FAGEtastic Four
Title: October
Written For: Aurelle Angelus
Written By: BeMyHeroSeverrus
Rating: K+
Summery/Prompt Used: A forest to end it all will also begin it all for Zinnia. The Dark Stranger has come and took the breath out of Zinnia. He has his secrets and she has hers. will their secrets bring them together or tear them apart.
Chapter Two: The Stranger
The Dark Stranger, as Zinnia took to calling him, came in the tea shop regularly for the next couple of days. She fed him fresh rolls and tea everyday every day. When he tried to pay her, she flat out refused. Word on the rumor mill was that no one knew anything about him. Not even his name. He was not staying in the inn or renting a room. A few people saw him emerge from the forest a couple times...perhaps he was camping out in there. Others saw him standing out by the cliffs, just staring out towards the ocean. Zinnia had her own theories that she did not share with anyone. She figured he had to be running from the law. He was always looking over his shoulder and watching people cautiously.
The day came near an end and the Dark Stranger sat in his usual seat. He was the last to leave tonight. Zinnia looked out the door to see the street empty. Taking a deep breath for courage, she walked over to the back table.
His dark eyes watched her, burning through her resolve. She sat down and cleared her throat. "So...do you have a name or do I have to call you Dark Stranger; forever."
He raised a dark eyebrow at her. "Dark Stranger?"
"Yes. So name?"
He stared at her in slience silence for a few seconds- no doubt to give her time to apologize and walk away, but she was dying to know something about him. "Tobias Prince."
She smiled slightly. "Zinnia Shine."
"Zinnia? Interesting name."
"My mother named me. It was her favorite flower growing up in Mexico."
"You're not from here?"
"No, I was born here. My mother was Mexican, my father English. They met when my mother studied a semester abroad."
Tobias did not miss the use of the word "was", and figured she was orphaned. He did not press the matter but wisely chose to change the subject. "Tea shop?" He questioned.
"Yes. I inherited my father's love of tea. The English in me, I suppose."
She gave him an easy smile, which he found himself almost returning. "Would you like to grab some dinner with me?"
He raised an eyebrow, ignoring how his heart seemed to beat faster and bit back a multitude of sarcastic remarks. No, that wasn't him. Not anymore. "Yes."
She quirked up her lips. "Come on. I'll lock up and met you outside."
He gave her a curt nod and walked out the front door. Zinnia was very surprised that he said yes. She had expected a no. Not that this was a date. Sure he was attractive in a sort of dangerous way, but he seemed to have a troubled past, one that she could relate to.
She locked the door behind her and was out on the street with Tobias in a moment's time. She turned left. "So where would you like to go?"
He gave her a look which clearly read, 'how am I suppose to know,'
Zinnia blushed. "right stupid question. Let's go to the Diner."
Tobias followed closely and silently behind her. Zinnia kept silent, too scared to say something that might push him away. She would probably have to put up the conversation for the night and refrain from asking questions. She knew first hand how annoying unwanted questions were. It was like dealing with a frightened animal. Come on too strong and they might attack.
Tobias opened the door for her. The Dinner was old fashioned and probably hadn't changed in 50 years. It was almost half full, filled with idle chit-chat. A middle-age brunette with an apron approached them. "Hello, Zinni! You don't come here often. What brings you here tonight?"
Zinnia kept her voice light, yet annoyance danced in her eyes. "Just enjoying a night, when I won't have to cook. Jack in tonight?"
She raised an eyebrow in the direction of Tobias, "Y-yes, and Liz as well."
"Good. We'll take the back booth."
"Of course." She sharply turned around and placed the menus on the table before stalking off.
"Don't mind Rene," said Zinnia, as she sat down, "She...can be a bit..."
"Nosy?" Tobias supplied.
She smiled, "Yes, very. She loves gossip. Especially since her divorce. Always has her nose somewhere."
A younger waitress came to take their order quickly. "So what do you like to do?" Zinnia questioned.
He stared at her.
She stared right back. "Most people around here fish, swim, take nature walks, go to the theater. We don't have a lot here, but if you don't want to go absolutely bonkers, you should find something you like."
"Nature walks," he answered quietly.
"I love a good nature walk; the animals don't start hiding till late October, early November. If you like to read, we actually have a very good bookstore. Greg runs it, a very nice old man. He's been putting up with me for years. He has a wide selection, and if he doesn't have what you want, he'll find it."
"Sounds like a good man."
"He is."
Their food came and they ate in silence. Zinnia peeked from under her bangs and watched the Dark Stranger. His name may be Tobias but she preferred Dark Stranger. It sounded more mysterious, which the man before her was very much so. He ate slow small bites and kept his eyes firmly on his plate.
"Would you like some dessert?" Zinnia asked when they finished.
"No, thank you. I don't have much of a sweet tooth."
Zinnia got up to pay. If the register wasn't in the front, Tobias would have no doubt walked away without her. She paid and walked out right behind him, before he could run off. She tugged her jacket tighter around her.
"It'll just get colder as the year goes on. You should get more gloves, scarves and sweaters."
"I'll be fine."
They walked down the street in silence for a while. Zinnia broke it. "I live just down the road by the woods. Would you like to come in?"
"No thank you."
They stopped when the dirt road came into view. "Goodnight then, Tobias."
He nodded, turned and left. Zinnia watch watched his coat blow in the wind. The Dark Stranger, he was hers now. Her Dark Stranger. There was something in his dark eyes that was begging Zinnia to know more. Like some hidden secret.
August and September passed by in a series of visits and conversations between Zinnia and Tobias. He was guarded, polite, quiet and intelligent. His humor was dry and sarcastic. She kind of liked it. He still resembled a scared rabbit, so she kept the conversations light and impersonal.