Flavors of Fall ch.2 - BumbleBY

~2~

The gentle breeze of autumn carried softly through the night like a tender sigh, with an array stars that remained dull against a smeared grey cloud; sparse and stretching across the vast darkness of night. The colors of sunset long since bled and followed the golden warmth of day, leaving nothing more than the ivory crescent in the sky, bright and almost mischievous like a Cheshire cat’s grin. Below the cityscape, a raven-haired woman walked briskly inside of an apartment complex, the stoop littered with leaves and plastic. Upon entering through the large wooden doors, the acrid smell of stale cigarette smoke and cleaning product permeated the air. With a subtle grimace, Blake gathered her tote bag of belongings and continued up a staircase to the third floor. She was careful not to touch the grime-laced railing and kept her eyes on the cement steps.

As she walked down the vacant hallway, she looked straight ahead at her apartment door. She passed some doors that were opened, revealing children playing on the carpet in front of an elder family member. Another open door revealed a man playing a piano, and humming a soulful blues metronome with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. She took in all her surroundings without having to take her golden eyes off the door of her temporary home.

Once inside, Blake turned the deadbolts and slid the lock chain into place; then hung her things on the hook behind the door. With a sigh, she shucked her flats off of her tired feet and stepped further into her small dwelling. What pots and pans she had were cleaned and set back onto the stovetop, the mail neatly stacked on the tiny built-in nook, and a small stack of novels borrowed from the library we kept in their own neat stack in on side of the seat bolted to the ground. Blake rubbed the base of her neck, massaging a knot, and took to draping herself across her low-set bed, propped up on strategically placed cement blocks beneath the box spring portion. With a tired sigh and a groan, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

…what was that?

Blake rubbed her eyes, pressing her palms into them and then rubbing the sides of her head.

A stranger invited me to an outing…? No, not a stranger…what was her name….Yang?

She grabbed at her front pocket, feeling for the change Yang allowed her to keep as a generous tip. Still looking at the ceiling, Blake furrowed her brow at the memory of speaking with the gregarious blonde at the café. She recalled her bouncy personality, the loose curl atop her bangs that would wave with almost every movement she made, and the way she would flash that genuine smile that would make her want to smile back. Within the confines of her own home, Blake felt herself give into a half smile as she thought about her; but quickly frowned.

Am I going to see her tomorrow?




~*~



“So I met this girl at the café today.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, a barista~”

“Don’t those usually work in cantinas?”

“Whatever! I met someone today.”

Yang smiled to herself behind a forkful of cantaloupe and cottage cheese before popping it into her mouth with a content smile of satisfaction. The woman to whom she was talking to was of a small frame, with a round childish face to match the innocence of her wide and curious eyes.  Features that would not hint to most that given their stark differences, were actually related. She closed the fridge door shut with her foot as she walked over to Yang from the kitchen, a bowl of strawberries in one hand and a remote in the other. With an eyebrow cocked, she sat on the far side of the couch with Yang, who drew her feet up and curled them under her; careful not to spill the content of her bowl.

“Met someone as in…?” she began, tilting her head to one side and causing some of her red and black hair to fall into her face a little. With hair flip and a bite of a particularly large strawberry, Yang answered her with a chuckle. As she placed her bowl of fruit on the table to get up. She walked over to the small kitchen and pulled out a match box and returned to the living room, lighting a lavender stick of incense.

“As in ‘talked to someone new’, Ruby.”  She said, waving out the flame and then pressing it to the center of her tongue to put the rest of it out. “I needed an interview, and she was available. She ended up being pretty cool to just chat with.” Ruby turned the television on and grabbed a blanket from the side table as Yang rejoined her on their large sage-colored couch.

“Well that’s pretty cool, then.” She said as she covered her legs with the blanket. Yang watched her sister struggle with the blanket, trying to unfold it and tuck it in around herself. She bit her lip, her eyes scanning the pale orange cantaloupe in her bowl as she picked it back up.

It was pretty cool…

“What’s she look like?” She asked, curious. Yang smiled at recollecting the raven-haired woman at the café.

“She was tall…kinda pale…black hair, which she had back in a white bandana. She’s practically, like, all legs. And she’s got these gold eyes that sort of narrow at you. She’s really very…pretty. And pretty articulate, too.” She said warmly.

I could talk to her for hours.

“….are you gonna go for it?” Ruby said, after a beat. Yang’s eyes darted back up to her sister, who was staring at her with a bemused grin. “That is where this is going, right?” Yang gave an embarrassed but honest laugh as her sister rolled her eyes. “Yang, my God. You act like this every time you ‘meet someone new’.”

“Not every time!” Yang objected.

“Really? Remember a year ago? When you met that figure skater in downtown?” Ruby pointed out, and popped a strawberry into her mouth. “Remember that little heart breaker?” Yang gave a semi-pained smile, having been called out on a past trial. “Yeah, that’s what I thought…”

“This is different, though! And besides, Weiss and I are good friends now.” Yang defended. “We’re both just busy. And by the looks of it, you two seem like two peas in a pod.”

“Well, she blows up now and again.” Ruby said through a cheek full of strawberries. “But she means well.” She swallowed. “What I’m saying is, don’t go rushing into anything. Get a feel of her or something…I mean, how do you know if she’s, uh….y’know, ‘down’?” Yang through her head back and laughed as Ruby sulked on the side.

“This coming from the one who’s saying ‘don’t rush it’? That seems like more than a jump.”

“You know what I mean!” Ruby exclaimed with a small blush. “Geez! I mean to say what if she’s straight? Wasn’t it you that said straight girls were the bane of your dating existence?” Yang waved a hand at her as she took up another forkful of cantaloupe.

“Mm,” she shook her head disapprovingly. “I was kidding. And, I don’t know. I mean, I can’t tell with her…I was interviewing her, not scoping her out.”

I mean, her nails were grown out and well-manicured, but that hardly means anything. Does eye shadow count as ‘minimal’ makeup? She WAS wearing a bandana…no, that can’t mean much either…I didn’t get a look at her shoes…UGH!

“I don’t know…I think my gaydar is broken.” Yang said, almost defeated. Ruby put her bowl of strawberries to the side and brought her blanket all the way up around her shoulders.

“What if…I don’t know, what if someone went in there with you to check it out?” Ruby asked, taking time to fluff the couch cushion behind her.

“Well, that was the next thing I was going to say.” Yang flashed a smile. “I got her to go with me to the fall festival next weekend.” Ruby stared with her mouth open, and then squealed in delight for her older sister.

“Ohhh! Yang! That’s great! You asked her out! Do you have her number? Where are you guys gonna meet? Are you picking her up, or is she getting you? You should probably be the one to pick her up, since you invited her—oh! Where are you two going to dinner? Are you paying? How DOES that work, anyway? Like, which one of you girls pays for dinner? Or do you just—“

“Calm down!” Yang said, motioning with her hands for Ruby to settle and quiet down. “Oh my God, haha. No, I didn’t ask her out—“

“But—“

“Shhhh!” Yang silenced her with a wave. “I didn’t. Ask. Her out. I simply…invited her out. Y’know, for fun. To talk with her about things that aren’t work related.” She explained, picking at the last bit of melon on her plate. “But…” She smiled to herself. “I hope to ask her out if it goes well…” Ruby heaved a disappointed sigh.

“Well…that’s a step in the right direction…look at you, picking up strays.” Ruby smiled, folding her arms beneath the comfort of the blanket. Yang lovingly kicked at her sister’s knee. “Alright, anyway! Are you ready for tonight?” She said, excited. Ruby changed the input and revealed a menu screen. Yang rolled her eyes with a small groan. “You won’t regret it! Besides, this is pay back for making me watch Grease with you.”

“How dare you! That is a quality film!” Yang said, pointing at Ruby accusingly. “What are we even watching?”

“It’s this cool little series these guys did in Austin like forever ago using this videogame as a staple in storytelling.” Ruby explained, and then promptly hit the play button. “Just give it a chance.”



~*~



Weeks had passed before Yang was able to so much as give a walking glance at the Book and Nook café. Preparations for the festival were underway and being brought out around town, causing her work schedule to be tighter by the day. Blake had begun to think that maybe their conversation was all for nothing, as it came closer to the day of the festival. Silently, Blake accepted that maybe it was just a spontaneous invite with no actual intention of being fulfilled. As she began whisking the eggs to pour into a muffin recipe, she tried clearing her mind of the smiling blonde.

The morning light fell upon the wooden windowsill of the Book n’ Nook café, where the windows steamed lightly of the heat from the baking of the kitchen. Cecil was tilling in the register when a sharp knock came to the glass pane of the door. Just beyond the glass, Yang stood waving and pointing at the closed sign. He gave a throaty chuckle and closed the register.

“We’re not open yet, Goldy.” He said as he opened the door to let her in. “But get in here, before you catch a cold.” Yang entered the café, her hands buried deep into her sweater coat as the wooden floorboards creaked beneath her leather winter boots.

“I don’t get cold, Cecil.” She informed, looking around the café.

“Just hotter!” Sun called from the kitchen with a follow up laugh at his own wit. “Right, Ms. Belladonna?” Yang’s ears strained to hear any sort of response, but was met with silence. A subtle blush rose in her cheeks but quickly faded at the sound of Cecil giving a loud yawn.

“Lord give me strength. You kids tire me out sometimes. I’m surprised, though. A bunch of young bloods like yourselves don’t typically make for early risers.” He said, slipping behind the counter to take stock of the creamers available. “So what’re you in for, Yang?” He asked, writing on a notepad.

“I uh…” Yang began. “Wanted to pick up some breakfast sandwiches for Ruby and I.” Cecil winked at her and made an order.

“You got it. How’s your sister doing, anyway?” He asked.

“Well, she’s still taking classes. She’s not graduating until next spring or so. Until then, we’re together at the townhomes.” He shook his head with a tight lipped frown.

“I don’t know how you girls do it. Aren’t you the one making the money for rent over there? I know Ruby has that job at the market, but even then…” Yang almost shrugged, thinking about the next bill to be coming in at the end of the month. “Never mind, forget I asked.” He said, putting up a hand apologetically. “I just worry about you girls.”

“It’s okay, I know…we’re doing alright, Ruby and I.” Yang said with a small smile. “I’m thankful that she at least has grants to go off of. It’s books that kind of kill her sometimes, haha.” Cecil chuckled and gave a knowing smile as he picked up the broom and went into the kitchen. Through the still-swinging saloon doors, Blake emerged with a tray in her hands.

“Here’s your order.” Said Blake, coming to the front with an order of breakfast sandwiches to go. Yang perked at the presence of Blake, seeing the same white bandana pressed and cleaned for another day of work.

“Good morning, Blake.” She chimed in. Blake acknowledge her by casting a glance her way and smoothing her bangs to one side. “Remember me?”

“Yeah, you were here earlier this month.” Blake answered. She began carefully putting her order into a paper bag with the café’s logo printed on it. “…how are you?” Yang squared her shoulders and stiffened her arms into her pockets.

“I’m alright I guess.” She said. “…Look, I’m really sorry I didn’t come by since then.” Blake’s golden eyes flitted from the bag to Yang, peering at her from half-lit eyes before putting in the order amount on the register. “I’ve been really busy at the office.”

“I can imagine, with it getting closer to the end of the month”, Blake replied, almost to the point of being catty. “I don’t blame you, though. It’s been busy here too. All the local businesses are wanting us to cater pumpkin scones and zucchini bread.”

“I’d like to learn how to make those one day.” Yang smiled, imagining how baking with Blake would be.

“They’re actually not that hard to make, really.” Blake answered. “That’s $9.75, please.” Yang took out her card and passed it to her, a bemused smirk crept across her lips as she knew Blake wasn’t charging her correctly once again; thinking that perhaps she was still in the clear with her after all…if she had a chance.

“So um…are you still up for tomorrow?” Yang asked, wanting to bite her lip. Blake froze a moment as her hand hovered over the cash to give her back her change. “I know it came up really quick, but, if you’re not busy. I was wondering what time would be good for you.” Blake stared back at Yang with a neutral expression, until the corners of her eyes angled in a way that made Yang feel like she was being critically and silently analyzed. She found that breaking eye contact proved to be almost painful, as she fidgeted her hands in her pockets. “That is, I mean, I only have a motorcycle. But, I can at least meet you at your place, and we can take the trolley instead, if you’d like that better. It’s a free ride, too. Anything that goes on—“

“I can still go.” Blake interrupted, counting the change in her hand. “But, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to meet you there.”

“Oh, halfway?” Yang asked. “Okay, that’s fine…but…oh! You know what, let me give you my number. So when we are there, you can give me a buzz. And I’ll tell you where to meet me, or I’ll ask where you are. Sound good?” She opened her wallet again as she received her change from Blake, and in return wrote her information down on a napkin. “There. What time did you want to meet up, then? Or start heading out, I mean…” Blake took a side glance, thinking; sucking in the side of her lip as she thought of a proper time.

“You said all day, right?” Blake asked carefully, trying to remember what Yang has said those weeks ago. The blonde woman perked at the mentioning of an early start.

“Er, right. It all starts at 10:00am, with pumpkin pancakes. The first forty in line are free.”

“….I suppose that works, then.” Blake said, creasing the napkin and putting it in her front pocket of her teal apron. Yang took the bag of breakfast sandwiches and rolled down the top with a grin.

“Awesome! It’s a date!” She exclaimed, but her enthusiasm fizzled slightly with fear at the sight of Blake’s eyes growing a little wider at her reaction. “So, save it!” she added, hoping to cover it up. Blake blinked at her, and smiled at her with her eyes. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then?”

“Sure.” She replied, and tightened her bandana; her choppy black bangs hiding her face as she lowered her head to do so. “See you then.” Yang took in a breath and stepped out of the café.

Nice Recovery! Man…okay….now, what to do with her for a whole day? I hope she doesn’t get bored…Oh God, and she puts up with me just because I invite her along to do something…Oh man. Okay, Yang. Get it together, there’s things to do there!

Blake watched the blonde woman leave with her order, leaving her alone at the counter and wondering what to do next. She gave a gentle smile as the door swung shut and followed her until she had passed the store window completely.

…so it was a real invite after all….

Blake felt her heart swell with warmth at the idea of being out with someone. She was very much excited, until part of her hardened again; a smile replaced with a small frown.


…what’s become of me…it’s not like I was waiting for her to come back anyway…right?