Page 4 of Finding Tane (Foggy Basin Season Two)

Dillon

T he next day I was tidying the cereal shelves when I saw Tane walk into the store again. I’d seen him purchase two boxes of cereal and a whole lot of junk food the day before.

I didn’t know who this guy was, or what had brought him to our little down for an undetermined amount of time, but I was damned if I’d let him walk out with nothing but simple carbohydrates and high-fructose cornstarch again.

I walked briskly to intercept him. He looked up at me, startled. His brown eyes caused something to catch in my chest. His eyelashes were so long and his eyebrows perfectly sculpted. I didn’t even know I cared about eyebrows but his? They were perfection.

“Might I interest you in our store-packed meals for one?” I said, as smoothly as I could.

Tane’s perfect eyebrows shot up. “Uh, your what now?”

“I couldn’t help but notice yesterday, your choices were somewhat unhealthy.” I took him gently by the elbow and directed him to the refrigerated shelves by the back wall, where we stocked salads, roast meals ready to reheat, filled rolls and charcuterie board packs.

Tane didn’t resist being guided. He made a sort of amused grunt and breathed out when he saw the spread before him.

“You noticed what I bought?”

“Well, yes.” I realized, too late, that it might come across as strange and vaguely stalker-like. “I just... pay attention to stock here, it's my job. I don’t want you to get sick from only eating snacks and stuff, maybe consider something... more real?”

“More real,” Tane echoed. He was definitely laughing at me now. “I came here from L.A. I’d have to go to a Wholefoods and pay twenty bucks for a salad to get something real there. Or Nobu for the most expensive sushi this side of Japan.”

I relaxed, glad he was amused and not entirely alienated. “We don’t have prices like that here,” I said.

“I’m sure you don’t.”

“So, you’ll try something with a fresh vegetable in it?”

“Now you sound like one of my aunties,” Tane laughed.

He tugged away from me and I was shocked to realize I’d been holding his elbow this entire time. How had I just kept hold of him? That was weird. I was being so weird.

I stepped back a little. “The turkey roll is particularly good. These are all made for us by a local, they supply them fresh every morning.”

Tane picked up a turkey roll and a salad, plus a little cheese and cracker pack. “Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it. I guess I’m not really used to taking care of myself...” he trailed off.

But dang if that didn’t pique my interest. I knew better than to pry though. But I’d already insinuated myself into his day. Why had I done that? Why was I acting so familiar with him? It wasn’t like me.

I mean I was used to small town life, you kinda ended up knowing everything about everyone who lived in Foggy Basin, but with strangers? I usually kept a considered, professional distance.

But something about Tane...

“You know we also have lots of great produce and stuff, if you want to cook from scratch?” I couldn’t help myself. I was compulsive. I wanted this man to eat well and look after himself, and I didn’t know why except it had something to do with his eyebrows.

“Oh uh, yeah I saw that,” Rane said. “I don’t really... It's been a long time since I cooked anything for myself. I think I’ve forgotten how.”

A terrible impulse reared up inside me. I knew it was a mistake but I couldn’t help it. Before I could run away, I blurted, “I’ll cook for you if you like? How about you come to my place for dinner?”

My face immediately burned red and I opened my mouth to take it back.

Tane’s eyebrows quirked up. “For real?”

I nodded. “Yeah it’s... you know. Small town hospitality.”

Tane sucked on his lower lip, apparently considering, then he smiled and shook his head. “Nah, it’s okay. Thanks though, it’s really nice of you to offer but I’ll be fine.”

I swallowed down an unreasonable amount of disappointment. “Okay well, if you change your mind you know where to find me.”

Tane nodded and headed off down the aisle, no doubt entirely freaked out by the random offer of a home cooked meal by a guy he’d known for all of three minutes.

Running my hands through my hair, I berated myself for acting so weird. I couldn’t even blame it on my Autism, I was simply acting strangely. Something about Tane had me off-footed. I wanted to look after him? Weird urge.

When I dropped my arms, Ivy grabbed me, startling me again.

She spoke in an urgent whisper. “Dill. Was that...Whetu?”

“No, his name’s Tane.” I whispered back, not wanting to be overheard.

Her fingernails dug into my arm. “Whetu is a stage name. Tane is his real name. Oh my fucking god, is it really him? You were touching him!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Only the biggest up and coming star of club R&B right now.”

I turned to look Ivy in the eyes, sure she was messing with me, but she stared right back, certain as anything.

“What, you’re saying he’s famous?”

Ivy let go of my arm. “Yes, exceptionally, he’s brilliant, and he’s here? Why is he here?”

“I don’t know,” I rubbed my arm, sure she’d have bruised it. “He said he’s here for maybe a week, but he was very vague.”

“Maybe he’s writing his new album and he knew nothing here would distract him, since this town is dull as dishwater.” Ivy went up on her tip toes, tracking Tane around the shop. “I’m going to go and tell him how wonderful he is.”

I grabbed her arm. “No, you’re not. He’s obviously here for his own reasons and if you make a fuss of him, he might leave.” Ivy stared at me. “You know, leave without buying anything,” I finished, weakly.

The idea of spooking Tane frightened me. I didn’t want to do anything that could possibly make him feel uncomfortable.

For whatever reason, I wanted him to like it here. To like the town.

Ivy racing over there and blowing his cover by fangirling over all of him would be the opposite of that. She glanced in the direction he’d gone and then her shoulders slumped. “Fine. I’ll leave him alone, but I’m bringing one of his LPs with me tomorrow in case he comes in again.”

“Don’t you have some homework to do?” I pushed her gently towards the backroom.

“Yeah.”

I looked back as I hustled her into the back and saw Tane was chatting with Christian as he checked out his purchases. He looked relaxed.

I was way too relieved.

Tane

I sat on a park bench to eat and enjoy a little sunshine.

The turkey roll was objectively great. Easy access to turkey as a deli meat was one of the great small joys of living in the States. Back home turkeys were farmed pretty minimally, so it was definitely a once-a-year special occasion treat.

But this roll? Wholemeal bread, layers of turkey, salad greens, the perfect amount of mayo? It was exactly what I needed.

I sent a silent thank you to Dillon.

Not too far from me a young man started busking with a violin. He wasn’t bad. I wondered what his plan was, he couldn’t have been eighteen yet, but did he have a big music career planned? Something like mine?

I tore my eyes away from him and looked back at my sandwich. I didn’t want to think about music right then. Dillon with the dreamy blue eyes and warm smile was a much more comforting thing to daydream about.

I wondered what he’d meant by asking me to dinner? Was he just being friendly or was he coming onto me? I dismissed the thought. In a small town like this, there was no chance anyone here was gay, right?

I finished up my sandwich, tossed the rubbish into the nearest bin and walked slowly back up Main Street to my little motel room.

Being away from L.A. was a relief, but in all honestly, I was starting to get sort of bored. I picked up my guitar on a whim. It was the usual thing to do, the thing that comforted me, that rooted me to the ground... but I could barely bring myself to put my fingers on the frets.

I froze, my heart thudding with urgency and my breath restricting in my chest.

I couldn’t do it.

There was nothing in my head but white noise and a voice shouting ‘no!’

I put the guitar back in its case. I shouldn’t have even brought it with me.

Lying back on the bed I flicked the TV on some melodramatic made-for-TV movie and tried to forget about everything.

Taking care of my basic needs: food, water, rest... those would be what I spent my energy on for the foreseeable future.