She had an interview with an art gallery downtown and it had gone very well. The owner liked her portfolio and her knowledge of the current art scene. It was all commission based, but that suited her pretty well. She had to start somewhere, anyway, and this was way better than the other menial jobs she’d had during and since college. At least this was in her chosen field. With the sun shining and the nice breeze she felt nearly invincible.
Also, she deserved a treat.
Walking down the sidewalk toward a local bakery to get a sweet of some kind, her heart skipped a beat. She stopped, not quite sure why until she saw him in the crowd. It was unmistakably him - her Westley. No, no longer hers - not for a long time now but the feels still hit the same. She froze like a deer, wanting to turn away and run and also wanting to say something to him. Would he even recognize her? All of the basic building blocks were the same but the presentation had changed a little. There were rainbow streaks in her hair and she was wearing some funky outfit she thought would impress her interviewer.
She turned away and took a deep breath, putting a hand on her heart. She quickly tucked the ring under her shirt strung on a simple leather cord. He had given it to her and she usually wore it for luck. If by some chance he did recognize her it wouldn’t do to know she’d been wearing the thing all these years. It was pure coincidence she was wearing it today and happened to run into him. She hadn’t in all the time she’d been back.
He didn’t seem to have changed at all, but maybe that was nostalgia.
—-
Willie had the day off and his mother requested the little muffins, he knew the ones amused that she could never remember the name of the shop. He drove into town, something he did less often these days at least during the day. Everything he needed was in the rurals, living and working where the bulk of his work was. The hydroponic farm he was overseeing nearing completion and the irrigation system passing its final check, his scheduling was opening up for the time being. Wouldn't last heading into spring, but for now he wondered if he should take a vacation.
He was walking toward the bakery when he saw her, tilting his head to the side in concentration. KD? Surely not, his mind was surely playing with him. She would have texted if she was back in town, right? He shook his head, a fond smile on his lips, convincing himself his hazel eyes were deceived.
He opened the door to the bakery and walked inside the man behind the counter greeting him, “William … let me guess, Dozen mini muffin mix, yes?”
—
He walked right past her. Her heart fell into her shoes. She shook her head and tried to convince herself that it was alright. It had been a long time and maybe that was ok too. She also decided if this was maturity it was awful; it was only trying to keep your s**t together with extra steps.
While he was occupied she turned around and got a better look at him. He looked great, just like she remembered. Maybe a little more muscular, but everything else was the same. Her heart was hammering in her chest and her face felt flushed and red. The guy behind the counter called him William which meant she wasn’t hallucinating. This wasn’t just wishful thinking - KD was actually standing no more than five feet from him.
“Westley?” She finally squeaked out. Cringing, it sounded strange and small.
Apparently even the year could not take away her nickname for him. Hell, it hadn’t done anything to dull the emotions she felt seeing him again. It was a complicated mixture of things that she was having trouble sorting through and her confidence was completely shot, vulnerable and open in the moment.
“I thought maybe that was you.”
—
Willie turned around hearing … Well, only one person called him Westly. He turned and sure enough, the same girl with the rainbow in her hair that he thought couldn't possibly be anything but his mind playing games with him, was indeed KD.
“Wow,” was all he managed, just surprised and speechless. KD was indeed back … his face however took on a confused expression for a moment before his expression shifted to something more like blankness and he smiled.
“When did you get back,” he asked, not really sure what to do with himself, wanting to hug her and tell her how happy he was to see her, but also wanting to ask why she hadn't said she was back. Still if he was honest, he hadn't been the best at keeping contact and certainly hadn't tried to go visit her, so he didn't think he really had the right to ask that question.
Was he a bad ex-boyfriend … friend?
The clerk cleared his throat holding up the bag of muffins, “anything else?”
---
“Hi.”
She shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, not quite sure what to do with herself. She honestly thought she might go everywhere at once if she didn’t do something. Not sure if anyone else could feel it or just her - the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Hundreds of unsaid words bounced around her and any one of them might have popped out if she wasn’t so focused on keeping her mouth shut. With his question, though, KD had to hesitate.
“I’ve, ah, a while. I’ve been back for a while.”
She wasn’t sure why she’d never texted or gone out to see him. She was sure his family would still welcome her as they always had. Maybe she had been too afraid of coming home to find him completely moved on, married or something. She didn’t see a ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t found someone else. The thought hurt, but she had no room to talk. It wasn’t like she hadn’t dated at all in school, but it hadn’t been serious.
She nodded to the muffins. “Let me guess, they’re for your mom?”
At least some things didn’t change and she chuckled softly.
“Do you have to get back right away?”
---
Willie gave a soft oh at the answered question clearly not expecting the answer, but also just nodding and letting it go. He moved to grab the muffins chuckling at KD’s question. “Of course, she loves this bakery’s muffins. She wants them whenever I'm to go into town.”
He pulled out his card and looked to the KD, then back to the clerk, “a hot chai please and what my friend would like as well…”
He shook his head in the negative, “the muffins will keep and Ive got all the time in the world today. Let’s catch up.”
He didn't really want to stay in the bakery, it was pretty small even though they had a few tables to sit at. “Its been pretty warm, are you up for a walk in the park?” He wondered and he would have to ask if KD had submitted art to the Valentine's Day Charity event they’d had in February. She said she’d been back a while, but honestly that didn't necessarily mean February when it was April.
—
“You’re off today, that’s great!”
She glanced at the man behind the counter and shook her head, suddenly not all that hungry. His suggestion sounded reasonable enough to get away from prying eyes. Their reunion was too important to her to do around strangers. As awkward as she felt she was thrilled to hear he didn’t have to go back and they had time to catch up. Once he had his drink she nodded toward the door and smiled.
“That sounds like a plan to me.”
They stepped onto the sidewalk and she nodded toward the park up the road before heading in that direction.
“It’s dumb, but how have you been?” She laughed, tilting her head up to the light. “You look the same.”
The park was somewhere she’d always felt comfortable in the city - a little slice of wooded paradise among the tall buildings and gray stone. She felt better on the familiar paths and took them toward the woods without thinking much about it, steering away from the more popular picnic and playground areas.
“I hope everyone is doing alright? You’re working on the farm again, aren’t you?”
—-
Willie shook his head, “its not dumb, we havent seen each other in forever. Ive been fine, just really really busy. If I thought school was a lot, nope working and helping on the farm is so much more.” He nodded, looking himself over, he did indeed look the same, never much concerned about his looks and still very much looking like he was raised on a far.
“How have you been? You certainly look different,” which of course wasn’t a bad thing, she looked to Willie as she always had. Like KD, beautiful as always, just different.
He walked following along, not the least bit concerned about where they were going or where they’d end up, thoughts wandering to the time in the “haunted” hospital and chuckling to himself. “Uh, everyone is fine. Nicholas is getting married in the fall. I’ll be the last one still home, but even I have started putting together plans for a home. Our neighbors sold their land to us and so the farm is expanding and we’ve all decided to build homes, at home so to speak.”
It was part of the reason why his mom seemed perfectly content to let them all go, why not when your grandchildren invaded your house at all hours of the day.
“I do still work on the farm with my siblings and still help with the Satchlyn farm too, honestly more there than my own family, but my job calls for me to many of the farms in the city and outside of it too, even in the next state, well once, so farming though I love it, happens less often.”
“What about you? Surely youve done something big with your amazing work?”
—
She looked down at herself when he mentioned it, ever critical of what his eye saw.
“Seattle was…different. I liked it, but I’m glad to be home,” She smoothed her hands over the skirt she was wearing despite there being a lack of wrinkles. “I had an interview today at that gallery downtown. I guess I’m a little more dressed up today than normal.”
She blushed a deep shade of red when he complimented her, her heart thumping excitedly. Somehow despite the time he still had the ability to knock her off her feet with one of his smiles. She’d never found anyone who could do the same and it was confusing and brilliant. She wanted nothing more than to wrap him in the biggest hug but didn’t dare. Instead, KD shook her head.
“I’m fine. I moved back into the guest house at home, just until I get a better job.”
She’d practically lived in the studio before so this wasn’t much of a hardship, It was nice to be able to keep her own space. She knew she was lucky with her parents being so understanding and having the money to support their daughter while she found her way. Pausing, she looked at him in the eye and smiled sadly.
“I’m sorry I never texted. At first it hurt too much and then I was just afraid. I should have reached out when I got home but I was afraid you’d tell me you were married or something.”
He wasn’t, right? That was something he would have mentioned before. Oh, by the way I’m married to so and so and they’re great!
—
“A gallery, huh, I bet they loved you. You’ll have the best opening for sure,” he said and of course as long as KD was okay with it, Willie would be there to show her support. He had no doubt that she’d get the job, honestly Willie was the people he cared abouts biggest cheerleader … literally and figuratively.
He nodded when she said she’d moved back into the guest house and knew it was comfortable enough and KD had certainly loved it in the past. The studio, that was, he remembered it, not that he’d seen the place in years. He didn't catch her sad look but gave her a soft look at the apology he, when he thought about it, didn't think she owed him.
Still, he apologized too, “Im sorry too … I was terrible with keeping in touch,” a lesson one would think he had learned having been there before with his best friend. “I think thats my shortcoming … you shouldnt have been afraid. I promise had I been headed that route I would have told you, I wouldnt have waiting and let you find out like that … thats,” cruel he thought that last word, though he hadnt thought it.
Although it was likely obvious he added, “I'm not married … not for my mom’s lack of hinting of getting back on the saddle so to speak. I'm not oblivious to the hints, just wasn't even something to think about.” He hadnt either, not seriously or otherwise.
—
“I hope so. The owner liked my work, but I think they’re going to start me as a dealer, if I get the job.”
And that wasn’t so bad. She’d get to dress up and be quirky and talk about art all day. Not to mention the commission amount on most of the work was substantial, even if the checks might be few and far between. It was enough to get her foot in the door of the art world. One way or another she was determined to live her passion. There was no fear of failure - that simply wasn’t an option.
“Oh Thank God!” She blurted out before she could stop herself.
For some reason that struck her as funny and she laughed at her own inability to stay quiet when she should. Still, she felt the relief when he said he wasn’t and it was palpable.
“I mean, it’s ok. I think both of us needed time. Space.” She reached out and took his hand, holding it in her own for just a moment. “It’s good to see you.”
And it was. A small piece of her was restored just by seeing him, knowing he was alive and ok, especially with the war that raged all around them all the time. That had kept her up more nights than she cared to admit.
“And everything else,” she hinted meaningfully. “That’s all ok too?”
===
Willie nodded at her words, not fully understanding because it was a while since he done anything art related. No KD leaving and school picking up left little time for much else and anything he might have known or easily recalled years ago wasnt quite there now. Still he was supportive, so he voiced that with confidence that of course she’d get the job.
He didn't know how to feel about the oh thank god, because on one hand she was relieved, but on the other hand well it just rubbed him the wrong was a little. He couldnt explain it, but he shook it off and nodded at the forgiving words she spoke. They had growing to do, so to speak and he had certainly grown. He felt more assured and mature, but was he really? Probably not.
He squeezed her hand lightly when she held his and smiled, an very honest smile, “its good to see you too. I have missed you.” He was glad to have run into her and gotten to talk, even as awkward as the encounter had started.
It took him a moment to realize what she was talking about, but he nodded and dropped his voice down. “I have so much to tell you.” That moment a glimpse of the Willie from years past shown through, more open and with complete trust in KD. “Im,” he said, glancing around and dropping his voice again ever careful, “a super.”
—
“I missed you, too.”
She had, way more than she allowed herself to realize until she’d seen him again. For a while he’d been such a big part of her life and her world it had been hard to navigate that same world without him. Being away from Destiny City had helped, the new environment keeping her from thinking about him too much but thoughts of him creeped in when she began to miss home.
“Oh, wow! A super?”
She also dropped her voice but that didn’t hide the excitement in it. She was still just a squire and had taken an extra long break from it. Though it was probably like riding a bike and she’d never truly forget. She grinned widely and reveled in his good news. With the new rank came more power and that helped reassure her that he was in less danger now, more able to care for himself.
“I haven’t powered up in so long. I think I needed a break from all of that, too.”
This time she didn’t stop herself from hugging him, laying her head on his shoulder as she always had before.
“You’re still being safe, right?” She pulled away and looked at him. “Do you want me to start patrolling with you again? I suppose I can, now that I’m back.”
===
He grinned at her excitement and felt proud of the accomplishment so matter how recent it had been, less than a year in his new rank and he was rather busy to really lean into it, but still he was proud. He nodded when she mentioned a break.
“I had a break as well, but its hard in this city and eventually something always happens.”
He was really glad they were in a more secluded area, as this discussion was particularly dangerous in the open, but definitely a good one to have. He hugged her, giving her a light squeeze as he did, nodding when she asked if he was being safe, but pausing when she asked about patrolling.
“I havent been alone,” he admitted. He was rarely alone these days when it came to patrolling. “Do you remember, my best friend, my roommate, back in school?” He paused giving time for her to answer whether she remembered Eliza or not.
“Turn outs, she's a squire too,” he said before wondering if he should have told KD, but then thought Eliza wouldn't really mind. “I dont generally go out alone, especially when Eliza lives across the street. Of course Ill patrol with you if you like, but I havent been alone and Ive been safe.”
---
She nodded, remembering Eliza pretty well. It was surprising to find out she was powered too. It felt like everyone was. She was thankful to anyone who had stood beside him to keep him safe. She caught herself getting ahead of herself in her thoughts and had to reign them back in before she said or did something monumentally stupid. Instead she looked around and remembered where they were and that it was not safe to talk out in the open.
“I’m glad you’ve had help. I’m really glad you’re ok.”
She shook her head, not wanting to keep hm too long and also not really sure she was handling all of the emotions of seeing him again all that well. Her heart ached, her head buzzed and she didn’t want to keep overwhelming herself.
“We should get together to patrol. Maybe have lunch or something sometime. If you want to hang out, that is. I swear this time I’ll text you.”
She pulled out her phone and pulled up his contact. She was fairly sure it hadn’t changed, but wanted to check. She showed him before she blanched a little. His contact photo was of them on a date several years ago laughing and close together.
“This is still your number, right?” She squirmed. “I can change the photo if you want.”
—
Willie smiled, “yes, I'm really okay.” Real and okay, not taken away by this war or anything else. Same as she was, back in Destiny City and here in front of Willie. He nodded when she suggested patrolling again, and then suggest lunch and he couldn't help but to chuckle.
“Relax, yes I'm happy to hang out with you KD.” It wasnt as though they hated each other or something, they just had a few years of distance … that was something that time fixed right?
He remembered that picture and wasn't at all upset or weird out by it. “It's your phone, your choice. Keep it, change it … whatever you like.” If she wanted that picture then that was that, it would likely change one day when KD was ready to change it.
“Yes that's still my number,” he said, pulling out his phone and sending her a smiley face emoji, “guess I should get going, my mom is asking about the muffins and wants me to stop by the farm supply store on the way home.”
He gave her a quick hug and texted his mom he’d be home in an hour or so, “see you soon KD.”
ZaiaFantasy
