Serena's POV:

I slowly walked down the sidewalk as I made my way towards the old man's place. The water gurgled along the shallow creek and I watched how the water rippled and rolled on its journey. It was a soothing sight and sound. I crossed the small footbridge to take the shortcut through the small park. Movement in the trees beside me caused me to glance up in surprise.

My feet stopped on their own accord as a pair of blue eyes watched me from deep in the shadows of the forest. For some odd reason, I wasn't scared. Nervous and shy, yes, but not scared. Which was an astounding feat considering that a stranger with glowing blue eyes was watching me. I finally remembered to breathe this time, although I had no desire to break eye contact. I doubted that I could look away even if I tried.

I blinked slowly as I realized that the man had left the shadows and was almost in front of me at this point. I hadn't realized how tall he was. He had to be close to seven feet tall. He was heavily built and had enough muscle to pass for a football player or a wrestler. The pale blue shirt barely fit him and his brown hair was short and somewhat windblown.

His eyes though, those were what stood out. They were an incredibly bright shade of light blue and they glowed. His eyes were soft as he examined me. He had a faintly surprised and enthralled look, as if he couldn't believe that I was standing in front of him.

He was close enough now that I could feel the heat coming off of his chest and pick up his masculine scent. It was like there was an electrical current between us, pulling us closer. I still wasn't scared, although my reaction made zero sense with the amount of training I had taken and my usual reaction towards men. Then again, my mind wasn't really processing things at the moment.

The man also seemed a bit dazed as he continued to stare into my eyes, he reached out a large hand to gently cup the side of my face in his palm. I couldn't seem to muster up the willpower to move away, as if the thought of backing away was painful. I inhaled lightly in shock as his touch created tingles and sparks. My magic rose up from its dormant state once more. It was like light was flowing through my blood again.

Without realizing what I was doing, I leaned into his touch. A soft smile graced his face at that action. I blushed, but couldn't bring myself to pull away. He brought up his other hand to gently brush his thumb along my other cheek, leaving goosebumps in its wake. I wasn't sure how long we stood like that. It was almost as if we were both enchanted and rational thought was a mere fantasy.

His finally spoke and his deep voice was practically a whisper, almost as if he were speaking to himself, "I can't believe I found you. I wasn't sure if you would be on that bus again. What is your name?"

His voice sent faint shivers down my spine, although not with fear. It was some other emotion I couldn't identify. So he had seen me yesterday. He had been waiting for me today for who knows how long simply in hopes of seeing me again. That fact touched me and my heart fluttered.

I ducked my head a bit in shyness, although my eyes never left his face as I tried to make my mind work enough to respond coherently, "Serena. Uhhh... What's your name?"

His face softened as he smiled at the sound of my voice, "Darien."

I had never been good with names, but I knew I would never forget his. Or his eyes. Or his scent. This should have been ten stages past awkward, but yet it wasn't. His hands slowly left my face and my skin felt a bit cold without his touch. He tilted his head slightly, "Would you mind sitting on the bench with me? I would like to know you better."

I nodded as the entranced sensation seemed to be wearing off, allowing me to think halfway clearly once more. He gently took my hand and I walked beside him to a nearby bench. I sat beside him as he still held my hand. The tingling and sparks caused by his touch were distracting.

He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand while looking into my eyes. His eyes weren't glowing as strongly and both of us seemed a bit shy now. I wasn't sure what I could say without potentially touching on sensitive subjects considering how I had seen him yesterday.

He gently tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ears, "I don't think I have ever met anyone like you before. You seem different compared to others I have encountered. More honest and open."

My magic had slowly settled, which also made it easier to concentrate. I wasn't entirely following his logic... I tilted my head in curiosity, "How so?" I knew he couldn't be referring to the fact that my clothes were dirty and a bit ragged. I tried to ignore the ketchup stain on my pants and the fact that my deodorant was wearing off.

He blinked slowly, "Your heart seems so open, like there are no walls around it. There is a gentleness, as if you couldn't manage to harm anyone."

How does someone reply to something like that? My old friend would have called him a hopeless romantic, but he seemed far too serious for such a label. He was nothing like the players that came and went at the cafe. Faint creases around his mouth suggested that he frowned far more than he smiled, although I hadn't seen him frown yet.

I smiled shyly, "You are correct with the last part at least, my self-defense trainer gave up on me. I couldn't even master the basics no matter how hard I tried."

Normally, I would have never told anyone that detail, but if this guy could keep up to a bus on foot, then there was no way I was going to outrun him. I had no desire to try either, just the thought of trying to leave him behind made my heart twinge. His eyes glowed a bit brighter as he slowly nodded.

We were silent as a woman walked her dog past us along the path. His eyes watched her in slight suspicion, although I wasn't sure why. I couldn't believe it when the woman didn't comment or stare at his glowing eyes. He turned back to me, "How did you manage to spot me in the forest?"

I blinked in surprise at the question, "Your eyes were glowing. That was the only reason I saw you."

He seemed surprised, "My eyes were glowing?"

I was confused, did he not know? "Yes, they were glowing every time I saw you. They are still glowing. I am surprised the lady didn't notice them."

I reached for my backpack and dug out a small hand mirror before passing it to him. He flipped it open and took a look at himself, his face was confused as he glanced at me, "I don't see any glow, you say they are currently glowing?"

I nodded in confusion, "Yes. It isn't something you can miss."

He glanced once more at his expression before passing the mirror back. I put it back in my pack while feeling foolish and embarrassed since he obviously couldn't see the glow. The lady hadn't either. I must be losing my mind. Perhaps I was the one who needed a psychiatric evaluation.

He smiled gently, "It is of no matter, at least I know you can spot my eyes regardless if I may be hiding in the shadows. Do you have any family?"

I sighed sadly, "Not anymore. My parents and brother died in a car accident when I was 12. I may have a few distant cousins, but I have never met them. You?"

He gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze, "I am sorry. I know what it is like to lose your parents. It has been a long time since I have been home, but I am sure that my brother is still in my hometown. My parents died during a vacation trip when a nearby volcano erupted."

I could hear the sadness in his voice and leaned against him to lend him comfort, "I'm sorry."

He had lost his parents as well. I knew the feeling of the loss that would never entirely disappear. He brought his head down to bury his face in my hair. It felt so right, even if he was a stranger. He eventually lifted his head, "Thank you. You have no idea how much your presence comforts me."

I didn't think it would be fair to argue. My reactions to him were off the charts from what should be considered normal. Our talk ranged to other subjects, mostly things about me. My favorite foods, where I worked, and such.

My stomach decided to remind me that I was quite late in feeding it. I blushed as it rumbled. He smiled warmly, "Why don't we go to your place and I can cook something up for you?"

A small thread of fear ran through me, a fear that he would leave the instant he found out I was homeless. He tilted his head as if noticing my sudden reluctance. I hesitated before ducking my head in shame, "It is kind of embarrassing..."

Other than the old grandfather, no one else knew about the hidden room in the shed. The old man never even set foot in the shed since I did all of the yard work.

He was silent for a moment, "I doubt it is that bad. I'll tell you what, you show me your home and I will tell you about why you saw so many guards around me."

I looked into his eyes and it seemed to calm me. Somehow, I knew I could trust him. If he had meant me harm, we had been sitting on a bench along a nearly deserted pathway for several hours already.

"Okay. Forewarned though, I was saving to buy a small cabin and this place had the cheapest rent I could find."

He looked intrigued at my comment as he took his arm off of my shoulders to stand up. He held out his hand, "Which cabin?"

I took his hand and he gently pulled me to my feet, "I found it listed for sale online. It is a tiny cabin smack dab in the middle of nowhere in the mountain wilderness. You can't even get cellphone service out there."

We started walking hand in hand. "Not scared of the wildlife?"

I grinned as I remembered quite a few survival guides, "Most animals actually go out of their way to avoid people. Roughly only three people a year are killed by bears in North America whereas ninety are struck by lightning. So I plan to carry bear bells, bear spray, and avoid tall trees in a lightning storm."

He burst out laughing and I marveled at the sound of it as I grinned. He shook his head while still chuckling, "How about I handle the bears and we sit inside by a warm fire during lightning storms?"

Having seen him keep up with a bus, I was pretty sure his boast about taking on a bear was legitimate. I grinned, "Sounds good to me, although I wouldn't mind watching a few good lightning storms from under a porch overhang."

He grinned in response and I found it hard to look away.

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