The air was cold as we exited the funeral home - a shocking contrast to the stagnant warmth inside. Soda blinked hard, as if startled by the night air as it hit his lungs.
“I need a smoke.” He grumbled. I maneuvered him towards the street corner, holding my free arm out into the street to hail him a taxicab home.
Soda’s hands began to fumble, confused, across his chest and pants, looking for his pack of cigarettes. I dropped my arm and reached down to pull it free from his back pocket.
“Thanks.” He leaned down and pulled one out of the pack with his lips and I clicked his Zippo until it lit for him. He shuddered as he exhaled and I slid the pack and the lighter back into his pocket.
“Thanks.” He leaned down and pulled one out of the pack with his lips and I clicked his Zippo until it lit for him. He shuddered as he exhaled and I slid the pack and the lighter back into his pocket.
A yellow cab neared and I shoved my arm back out, waving to catch the cabbie’s attention. The car passed us by half a block before making an illegal u-turn and coming to an abrupt stop in front of us. I opened the back door and pushed Soda down into the seat. He immediately flopped over onto his side, laying across the seats.
“Geez, Soda.” I righted him again and pulled the seatbelt across his chest and arms to hold him upright, taking the cigarette out of his mouth before giving the cabbie directions and shutting the door firmly.
I took a long drag from his cigarette as I watched the cab speed off out of sight, leaving me alone on the corner. It was a nice night at least - crisp and relatively quiet. I slowly paced back towards the funeral home, pondering the awkward situation that lay ahead of me. I didn’t want to face Marisol’s mother, but I knew I really didn’t have a choice. Marisol and her family had been there for me when my mother had died - they had all attended her funeral, Mari holding my hand when I walked up to my mother’s casket. She had lent me the strength that I didn’t have on my own - the strength to look upon that face one last time and say goodbye. I owed it to Mari to be here for her mother.
A loud shriek tore me from my thoughts - I caught a flash of black out of the corner of my eye and stopped dead. Another screech pulled my eyes to the stone archway above the funeral home doors. Three large black crows perched there - their beady little eyes staring down at me. I got the distinct feeling they were disappointed.
“What the fuck is with these birds?” I flicked the cigarette at them and watched as they took to the air, flapping furiously before settling back down on the lamppost behind me. The biggest one cawed crossly. The sound made my knees weak, sending goosebumps crawling down my arms.
“Strange creatures.” An oddly accented voice came from behind me and I spun on my heel, my fists clenched. I had been so freaked out by the birds I hadn’t noticed someone come up behind me. A snarky remark hung on my tongue as he came into view, but I swallowed it down unsaid when I recognized his face. It was the startlingly green-eyed guy from the train platform - the one who had gotten me to smile.
The brief glimpse I had held of him on the subway had been little more than a black leathered blur. The only bit of him that I had clearly recalled had been those striking green eyes - but now, standing here before me like this… he was absolutely stunning. On television they know how to make someone look perfect with make-up and digital enhancements - the actual person is just as flawed as everyone else. Mister Green Eyes was as close to perfect as I could imagine. His fine featured face and masculine jaw was framed by a head of midnight hair. He had long dark eyelashes that made those eyes seem so much bigger and greener.
He let me look him over, a smirk curling the corner of his perfect mouth. I swallowed hard and forced my tongue to work, knowing he was waiting for a reply.
“Small world, Mister Green Eyes. You’d better not be following me.”
He laughed, and again I was struck by his strange accent that I couldn’t quite place. “Small world, indeed. Mister Green Eyes… I like that.” He held his hand out, expecting me to take it. “My name is Silas.”
I took his hand and shook it hard, “Denora.”
“It’s a pleasure.” There was something odd about him - something vaguely familiar - but I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. “Denora, do you think we could…” The double-doors to the funeral home banged open and a head of bright blond hair poked out.
“There you are!” Penelope chirped. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw Silas and I released his hand quickly and stuck mine in my pocket.
“It was nice meeting you.” I blurted out, rushing towards the door, “See you around, I guess.”
I didn’t wait to hear his reply as I rushed through the entrance into the staggering heat within. The heavy door closed with a thud behind me and I felt a wave of relief wash over my body. Penny eyed me expectantly, a goofy smile stretched across her face.
“Who was that?”
“Some guy I just met.” I shrugged.
“He’s smoking hot.”
“I guess.”
“You’re, like, beet red, you know.” She giggled.
“Seriously, Penny? It’s just uncomfortably hot in here.”
“Sure.”
I wanted to smack the stupid grin off her face but this was not the place for it. We may have known each other as kids, but this girl barely knew me anymore.
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