Exile

Chapter 5 - Mystery Man

Last night was a somewhat peaceful night. I was slightly worried about that guy that tried to kill me yesterday. I got up and drowsily went to the bathroom. I did my business and brushed my teeth. I got dressed in something that wasn't total crap and shaped my hair. I shaped it. And shaped it. And shaped it some more. Doing this in the mirror I realized that I was actually doing my hair for a girl. A completely new feeling. I check the time briefly and- wait. I looked at the time again. 7:52. Crap. Grabbing my jacket, I rushed out the door. On my way to the shop, I decided to immerse myself into more useless thought. I thought of me being like a gazelle and time being the jaguar. The real question was will the gazelle get away. I got to the shop out of breath. I saw Belle talking to somebody in the alley. I couldn't see who the other guy was but I did see that what ever they were talking about, they were both immersed in.

Thinking quickly, I shouted Belle's name. Showing a startled look on her face, she turns to face me. Like a gazelle. Seriously, the things I think. I walked briskly to her. Mystery man (I'll call him Bob for now, I always liked that name) left quickly disappearing down the alley. I gave her a one-armed hug and asked her what kind of coffee she wanted so I could order while she found a table. "Same one as yesterday, thanks Luke!" I gave her the most genuine smile I could given all the thoughts that were running in my head.

As I got in line, I began to think about who Bob could be. Maybe her brother? Dad? Uncle? Maybe Bob wasn't a guy. Maybe it was a Bobette. I'd have to ask if she any siblings. If she did, I'd ask about brothers. If she has at least one brother, that makes me worry a whole lot less. If she didn't... I'd spend most of the day reassuring myself that she genuinely sees something going on with us. It was my turn in like. I ordered out coffee and went to the side to wait. After a few minutes of staring into space, I paid and carried the cups back to Belle. If I could find her. After looking around I finally spotter her. I walked over to her and put the cups on the table. "How are you?"

"Good, you?"

"Good, how are the horses?"

"Oh they're great." She said flashing a smile.

"Do they have names?"

"Of course! Bay, Marshmallow, Pop, Queen, Justice, Jim, Garry, Lolly, Zebra, and coincidentally, Luke. That's mine actually..." She shyly looks at her feet.

I can definitely use that to my advantage. Right now I had to see if I can lead myself smoothly to the family question. "Who name their horse Zebra?"

"The horse has stripes on it and the owner is color blind."

"Do any of the horses belong to family?" Good lead.

"Besides me? One belongs to my dad and one to my sister."

Shit. "Which horse is your dad's and which one is your sister's?"

"Lolly is my sister's, she named it when she was 6. Justice is my dad's."

"Do you have bothers?" Great Luke, you could've at least tried to be slightly smoother with that.

"I had one... But..." She looks at the floor, a shameful look on her face.

"Oh... I'm sorry for you loss."

My reply was a meek, "Thank you Luke."

"Uh..." I said searching for something to say. "How's the coffee?"

"Great actually, I don't remember it being this good."

"Neither do I" I say, chuckling slightly.

"Did you see the guy I was talking to?"

Well that makes my many questions so much easier. "I didn't want to say anything but, yeah, I was."

"That's my brother..."

"But..."

"You cant say anything. Promise me that Luke, nobody can know."

I looked like an idiot with my mouth open looking for something to say. "Uhh... I won't say anything Belle I promise... Just one question."

"What is it?"

"Why can't I say anything?"

"He's a criminal of epic proportions." She says putting an emphasis on 'epic'.

She made it sound like he was a spy or something like Edward Snowden. "What'd he do?"

"He brought the first solar flare."

How...