Salem Falls

“Hey! Sorry I’m late!”

Louis bounded through the door significantly past four. Evelyn was up on the ladder again, organizing the top shelf of vases at the front of the store, while both Ezra and Loretta attempted to sort through a new shipment of stamps for Loretta’s collection. Despite her shift being over, Evelyn didn’t mind sticking around to help while she waited for Louis to pick her up. He was actually taking her on a real date, one that they both knew was for sure a date.

Her heart skipped at the sound of his voice. When turning around to greet him, she wobbled a bit on the ladder, a gasp escaping her mouth. She was able to steady herself before sharing a fearful glance with Louis. And then they both fell into a fit of laughter.

“Now who’s this, Evelyn?” Ezra called from behind the desk. Evelyn couldn’t help but smile. Louis had yet to properly meet the people she considered to be her human family, the grandparents she’d never had in Lunar Circle – hers passed at a young age.

She skittered down the ladder to find Louis looking a little apprehensive at the thought of introductions. He looked a little intimidating that day, with his leather jacket on and motorcycle helmet in hand. But no matter, it had to happen eventually.

“Ezra, Loretta, this is Louis,” Evelyn introduced, taking him by the wrist and pulling him more presently to the front of the desk. “Louis, these lovebirds are my bosses. But they’re more like family from over the years.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Louis greeted awkwardly, trying his best to be charming but failing miserably. Loretta joined Evelyn in a soft laugh behind her hand, while Evelyn laughed a little more freely.

“No need to be so nervous son,” Ezra teased. “I’ll only knock your teeth out if you manage to hurt her.”

Louis gulped, which only caused Evelyn to laugh harder. It was odd to see Louis at a loss for toughness, but something about the Nanzigs took the gusto right out of him. He didn’t look quite so badass while Ezra was giving him the business.

“Ezra, be nice,” Loretta hushed, handing him another stack of stamps before winking at Louis. Louis flushed.

“The Nanzigs have owned this store for something like thirty years, is that right?” she commented, and when Loretta nodded she continued. “And Ezra here is a city councilman. He makes this little town run.”

“You make it hard to keep my modesty, Evelyn,” Ezra tutted, flipping a page in the stamp book and sliding a Martin Luther King Jr. stamp into its slot.

Evelyn smiled at him fondly, sticking out her tongue at the old man. Ezra Nanzig truly was too modest. He was a figurehead in the human community of Salem Falls. Everyone adored him. He always did his best to represent the people in his voting, though it never really mattered in such a small town anyway. Evelyn had always felt so lucky to have him, and Loretta for that matter, in her life. Not to mention they were fun to observe – old humans could be so strange.

“It really has been nice meeting you both, but I’ve got to steal Evelyn away,” Louis hummed in the most suave voice he could manage – and again she had to stifle a laugh. It was adorable how much he was struggling.

“Take care of her,” Loretta chimed with a soft smile. “She’s precious cargo!”

“I will, promise.” Evelyn couldn’t help but smile at Louis affectionately.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, guys. Don’t start on the cassette tapes without me!”

Ezra let out a hearty laugh. “You strange girl,” he chuckled, waving goodbye. “We’ll make sure to save them all for you.”

Louis gave her a weak smile and a shrug as they began to walk out the door, and she reached out to pat him on the shoulder. “You were great, sorry to ambush you with them,” she said sweetly. “But you were late, so maybe you deserved it.”

As soon as she hit the outdoors, Evelyn felt like there was something just not right. It was thick with darkness, the air dense with humidity and the sky stretched thin with grey clouds. It felt like there was a storm brewing on the horizon, but not just a storm of the natural world.

There was a deep potency of dark magic in the air, and she could feel it.

Louis didn’t seem phased by it. “Sorry,” he apologized as he walked me to his motorcycle. “I ran a little late with my tutoring after school.”

Evelyn raised her eyebrows, suddenly distracted from the strange feeling in the air. “You’re seeing a tutor?”

“No,” Louis corrected before handing her the spare helmet with a sly smile. “I am the tutor. Today was my first day.”

Evelyn wasn’t sure if she’d ever felt so proud. “Louis!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his shoulders and planting a kiss right on his lips, catching him off guard. He swelled back with her sudden weight before smiling into the kiss a little and pulling away.

“What was that for? I’m just trying to make some money.”

Evelyn couldn’t stop beaming as she pulled her helmet over her curled blonde hair, tucking her amethyst pendant into her neckline for safekeeping. Louis was trying. Louis was making changes to his attitude. Louis was breaking his shell, even if just a little bit. He’d been at school all day. Evelyn wasn’t sure that had happened yet in all his time in Salem Falls.

“Don’t you even dare with your sappy shit,” he threatened, pointing his index finger at her as her smile only widened. He couldn’t even manage to keep a straight face before falling into laughter, sighing in defeat before strapping on his helmet too.

“Can’t we just apparate places, like in Harry Potter?” he insisted, trying his hardest to change the subject. Evelyn laughed.

“Magic doesn’t actually work anything like that, Louis,” she hummed, shaking her head in disbelief of his question.

“So it’s nothing like Harry Potter?” he questioned, sounding a bit disappointed. “No apparation, or hippogriffs or schools for magical people?”

“No,” Evelyn replied with a chuckle. “Unfortunately not. I do rather identify with Arthur Weasley, though. I love muggle stuff. Now come on, you’re not gonna be able to distract me from going on this date.”

And after they both submerged into another fit of laughter, Evelyn climbed on the bike behind Louis, her arms secured tightly around his midsection. They took off down the street to whatever destination Louis had planned and Evelyn couldn’t help but note the lightning crackling on the horizon. No matter how happy she was now with Louis in her life, there was still a danger in the undertow. There was still a storm coming, and she couldn’t help but feel like it was coming straight for them.