Ding! Ding!

  Ever looked up. “Good…”

  Taylor walked in. She closed the door behind her.

  “...Morning.”

  It had been overcast all morning, but now was the time. The sun desperately shoved past the burly clouds, casting its flagging light upon the ice cream shop.

  It wasn’t like Ever couldn’t see her; the fluorescent lights in the store made sure of that. But seeing the first human he ever met standing there, wrapped in the gentle glow of the late fall sun, he really saw her.

  He saw that she wore all the same things as usual: black, denim jeans, rips at her knees. Black, band T-shirt. The only thing different today was the expression that she wore. Ever could see the familiar scowl. She’d said it was called ‘resting bitch face’, almost saying it with pride back in the summer. It was still there, like a well-worn jacket. But there was something new underneath. Something which softened her eyes ever so slightly; it almost looked like regret.

  “What you looking at?” She barked at Ever.

  “What does it look like I’m looking at?” He replied without hesitation.

  The two of them stared at each other, neither willing to back down. To the sorbet side of the ice creams, Logan shifted uncomfortably.

  “I’m not work–”

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  “I’m glad you came to say–”

  The two started and stopped in unison.

  Taylor uncrossed her arms, walking towards the display, slow and deliberate. She inspected the flavors, as if she hadn’t seen them before hundreds if not thousands of times.

  “Do you want anything?” Ever asked.

  “Nope,” she replied. Dropping the act, she took a half step back. “Look, I know you’re busy with your… second job,” she said this while looking to the side, “but make sure that Unc doesn’t screw up what we worked so hard to build in the summer.” Upon seeing her uncle’s incredulous expression, a cheeky grin finally cracked across her face. Still, this smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  She spun on her heel. “OK, I’m off. I’ll see ya when I see ya.” She started heading towards the door.

  “Wait,” Ever said.

  She placed her hand on the door handle but didn’t pull down. “Dude, I got places to be.”

  Ever quickly moved out from the serving area. He stopped by the window that stretched across the front of the store, bending over to pick up the plant on the ledge. It had grown slightly taller but still wasn’t flowering.

  “Here,” he said. “This is for you.”

  Taylor looked at it for a moment before slowly shaking her head. “I can’t take this where I’m going. Leave it here. Besides…” she raised her right fist towards his face, “...you’ve already given me something, remember?”

  He had flinched; he hadn’t forgotten the bruise she gave him during Mid-Summer Nights. But it was the black bracelet around her wrist that she was referring to. She had worn it almost everyday since she accepted the gift. Even when she was scared of him. Maybe also when she had disappeared the first time.

  She lowered her hand. “OK I really have to go now, I have a plane to catch.”

  He took a half-step forward just as she turned away from him. She opened the door and slipped out like a forgotten memory. With her eyes focused forward, she left Pagoto’s one, last time.

  END OF FALL