She wore a long dress. It flowed with compliments from her shoulders on down, and hung just above the tiled pavement. As she twirled the floral printed get-up flung up and spun with her, creating a little wind to swirl too and kick up dust. A smile graced her face. Or maybe her grace smiled from her, through her eyes. Out of her very aura.

No partner. Just her. Dancing like no-one was watching. But they were. They all were. And so was he. Louis leaned against a tree. His eyes fixed on her. Just as all were. The women in the autumn dress, dancing to the backbeat of a trio of just as soulful musicians. It was the first Louis had seen them, but they were always here.

Like clockwork. As the masses finished up their daily grind, the streets came alive. And as they did, the entertainers came too. It was what the streets were for, and about. All congregated outside into the main common areas to enjoy themselves and each other.

Some to entertain themselves, like children, as there was little money for expensive toys and so the streets were their playground. Some to ply a trade, like shoeshiners and newspaper stand attendants to make use of the opportunity whilst providing an in demand service. And some simply to entertain others, like the three playing stringed instruments.

And as they played and she walked by, she couldn't help herself. The music moved through her like a cool breeze on a hot summers day. Refreshing. She welcomed it openly and without hesitation. It spoke to her, and her body moved in kinship. She was just out to get some apples from the store. Now, she was nourishing others.

Louis watched on from across the street, in the shade of a red maple. She was lighting up the afternoon just as the sun began setting. After she had her fill, she gave a grateful curtsy to the smiling threesome and skipped off. The musicians kept on, strumming away, as other corners and areas of the street buzzed with activity.

Havana watched the woman skip away, grace still accompanying her every step, each movement seemingly a part of a well-choreographed  dance despite the fact that it was just the woman putting one foot in front of the other. The brunette sighed as she watched the stranger grow smaller and smaller, standing in the middle of the street with her mouth agape and her arms crossed over her chest. Havana glowered as she recalled how the woman's hair fell like silk, how her body moved like water, and how she entranced everyone around her - if Havana only had at least half of the charisma and elegance that woman possessed, perhaps she'd be leading a completely different life by now - a better one.

She was pulled out of her envious trance when her gaze met a stranger's - a man across the street, enjoying the music and eyeing the very same woman she had been a few minutes ago. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the hour, Havana chose this solitary man to interact with, somewhat seeing her own awe in his eyes. Taking a few steps closer and entering the shade of the tall tree, Havana spoke in a soft voice. "Beautiful, isn't she?" Havana asked absentmindedly, the woman now just a dot in her field of vision. "Say, what are you doing standing here alone? Not interested in joining the festivities?" The young woman queried, trying to make conversation and gesturing to the lively crowd.

Louis smirked. More so with the gleam in his eyes, as they were still alight after being enraptured by the dancing women. His lips barely moved, until he found the words to respond. He was relaxed and comfortable and had no problem talking to this stranger. His eyes briefly met hers once again, now at a closer distance, before he glanced out at the activity around them and spoke.

"I guess you could say I'm more of a watcher. I like to see how people act. How they respond to others. I sometimes make up stories about who they might be. And where they might be going."

Fats turned to look at Havana to see her reaction. His blue eyes looked directly into her eyes. He noticed the almond color of her pupils at first. A sense of familiarity then tickled him as the eye contact lingered. The thought crossed his mind that what he said might be a little odd, which caused him to turn and look away.

A kid shining shoes a stones throw from the still playing band of three caught his attention. Louis casually threw a question back at Havana as he watched a well dressed elderly man place his right shoe on the shinebox.

"And you? What has you over here talking to a complete stranger?"

Even though he welcomed her presence, this did interest him. It wasn't the usual interaction he had day to day. He met a lot of people who's faces he'd never seen. And never saw again. It was part of his job. But not usually a women's. And not like this. She intrigued him.

Havana tensed up ever so slightly upon hearing the man's words, suddenly being very aware of his eyes on her, possibly analyzing her every move. Clearing her throat and brushing her fingers through her hair, she let out a small laugh and raised an eyebrow. "Well, talking to a complete stranger seemed more appealing to me than standing in the middle of the street doing nothing," Havana explained as she looked up at the tree towering above them, "besides, I saw how you looked at that woman earlier, was actually hoping you knew her. She was... interesting." The brunette noted meekly before returning his gaze.

"You mentioned you like spinning tales - what do you think her story is?" The girl wondered out loud - she didn't let it on, but she too enjoyed imagining the double lives people led around her. She had this notion that people were a lot more interesting than they seemed - after all, if one would look at Havana, one wouldn't assume that she had a knife in her stocking and a gun in her designer purse, yet here she was.

She'd like to think that the beggar sitting across the street was once a famous actor who lost his fortune in gambling, or that the young mother cradling her baby who passed by them was actually working towards a PhD in astrophysics. Havana smiled at her silly musings before looking at the man again. Although she tried, she couldn't quite read him - no wild inferences hit her, he was simply a mystery to Havana. "More importantly, what's your story? I'm Havana, by the way." She introduced herself, extending a hand and offering a genuine smile.

Louis smiled and let out a hearty laugh, thinking how odd it would be standing in the middle of the street doing absolutely nothing. He didn't know if she was being funny on purpose, but he enjoyed the response all the same. He'd been caught up in the beauty of the women dancing to such an extent, her comment threw him off guard. And then as he also looked up at the tree, unconsciously interested to see what she was looking at, it dawned on him. Before she approached he was doing practicaly that. Nothing. Just under the nurturing warmth of a maple. He grinned some more as he glanced around at nothing in particular, enjoying the moment of humour a little longer. 

Feeling Havana's energy directed on him, Louis turned his head to meet her gaze. He kept eye contact and shook her hand without hesitating. She seemed to have a warmth about her. And her eyes were easy on his. There was something about them. After holding her hand a little longer than business-like, he casually retracted his and pointed over her shoulder to the women that had brought them together.

She was now at a fruit stall picking up an apple. She continued to radiate her glee as she picked up different bits of fruit, checking their ripeness. It was as if she knew something everyone else didn't. Like she was in that honeymoon phase in a relationship. That love bubble that eventually burst because of the other person's thorns that suddenly appeared, but were always there. Just a little ways down the rosey stem of neediness.

"Well. Havana." Louis said with a funny look on his face. He was slightly smirking and his eyes were squinted. He dug his hands into his trouser pockets and fixed his sight back on the almond eyed not so strange stranger. "I'm pretty sure she's a working girl." He said, and nodded a few times to drive the point home. "But.." He continued, before a response could be given. "She just quit the profession. She had enough of selling herself short. Her boss was a prick. And she came to the conclusion she'd had enough of pricks altogether. Unlucky for me. Maybe, lucky for you."

Louis smiled. He smiled at Havana to let her know he was kidding around but mostly because he enjoyed his own humour. He believed he saw things differently than the average person. In serious moments he had a tendancy to find ways to lose himself. In things like beauty, and humour. And in mundane moments he could suddenly be a nervous wreck if he got too idle and stuck in his thoughts. He leaned back against the tree, comfortable and still very much intrigued by this girl. He gave her his full attention as two birds perched themselves a few feet above and took to their own conversation.

"Now, how bout you tell me my story. I'd prefer that much more then me boring you to death with my version. And after, I'll let you know the truth. And I'll do the same for you. I think I already have you pegged."