, not me)
Drumming her fingers against the cash register, Anne stared outside a window at the gray sky. Business is booming, She thought sarcastically as she glanced around her shop that contained only a few people browsing around. A chiming sound alerted her to someone entering her magic shop. Resting her gaze on the man that entered, she spotted a bird on his shoulder. Doesn't he know pets aren't allowed in my store, no less a bird? Anne thought angrily, watching him slowly approach the register.
"You know, pets aren't allowed," Anne pointed out, glancing warily at the bird that returned the stare.
"He isn't a pet," The man replied with a smirk.
"Then what is it?" She sighed, not exactly in the mood to hold a conversation.
Stroking the black feathers on the hawk, he commented, "He's a hawk, and my friend. You didn't say "no friends" allowed,"
"Your hawk here isn't an exception. Look, do you want something or not?" He was really getting on the last of her nerves, and she didn't even have a cup of coffee yet…
"Yeah, do you happen to have a book on the black arts?" He asked curiously.
Anne raised her eyebrows.
"Black arts? Whatever for?"
"I need it for a friend who is ill right now, and he's taking an exam on it," The man explained carefully.
Cautious, she replied, "Well, those books are off limits. I don't even know if you are telling the truth,"
"Then how about I show you how trustworthy I am? I'll take you out," He smiled, awaiting her reply.
"Are you asking me on a date? How does this even benefit me?" She inquired incredulously.
Grinning he replied, "Free coffee and a break?"
It's like he read my mind! Freaky guy…but I have to say, the coffee is tempting,
"Sure…why not, I guess. I'll meet you outside," Anne decided, sighing. After he stood outside to wait for her, Anne shooed the rest of the browsers out of her shop and locked up; the "Open" sign switched to "Close".
Sipping her coffee, Anne asked, "So do you bring your hawk everywhere just to annoy people?"
The man laughed. "Oh, no, we go everywhere. I found him almost dead in a field after a thunderstorm. Seemed his wing got struck by some lightning, so I took him in and raised him back to health."
"Ah, interesting. So, what's your name?" She asked curiously, resting the coffee cup on the table that separated the two.
"My name? Daren. What about yours?" Daren replied, finishing off his coffee.
"Artimis."
Daren coughed.
"It's Anne. Well, thanks for the free coffee. I must say I still can't let you have the book, even if you are trustworthy. It might get into the wrong hands accidentally, and then "poof", good-bye Earth," Anne explained, as Daren paid the bill and both stood up.
He seemed to be thinking for a moment, before he said, "Well, then I guess coffee isn't enough. Care to watch a movie with me later, then?"
"You are the oddest customer I've ever had in my store. But, what the hell, nothing's going on at my shop today anyway. So what time?" Anne laughed. Odd customer, all right.
"Hmm, I know there are some movies playing around 7:00. So I'll pick you up…where?" Daren asked; he almost forgot to ask where she lived. The hawk cawed impatiently, wanting to stretch its wings.
"My shop, my home's the top half. Exactly why the stairs aren't for customers," She explained, edgy at the hawk's impatience.
"Alright then, so let's go back to your shop?" He asked.
"Nah, I can walk home fine. It isn't too far, plus it's a nice day," She replied, glancing out a window where the sun had peeked out of a few clouds.
"Okay, see you later," He said, leaving the coffee place with an odd smile on his lips.
Really, really, weird customer…Anne thought, a little disturbed at the smile, but she left the coffee shop after he had drove away.
Glancing at a clock, Anne saw that it was 6:55 PM. Now that her shop was closed, and that she had given the day off to her best friend, Tara, who worked here, she had nothing to do but wait. It's just a movie, Anne; get a hold of yourself…a friend-to-"friend" outing. But she knew she was just lying to herself. It was a date, and that was it.
Before she could argue with herself again, the sound of a car pulling up by the shop alerted Anne of Daren's presence. Well, here I go, Anne thought as she stepped out into the crisp night air.
Stepping out of the car, Daren smiled. "Hello," He greeted, and even the hawk cawed a greeting.
"Hi," She replied as she walked to the other side of the car to open the door. Daren moved to open it for her, but she glanced at him and said,
"I think I'm capable of opening a car door for myself, thanks," Laughing, Daren nodded and entered the car also. Starting up the car, he glanced at Anne and asked her,
"So I found out two movies are playing at 7:20. Tristan and Isolde, and When A Stranger Calls. Your choice,"
"Hmm…well, my friend Tara and I have already planned to watch When A Stranger Calls, so let's go watch Tristan and Isolde, then." She replied, placing a stray blonde hair behind her ear.
"Alright, let's go," He agreed as he drove out of the parking lot and toward the theatre.
"Are you sure they'll let your hawk into the theatre?" Anne asked curiously as they approached the theatre doors.
"Of course they will, they know me already," Daren grinned, petting the bird's feathers.
"Okay, if you say so. But, if they kick you out then I don't know you and I was just innocently walking up to the theatre," Anne replied jokingly.
Daren laughed as they both entered the doors and walked up the ticket line, where surprisingly, there was no line.
"Two adult tickets to Tristan and Isolde, please," Daren asked the lady behind the cash register. Receiving Daren's money, the lady handed him two tickets in return. "Hmm.Theatre 14, theatre 14…where is theatre 14…" Daren muttered as he started to turn left into rows of doors for theatres.
"Uh, Daren, theatre 14 is right here…" Anne said, laughing as he realized his mistake and hurried to join her. "I still wanted to pay for my ticket," She grumbled when they entered through the doors and took a seat in the middle row.
"Well, this date is on me, so you aren't supposed to pay any money," Daren grinned.
"Well, then I guess I'll just have to buy something tonight…" She joked. The hawk hopped onto the seat next to Daren, claiming it as his own. Unfortunately, the hawk's weight wasn't enough to keep the seat up for long, and the seat flung back and smushed it between the two seat parts. Groaning, Daren pushed down on the seat and freed his friend. Putting his coat down onto the seat to add weight, he placed the bird on top and now the seat didn't budge.
"There," He muttered, trying not to laugh at the expense of his friend. Disgruntled, the bird rearranged his ruffled feathers before sitting comfortably again. Suddenly, the lights began to dim until altogether there were no lights except on the movie screen.
Anne glanced around the theatre and was surprised to see no one but them there.
"Daren, look, we're the only ones here," She whispered to him, although they were alone; it was a habit she had to whisper when the movie was going to start.
"Then it's just like a private theatre for us, huh?" He thought out loud, but they both quieted when the movie began to start. ((ikgmoggomgaosfjajwrhkawjhr AHHHH I'm getting butterflies starting this whole part right now!!))
During the scene where Tristan and Isolde were kissing,
Anne became very aware of Daren's presence. Glancing at him, she saw that he was staring at her. Quickly, they both looked the other way. Slowly, Anne looked back again at him and he looked back at her. With the movie ignored, they both began to just look at each other, not really sure what to do or what they were doing, for the matter.
We're all alone in a dark theatre with a romance movie playing…oh boy, Anne thought, blushing a little, but grateful that the darkness hid it. Daren's head began to move closer to her, and all Anne could focus on was his lips.
Ahh! Anne, get a hold of yourself! Maybe he's just going to whisper something to you, Anne mentally snorted in her head. Ha, yeah right, but what does he think he's…
She never finished the thought, for Daren's lips were just inches away from her own. Anne realized that she had moved closer to him, but she wasn't really aware of it. Then, Daren's lips met hers in a kiss, and they quickly pulled back a little. Two pairs of eyes closed as they kissed again, and Anne placed her hands upon his shoulders. For what seemed like hours, they pulled away for air and Anne blushed heavily. Oh my God…oh my God… Like a mantra, the phrase repeated in Anne's head over and over.
"Did you hear that?" Daren asked suddenly, looking around as if to find the source of the noise he was hearing.
"Hear what?" Anne asked, stopping her thoughts to listen. She heard a scratching sound near the exit of the theatre. Glancing toward the exit, she saw a tiny pair of red eyes stare back at her. Gasping, she screamed, but it was muffled by Daren's hand on her mouth.
"We don't know how many there are," He whispered to her. Standing up, they looked around cautiously. Anne felt a claw on her shoulder. Choking on her breath, she slowly turned around and came face to face with a bear masked person. Anne didn't even have time to scream before it slashed at her neck and she fell. More slashes came to her arms, and she could feel liquid running down her body.
Blood, She realized before Daren whipped out a revolver and whacked the bear man on the head, knocking him out. His hawk flew toward the other person and pecked at the pressure point on his neck to make him faint. Daren helped Anne up, and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I was clawed, But I will be," She replied, and they both walked out of the theatre. It was completely empty, and the lady behind the cash register was nowhere to be seen. The emptiness gave Anne a paranoid feeling, and she followed Daren to the public bathrooms to clean the blood off. Using a bunch of toilet paper to stop the blood from oozing out, they left the building and headed back to the car.