2019-09-14 - You Scared

Late at night, for some, on the beach. For Everett, it's been a place where he can lay out, on a picnic table, for the most part -- with his legs dangling over the edge, and look up at the night sky with the little light pollution that's here. In his right large paw, he plays with a few rocks presumably picked up from around the rocky beach wide and flat. The kind perfect for skipping. Rolling them over in his hand or occasionally losing one when he throws it up in the air and fails to catch it.

It might be a little bit against the law, but in his right hand he has an open can of beer. Busch Light to be exactly, and while his long hair whips around in the light breeze, he's left his leather jacket off and under his head, an impromptu pillow.

The car was left at home since she lived this close to the beach now but Erin could glance across and see it and her home if she wanted to. Hers is one big cottage with a large backyard that looked like a plush oasis. There's an external light at her house, a beacon for her but currently she's walking away from that oasis and towards the darker beach.

The moon was bright enough and the silvery glow from it lit up the beach once her eyes got used to it. The light reflected off the water too and the white capped waves. It was a beautiful night for a walk. The first clue that she's not alone in her thoughts is the sound of a rock hitting the rocks on the ground like it had been thrown. Looking up ahead of her, she doesn't announce her presence, but she keeps approaching.

As if it is unaware, the pretty gazelle continues to play with the little stones that it collected. Off the edge of the bench top, the right hoof bobs up and down in a rhythmic fashion, hearing music in the world all of its own. Letting go of the beer, the prey combs hoof split or fingers through his hair again, trying to keep it out of his face. A little distracted, the next rock thumps on solid chest, then rolls to the table before he scrambles to make sure he doesn't lose it.

There's a mumble under his breath when he picks the rock up again, and in his large paw holds it to be scrutinized, and the fore finger of the other hand shook at it. Disciplining the stone, Everett returns to rolling them in one hand while he grabs the can again to lift it to his mouth. By the tilt, its already half gone.

Gazelle.. what? Rarely does Erin meet someone who is so much taller than she. At 5'9" she towered over some and when she wore her heels she cut an impressive figure. Currently though she's wearing no shoes. Barefoot with a light sweater around her and a pair of casual shorts yet still expensive, she strolls nearer to the table.

"If one of those rocks hit your teeth you're going to regret it. You'll lose it." It doesn't come out as a threat, more as a hint of common sense just passed along. It's then she realizes he was scolding the stone. And that scares her. "Pardon me, I was just going home." Because she recognizes crazy and she backpaces a few steps before turning to walk back towards her house.

Words from out of nowhere, the lioness suddenly speaks. And Everett cranes his head back at uncomfortable angle to see who spoke. A quick look, and thinking nothing of the other person, turns his attention back to his wasting time activities.
For a second.

Then the upside down, and dark image of who it is coalesces into the dark recesses of his drinking mind and his eyes go large. He rolls to his side, to affect a double-take, his legs rolling from dangling over the table, to kneeling on the bench sit. "Oooh. Fff--" the gorilla starts before he completes the roll and slips to his feet to rise. His head looks around; boardwalk, ocean. Which way is safer to run away into?

He was afraid of her? That was an instant thought. The man scolding the rock was afraid of her. What the everlasting.. No don't finish that thought. Her fear vaporizes for humor and she laughs. You bet she laughs at that whole gazelle, deer, gorilla in the headlights look. Then, just for good measure, her laughing ceases and she puts her hands down to her side, tilts her head and says..

"Boo!"

You know, because Erin could be scary too. And crazy? Whatever.

Flinching at her sudden laughter, Everett leans backwards from the madwoman a little, and his eyes dart while the rest of his body remains steadfast towards the leather jacket on the table.
Clank, Clank, clank.

It's a metaphor for nothing, three smooth, flat rocks drop, one after the other to the rocky beach when his right hand opens. At the imitation of the ghost, Everett lifts his hands defensively, the left one still holding his beer can because priorities.
"I'll go. I'll go!" He slowly starts to crouch and lean towards the picnic tabletop, extending his arm for his leather jacket, a possession he doesn't want to leave behind.

Erin had already started retreating when he talked to his rocks so she remains standing back as she watches him. There were many ways to extend the moment. She could, after all, offer an apology. It doesn't spring to her lips. Everything was just too odd for anything except to leave. There's a step closer to the path that would take her home more expeditiously.

"Okay, I won't argue with you, but I am going too." And so she does, she goes towards her house.

A footstep, the weight of him crushing rocks underneath. Then the drag of leather over old wood, long exposed to salty sea air that's stripped the paint from the table. Everett holds his leather jacket clutched in his arms like a bear hug, self-soothing against what just happened. And he watches her leave. Taking a few steps at least. Remembers the clumsy swing she'd taken but more importantly, the reason why he was told later.

Everett's head bobs up, nodding to her back before he uses his free hand to pull wispy strands covering his vision behind his ear with the mitt that isn't tattooed. She might not offer one, but with his basso deep voice, he does. "Hey. Sorry about what happened," one single all-embracing apology

Why? It could have all just ended right there. Erin hears the apology and she can't pretend she didn't hear it. Closing her eyes she stops where she is. A few breaths later and she opens her eyes again. "It's my fault. I intruded on your space. Like I just did again. You stay, I am leaving and I apologize for trying to hit you." There, she had managed it. He had been in his own mood that night while she was angry at the world. Telling herself she couldn't fix anyone elses problems right now, she offers a farewell wave and hurries home across the street.