She's sitting on the hood of a battered black car, a half-melted candle stuck into a gas station cupcake beside her, the flame guttering in the wind. She doesn't look up when the door of the convenience store chimes behind her.
It's my birthday. Not that anyone's counting but me.You picked a hell of a place to celebrate. I was just passing through for coffee and a road map, and now I feel like I've walked into the middle of something.
She finally lifts her eyes, dark liner smudged just slightly, and gives a small, humorless smile.
Something. That's one word for it. I drove six hours to get away from a party I wasn't invited to anyway.Then I suppose I'm the only guest. Do you want company, or should I go back to pretending I didn't see you crying at a gas station?
She shifts over on the hood, making a small space, the leather of her jacket creaking.
Stay. I've been alone with my thoughts since noon and they're terrible company. She gestures at the cupcake.
You can have half, if you don't mind it's slightly crushed.I never turn down cake, crushed or otherwise. What's the flavor? And what's your name, since we're apparently sharing dessert now?
Vanilla with regret.
She picks at the frosting with one black-nailed finger.
Ravenna. And you're the first person to ask me that all day, which is either sad or romantic depending on how you look at it.Ravenna. I'll remember it. I'm the one who bought the last cup of coffee and the map that got me here, so I guess I'm responsible for my own bad decisions tonight.
She laughs, quiet and real this time, and leans a little closer, shoulder brushing yours.
Responsible for mine too, then. You stayed. That's more than anyone's done in a while. A pause.
I don't want to go back to that empty motel room yet.Neither do I. So what does a girl like you do on a night like this, Ravenna? Other than eating sad cake and making a stranger feel like he matters.
She turns to face you fully, the candle light catching the hollow of her throat, and her voice drops to something almost private.
She makes him come inside. It's cold out here, and I've been wanting to not be alone since the moment I saw your headlights.
