Time Is The Key To Everything

Chapter 27: The First Song

A/N: *clears throat* This Chapter's about how Cassidy met Paul. Now, *clasps hands together*

On you read!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If Cassidy had known that the train was going to be late, she would have worn her gloves. Instead she stood on the crowded platform breathing heavily on her bright red fingers, ignoring the disproving glances from the woman next to her. Before the war, her stockings would have been made of the thickest wool, but now only a thin layer of material separated her legs from the below zero temperatures. She shifted quickly from foot to foot, attempting to bring circulation back to her body and stamped her boots for added measure, almost smirking as the scowling woman wrinkled her nose and fully turned away.

Of all the days for the train to be late, Cassidy thought angrily. And of all the days for a blizzard…

A murmur suddenly rose up from the crowd as a plume of gray smoke appeared over the hill followed soon by the sight of a gleaming black engine that stood starkly out against the falling white snow. A cheer rose up from the crowd and Cassidy could barely keep herself from running down the tracks as she joined in, although the sound of her voice was hardly audible in the cacophony of elated cries.

What was only a few minutes seemed like hours as every person on the platform waited—some in fear, others in furious excitement—for the train to pull into the station. It had not even come to a full stop before the crowd rushed forward, the angry yells of the station master unheard as the first car door slid open. There was a loud silence in the station as a hundred pairs of eyes watched the dark opening, waiting for the first passenger to descend.

There was sharp intake of breath as the sound of footsteps approached the door. The poor boy who stepped down from the train car nearly jumped back in fright at the booming cheer that accompanied his arrival.

The boys were back. At least for some time…

They stepped off the train one by one into the arms of the crowd that greedily took them in. Cassidy stood on her toes and craned her neck to see above the heads and waving hands. There were only two people on that train that she cared about.

She didn't have to wait long. When the first stepped off the train, it was, unfortunately, with his usual "unique" flourish.

"No need to worry your little heads anymore, people. James Tuvera is back!" Despite her excitement, Cassidy groaned, although the crowd cheered. James posed in front of the train car doorway, the sunlight reflecting off his silver colored hair and only adding to the dramatic image.

"Now I know how much you all missed me—please no tears, darling—but who can really blame you? What's this town without me?"

The crowd cheered again and James jumped happily into the fray of waving arms. When his brother stepped off the train a few seconds later, he only shook his head at his brother who was now being lifted into the air by the overjoyed people.

"James! Gelo!" Cassidy screamed, although it was just then that a large gust of wind blew into the station, sending Cassidy's words back at her. She cursed loudly as she readjusted her hat that had been knocked askew. Looking back up she was shocked to discover that both men had disappeared from sight and the crowd was moving eagerly to the next train car.

She glanced furtively around the station but there was no sign of James's tell-a-tale black shock of hair and it would be never-ending game to discern Gelo's bright yellow among the countless blond heads. Swearing underneath her breath, Cassidy prepared herself to push through the crowd, intent on reaching higher ground, but was stopped by an arm on her shoulder.