A Relaxing Evening

[Sean Falton]

Sean leaned against the stone railing at the tall astranomy tower. The sun setting out over the lake as the cool air began to blow in starting the night. He was alone and sometimes liked to be. As the wind blew across him his hair and robes followed as they began to dance slowly behind.

Sean saw something out over the forbidden forest and he spotted it. He gave a sharp whistle and within a minute the spot in the sky came and landed on Sean's outsrtethced arm. It was his eagle owl named Zen. Sean smiled as he braught the owl close to him and petted it on the top of its head.

"Hey Zenny. Did you catch anything out there?" He asked him in a nice soft voice as the owl closed his eyes and hooed quietly as he rubbed his head.

[Amelia Kons]

Amelia's feet patted silently up the winding stairs of the astronomy tower, her thoughts racing as she searched for solace in the tower as she had done many times before. Wearing faded jeans, a T-shirt, and a zip-up hoodie she was ready to leave her qualms and thoughts behind her.

He's in my year......it's not like it would be a big deal......but he might not feel that way... I mean.....I don't know if I feel that way.....

Her mind raced up to the very moment her hand hit the doorknob, and when she opened it she found.....

The very person her thoughts had been so focused on.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Amelia said, beginning to back away just as she saw him, "I didn't mean to intrude.....I..."

[Sean Falton]

Sean had just been looking out at the evening sun with his thoughts cleared as he hurd someone walk in behind him. He hurd a familiar voice and he slowly turned to not startle his owl.

"Oh. Thats ok!" He said quickly. "Hello." He said again and he smiled as he saw her.

"How did I get so lucky?" He asked. She was as pretty as ever.

[Amelia Kons]

"Oh well.....I...." Amelia seemed at a loss for words. She had been so certain she was going to be able to back away quickly are quietly, having nothing more to do than descend the stairs and find another place to leave her thoughts behind. No such luck.

"Well in that case," she said, still somewhat hesitantly, pushing the door open again and once she was through it, pulling it closed again. She now found herself in the somewhat small circular room with him and there would be no eye tag this time.

Deciding her blush was enough to answer his last part, Amelia said nothing and crossed the room over to him, stopping about two feet short of where he stood. She gave him a small smile, looking to the beautiful bird in his hand afterward.

"He's gorgeous," Amelia said, seeing the large yellow eyes of the owl.

[Sean Falton]

As she walked close to him Sean smiled. She did not smell like tea this time but like a lady should smell. He couldnt pick it out but it was nice. He stared for a minute just looking into her eyes with a small smile as he then realized she spoke.

"Oh, Why thank you." he said and he looked at his owl. It was also staring at Amelia for a moment before it looked out at the side of the tower and gave a short calm "Hoo."

"I think he likes you." Sean said with a smile as he looked at his owl.

[Amelia Kons]

Sean's smile quickly spread to Amelia's face as she took her eyes from the bird on his arm to his own eyes. They were fixed on her and alight with happiness. She could almost imagine the light that must dance behind her own - a forever burning fire that could shift as quickly as her emotions.

"Well you can never have too many friends," she said kindly, "even ones with feathers. Does he have a name?"

[Sean Falton]

"His name is Zen, I call him Zenny alot though." He said still holding the bird out. After a moment of silence Zen broke it by nipping gently on Sean's finger and hooing a few times.

"You want to be let go?" Sean said looking at him with caring eyes as he talked gently to the bird. After Zen responding with a click of his beak Sean spoke.

"Allright, Dont forget my mail tomorrow." Sean said as he turned around and faced the outside. He handed him a small owl treat from inside his robe. Zen quickly grabbed it in his mouth and Sean helped him take off out of the tower as he pushed his arm out.

"See ya later." He said as he watched him for a minute before turning back to Amelia.

"I love animals." Sean added to break the bit of silence.

[Amelia Kons]

"Well pleased to meet you Zen," Amelia said smiling, watching with contented silence as the bird and it's owner conversed in their own way. They seemed connected almost, as if they knew what each other were thinking. Brilliant.....

As her eyes wavered from Sean to watch the owl disappear out the window, she reverted them back at the sound of his voice. Recalling what he had said, she nodded approvingly.

"So do I. They are always so loyal and you can trust them with almost anything."

[Sean Falton]

"Yea, and as long as your nice to them. They are usually nice to you." He said checking over his shoulder once more to see if he could see Zen any longer. He couldnt, he must have been in the forest somewhere. Sean turned around and faced Amelia

"So... What brings you up here?" He asked politley.

My wishing couldnt have been so controlling as to make her come here just by that... He thought to himself with a small smile.

[Amelia Kons]

Sean's smile had Amelia wondering what he was thinking, but her own thoughts were flooding forward much too quickly for her to focus on what his might be.

Come on......think of something........You came up here to............to....

"Oh, just enjoying the scenery," Amelia said quickly, almost too fast when she looked back on it. She was impressed, however, at her own ability to think up at alibi the way she had, "The night can be really beautiful at this time of year."

[Sean Falton]

"Oh yea it can." Sean said quickly turning around to take another peek at the red sky coming in on the evening.

"I did the same thing. I come up here to think alot. Zen knows I coem up here also." He said with a small smile looking back to her.

[Amelia Kons]

"It does tend to be a good place to sort through your thoughts," Amelia said, realizing the irony in what she had just said and the true reason she had come up the steps tonight.

Amelia took a deep breath, taking in the evening air wafting through the open window. Her eyes rested on the boy in front of her, and she noticed that in the light breeze his hair was tugged in parts around his face. Watching this made her feel... almost calm.

Snap out of it.....

Shaking her head to clear her mind, she smiled at Sean, watching the sun sinking lower and lower over the horizon while framing his silhouette, and then reverting her eyes back to his. They were focused on her.

Forget snapping out of it, just remember to breathe....

[Sean Falton]

"Yea..."Sean said as he smield at her. Revealing his white teeth as he could feel a warmth inside him. She seemed to be in her own thoughts as they just stared at eachother. Each smiling as they looked. Sean felt a breeze blow through the tower and he ran a hand through his hair to settle it.

Sean turned around and looked out at the setting sun. The lake was calm and the tree tops lightly swayed. The warm air was about as cool breezes occasionaly came in. He looked to his side to see if Amelia would stand next to him, almost askign with his eyes if she would. He had two hands on the railing again as he watched.

What do I do... I cant mess this up. It's almost too perfect. Just stay calm... Dont smile non-stop like a moron. Just... Be nice. He thought in his mind as he looked out. He was nervous of doing something wrong. they still didn't know eachother well.

[Amelia Kons]

A relaxed silence took over the small space after the one word response of Sean, and Amelia was concious even of her breathing as she struggled not to break it. The way she had been watching his hair seemed to have caught his attention as she ran his fingers through it, not really helping any with it's tidyness but looking rather attractive whether he had meant to or not.

As he turned to the window he seemed almost unaware of her presence as he looked out onto the grounds - so silent and peaceful much like the place she shared with him now - and when he looked to his side Amelia's subconcious instructed her to step forward with grace and ease.

And without knowing it Amelia hadn't only crossed the last bit of space toward Sean, but she had also stepped toward something else.

Something more.

Something new.

[Sean Falton]

Sean smiled at her quickly as she stepped next to him. He felt a sort of presence with her as she stood next to him. He didn't know what but it was enjoyable. He then looked back out at the scenery just enjoying everything and taking it all in.

"Beautiful isent it?" He said quietly

Just like you. He said in his mind after he debated with himself weather to say it out loud. He even opend his mouth and took a breath of air to speak but he stopped and just sighed while he said it in his mind.