Sharon has been sitting patiently waiting for Dane when she begins to question the wisdom of coming alone to the garden at that time of the day. Even the servants were not outside by this time except for the guards whose number have been increased because of the recent security breach. She remembers she has not seen Mrs Williams the grand matron of the house for a while now and wondered where she must have gone to.
Except for a dim ray of light at one end of the garden every other place was dark one could hear the different sounds of insects in the garden. Sharon was gradually getting cold and regretted coming outside without something thick.
"I will give Dane five more minutes if he doesn't come I am out of here." Sharon said to herself.
She later notices a male figure walking through the Shadows, "who is there?" She asked with a hint of fear.
The shadow stopped moving and came walking towards her without saying a word. she waited patiently but nervously for the person to reveal himself, she prayed silently for it to be Dane.
When the figure came into view she discovered it wasn't Dane but Hale.
"Hey Sharon what are you doing here by this time? " Hale asked greatly surprised to see Sharon in the garden by that time.
"I could ask you the same thing" Sharon said trying to avoid the question.
"I come here from time to time in the night to clear my head' Hale said bringing out a cigarette.
"Dad doesn't allow smoking so this is the only place and time I can do it without fear." He added.
"Do you smoke?" He said offering her a stick. "No I don't" Sharon said refusing to take the stick.
"You can learn it I can teach you" Hale offered with an evil smile.
"No thank you, I don't want to try it for now" Sharon said trying not to be too blunt. She hopes Hale will leave soon.
"So why are you here? " Hale asked.
"I am here for some quiet time. We all know the recent event is taking a toll on everyone directly or indirectly" Sharon said.
"I understand trust me" Hale said sitting close to her making issues more complex for her. She knows if Dane comes to meet them there
the situation will be unpleasant.
"Are you cold? " Hale asked her again noticing how she shivered slightly from time to time.
'Yes I am" she answered without thinking. Hale quickly remove his jacket and covered her with it. He also stretched his hand over her shoulders dragging her to himself in a bid to keep her warm.
Sharon couldn't help but admire Hale for his kind gesture but she wasn't comfortable she knew Dane could walk in anytime.
She felt relieved when Hale finally left saying something about getting a drink for both of them. Immediately he stepped out she saw another male figure walking into the garden through the other side.
"Who is that?" She asked in whispers this time.
"Its me" Dane replied her walking down to meet her.
"That was close" Sharon said to herself
"One minute earlier and he would have met me with Hale."
"What took you so long?" Sharon asked I was almost giving up hopes of seeing you.
"I am sorry Shaw kept me longer than I expected" Dane said patting her on the head.
"Whose jacket is that?" Dane asked noticing it for the first time.
"Oh this? I picked it up from the living room while coming here seems someone left it carelessly there. I assumed it was for you." Sharon lied. She didn't want Dane to get the wrong ideas.
"That is not mine Dane said checking the jacket out. It could be for either Winston or Hale." He added.
"Can we move to the other side of the garden?" Sharon suddenly asked pointing to a different side surrounded by thicker flowers and darkness. She didn't want Hale coming back to see her and Dane. She wasn't going to allow anyone distract them.
"Why is that? " Dane asked curiously.
"Its a lot darker in there" she said with a chuckle.
Dane quickly got the hint and took her by the hand. They barely sat down at the other end when Dane tries to kiss her.
"Hey we need to take things slowly. I have never done anything like what we want to do now, so please be gentle." she said restraining Dane a little.
Sharon was simply excited about doing something with the opposite sex for the first time. She has been waiting for her eighteenth birthday and now that it has come there is no holding back.