Whisper in the Dark

Chapter 8

When he walked into the cafe he could already see her sitting at a table near the window, he approached her and sat down.

"You look happy." Rum said as he sat down. Never smiled.

"I suppose that's probably because I am happy." She replied. Rum chuckled.

"I take it things are going well then?"

"Very well," she takes a sip from her hot chocolate that she had already ordered before Rum had got there, "I think I made a new friend."

"Oh yeah? That's great, wanna share any details?" Rum inquired.

"Absolutely, her name's Viarrah, she's an octoling and a former fan of inked up. We first met at the supermarket when she accidentally crashed into me, we then met again when I dropped my phone at Mahi Mahi. Oh I just remembered!" She reaches into her bag and pulls out a block of chocolate, "Here, as thanks for helping me... without you I would still be stuck in that apartment, drinking beer and growing more toxic... so... thanks." Rum eventually took the chocolate and placed it on the side of the table, he didn't have a bag to put it in.

"You're more than welcome, anything for my favorite agent."

"Please... don't remind me of all that" Never said quickly, turning away.

"Right, sorry." They sat in awkward silence for a moment.

"So, got any plans coming up?" Rum said to break the tension.

"Oh! Yeah, my 18th is coming up in a couple weeks! I wanted to invite you! And you can bring a plus one if you want," she leans forward and looks at him slyly, "and as much as I dislike him... you can bring him, I know how much you loooove him." She teased. Rum blushed.

"Right... mhm... so! You gonna invite this new friend of yours too?"

"Yeah of course! You'll love her, she's so sweet." Never exclaimed.

"That's great." Rum smiled for a moment, "I take it I'll get to meet the lovely Zap too, yes?"

"Of course, Zap is one of my best friends, I could never not invite him." They continued to talk for an hour, about all sorts of things. But eventually it was time for Rum to leave, he needed to get back home.

"Right," said Rum, standing up, "I suppose I should be heading off, got a lot of responsibilities to take care of at home, Y'know?"

"Yeah, I know. Well, good luck with all that, I'll see you in a couple weeks though, yeah?"

"Of course!" He said as though it should be obvious.

"Okay then," Never said, "I guess I'll see you later."

"I guess you will." Finished Rum as he began to walk away. But he stopped at the door and looked back, a look of sorrow and concern on his face. As much as it pained him to hold a secret like this, he couldn't tell her, they asked him not to. He couldn't tell Never that... her parents are still alive.