The weather in Alaska was always bad, especially in September. Most days, it was rainy, pouring so hard that it would have been insane to drive on a day like that. Today was no different. The trees shook unwillingly, bending so far, on either side from the violent winds, that it seemed like at any time, the trees would snap. Ashley, a silent, auburn-haired girl sat by the window at her favorite cafe in town, tucked away in a lonely corner. This little cafe was the homey type but on days like this, there weren't a lot of customers, which might have been why it was her favorite. Ashley didn't mind the weather, she appreciated the quiet.
She had a paper and pen in hand, placed flat on the table as she scribbled away. Ashley was an artist and more so, a perfectionist. She spent the last thirty-minutes contemplating on whether or not she should change her drawing, into something more powerful, something that made a statement, like a phoenix. A phoenix was a majestic bird with strength oozing from just its name, at least that's what she thought.
She had ordered a tasty donut when she arrived but now that she had eaten it all, she began to get thirsty since it had been so sweet. She went through her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. She got thirsty all the time and sometimes she wasn't in a position where she could go buy herself one so she carried a bottle with her at all times. She chugged away on her water, relishing the fresh liquid that she consumed.
While she did, the doorbell chimed. A tall ravishing figure walked in, broad shoulders, dark coat, dark hair, and slight stubble on his face. His footsteps could be heard as she averted her eyes from the stranger. The anxiety and fear started to build in the pit of her stomach. She didn't like being approached by people she did not so she always went the extra mile to stay out of the way. He stopped at her table and took a seat, not once asking whether he could sit or not or greet her. His aura was dark and Gaurav felt uneasy. There were plenty of empty tables in the cafe but this man had chosen to sit at her table.
She thought about getting up and moving to another table but then she decided against it, telling herself that she had been here first. She shoved her glasses up onto her nose bridge, it was something she often did when she was nervous as she stared down at her drawing, unsure on how to finish it since her space was invaded.
“You forgot an eye.” His voice was rough and coarse yet thick and sweet. His voice was dangerous and struck fear into Ashley's heart, as it almost escaped her chest. She dared not to look at him.
“Oh, yeah thanks,” She breathed out timidly when she had spotted her error, so much for being a perfectionist. Truth be told, she was nervous just by the measure of a mere glance from him.
“May I borrow your cell-phone?” He asked, smiling widely in a very creepy way.His arms braced against the table. She looked at him unsure what to say or do. He was a man that she just met for all she knew he could a creepy stalker or pedophile. He was about twenty-six years not much older than she was. He sensed her hesitation and doubt by only the moments that passed since he asked.
“My car broke down on road on my way into town and my phone's dead. I just need to make a quick phone call so my sister can come and pick me up.” He explained his predicament as he looked at her straight in the face. His sharp jawline and his almond eyes seemed honest. Ashley nodded agreeing to help him this once. His vulnerability and the fact that he needed her help had aided in her fear vanishing, he no longer embodied the threatening guy she thought he was. She handed him the phone, “Here.”
He took it, dialed the number and rested the phone at his ear, turning away from her slightly as he listened to the phone ring. He had her full attention now. She was still a little scared that he'd run away with her phone so she watched him closely.
“Hey, it's Raphael. I'm borrowing someone's phone so I can't talk long. What do you mean you don't know any Raphael? It's me, your brother!” He raised his voice getting frustrated with the person on the other end of the call. “My car broke down and my phone died. I don't think I'm gonna make it to the reunion anyway. I'm at Homey's Cafe; could you come and get me?”
“What do you mean you can't make it?” He questioned the other person. “No, don't ask him. I'll find my way there then. Never mind, forget it.”
“I'm not being childish or stubborn; he got me suspended for something I didn't do.” He paused for a bit, listening to what whosoever he was talking to had to say. “You try being friends with a guy that dated the girl you liked. I don't care if he's my brother. Do not call him.” He warned.
It was a while before he said anything again until she heard him say, “Fine, call him. I don't have a choice anyway. Yeah, later, see you then.” Then he hung up and turned to Ashley handing her her phone. “Thanks.” He said.
Ashley was trying her best not to burst out in laughter; unfortunately, little giggles had escaped her lips. She took her phone and glimpsed the stranger in front of her, the tips of his ears were red, he was mortified. That made it even funnier.
“So a reunion, eh?” She asked, finding some sort of courage to make conversation, while she drew.
He nodded, “Yes, it's tomorrow.”
“Cool,” she replied smiling a bit to herself at his over-the-phone-conversation for a minute she thought his bickering was… cute.
“So you're an artist?”
“Yeah, I'm trying to 'hone' my craft.” A smiled formed on her lips as she said this as she thought back to the reason she got into art.
“Well, I am too.” He told her. As she examined him, she noticed his brown eyes had flecks of green and she realized he had an ear piercing too. Immediately, she had him pegged as the bad boy type, not an artist at all. This piqued her interest. She would have never guessed. She looked at him quizzically and he recognized this as a look of incredulity.
“My bad, I'm Raphael-
Before he could finish his statement, another man walked in and a gust of wind had made her chilly. She hugged her sweater around her. He was wearing a brown lumberjack jacket and his dirty blonde hair was wet with drops of water. He walked over to her table and she frowned at the man that stood at five ft. ten inches. He was her high school ex-boyfriend.
“Michael, what are you doing here? I already gave you my answer, it's not happening.” It was like a mechanism, it came out with her not having to think about it. He had asked her multiple times to take him back, she just assumed today was like all those other days.
He scoffed, “Not everything is about you. I'm here for him.”
Suddenly, everything made sense, Raphael asked, not realizing that the atmosphere had shifted ever since Michael had walked in. “Do you guys know each other?”
“NO!” I blurted.
“YES!” Michael blurted the opposite.
“Okay…” He held his hand out for a handshake, “Like I was saying earlier, I'm Raphael-
I cut him off, I already knew who he was. He was Michael's brother, “Demon. You're Raphael Demon and Michael is your brother…”
