“It’s really windy around here,” commented Azura, who was desperately trying to fill the silence as the trio neared the mechanic’s shop.
“It’s like that around my house, too,” said Roselyn, her long, raven hair trailing behind her.
Kaelin shrugged in indifference as she walked a path more familiar to her than her own household. “There’s always a breeze here, and it always feels a little drafty in Broderick’s place.”
“Who?”
“Broderick. He’s the mechanic.”
Roselyn turned to her friend in surprise. “You know him?”
“Yeah. I wander around here a lot when I’m trying to avoid my house. He’s usually standing outside, staring at the sky a lot like Jay does at night. We talk to each other sometimes.”
Another silence fell upon them; it was truly a strange day. The three girls each had a sinking feeling in their minds but were reluctant to share it with one another. It wasn’t long before the trio reached the shop, and with Kaelin in the lead, they made their way to the back where the door leading to Broderick’s living space was.
She raised a hand to knock, but Azura stopped her. “I think he’s talking to someone,” she whispered.
Leaning a bit closer, the girls heard Broderick’s voice, but couldn’t make out any of the words. They jumped back when he opened the door.
“Oh,” he jerked up in surprise. “You girls are up rather early. How’s it going, Kaelin?”
“Alright, I guess. Were you just talking to yourself?”
He blinked a few times. “No.”
Roselyn and Azura were slightly awed by the man standing before them. He had an exceptionally solid build, and his t-shirt wrapped tightly around his muscular torso. Slight stubble littered his square jaw and short, brown hair sat atop his head. A piercing in his left ear and right eyebrow added to his rough yet handsome face. However, his eyes were what truly captivated them. Streaks of silver radiated from the centers, adding a mysterious glow to the normally brown irises. His eyes held a deep, ancient wisdom, much like Jay’s eyes did. The similarities between the two gave Azura an idea.
“Hey,” Broderick said, snapping the girls from their trances. “You’re Tony’s daughter right?”
“Yeah. My name is Roselyn.”
“Broderick. Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand and looked towards Azura. “I don’t know this one.”
“The name’s Azura.”
“Nice to meet you, too. So what are you three up to so early in the morning?”
Azura had a plan in mind and decided that now was the time to put it into action. “Did a woman named Jay pick up a car from here yesterday in the afternoon?”
His reaction was sudden, subtle, and unmistakable. Broderick’s eyes darkened and his muscles tensed. “Yes,” he said tersely.
“Awesome! Can you give us a minute?”
“Sure.” Azura pulled Kaelin and Roselyn off to the side.
“What are you doing?” Kaelin demanded.
“We have to get him together with Jay!”
Both Kaelin and Roselyn stared at their younger friend. “What?”
“Come on! Jay hasn’t really met any guys yet and she should be hitting the dating scene at her age! You saw his reaction; maybe he’s interested in her. Besides, he’s a good looking guy and the two would probably look cute together.”
“How did you think of all this when you barely met the guy? He looks a little rough to me,” Roselyn commented.
Kaelin smirked at the thought. “He looks like that but he’s actually one of the nicest guys out there. I don’t think this is too bad of an idea. Maybe it’ll help Jay come out of her shell a bit.”
“Alright. You do the talking though, alright Azura?”
“Secret agents and matchmakers,” Kaelin sighed. “You’re mind works in strange ways.”
A wink was Azura’s only response. “Hey Broderick!”
“Yes?”
“We have this tradition of eating a late lunch at the park every day. Want to come along?”
“Sure. I have nothing to do in the afternoon, anyway. You’re talking about the park around the corner, right?”
“Yep. I’ll see you at two!”
“Wait!” he stopped them as they were leaving. “How do you guys know Jay?”
“She’s been living in my house for years. We’re like sisters,” Roselyn said warmly.
Broderick’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Well, I’ll meet you for lunch. I have things to do.” He slipped back into his room and shut the door softly. “I knew of their existences in this world, but I never dreamed that they were so close. To think that Jay was with them all this time…”
The slight draft turned into a strong breeze.
“Are you still unable to speak? That will change sooner or later, my friend.”
/Sooner than you think, Broderick, / the wind replied. /Sooner than you think. /
