Discoveries

Chapter 1

"Oh, that's just great." I mumbled to myself as miles of snow clouds gathered over the usual gentle Georgia skies. "I hope I make it home before those erupt, I dont think my car can handle another blizzard."

Though blizzards used to be extremely rare and snow was a treat in the southern state, our atmosphere has changed in the last two years where blizzards and snow was an everyday occurrence in the winter months and scorching heat its opposite in the summer. Rain was a short period in the spring where for a month and a half people collected as much water as possible to purify during the summer drought. Right now we are in the winter months much to my despair.

As if summoned by my thoughts, soft sweet, baby snowflakes sauntered down to kiss the windshield of my baby blue Volkswagen Bug. "Well, there goes my optimism about getting home in one piece." I grumbled as more and more snowflakes decided to join their brethren in dancing on the wind, making it impossible for me to see where the road ended and the snow covered grass began.
Driving slow as possible I spotted a dim light emerging between the hail-storm of snowflakes. Making sure I was pulling into a parking lot and not a field I slowly made my way to stop in front of a tiny, family owned restaurant called Jack's Diner.

Stepping into the warmly lit diner I took a deep breath filling my lungs with the delicious smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. The heat started to spread warmth into my gloveless fingers within seconds. Thanking the heavens that I stumbled upon this refuge instead of having to sit in my car till the dozers cleared the road enough for me to trek the rest of the journey home. I take a seat into a small table in the corner and pull out my favorite book to pass the time.

"Welcome miss! Sorry I didn't hear you come in I was in the backroom. I wasn't expecting any more customers due to the storm. What can I get for you tonight?" The man behind the counter was a tall elderly man with a comforting smile. As I step up to the counter to look at the menu the man started to introduce himself. "As the sign suggest my name is Jack how are you tonight?"

"My names Ari its nice to meet you. I was doing ok until the storm started. I don't think I will ever get used to these blizzards in the heart of Georgia." I take a look at the menu and pick the two original scents that comforted me as I walked in. "I'll take one light coffee with extra sugar and cream and a cinnamon roll with extra icing."

"Got a sweet tooth there don't ya? Yeah, its been a crazy couple of years here." Jack turned and walked to the coffee station and started to prepare my order. I walked back to my table and was going to resume my book when I noticed I wasn't alone in the diner. Sitting at the table next to mine was a man with midnight black hair, a outfit that was composed entirely of black, a smile that looked like it was radiating with its own light, and a pair of eyes that shined with the deepest of blues. Realizing I was staring I turned quickly to my table and sat down when Jack appeared bringing my sugar coated order.

"Thank you Jack this looks wonderful." I smile at him and put away my book before my clumsy self spills something on it or gets icing on the pages.

"Your most welcome Miss Ari." Jack turned to the other customer and handed him a menu. "What will it be tonight Mr. Adriel?"

"Oh, I'll have what she's got with one of your famous turkey and cheese subs." Adriel turns and smiles at me which makes me turn away and blush. His voice was like smooth water flowing over a river of pebbles, mesmerizing. Turning to my food I picked at my cinnamon roll aware of the silent wave of awkwardness that was radiating from me. Jack has already departed behind the counter to get Adriel's order. As I play with my cinnamon roll and stare out the window at the deepening storm, I hear a chair slide at Adriel's table. Looking over I see that his table has now grown by one. A young women with waist lengthy blonde hair, dressed all in black just like Adriel has occupied the other seat across from him and whispers quickly and urgently. Adriel glances across to me and catches me staring so I quickly turn back to the window and see another car slowly pulling into the parking lot. I start to gather my things and was going to take a chance with the storm than getting into a more akward situation. As I rise, a man walked into the diner with a thick brown hoodie on and starts walking twords Adriel and the women at his table. With the mans hood pulled so low I could not see any of his face or hair but chills run over my arms and spine as he passes me all but ignoring my quite gathering of possessions.

"Hey Adriel!" We all three look up when the man yells to see him pull a gun from his hoodie pocket and aim it straight at Adriel's head. I scream and duck under my table while Adriel moves faster than I can track with my eyes and punches the man in the gut. Loosing his grip on the gun it falls to the diner floor while Adriel and the intruder fight. I'm crouched under the table shaking while watching the most bizarre scene I have ever witnessed. Adriel moves like a spring breeze thats flowing through a field of flowers while the intruder is lumbering about trying to keep up with his opponents speed and strength.

"Bri! Grab the gun!" Adriel yells to his table companion and she scrambles to grab the fallen gun on the floor. She raises it and fires it into the air grabbing everyones attention. The stranger and Adriel freeze, eyes locked in silent battle. The stranger realized he would not win and backs away slowly twords the exit.

"Not so fast there big guy." Jack appears out of no where and smashes the intruder with a coffee pot on his head shattering glass in every direction. The intruder collapses on the diner floor and everything goes silent for a few heart beats.