Smiles before sunset

The following morning, Pine Ridge looked nothing like the town Aria had seen the day before.

Golden sunlight spilled over the rooftops, children raced bicycles down Main Street, and the smell of fresh bread drifted from the bakery on the corner. Somewhere, a radio played an old country song while someone sang along terribly enough to make a few passersby laugh.

If she hadn't witnessed the fear that settled over the town every evening, she would have believed Pine Ridge was the safest place on earth.

She stepped out onto the estate's front porch with her camera hanging around her neck.

The cool mountain air brushed against her face.

For the first time since arriving in Arizona, she felt... lighter.

Not happy.

Not yet.

But lighter.

"You actually slept."

She turned.

Darius leaned against one of the wooden pillars, holding two paper cups of coffee.

His hair was still damp from a shower, and unlike the day before, he wasn't dressed in dark clothes. A faded blue shirt replaced the usual black jacket, making him look less intimidating and far more... human.

"I managed a few hours," Aria replied.

He handed her one of the cups.

"I wasn't sure how you take it."

She accepted it cautiously.

"You bought me coffee?"

"You sound suspicious."

"I am."

He laughed.

"Fair enough."

She took a careful sip.

"No poison."

"I'm deeply offended."

"I've known you less than a week."

"Exactly."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I haven't earned your trust yet."

"At least you're honest."

"I try."

She looked at him over the rim of the cup.

"So..."

"So?"

"Why are you being nice?"

He blinked.

"Am I usually awful?"

"I didn't say that."

"You implied it."

"I asked a question."

"You interrogated me."

She couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips.

"You're impossible."

"I've been told."

"Often?"

"My brother keeps count."

That earned him a quiet laugh.

"There it is," he said.

"What?"

"That smile."

She frowned.

"I've smiled before."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You've been polite. That's different."

The comment caught her off guard.

She looked away, pretending to study the mountains beyond the estate.

"I guess I forgot how."

His expression softened.

"I don't think you forgot."

"What then?"

"I think life gave you too many reasons not to."

For a second, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

It simply settled between them like old friends sharing the same view.

Finally, Aria broke it.

"Do you always say things like that?"

"No."

"When do you?"

"When I stop pretending everything's fine."

She studied him.

There was no smile now.

Just honesty.

"You don't pretend very well."

He chuckled.

"My brother says the same thing."

"Damon actually criticizes you?"

"Oh, constantly."

"I thought the two of you agreed on everything."

Darius stared at her as if she'd just said the sky was green.

"Who told you that?"

"No one."

"Good."

He started walking toward the gates, motioning for her to follow.

"If Damon hears that rumor, he'll never let me live it down."

They left the estate and headed into town.

Main Street was alive.

Mrs. Alvarez stood outside her bakery arranging loaves of bread while trying to shoo away three children who kept asking whether the cinnamon rolls were ready.

"They'll be ready when they're ready," she laughed.

"But you said five minutes!"

"I did."

"That was ten minutes ago."

"And somehow they're still baking."

One little girl folded her arms dramatically.

"I think they're avoiding us."

Mrs. Alvarez spotted Darius.

"Perfect timing."

He sighed.

"Why do I suddenly feel nervous?"

"Because you're smart."

She pointed toward a heavy sack of flour sitting beside the bakery door.

"My grandson promised he'd help before school."

"He forgot?"

"He remembered."

She smiled knowingly.

"He just remembered football first."

Darius picked up the sack with a laugh.

"I'll take it inside."

"That's why you're my favorite."

A voice called from inside the bakery.

"You say that to everyone!"

"I do," Mrs. Alvarez shouted back.

"But he believes me."

Aria laughed.

"You people know everyone here, don't you?"

Mrs. Alvarez dusted flour from her apron before looking at Aria.

"Honey, this town has fewer than three thousand people."

She leaned closer.

"If someone sneezes on one end of Main Street, somebody blesses them from the other."

Aria laughed again.

"I was wondering why everyone keeps smiling at me."

"Oh, we've all heard about you."

She blinked.

"You have?"

Mrs. Alvarez nodded.

"The photographer from Mexico."

"The girl who wandered into the forest."

"The one who made Victor Kane lose his temper."

She counted each one on her fingers.

"You've become very interesting."

Aria looked at Darius.

"You told everyone?"

He looked genuinely offended.

"I didn't."

Mrs. Alvarez patted his shoulder.

"He didn't have to."

She lowered her voice conspiratorially.

"This town survives on two things."

"What?"

"Coffee..."

She paused for effect.

"...and gossip."

Even Darius laughed.

Mrs. Alvarez disappeared into the bakery and returned carrying two warm cinnamon rolls wrapped in paper.

"Here."

"Oh, I couldn't…."

"You could."

She pressed one into Aria's hand anyway.

"But I won't let you."

Darius reached for the second one.

"I assume this one's for me."

Mrs. Alvarez slapped his hand lightly.

"This one's for my hardworking delivery boy."

"I literally carried the flour."

"And you complained while carrying it."

"I absolutely did."

"So this one is still for Aria."

He sighed dramatically.

"I see how it is."

"You'll survive."

"I don't know. This feels personal."

Aria tore off a small piece of the cinnamon roll.

"You want half?"

He looked at it thoughtfully.

"Half?"

"I'm trying to be kind."

He accepted the piece with exaggerated gratitude.

"See?"

Mrs. Alvarez smiled.

"She's already nicer than Damon."

"I'll make sure he hears you said that."

"Please don't."

"He'll stop buying bread."

"He doesn't buy bread."

"Exactly."

The three of them burst into laughter. For the first time since arriving in Pine Ridge. Aria laughed so freely that she forgot she was supposed to be healing. Darius noticed. Wanting to tease her but resisting, he just smiled because this is the first time she has laughed and sadness wasn't the only thing in her eyes anymore.