The Midnight Mystic

Chapter 4

Stephen instantly knew something was up when Daniel walked into the coffeeshop, late at night, fiddling with his hands. He spotted Stephen across the shop, cradling a latte and reading his textbook.

"Hey Stephen." Daniel whispered.

"Hey yourself," Stephen nearly choked on his coffee at Daniel's soft and defeated tone. "What're you doing here? Thought you went over to your friend's house."

"I did."

"Uh huh, so then why are you here?"

"Just needed to do something."

Stephen exasperatedly rolled his eyes and set his cup unceremoniously down. "Cut the bullshit, you're literally never like this, what the hell happened and do I need to beat someone up?"

Daniel snorted, "As if you were able to do that, nerd boy."

"I'm only letting you slide with that one because you look like someone ran our cat over with their car. What's up? Seriously. No bullshit deflections."

Daniel continued to fiddle with his hands, and quickly stole one of Stephen's pens to do some tricks. He opened his mouth and closed it, mulling his words over. When he finally responded, his eyes were hard, with a note of sincerity etched within them.

"I'm going to talk to Serena, my friends will be here any second for proof."

Stephen bit his lip. That's what he was worried about? Talking to some girl? Daniel hit his arm.

"C'mon dude! It's not funny! I'm really nervous." Daniel said, his voice simmering down into a whisper. Stephen couldn't help but have a shit-eating grin cover his whole face.

"Yeah, and what about all your "chatting her up" talk? All bark and no bite?" Stephen flicked Daniel's forehead, receiving a disgruntled sound and a huff of annoyance.

"Look, no need to be a dick about this, I just need ...some moral support."

"You said your friends are coming, I really don't see why you need me."

Daniel eyes flickered around the room, trying to find an escape, to avoid Stephen's eyes. Stephen tapped twice on the table and Daniel's eyes snapped back to his. He looks flustered, uncertain.

"It's just-- I really only--I mean I--I trust you...that's all. I trust you better. Despite you being a weirdo and all...you're easy to talk to."

Not what he was expecting, but Stephen's not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He nodded his head in faux understanding, though he felt oddly touched by his brother's words. Even though they were laced with a speck of passive-aggression. Out of the corner of Stephen's eye, he saw Serena leaving the back of the counter with a small mug, already steaming.

"Look Danny, there's nothing to worry about. It's a rite of passage for you, thank the heavens that it wasn't something morbid like sacrificing animal blood or whatever weird things you frat boys get up to." Daniel chuckled a bit at that, running his hands through his hair. He looked slightly abashed, the edges of his lips had a whisper of a smile. "Look, if you don't want your friends to actually be here while you're nervous, let me take a recording of you. They said they needed proof, right? Well, I'm pretty damn sure videotaping is proof. At least, that's what all those cop-shows say." Daniel nodded his head, relief washing over his features.

"Yeah...ok. They may be a little pissed that they weren't here but.. well, it's--about 8 minutes until she leaves and they're not here yet...so... yeah! Let's do it."

Daniel pulled out his phone, and after checking himself out with the camera for a few moments, hit record.

"Wus poppin' my hoes, y'all are late and I only have 5 minutes left, so sucks to be y'all because I'm doing it without y'all." He flipped the camera off and tossed the phone to Stephen's waiting hands. Without breaking stride, he strolled up to Serena, and gracefully plopped himself down in the chair in front of her. Serena stared for a few seconds, before gently setting down her tea and inching slightly forward.

"The most important thing is to grow fondly of the stars, so you don't have to be fearful of the night."

Daniel's jaw clenched, and bobbed his head a few times. He made a motion to leave the table, but he hesitated. He pursed his lips and turned to Serena and said something so soft, Stephen couldn't hear. Serena stared at him for a moment, her features carefully blank, before she smiled. A soft, understanding smile, and nodded once. Not a second later, she returned in sipping her tea, unperturbed.

"Bam! Done! Did it without you late hoes--oh look you're coming in right now. What's up fuckers."