my fault(s) // samuel

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

outfit, shoes and coat are in the shop a block away

Key drank herself to sleep last night, crying after watching Bridges of Madison County. It was the saddest movie she knew. The first time she saw it was with her mother, and Key remembered how they held hands on the couch even though their hands got sweaty long ago. Both of them wept openly, but silently, and then went to bed without a word. There were no words for that kind of sadness. It just needed to be felt, to drown in until it went away.

The water where she stood with her pants rolled up was only a foot deep, so there was no risk of drowning, but the water was terribly cold. Refreshing, though. Like its purity was warded off her hangover.

There were weeds that grew through the pebbles underwater that Key needed for a potion. They were cold, too, and slimy. But Key grabbed them and pulled - they came out easily. River plants didn't need roots that grew deep to collect water - their roots were more like anchors. Key had a basket on the bank that she tossed to the weeds into. One more bunch and she'd be done.

Key took a breath and took a step forward, the water level rose to touch previously dry skin and she shivered. Bending over, she plunged her arm into the water. This definitely required hot tea later.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

OUTFIT

Sam had the day off, and he wasn't entirely sue what to do with himself. He liked his job, and he liked time with his grandmother, but it was far too nice a day to spend it inside watching soap operas and arguing about books over the phone in Swedish. He would have called Chloe if he hadn't been sure she was sound asleep. The poor thing worked such bizarre hours... Or she was spending time with Mason, the brother he was terrified to meet. Sam would have to meet him now that he was dating Chloe. That still felt weird, even just thinking it. But it was a good step, the right step...

Sam decided to sleep in and after he'd eaten something, he went for a walk. If he were any good at fishing, he might have considered it, but as it was, he was a lousy fisherman. But he did walk to the river, figuring he could at least look at the fish and the sky and what not. Maybe he'd find a good picnic spot.

As he walked, he noticed someone in the distance, in the water no less. By late October, the water was cold and Sam shuddered at the thought. He had grown up in California after all. He realized though maybe the chick had water powers. Even though he knew magic hid in this town, it never ceased to surprise him.

As he got closer though, he realized it was Caim, the girl in charge of the apothecary after her parents died. They were nice people, it was such a shame. It made him regret never being close to his parents. "Hey Key," He called out as he got closer. He made deliveries rather often and so they knew each other, it was strange to see her out of context though.

"What's crackin'?" He asked when he was only a few yards away.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

When Key had gone to college, she left friends that she had at home behind. They grew apart, and a lot of it was Key's fault. At the time, she thought she was on to more exciting things. Exotic places and people. Key never thought she'd need the friends she had here ... until she was stuck here forever. When Key came back, many people offered her condolences but no one was left close enough for her to really talk to. There was her sister, but ...

As such, Key never thought she'd hear a casual "Hey Key" ever again. Grasping the weeds and straightening up, Key whipped her hair around. "Oh." she said, surprised - a reaction, much like her saying "ow" when she was surprised by physical things. "Hello Sam." she called back. The river wasn't exactly a roaring river, and she didn't need to yell, but she raised her voice enough to be heard over the rippling water tickling the bank.

Talking to people. Being casual. Right Key, you remember how to do this. "Not too much." Key responded, waded towards shore and tossing the weeds in her basket. Her pale calves were covered in goosebumps, along with her arms. "How have you been?" Key asked, kicking herself for being so vague. There must be specifics she remembered. "How's your grandma?" she added.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam smiled as he watched her think. She did like Chloe did, I such a way that you saw the wheels turning. His eyes flicked to the basket on the shore as he came to stand on the bank near it. Key must have been collecting something for the shop. Honestly, it looked a little gross and he was amazed she was doing it, and that she didn't have those fancy boot overalls that scientists wore on TV to stay dry. Maybe he'd order her a pair and be friendly. They couldn't be that expensive right? Sam almost didn't care, he was in a good mood, but that was pretty typical for him.

"Oh she's good, baking up a storm as usual, I'll bring over some cookies next time you have a delivery." Sam said with a smile. That woman loved her baked goods. She seemed to be baking even more recently, trying to fatten him up. Chloe too, who by his grandmother's estimation was too skinny to grow healthy babies. But Chloe, as super anti-marriage, and Sam as a child at heart, they really weren't even remotely thinking about kids. Not to mention they'd been dating like two weeks at this point.

"And things are good, I have a girlfriend now," Sam said with a grin. He wiggled his eyebrows a bit. "So that's nice." Sam had been relieved to find out he wasn't just a big brother substitute for Chloe.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key found herself smiling, genuinely touched. She looked over at Sam in an new light. It was always obvious he was a happy-go-lucky and sweet guy, but it was awfully sweet him offering her cookies. Or maybe Key was so exposed and sensitive nowadays that anything seemed to make her weep. Like an open wound, even the smallest touch hurt.

"Thanks." Key said, trying not to sound overwrought with emotion. "That's really nice."

"I'll treat you to hot chocolate next time you come around. It'll go well with cookies." Key offered, not wanting to accept any kindness without offering some in return. She was surprised by the girlfriend news - her life had been spiraling downward. She was surprised to hear that the world seemed to be moving on without her. "Congrats." Key said, still trying to process the information - she used to be good at this. Making conversation and gossiping. Sam's obvious happiness was also a little confusing to her. She'd forgotten that people could be so happy.

"Who's the lucky girl?" Caim asked, finally reaching shore. The cold air was worse on her wet, exposed skin - she almost wanted to go back into the water. Instead, shivering, she stiffly walked over to her basket and reached for the towel underneath. Then she wiped herself dry.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

"Hey sure thing," Sam said with a shrug and a smile. He wouldn't say they were friends exactly, but he made an effort to be nice to basically everyone. As such, Caim was no exception, and she needed a friend, what with her family being gone and all. "What are random friends for?" He said with a chuckle, watching her shiver in the brisk air. Sam might have offered her his jacket if he wasn't pretty sure he'd be a chilly grouch without it.

"Oh, Chloe," Sam said. "She's a bartender at the bar, her brother is Mason, the one who just got out of jail?" He explained, trying to think of how explain who she was other than 'she's short and adorable and hot lips' which probably wouldn't be much of a reference for Key.

"Not looking forward to meeting him, pretty sure my ass will be on a platter." Sam joked, but he was afraid to meet Mason. The guy was a giant, and an ex-con. But he did share DNA with Chloe, so hopefully he wouldn't be too hard to win over. Sam really did like his sister after all.

"It looks like you could use some hot chocolate right now," Sam pointed out as she dried off.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Caim returned the smile, only not sure if they were really friends, or if she wanted them to be. Did she want a friend to share in her misery? Could she even hold down a friend anymore? It felt like there was nothing at all good about her anymore. What could she offer? She sat down on a large, dry stone and rubbed her calves hoping the friction would warm them slightly. "Um, random things? I guess." Key responded with a nervous smile.

Key's breath seemed to catch in her chest at the mention of Mason. In all honestly, she had forgotten he had a sister. Did she know his sister? Would her sister like her? And then Caim remembered that Mason probably didn't like her and everything was impossible, so it didn't matter anyway. Key had to constantly remind herself of that. "Oh, he's not so scary." Key said, then felt self-conscious. Hanging out with ex-cons surely made locals a little nervous. "I mean, sure he's kinda huge, but he's kinda nice ... and funny." Key could probably list his positive qualities indefinitely, but she figured she'd stop. Surely Sam, who now had a girlfriend, would not be interested in Mason's spectacular pectoral muscles.

Key stood up and grabbed the basket and towel. "Hot chocolate sounds like a great idea. I think all I have in the store today is tea though." Since the river ran parallel to Market Street, they were practically behind the shop. Key pointed awkwardly at it. "I'll go make some." Key wasn't sure if she should directly invite him, or if she shouldn't, or if her statement was invitation enough. She wasn't opposed to his company, but she didn't know how to communicate it.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam laughed, "I would have said random 'favors', but 'things' is just as descriptive." He said with a nod. Key was so delightfully awkward sometimes. But it was endearing, another thing he liked about Chloe. Sam couldn't remember if he'd always thought about her this much or if it was just because they were now dating. It was hard to say.

"Oh so you know him?" Sam asked. Granted, Sam was only twoo years younger than Mason, but since he went to private school, he didn't know the guy very well. Since he worked in and out of town, he didn't need Heatherfeilds own to fix all his electronics. Either way, he'd be meeting him as the boyfriend of his little sister, that had to be scary. "I hope you're right, but then again you're not getting busy with his little sister." He pointed out with a laugh, but he felt a little more hopeful.

She mentioned tea and then pointed awkwardly at the shop. Sam furrowed his eyebrows, a little confused. He pointed with her, "Are you inviting me, or trying to get back your alone time?" He asked with a smile, not really caring which it was. Sam wasn't the type to get offended.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key chuckled along with his retort, more than willing to be the butt of the joke. She surely deserved some teasing. The only other person willing to do that nowadays was Mason. "'Favors' works, sure. Although I was trying to be broad and inclusive. But narrow it down, why don't you." It felt good to tease back, too. Something she also only seemed to do around Mason.

"Yeah. I met him." Key felt defensive all of a sudden. "Car trouble." She didn't necessarily have to explain herself, but Key didn't want people to get the wrong idea. Small town people were far too happy to speculate and gossip. One small indication ... and Key didn't want people talking. Her friendship with Mason was something she wanted to herself. Something just hers and no one else could touch. Something I could call mine. Then Key blushed at the mention of "getting busy". "Yeah, no, I am certainly not doing that." Key shook her head. "Otherwise you'd have a problem." she joked. "What's she like?" Key ventured to asked. She wasn't sure if she could even conjure her face. And now Key was curious about all things related to Mason.

Glancing at the shop and back to Sam, Key tried not to be tongue-tied. "Oh, well, I'm inviting you. Unless you want alone time, or to keep walking." Key shrugged, looking hopelessly disheveled . "You know ... whatever." Key almost wanted to come out and say it Sorry, I forgot how to have friends.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam ran his fingers through his mop of hair and just laughed, secretly glad that he got her to tease him. It felt good to just quip and laugh and be. It was the secret of his happiness to be sure.

He nodded as she discussed having car trouble. Mason was supposed to be the best with that sort of thing. She said it almost like she was being defensive, which was silly given that Sam pretty much didnt assume anything or hold things against people. But he was distracted by her next comment and he laughed heartily. "True, I would have a problem." He said with a smile. At the questions, what was she like, he would have offered so many answers. "You sure you wanna ask me that? I am in love after all." He joked.

"But, she's short, kinda oval face, long hair... awesome eyes," Sam said. "Always seems a little uncomfortable and blushes a lot." He smiled thinking about it, it was really endearing. "Spunky..." Sam trailed off and gave a shrug. He probably had a photo on his phone he realized, and pulled it out of his pocket to start searching for one that would be good enough to show her.

Turns out, she was offering tea, and while he was more of a coffee person himself, he wouldn't turn down a hot drink with a friend. "Well, count me in." He said, falling into step beside her. Sam flipped through his phone photos as he walked, settling on one that he liked and held it out to Caim. "And this is Chloe."

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Love? Wow, already?" He was just telling her how he had a girlfriend and now he was talking love. Weren't guys supposed to bad at admitting they were in love, or something? Although Key never really bought into stereotype-type crap, so there was really no point in thinking it now.

As they walked towards the shop, Caim took her keys out of her pocket to unlock the back door. She smiled at all the things that Sam was saying - it was so sweet. He really sounded in love. "You sound like a great pair. Very cute." Key nodded approvingly, although truthfully Key couldn't entirely picture Mason's sister. Anytime she did, she ended up thinking of Mason. But they did sound like a cute couple in theory. Key figured anyone as cheerful as Sam could have someone who blushed often, well, blushing often.

Right at the door, Key looked over at his phone and founded herself suddenly mesmerized. "They both have blue eyes." she breathed, before mentally shaking herself. Unlocking the back door, Key led them into the office of the shop where Key quickly sat down and put on a pair of thick, woolen socks. The office was small, just a desk, a lot of paperwork, the safe, and a table with a hotplate, on which stood a tea pot. It was already filled with water, so one Key stood up she just flipped it on. Then going into the actual shop, Key changed the sign on the door so that it read "Open" instead of "Lunch break - be back in an hour". "You can sit behind the counter with me." Key said, sitting down herself. There were always two chairs, for those days when Key's mom manned the store with one of her daughters.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam laughed and shrugged lightly. "No time limit on love," He said. He and Chloe had been best friends for over two years, and you can start to care for someone, love them in some way even, as soon as you meet them. He'd been subconsciously crushing for a while, and now they were together and he was swept up in it. That was the best way to be, the honeymoon period, when all is smiles and kisses and laughter.

They were a rather cute couple, though he had managed to give her a black eye from trying to kiss her. His chin had ended up in her eye, it was very suave. But he doubted Key wanted to know all that. On the other hand, Sam liked shaking people up and Key could use a little fun and difference in her life.

"Gotta love some baby blues," Sam nodded with a chuckle, sitting down behind the counter where she indicated. He had never really seen Mason's eyes, but he would take Caim at her word in this respect.

"So what crazy new flavor are we having today?" He asked, knowing she generally made new flavors for the shop. Sam would try most things once. Some thought he was stupid, but he liked to think he was just living life.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Gotta love some baby blues Key smiled vaguely but wasn't sure how to respond to that exactly. It'd be safer altogether to stay away from the subject of Mason, though Key wished she could keep looking at the picture of Chloe. That was probably a bad idea, though.

Key was surprised that Sam remembered about the new flavors. Then she told herself she was silly for feeling so. Sam came around all the time. Years ago she even remembered having very nice conversations with him - he even had tea with her and her mom on more than one occasion. Her mother would've definitely offered anytime he came by. But it was also more than that. They way Sam brought it up it was like they were doing something that they normally did - like friends having a routine. Something regularly shared. It was kinda nice to think of it that way.

"Ginger citrus with wildberry honey." Key said with a smile. Shyly she added, "It's my new favorite. It's like ... springtime in a cup. It's lemony with a touch of orange. The ginger gives it a subtle ... kick." Key glanced at Sam to make sure he was following. She could talk about teas indefinitely. "And the honey makes it sweet, but not too sweet. Not overwhelming. And when it's all brewed, it's the most wonderful color." Key glanced up at the ceiling trying to put it into words. "It's deep and warm, like gold but clear. Like amber."

Key cleared her throat, suddenly self-conscious about her obsession. "It's great iced, too." she added, trying to sound casual.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam bit back a laugh and just smiled at her. Key was adorable in a nerdy way. She rambled on about her new tea, springtime in a cup, and all the flavors and intricacies he wouldn't be able to distinguish. He wondered if his sisters had obsessions like this, cute ones. He barely ever saw them. Chloe was the only one he knew who got so embarrassed talking about what they cared about. "Bring it on." He chuckled with a wave of his hand.

It was nice to hang out with her a bit. He'd always thought she seemed nice. He wasn't a fan of silences though, and so he got to talking again. "Not to be critical, but I think you need some seasonal decor up." He said with a smile. Halloween was right around the corner after all, and everyone loved a good pumpkin. The festival was usually awesome too....

"Speaking of, I'm pumped for the festival," Sam said. "You going with friends? Or got a date?" He asked. He was obviously going with Chloe--assuming she didn't have to wrk. But that would be such a crime.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Caim smiled, appreciating his continued good humor. She wasn't normally so self-conscious but the lack of regular socialization and general life insecurities made her feel out of touch with the world. But talking and sitting next to Sam - hanging out with another person with whom she wasn't in love with - Key felt her social skills coming back to her. She used to be good at this and maybe it was like riding a bike: it never really leaves you. She got up to prepare the cups. "Alright, I shall be back shortly. You just sit there and try not to scare away customers."

As Key walked into the back office, she hoped he realized that was a joke. She drizzled honey on the bottom of two mismatched mugs. The kettle was whistleling a minute later. Key steeped the tea for another minute, and then brought the mugs of hot goodness back to the front. "Ta-da!" Key sang, placing the larger mug before Sam - mother instilled in her to always be generous with guests. Sitting down, she sipped from her own cup, and resisted the urge to moan in pleasure. It was almost like lemonade, but it warmed every bit of her as she drank.

Key looked around her store. "Yeah, I keep meaning to drive over to one of the farms and pick up pumpkins and gords." Key brought her knees to her chest, crossing her legs at the ankles. "Maybe I'll find time to do that today."

Key almost blushed at the suggestion of her going on a date. "Ha, yeah, no date. And I um ... don't have many friends in town anymore. I was probably just walk around and hang out around family - see if one of my aunts needs help baking or something." Key had gotten some very nice invitations, but she knew most people were just being polite and sympathetic.

"You're going with the love of your life?"