White Rose

Chapter 2: Ashburn

Staring into her icy eyes, unmoved by my obvious annoyance. With a sigh, I contemplated my options.

Painfully entertain her or submit and give her a book so she can leave.

Why was she after my special books anyways? She didn't even seem interested in my books at all. Plus she's obviously holding a large book with a clear bookmark marking she's 1/4 through the book.

"You can have a book, but you must leave immediately." I proposed, gesturing to my organized shelf of books.

She huffed with joy at 'winning' when really I just wanted her out of my face.

I tries resuming my book, but every notion of her existence made my skin crawl. I couldn't take it. I heard a book fall and I was behind her in seconds. She reached to pick it up, but I was fast to it. I noticed she could have gotten it but whe waited. And when my hand grasped the book, her hand grasped mine...mine!?

I withdrew my hand quickly, pulling the book to me so fast it hit my chest with a thud. I did not like this one bit.

"Destiney has decided that book shall be the one I chose." she beamed happily, reaching to get the book, but seem I gly reaching to touch me.

"Take it!" I scoffed. I shoved the book in her hand and proceeded to leave.

I left her there humming, flipping through the book and making the pages flutter with life.

I returned to the café to request another double shot, no cream, no sugar. Jenna hesitated for a while before rushing to fill my order. I could tell she wanted to say something, but she felt the gravity of my mood.

She slid the coffee to me and I wasted no time to take a stern sip. The white hair girl passed by, keeping her head straight and still in her cheery state.
She picked up her things and headed out the door, but not before setting a pair of transparent aviator sunglasses on and yelling from the door, "Thanks again!".

Jenna seemed to ponder words now. It was obvious she had questions, but I stopped her from even mustering up the courage to ask.

"A lock would be a wise investment."

"Why?" Jenna struggled to say.

"Simple. To keep such animals out."

"She is much of a regular as you. Even at a time like this."

"I've never seen her before."

"Well, you get here around six and she arrives at seven. You mostly leave at seven or seven- thirty." Jenna said, calculating on her fingers in a childish manner. Unaware of the gestures she's doing as she looks into space and lost in her world of maths.

"She's bold." I took a sip. "Means she has a death wish."

"I tried to warn her. I told her nothing interesting was back there, but she said shed go find something interesting."

"Should've used your gun on her."

"Ah- I don't have a gun and that's such a rude thing to say." Jenna laughed, seemingly taking comfort in my disliking if the girl.

I mostly felt I was just talking to myself aloud, but I was actually engaging with Jenna. I never sit at the bar.

"Today really is a strange day." I said to myself at the realization of what's been going on.

I decided to put a stop to this nightmare and leave.

Jenna saw me lost in thought and said the coffee was on the house. I got up and left.

***

I made my way out and took a minute to ponder what my schedule was. The light if the Sun had just began settling over the small town, adding a bit of warmth  to the cold air. The town is small and probably unheard of to any foreigners. Most dreamed of leaving if they hadn't left already. It wasn't famous for tourist attractions so it's rare to see a new face. I wasn't originally from here, but I was stationed here for work several years back. I fit in this town like the perfect cut of a puzzle. Its cold bitter air all around. The lack of sun mostly. The beautiful sea side views. Its perfect. The town of Ashburn.

I snapped out of my gaze, reved up my 83' Honda Magna 750 and began a slow cruise by the sea wall stretch.  Despite the bone chilling weather, it rarely snows in the town and rarely any rain. Only out in the mountains and forest would you really see snow. I know, very odd, but this isn't an ordinary town I might add.  The neat brick streets were always dry, so I really didn't need to take much precautions when driving.

Driving along the sea had never faded over my years here. The silence and the nature filled parks were my heaven. I'd stop and just stare off into the sea and watch the gulls sing along with the crashing waves. I'd watch elderly men and women take thier children fishing just off the sea walls. They would throw it back for they didn't really need the fish for anything else other than sport. The town was small and never out of need of anything. Apart from freeing captured fishes they'd cut up large one's and toss them in the air for the gulls to catch. It's a fun activity, but the gulls never took part when I tried feeding them. Guess you could say the must've smelled the blood on my hands. Animals never take a liking to, except dogs.

Speeding up off the shore side drive, I hit the main part of town. By now I had ran into a bit of traffic. Seeing just about 20 cars on one street for the entire day would be record breaking here. If you see more than 3 on a street all at once would be considered busy. The cars aren't anything fancy, but the vehicles here are rare and vintage, not to mention well taken care of. Most  of The vintage trucks are used to transport goods are kept as priceless family heirlooms. Only the rich or those visiting home would come in new, modern vehicles. While the locals stare in awe at the shiny cars, the drivers would stare in awe at the rare vehicles here. The town can thank us for effectively keeping them up and running. Most visitors  would try to buy them at insane prices, but most owners are unmoved by cash. That's another thing I admire about majority of the townspeople, thier simple way of living in this peaceful town.

I notice I was gonna be a bit early, so I decided to take a few more minutes of joy  riding. The thing about the quiet town I enjoyed most was ripping down stretches and sending car alarms blazing and dogs barking in fright. I peaked out of a small alley and hit a residential strip. Seeing It barren, aside from parked cats here and there, I opened the bike and swallowed up the silence with the deep roar of my bike. I could only imagine the neighborhood vibrating as I approach. I would see kids run to thier fences to see my rumble by with a fire in thier young eyes. I gave them a two finger mini salute to them as they would wave with excitement. Some would cover thier ears and I could see the annoyance on thier faces, But it only made me happier somewhat.

I decided to stop bothering the locals and finally drag myself over to the auto shop. Feeling a bit better after what had happened this morning.
I vigorously slithered through back roads and alleys until I hit near the center of town and kept my aggressive motion until my rumbling came to a halt up a driveway.