cool nights of August

[Ryan de le Poer]

:][html]
SOMEWHERE THERE'S A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALK
BIGGER THAN THE SHADOW OF DEATH IN THIS TOWN

She had no idea what the names of the constellations were, but she was doing just fine creating her own. She traced out a picture of her mother, using different stars to outline her ears, eyes, and nose. She smiled to herself, easily amused by the summer night’s tranquility. It was nearing fall and Ryan was well aware the cool weather was coming. Already the days were growing shorter, and soon enough, winter would be upon them.



When a voice sounded, Ryan made no movement, except she let her pointing arm fall across her torso. It was smooth though powerful, and she half expected to see DaVinci beside her when she turned her crimson gaze upon this stranger. Instead of discovering the steel coat of the hybrid she had met days prior, a dark tuxedo sat down beside her, half concealed in the navy wash of the nighttime.



"Mmhmm," she responded, turning her eyes back on the stars. If he had wanted to hurt her, he would have done so. Besides, she wasn’t too worried about that. She watched, catching the streak of a shooting star out of the corner of her eye. "It’s a nice change from all of the rain we’ve been having," she added, looking back towards this stranger. She could barely make something out adorning his hair. A feather, was it? "It’s such a calm night," her voice drifting off into the air to collect with the drone of the crashing waves.

[/html]