Arrival...Chapter One

Silent gestures across a sea of faces looked like a strange
pantomime to casual observers. A few eyes turned to see who was at the
end of the gestures, but it was nearly impossible. Too many people were
using their own body language in their own conversations. Everyone
seemed to have a point to make.

Talia raised her fist, opened it and wiggled her fingers, then dropped
it to her throat and slashed across with her open hand. A child next to
her stared with large grey eyes. Talia dropped her hand, exhasperated
and let a curse slip out of her mouth. The little girl spoke out in a
high pitched voice.
"My mama says you shouldn't use procanify." Talia looked down at her
and then bent to her level.
"Profanity. You shouldn't use profanity."

The child touched the corner of Talia's lip.
"You have a bit of lipstick not on your lip. You should be careful of
that." Talia stared back at her. Who was this child and why was she
even having this conversation?

This had become a horrific comedy of errors. She stood back up, but
didn't see Greg. Her eyes roamed the crowd and then she heard her cell
phone ring. She flipped it open and said hello as her eyes remained
busy in her search.

His voice was smiling. She could tell.
"You're looking too far to the left. Aim for two o'clock." She scanned
to the right and he had his fist in the air, his fingers wiggling, his
hand at his throat.
"What were you trying to say to me? More importantly, why didn't you
just ring me?"

Talia brushed her hair from her eyes and watched his face hiding behind
dark glasses and a baseball cap.
"I forgot I had it. The fist and fingers were saying, 'I want to punch
you, how are you, and cut out the conversation with the short, blond
guy. I hate watching you talk about me."

His voice chuckled and she heard him tsking her.
"Now, now. It is our prerogative. Once we are in your sacred little
coven, you give up all rights to discretion. I love to watch your face
get all serious and closed off when you trying to keep your composure,
like right now. Each step closer makes you straighten your spine
just...a...tad...more." He punctuated the last words with slight pauses
in between the words. "I'm getting closer now. Don't back up. Heaven
forbid you even try to be active, retroactive, or proactive. Just stand
there and wait for me okay?"

Talia shut the phone as he moved closer and his grin widened as he put
his phone away and walked between bodies to her. She glanced down at
the little girl still staring with wide eyes at her. Talia rolled her
eyes. "Men." The girl blinked once, turned and walked away.

Greg walked over and stood next to her, no greeting, no hello, just
placed himself next to her and looked around, his hands folded across
his chest casually.
"What is this about a coven. You calling me a witch?" Talia spoke to
the air in front of her.
"You said it, I implied it. We all know that broom in your kitchen
never gets used by the look of the floor. I think I saw you as you
streaked across the moon the other night." The entire time he spoke, he
was looking at the crowd. When he finished he peered at her over his
sunglasses. Talia glared back and his laughter grated on her
nerves.

"Why are you here Greg? No one knows you. I know you weren't
invited."

Talia watched him then. Medium height, medium coloring, not
particularly good looking, but he knew how to put himself together;
just trendy enough without screaming designer. He was good at showing
up at times when she didn't expect him. Greg would talk a while, then
wander back out again. Like a bad penny he always returned to bring
some doom and gloom with a casual smile always belying his
intent.
"You left your watch at my house. I was just returning it." He reached
into his pocket and took out a Timex that she had written off two years
ago.
"How thoughtful. You could have replaced the battery. I'm thinking it
must have run out at least a year and a half ago."
"Probably, I just wanted an excuse to watch you, talk for a minute,
remind you I haven't forgotten you. I thought the watch was a good
gimmick and rather symbolic of our relationship. Timeless." He cleared
his throat then and his sideways glance reminded her that he still knew
her too well.