Oh, I Do Love Sunsets.

[Ma Belle]

Belle sat on the park bench, her sketchbook propped up on her knees. She chewed on the tip of her pencil, staring down at the unfinished picture of a dog. The picture was all disproportioned --The dog’s head was too big, eyes too small and narrow, the ears were a bit off to one side and the legs looked way too short. So, it didn’t look so pretty. But it wasn’t like she was any professional either. She only did this for the fun of it and out of boredom most of the time

She sighed and flipped the sketchbook to a new, fresh page and tried it again, drawing the simple shapes that would soon make up the dog, trying to be a bit more precise and detailed than the last time.

Once finishing the basic outline of the dog, she looked up from the paper. The sun was just about setting, casting an orange glow over the park and trees. She knew she would have to head home soon if she were to finish the drawing with decent lighting, but it was still a few minutes until the sun was gone, so she could take her time and watch the sun’s decent, like she used to do on the old farm when she was little. Besides, it wasn’t like she had anyone waiting up for her at home -- her father would still be busy at work and her brother, well, he was never home much anymore. Probably out partying again like almost every other weekend night. As he put it to her once, “You’ve only got one life, so just live it up and drink it down.” She never argued with him about it, but often it did worry her when he came home wasted and she would clean up after him.

Belle closed her sketchbook and laid it down beside her on the bench, then tucked her chewed-up pencil behind one ear. She crossed her legs in front of her and stared off across the park at the fading sun. Not many other people were around to see the beautiful sight -- only one dog walker and some stoned teenager walking around, and it’s not like they seemed like they would enjoy such a thing like she would.

[Jack Lupus]

Frank plopped down on the bench next to the girl. Drugs did that sometimes, made him forget to act surly. He'd had a bit of a falling out with the pack. Said the wrong thing to Cass at the wrong time. Patience was mad at him too, and Xander- but that wasn't a big change from most days. Well, he'd acted indifferent and told them all to have a really f**k**g excellent life without him. It tore him up inside, leaving, because really, what good was he without a pack? His pack. Cassie's pack. Whatever. It had taken him exactly two seconds to decide that the proper way to deal with his problems was to get completely and utterly fucked up. He'd lost count now of the number of times he'd taken how much of what and for the better part of a week he couldn't be bothered to remember his own name. Which was fine by him. He knew now, though, that he'd have to go back soon and hope Cass would let him stay. She'd miss him, too, wouldn't she? Like he missed her? And Patience? Maybe he looked as bad as he felt and they'd feel sorry for him. He blinked, glancing around at the girl and the park before looking up, squinting his eyes against the dying light of the sunset. He looked back at the girl, blinking the round red stain from his vision.
"S'pretty, huh?"

[Ma Belle]

Belle grimaced a little when she noticed the guy in the park had decided to sit down next to her. She scooted over a little to give herself a little more breathing room, away from the stench of whatever the guy had been smoking. He looked pretty bad, but before Belle could hold any sympathy, she reminded herself that all these kinds of people did this to themselves.

She looked away from him, trying to imagine he wasn’t even sitting there and just enjoy her evening. But she couldn’t help but glance back when he said something. It sounded like he was saying “It’s pretty” but his words sounded a little out of place, like he was speaking a different language. But that’s what happens when people get all messed up.

“Yeah, it is,” Belle replied, pulling her feet up onto the bench so that her knees were up to her chest. She felt a little insecure, for what reason, she didn’t understand. Besides, like this guy would care what she did or say, if he even remembered it by the morning. But in these sorts of situations, she would just get up and leave without having to go through any trouble. So, why wouldn’t she leave now? Again, she didn’t know. So she’d just make-do with the situation at hand.

“You ever seen a sunset in the country?” Belle asked the stranger, attempting some small talk. “It’s even more pretty out there.”

[Jack Lupus]

Frank scratched idly behind his ear, seeming to have a hard time keeping his eyes focused on any one thing. The girl, a few years younger than him maybe, had scooted away. But she was talking to him. And that was a good sign, wasn’t it? He was having a hard time smelling anything over the stale scent of weed and tobacco coming from his clothes, but he was pretty sure she was human. But considering all the shit he was suffering – most of which he couldn’t blame on the drugs- he couldn’t bring himself to feel anything but grateful just then, just for her not getting up and leaving.

“Bet it is.” Frank responded thickly before glancing at her again. “I’m Frank.” He didn’t offer his hand, didn’t want to scare her off.

[Ma Belle]

Belle looked over at the guy on the bench next to her. He was out of it, like he couldn’t keep his focus on her, so she made sure she kept her words slow and clear since she didn’t feel like trying to repeat things about a million times before he got what she had said.

“Just call me Belle,” she said with a smile touching her lips.

[Jack Lupus]

“Belle.” Frank said slowly, like he was trying to pronounce a foreign word. He glanced at her again, clarity creeping back despite all his efforts. “You’re new.”