CHAPTER FOUR

“Excuse me! Hi, I’m looking for the girl with the moon tattoo. Do you know where I can find her?” Bran asked the first stranger he met when he got into Pasteria. 

“The girl with the what?” The lady responded with a perplexed expression.

“…with the moon tattoo” he replied.

“Uh no sorry I don’t”. She said and immediately walked away. What am I doing here? Bran with a frustrated look on his face asked himself.

He asked more people but they didn’t seem to know either. Just before deciding to head back to his home in Hillport, Bran walked a few more minutes and saw a handwritten note on the wall of a building that passed as a spa, it read: the girl with the moon tattoo. 

Really? This is what she meant? HAHA! He didn’t know when he burst out with laughter. Bran pulled himself together and walked in.

“Hello, how can we help you today?” The receptionist asked. “Uh I’m looking for someone; golden brown hair, blue eyes. I think her name is Sierra. Do you know her?”

“Yes, give me a min”. She goes in and comes out less than a minute later. “She’s busy, she’ll be ready to meet you in a few minutes”, the receptionist said. “You can sit here while you wait”. Thanks, Bran replied with a faint smile as he took a seat.

Few minutes turned to an hour and an hour turned to two. “Excuse me, isn’t it convenient for her? With a tired look on his face, he asked. “Soon it will”.

He got up to stretch a little and walk around to fend off the tiredness.

Sierra observed him and she was so excited—it was already two weeks since they met at the festive party, and he hadn’t shown up. “He’s probably not interested” Sierra said to Ezekiel. “Or maybe he’s just busy?” he replied.

“You think it’s possible that he came and couldn’t find the sign?”

“Now I feel so silly”. She said, as she buried her face into her palms. You shouldn’t. “Here have some grapes, they’ll cheer you up”. Ezekiel really loved his sister and was really invested in her well-being, emotionally and physically, even as kids. It was beautiful to see. It wasn’t a surprise she confided in him about everything that happened with Bran.

He hugged her. “Everything will be fine, it might just take a little while longer than you hoped”. Ezekiel assured her—

“What do you plan to do when you see him again?” 

“I have no idea”, Sierra said in response. “We’ll figure it out I guess; plus I know I’m interesting, so he wouldn’t be bored”.

Bran’s face lit up immediately he saw Sierra. She looked just as pretty as the first night they met at the party— every sense of tiredness left his being. He was undoubtedly over the moon seeing her again.

“You sure took your time eh?” Bran asked, walking towards Sierra smiling. “It wasn’t intentional, I’m so sorry. I got carried away with what I was doing and totally lost track of time”. Sierra said, pleading.

Still smiling, Bran shook his head and asked “So do I get a hug for my troubles? Or are you too busy for that as well?”. They both laughed.

Come here! He said to her gently and she walked up to him and gave him a tight hug. Bran was much taller than her, so she had to stand at the tip of her toes to get her arms around his neck.

“Haha! The middle of your head is cute”, Bran said and laughed a little “but it scents really nice”. “Oh! Please, go away”. Sierra said and tried to free herself from his grip. Bran pulled her back towards him “I’m not done hugging you” he said and continued hugging her. “I didn’t think you would come, but I really hoped you would”. Sierra said, still hugging him.

“Of course I would come. I couldn’t get you out of my mind since that party. It was like you opened a part of me that I never knew existed”. Bran replied, still embracing her.

“You did that to me too”, Sierra said shyly. Bran freed himself, looked at her and asked “so you felt something that night as well?

She looked away. “I like the sound of your voice. I thought it was the wine but no, it wasn’t at all. You’re fascinating and you like chocolate cream pie so adorable. I want to hear you talk every single day— the way you look at your feet when you’re shy is cute. I just… I’m sorry”, Sierra said, turning in the other direction. “I’m talking so much. Really just glad you came”.

Bran clearly speechless, took her hands in his--

Walk with me. 

Although reserved, Bran was self-confident when it mattered. One of those moments was now, with the most intriguing lady he had ever met and spoken to. Her hands still in his, they walk in silence for a few seconds. Bran took the initiative— “All I could think about was your smile, it lit up my soul from the instant you walked up to me. You’re exceptionally beautiful Sierra and bold! I just love how lively, free-spirited and kind you are”.

“Thank you!” Swinging her hand in his, she remarked.

Bran couldn’t believe he made this feisty girl soft.

In that quiet moment, he adored her and wished the day wouldn’t come to an end. He squeezed her hands more in his as they enjoyed each other’s company.

“It’s getting late already and we didn’t spend so much time together. I’m happy I saw you today, but I feel bad you have to leave soon”. A visibly sad Sierra said.

“No please! You mustn’t feel that way. I can always come back, now that I know where the girl with the moon tattoo is” Bran said, which made Sierra laugh even though she was sad.

“Listen! I’m not letting you go anywhere. From today, it’s gonna be you and I”. Bran assured Sierra.

”Let me walk you home first, then I’ll head back the same route”. Bran said to Sierra. “No, it’s going to get really dark by the time we get to my abode. You won’t be able to find your way back. But I expect the next time you come, you’ll walk me back home”. Sierra said, holding his face in her hand; which sent a rush down Bran’s spine and the hair on his body standing.

He could feel the warmth and redness in his cheeks, when she touched him—

“Definitely, I will and maybe you’ll have time to show me around the town”. Bran said in response.

“Only if you promise to get me more cream pies” Sierra said childishly—

“I’ll get you a hundred and one, then watch as you devour everything”. Bran said, laughing out audibly.

“Done deal!” Sierra’s blue eyes lit up, almost jumping on him as Bran said those words.

He hugged her tightly. “Thank you for gracing me with your time” he said, and released her from his grip. Looking at her, her loose hair hung over her face. Bran with a gentle stroke pushed it behind her ear and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.

Sierra involuntarily closed her eyes and held his hands, as Bran’s lips came forward to plant the lips on her forehead. “Goodbye!” Bran said as he left a smiling, yet sad Sierra watching him, tears welled up in her blue eyes, as he walked off into the night