Finding Home

Chapter 3

Song: I've Just Seen a Face - The Beatles

****************

Anya peeks around the archway, curious as to who is at a bar so early in the morning. She can hear Roni speaking to a younger man maybe a little older than herself... which is an unknown number since Anya has no idea when her birthday is. She catches herself staring at the man in a black leather jacket, his shaggy dark hair hides his eyes as his head droops down. She has seen him before, but never spoken to him let alone ask his name.

"You know I can't serve you this early, Rider..." Roni sighs.

"I know..." His voice is soft; the opposite of his appearance, "I just needed to clear my head... and pay my respects."

She reaches across the bar to pat his shoulder, "Thank you... you know I'm always here for you, Flynn." Huh, does she say that to everyone?

Anya catches his smirking grin, and feels her heart beat a little faster as he keeps speaking, "Yeah, I know..."

Suddenly, he looks up and catches Anya's gaze. Instantly his demeanor changes, "Hey! What are you looking at?!"

Anya quickly ducks around the corner, out of view, but still within earshot. Maybe he won't notice. Maybe she won't have to talk to him. Maybe he's got a third eye under those bangs. Roni's voice drives her out of her thoughts.

"Don't ever talk to her like that! You hear me?"

"You hit me!" Anya chuckles at Rider's childlike tone. Roni must have slapped him upside the head.

"Congratulations for stating the obvious."

He laughs, and Anya's brow curls in confusion, "That kind of hurt."

But Roni's not joking, "Then let that bruised ego of yours remind you to be kinder. You never know what someone else is going through..."

"What is she going through?" Anya's heart skips a beat, dare she turn around the corner?

"That's for her to tell you, but I doubt you'll be able to talk at all to her unless you apologize."

All is silent. Did he leave? She is about to peak around the corner when she nearly runs into the man from the bar. She forces herself to look down at her feet.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"No, no it was my mistake..."

His voice makes her face redden and Anya becomes even more determined to stay focused on the floor tiles.

"Look... I'm sorry for yelling at you before... It's been a rough morning for me and uh... I just sort of lost it there for a moment."

The words come out before she can stop them, "You really should be kinder to people you've never met-"

"I'm apologizing now, doesn't that count for something?"

She tries not to smile, "The only reason you did was so Roni wouldn't slap you again..."

"Maybe, but that could have been only one reason. Maybe you should try and see that not everyone has an agenda. And maybe if you look them in the eyes you might see they actually care."