Twilight Town's Whispers

Who are you?

Mina’s POV

The rest of the week Mina got up early, going straight to The Book Nook Cafe, spending half the day downing caffeine and writing. She hadn't seen tall and grumpy since the day he forced her to eat a sandwich, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't disappointed the grump hadn't bugged her since.

She knew he was around. It was like a sixth sense she could feel when he was around, even if she couldn't see him. Or maybe she was just imagining things? Was it just wishful thinking that he was lurking in the shadows watching her like one of the anti-heroes of her story? Since making Book Nook Café her writing grounds, she had gotten six chapters done and was well on her way to finally getting somewhere with this book.

"Hey!" Mina approached the counter with a big smile on her face.

"Yeah?" Tara sighed, looking up from her phone.

"Can I get another black coffee and one of those chocolate chip muffins?" She pointed to the displayed muffins in the glass case.

"Fine," Tara grumbled, putting the muffin on a plate, sliding it over and then grabbing her mug and refilling it.

Since Mina had started coming here daily, Tara had surprisingly made sure to always have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her. Maybe the icy barista was starting to warm up to her?

"Thanks Tara," Mina smiled, grabbing the plate and mug, heading back over to her table.

As she was putting her food and coffee down, her phone beeped. Grabbing it off the table, she couldn't help the annoyed sigh that escaped. Sitting down, she reached into her bag, grabbing a pill case. Opening up the lid labeled lunch, she tipped the contents into her hand. Frowning, she stared at the four pills. She hated taking pills, but she knew what would happen if she didn't. She promised Jay she would keep fighting even though she was tired. With another sigh, she pulled a bottle of water from her bag. Opening it up, she tossed all four pills in her mouth before downing half the water bottle to help slide the suckers down. Closing and putting the bottle back in her bag, she ripped off a piece of the muffin, shoving it into her mouth.

Food always helped her stomach when taking her medication. Even if she wasn't hungry, she knew it would be worse to take her medication without some food. Putting the pill case back into her bag, she pressed play on her phone, her shoulders relaxing as music filtered in through her headphones. Music wasn't just a great tool to help focus her when writing, but also to drown out her dark thoughts. Mina was naturally a bubbly, happy person, but there was also a darkness. A shadow that loomed over her waiting to consume her when she least expected.

The bone deep tiredness that begged for her to give in. She had long ago accepted she was on borrowed time. That she wouldn't grow old, wouldn't get to have a family or a great love. Her books became her legacy, a way to keep her going after she was gone. They became the children she would never have. She may never get that great love story, but all her characters got it and that was good enough for her.

She had her whole life to accept all this, but the closer she got to the end the harder it was to keep fighting. To keep going. What was the point, no matter what she did, it would always end the same, and yet she kept going. Not for her but for her best friend and chosen sister. She would keep going for her and hoped when she was gone that Jay would find a way to live a full life. No longer having to fret over her sick friend, to be free to do what she wanted. Shaking the dark thoughts away, Mina refocused on her laptop, putting all her frustration and pain into her writing.

Deacon’s POV

All week she has come in. Like clockwork, she would order a black coffee, then go over to the table by the window and set up her laptop. It was interesting watching her get lost in her work. Her headphones in she completely zoned into whatever it is she does on her computer. Lunchtime she would go up and get her third, sometimes, fourth coffee and a pastry.

Her phone would beep, and she would take several pills before going back to work.

He didn't know what the pills were for, but it had to be for some condition because she took them every day at the same time. Was she sick or a health nut trying to get all her vitamins in? He didn't know, but what shocked him the most was that he wanted to find out. Just her presence enthralled him in the most infuriating way. The more he watched her the more she seemed familiar, like he had seen her before, which was ridiculous. She was new to town, and he never left town. There was no way he had seen her before.

Storming over to her table, he glared down at her, watching her continue to furiously type away, a small smile curving the corner of her lips. Slamming his hand down on the table, a smirk curved his own lips when she squeaked, jumping slightly.

"Oh hey," Removing her headphones she smiled up at him.

Why was she smiling at him? He just rudely interrupted whatever it is she does on that laptop. She should be glaring at him or telling him off, and yet she's smiling at him.

"I'm starting to think I should charge you rent with how much you like to loiter in my shop," His eyebrow raised in question.

"I guess you could do that if you want, but as I stated the last time I am a paying customer," Her smile widened as she leaned in her chair. "I buy coffees and food while I'm here, but if me being here is that much of an inconvenience, I can go," Turning forward she closed her laptop sliding it into her bag.

Panicking, Deacon shot forward, his hand landing onto one of hers, stopping her from continuing to pack up.

"Why do you look so familiar?" He blurted out instantly, wanting to smack himself for asking such an idiotic question.

"What?"

"You look familiar. Why is that? Are you a model or something?"

"Does that line ever work for you?" Her eyebrow quirked up a small smirk curving the corner of her mouth.

"What? No! I," Stumbling for an explanation, he floundered like a teenager trying to talk to his crush.

The sweetest sound he had ever heard danced from her lips. Blinking in surprise, he straightened up, watching her press her hand to her mouth, trying to hold in her giggles. Shaking her head, she stood up, walking away from the table and her things. Stopping at the edge where the café transitioned into the bookshop, she glanced over her shoulder, her green eyes locking him in place. Hooking her finger the same way he had done to her the first time they met, she signaled for him to follow her.

Clearing his throat and the sudden dirty thoughts at the cheeky smirk she gave him. Nope, he wasn't going to pay those thoughts any attention. He was just lonely and nothing more. He didn't need the complication of getting close to anyone. Following after her, they made their way down one of the isles, making it halfway before she stopped. Reaching out, she grabbed a book. Turning to him, she tossed it at him.

"Look at the back," Crossing her arms, she patiently watched as he turned the book over and, to his surprise, there at the bottom of the book was a picture of none other than the infuriating woman standing in front of him.

"Your Mina Knight?" Glancing up from the book, his jaw hung open in surprise.

"The one and only," Her arms crossed over her chest and her hip jutted out in all her sassy glory.

Maybe this kitty had claws after all.