After Dusk

Chapter Nine

A strong cool breeze blew all around me as I sat on the chilly green bench, the sound of leaves rustling around found its way to my ears as I stared down at my phone's screen.  

I groaned as I once again moved my hair out of my face. If I had known it was going to be so windy today I might not have come to the park or at least put my hair into a ponytail before leaving the house. 

I lifted my head up from my phone and looked around the park, no one in sight. I sighed lightly to myself as I looked back down at my phone, skimming through different job listings online that I could find. For whatever reason, the only jobs that I could find were over ten or more miles away. Which if I had a car it wouldn't be a problem, but because of the fact that the only wheels that I owe are attached to my bike, it made things a little harder. 

I know Leo or Matt could and would help me drive to work if I asked them, but my pride wouldn't let me. They have done more than enough for me as it is. 

Giving up on the online job listings, I put my phone into my pocket and I grabbed the newspaper that I had shoved down into my bike's basket earlier this morning. Opening it to the job section of the newspaper, I made quick work looking over the black ink in hopes of finding a job closer to home. 

The sound of shoes running down the dirt path caused me to look up from the paper, only for my eye's to land on a stranger as they ran passed me. 

I couldn't help but feel disappointed as I looked back down to the newspaper. To be completely honest, I was hoping to bump into River again. It's been over a week now since the last time I saw him and the whole Tobias restaurant incident. This would make it the second morning since then that I have tried to casually bump into him at the park that he said he usually ran at but had no luck.

Just like my luck with seeing River, I had no luck finding a job that wasn't over ten miles away. 

"I guess I have no choice then," I softly spoke to myself, "If other people can do it, so can I!" I tried to pump myself up, finding new hope that I can at least find a good paying job.

Not a lot of time had passed as I looked at the different job postings when I heard some people began to walk past the bench I was sitting on. 

"Elena?" 

Suprised and confusion washed over me as I lifted up my head to the source that called my name. To my surprise, Matt stood in front of me looking just as surprised as I was. 

"Oh, Matt!" I said sounding shocked as I lowered the newspaper to my lap. 

"Almost didn't recognize you there," He said as he walked a little closer to me, "You look like a little old lady with your nose in a newspaper like that," 

I smiled as I rolled my eyes at his joke, "Geez, thanks." I laughed, "What are you doing here anyway?" 

Matt pointed to a pretty lady and small child who was standing next to him, "My friend and I wanted to come out here to take a stroll in hopes of tiring out her kid since it was going to be such a nice day. What about you? Why are you here looking as if you are about to start throwing bread out to the birds?" Matt laughed as he placed his hands on his hips. 

 Before I could answer the little girl with short red hair and freckles covering her face lightly tugged on Matt's jeans, "Mattie? Who is she?"  she asked turning to me and pointing as if to make sure Matt knew who she was talking about. 

"Emily!" The lady jumped up in surprise, "Don't point at someone, it's not nice!" she lightly scolded. I assumed that the lady was the little girl's mom since they looked so much alike. Emily looked up to her mom as she continued to point her finger at me, "But mommy, Mattie pointed. Why can't I?"