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[closed - Caden - blackout]
She's out on the beach when the lights of Siren Cove go out and for a long moment, April only stands there, her toes in the cool sand, a light shawl wrapped around her shoulders, staring back toward the suddenly dark town. It's a bit of a coincidence, she thinks, the town suddenly going dark on Halloween, and she considers returning home to her apartment and trying to call Les before she realizes it's not just that the lights have gone out.
Even the sky is darker. Somehow it's like everything has been turned down and in a town filled with sirens and witches, April can guess it isn't an accident. She's near Caden's place, had been debating stopping by for a visit when the lights had gone out, but now that everything is dark, she's willing to bet he has his hands full dealing with his own place. Trying to find candles or a flashlight, whatever it is people do in a situation like this and so she decides not to bother him.
She should go home, but as she bends to hook her fingers in her shoes, she catches sight of something. A small shadow darts across the beach in front of her, zigzagging across the sand before it suddenly changes directions and charges directly at her. April takes two rapid steps back, shoving her free hand into her bag for her mace, but before she can close her hand around it, her foot catches on a rock and her ankle twists at a painful angle, sending her down to the sand.
"Fuck," she curses, still groping for the mace, but by the time she has it in her hand, whatever had been running toward her is gone. She's alone on the beach. Alone in the dark with a twisted ankle and... no cell reception. Of course.
Caden's house is close, but there's no guarantee he's even home and as April struggles to get herself back on her feet, she can already feel her ankle swelling. She's going to be stuck here all night unless someone finds her.
And it's then she sees another dark, looming figure glide across the sand and hopes someone finds her sooner rather than later.
Even the sky is darker. Somehow it's like everything has been turned down and in a town filled with sirens and witches, April can guess it isn't an accident. She's near Caden's place, had been debating stopping by for a visit when the lights had gone out, but now that everything is dark, she's willing to bet he has his hands full dealing with his own place. Trying to find candles or a flashlight, whatever it is people do in a situation like this and so she decides not to bother him.
She should go home, but as she bends to hook her fingers in her shoes, she catches sight of something. A small shadow darts across the beach in front of her, zigzagging across the sand before it suddenly changes directions and charges directly at her. April takes two rapid steps back, shoving her free hand into her bag for her mace, but before she can close her hand around it, her foot catches on a rock and her ankle twists at a painful angle, sending her down to the sand.
"Fuck," she curses, still groping for the mace, but by the time she has it in her hand, whatever had been running toward her is gone. She's alone on the beach. Alone in the dark with a twisted ankle and... no cell reception. Of course.
Caden's house is close, but there's no guarantee he's even home and as April struggles to get herself back on her feet, she can already feel her ankle swelling. She's going to be stuck here all night unless someone finds her.
And it's then she sees another dark, looming figure glide across the sand and hopes someone finds her sooner rather than later.
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"It's just me?" He asks softly, carefully, voice tinged with confusion and a little hope. He'd thought that April and Les were just friendly, flirty people, that maybe they liked seeing Caden blush. Some people tease him just for his reaction and he thought maybe it was like that, in a playful instead of malicious way.
He never really thought they actually liked him, not like that. But she's making it sound like they might? He isn't sure that he's following along.
After a moment he shifts a bit closer, back to where he was before with his thigh brushing April's. He licks his lips and turns his head to look at her. "So, I mean, you know I have feelings for you." He swallows hard and bites his bottom lip. "And Les, well. I like him too. I just - I wasn't going to say anything. You guys are together and I respect that. I didn't - I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable."
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If nothing else, though, she knows before she does anything here, she has to talk to him. They might be working just fine without labels, but that's one thing she's sure he'd rather she bring up with him than just go ahead with.
"Tell you what, you come over for dinner like we suggested," she says easily, still smiling over at him. "I'll tell Les how you rescued me, we'll have dinner and it'll be fun." She might need to talk to Les first, but she saw the way he'd looked at Caden. She's fairly certain he likes him, too.
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"Pity friendship?" He laughs to let her know that he's teasing and then looks at her curiously. He's not entirely sure what's going to happen at this dinner, but he knows that he'd be an idiot to turn down the invitation.
He thinks about what could happen with a blush on his cheeks, unintentionally giving her a bit of a smoldering look as his mind races, along with his pulse. Really, there's so many ways to take a dinner invitation after a confession of his feelings and the confirmation that they're both possibly interested in him. He's probably wrong, but still it's a good image, all exciting and new.
She's looking at him expectantly and god, he wants, so he allows himself to reach out and finally touch her soft hair where it's spilling into her face. It slips between his fingers like silk and he swallows hard as he tucks it behind her delicate ear, thumbing at her cheekbone just once before dropping his hand.
"Yeah," he says softly, surprised by how rough his voice sounds. "I think I'd like that."
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"Good," she says, her lips still curved into a smile. "I like the sound of this plan. I'm sure he'll be grateful to hear about how you looked after me tonight." And she's teasing a little, but she means it as well. She likes to imagine what Les might think of the story, of Caden coming to her rescue on the beach.
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"You make it sound like I wrestled dragons for you. Or climbed a tower," he laughs. He feels all jittery and excited, like he's sixteen instead of a few months shy of thirty. It's ridiculous. Then again, it is kind of new and exciting, if he's getting the right idea. And it's been a very long time since he's felt for anyone what he feels for April.
And knowing that there's hope, no matter how small a glimmer? That's enough to have his heart beating faster. He's not sure how all this works, or if it even can, but he's going to go to this dinner and find out.
He wants to touch her so badly, but he can't, so he practically sits on his hands as he leans over to look at her ankle. "How are you feeling, by the way? Do you need more ice? Maybe a glass of wine?"
He scrunches his face up in a smile as he laughs and reaches up to grip the back of his own neck, looking at her and then away again. He could probably use the alcohol.
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Even if the thing she's doing isn't what might be considered normal.
"You help me over there to hang out with Coop again, then make sure I can home safe and I'll call you my hero for the rest of my life," she says with a smile, offering Caden her hand. "Let's go."
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Caden is almost disappointed when she mentions the party, because he'd been enjoying their time together, but after thinking it on a moment he understands. It's not that she isn't enjoying his company, but maybe nothing good can come of being alone together right now. Or that could just be wishful thinking. It's all so confusing, and maybe some time away from it will help him clear his head.
"Sure, that sounds like fun. Just let me blow out all these candles." He stands up to do so, leaving one burning on the coffee table that he plans on taking with them, and looks down at her hand, something small and delicate but has the power to drive Caden crazy with a simple touch. He takes it and helps her gently to her feet, lifting her arm up over his wide shoulders and curling a hand around her waist to help her walk. "I can drive you home later, whenever you're ready."
They make their way over to Coop's slowly, and the candle in Caden's hand seems to keep the strange shadows away. He looks over at April, a little breathless at the way she looks in the candlelight, blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. People are crowded at Coop's in the dark and the man himself is walking around shirtless, to no one's surprise. Caden can't help but to laugh as he helps April inside. "Happy Halloween."