Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Alpha Quadrant- Sonatas and Serendipity

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Alpha Quadrant- Sonatas and Serendipity

OOC: This series starts here: https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf1/asimov/posts/141647/

“What’s your first name?”

A tiny smirk pulled at her mouth and he liked the way it created a little dimple in the corner. “Oh, you haven’t earned that yet.”

“Guess I’m just going to have to try then.” Ed said with surprising certainty. Coast didn’t reply.

A few silent blocks later, she stopped in front of a utilitarian low-rise building. “This is me. Thanks for the escort.”

“My pleasure,” he said softly, once again drinking in her features. “Have a drink with me. Your next night off.”

“I don’t drink,” she said flatly.

“Coffee then. Or tea. Some time when you’re free.”

An almost sad expression passed over her face before it was neatly tucked away. “I don’t think so. Goodnight, Edward Calloway.”

She left him standing there and her goodnight felt too much like a goodbye. It hurt. And yet he realized as he wandered away that she still had his jacket.

Walking along the pathway, she shifted the bag on her shoulder to the other side. No use straining her shoulders unequally. She’d be working tonight at Tank’s, but normally she didn’t work nights. Though the tips were better at night and a part of her wanted to keep that going for a while. But she couldn’t do both night classes and work constantly. At some point she’d need to sleep! And of course there was all the studying and course work to do. But she was determined to make it all work.

Walking down the path through the Central Garden, the greenspace served as one of the primary communal spaces for the settlement. She loved it here. It reminded her of a park near her childhood home on Midos, and most of the time it was relatively quiet, though occasionally you could hear children playing. She avoided those times though. The sounds of kids squealing or babies crying were still too difficult and she wasn’t sure if or when that would ever change. It had gotten easier, but not enough. Not yet.

Rounding the corner to her favourite little spot overlooking a pond with large brightly coloured fish, Coast froze. Someone was sitting there. It happened. But it was who was sitting there that surprised her. “You’re in my spot,” she said lightly to the man sitting there with his legs outstretched and reading a physical book.

Those sharp blue eyes lifted to meet her gaze and Edward Calloway gazed up at her, breaking into a smile. “Your spot, huh? Well then, that puts us into a bit of a dilemma then, doesn’t it?” He uncrossed his feet and leaned forward. “Tell you what, how about we share the bench? Plenty of room for both of us and I promise not to crowd you. Won’t even know I’m here.”

She could leave, and she was minded to, but the next thing she knew she was sitting, bag slipping off her shoulder to the bench. It was the book. It was so contrary to the freighter boy from the bar. “What are you reading?”

He handed her the book and she peeked at the cover. “The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul by William Seighart.” She looked up at him, her brows raised. “Really? Poetry?”

“What do you have against poetry? Unless it’s too many people using it to pick up women? Or is it that it’s not manly enough?” he said, dropping his voice into a pseudo-gruffness.

She handed the book back to him. “Bite your tongue Calloway, I don’t believe in that nonsense. I’ve met enough macho men in my life, I don’t need any more of them. Besides, I play the piano. Do you really think I’d have something against poetry?”

He flashed her a grin. “Just checking.” Opening the book again, he went back to silently reading and much to her surprise didn’t attempt to engage her in further conversation.

Coast pulled out one of her data pads and began reading through the next chapter of her biology homework. She was a fast reader, but having to work as well meant she couldn’t get as much reading time in as she’d like. So she stole every moment to do so.

Twenty minutes later after some rather companionable silence Edward looked over. “What are you reading?”

“Biology textbook,” Coast siad, not lifting her gaze from her words.

“What degree are you working on?” he said.

Heat spread through her cheeks and down her throat to her chest. “I, uh…”

He leaned towards her, brows knit with concern. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by the question. I made an assumption, didn’t I?”

Coast nodded slowly. “It’s secondary school level stuff. I, well… I didn’t-” She mumbled the rest.

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” he said gently.

“I didn’t finish secondary school,” she said sharply, turning her head away and gazing off into the green of the park.

“Hey, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You doing classes now to finish then?” he asked. Coast nodded and that made him smile. He wasn’t sure exactly how old she was but he figured close to if not a little younger than him. “That’s really courageous, you know?”

Puzzlement swept over her face as she lifted her head again. “Come again?”

“Well, you’re working and my guess, which could be entirely wrong, is that you’re on your own here. So you’re looking after yourself by working and you’re doing school? That’s pretty amazing Coast.”

“Maybe,” she said softly. She was doing all this so she had options. What those might be she wasn’t sure but she didn’t want to be stuck here on Arkelis forever. “What about you, Freighter Boy? What’s your deal?”

Edward shrugged. “Working to get by, just like you. But I’m learning a lot of engineering. I like taking things apart and putting them back together. I’m good at it.”

They talked about inconsequential things for a few more minutes before Coast gathered her things and got ready to leave.

“You working tonight?” Edward asked.

For a moment she didn’t know how to reply. But against her better judgement (or in spite of it), she nodded. “Yeah. Tank’s tonight. Good tips,” she said, smirking at him.

“You earn it.”

Coast snorted and moved off. “Bye, Freighter Boy.”

“See you later, Coast.”

She moved off a few steps and then turned, staring at him hard. Her expression softened. “It’s Shara. Shara Costa.” And with that she left, leaving Edward sitting there with a wide grin, thinking to himself that he was going to marry that girl. He didn’t know why he felt so certain about it, but he just did. And that was enough for him.

To be Continued…

~Ed & ‘Coast’