The Blue Bracelet

Chapter 3

Skye leaned against the wall, on a corner opposite to the cafe. The grey hood on his jumper was up despite the sun, hiding his face as he scanned the crowds. Waiters and waitresses could be seen through the window of the cafe, busy as usual. Seeing no familiar blonde curls inside, he turned his gaze to the streets again.

He hoped she would turn up, although he worried that he'd scared her away. Or that she was only being kind, and now she had found a new project to look after.

He hoped she'd turn up.

May Fliers, where are you? He thought to himself, his jaw tense. The words tumbled around his mouth, playing on his tongue, May Fliers, May Fliers.

As time passed, Skye became more and more irritable. People who bumped into him walked off with a swear or two in their wake, minus perhaps a watch or phone. His bruised knuckles clenched and unclenched as the crowds began to go home, or to work or a bus.

Then, sunshine fell into the street between the skyscrapers and buildings, and he saw a head of blonde, wavy hair make its way down the street towards him. Quickly crossing the road, and receiving a few shouts of protest from busy drivers, he met May just as she reached for the door. Opening it for her, he smiled warmly and gestured for her to go first. Ducking her blushing face in acknowledgement, May walked in and sat at a window table; followed by Skye. They sat in a comfortable silence together for a few brief moments.

"Hi." May smiled. "You know, I almost didn't come today, I was kinda freaked out by last time. " She laughed nervously, only looking at Skye occasionally as she played with her hair. The smell of strong chemicals reached Skye across the table and his nostrils began to flare.

"What's that smell? Where did it come from?" He asked. May's head snapped up, noticing his panic.

"It's just white spirit, we were using it for lino prints this morning. Sorry if I smell, I kinda used too much on one of a dog.." May grinned at the memory of the print lying next to the window for hours afterwards with a fan next to it. Skye calmed a little, but still seemed on edge. May smiled kindly at him.

"Shall I get the food, then? The usual?" She said softly, getting up slowly. Skye was staring at the table, lost in his own memories of white spirit. Smiling awkwardly at him, May went over to the counter to queue. As she waited for the food, Skye waited for the memories and screams to die down. Shaking his head, he looked up at a returning May.

They ate in silence for a while, studying each other. May had bright green eyes and a smattering of freckles across her face, and her wavy hair was a dull blonde.

Skye had greasy, mouse brown hair peeking out of his hood, and a pale face that made him look young yet old.

"How old are you, Skye?" May asked, breaking his reverie.

"Guess." May pursed her lips in thought, forehead furrowing as she studied his face once again. Leaning forward, she reached for his face, pulling it closer. Bags under his eyes showed clearly as she tilted it to the light; his left eye surrounded by slightly puffy, pale purple skin. Her fingers traced a line around his eye, then slid down his face, towards a small scar on his jaw.

Skye watched as she studied his face. The feel of her fingers on his skin strange, unfamiliar. Addictive. May dropped her hand back onto the table, leaving Skye's face cold and empty.

"Hmm... Eighteen or twenty five? I can't decide." May offered, tilting her head unsurely. Skye gave a light laugh, shrinking back into his hood, the memory of human contact now lingering uncomfortably on his skin.

"Nice try. I'm twenty one." Skye shrugged, "You?" His eyes shone in the dark folds of his hood.

"Twenty. My birthday's August 10th, though, so I'm practically twenty one." May reasoned. Sounds of the cafe filled the air as they returned to their lunches. A child began wailing for an ice cream, while a dog outside barked at traffic. Skye picked at the Lino table-cover, while May studied the dog.

"Have you got a pencil?" Skye looked up at May strangely before shaking his head unsurely. "It's to sketch with." May explained and Skye nodded in understanding, just as a waitress sauntered past. Wordlessly, Skye leaned over and slid a pencil out of the girl's waistband and handed it to May.

"Silver linings, I guess.." May said dubiously, not wanting to encourage Skye. He shrugged before shrinking back into his hood. May watched him for a few seconds, as he stared out of the window at passing traffic, before drawing the basic shapes of a dog on a napkin.

Skye smiled involuntarily to himself as he saw May watching him. His heart fluttered at the thought that she actually took an interest in him. No one else ever had. Ever.

Not moving his body, Skye watched as May slowly brought the dog outside to life again, quieter and on paper this time. Art had always rather amazed him, spending hours watching street artists when he was younger.

A passing flame caught his eye and art was immediately forgotten as he pressed himself against the window, as far as possible from the fire. Sweat started forming on his skin. He watched in horror as the fire spread and surrounded him. 'Not again.' He thought, 'not again'. Skye thought he'd be sick.

The fire grew and came closer, and closer, and closer. His heartbeat rose. He felt it, pumping, and going out of synch.

"Not again, what? Skye?" May's voice broke through the heat and smell of white spirit.

Suddenly, the deadly flames disappeared and retracted back into a small candle on a birthday cupcake. Skye slowly unstuck himself from the window and into his seat, as the cafe filled with the sound of 'Happy Birthday to You". His fingers shook, as he breathed deeply to try and slow his erratic heart.

"Skye?! What was that about? You totally freaked out there! And what do you mean by, 'not again'? Skye?" May hissed at him, Napkin Dog half-headed and without back legs. Skye slowly returned to normal as he looked around in a daze at where the flames had once burned so bright. He looked at May desperately, willing her not to ask. Her eyes searched his as the singing died down and the cafe returned to its hubbub of noise and activity, as if nothing had happened at all.

When Skye couldn't bear the begging look in May's eyes anymore, he turned his gaze back to Napkin Dog, hiding his still trembling hands under the table.

"That's good with you." He nodded at the dog. May sighed and muttered a 'thanks'.

An awkward silence fell between the two, the first of their acquaintanceship.

Skye's conscience tore him to pieces, as he worried if he'd just lost himself the best thing in his life.

Again.