Feathers by K.D. Peters

went to start his car, I found myself waiting.  It wouldn’t turn over.  I saw him bang the stirring wheel and cuss, then hop back out.  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” he complained, popping the hood.
                  “Is it dead?” I asked, walking over beside him.
                  “I knew this was gonna happen.  I even told that damn people it was coming.  They didn’t check the battery.” he complained.
                  I sighed.  “If you want, I’ll give you a ride.  Maybe your dad can have it picked up later.” I offered.
                  “I guess I don’t have a choice, huh?” Raziel grumbled.  He slammed the hood back down and sighed.  “A bad day just gone worse.” he muttered.
                  I couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment.  Raziel had been in a terrible mood since I’d met up with him at lunch.  Obviously, something had him upset.  “Hey, are you okay?” I asked softly.
                  He looked over at me quickly, and I watched him blink in surprise.  But he quickly shook it off.  “I’m fine.  It’s just been a rotten day, that’s all.  Come on.  Let’s go.” He said, walking back over to the side of the SUV to pull his stuff back out.
                  I just walked back to my car and hopped into the driver’s seat.  In a way, I was secretly glad that this had happened.  I really hadn’t wanted to go home alone yet for my paranoia from the night before.  As Raziel plopped into the passenger’s seat, I looked over at him.  “Do you want me to stop at Jameson?” I asked him.
                  “Sure.  I’ve got to give this to Sara anyways.” Raziel said, pulling out a folder he’d hidden in his back pack.  He flipped through it quickly before closing it back up again.
                  “What is that?” I asked as we took off.
                  “Just some paperwork my dad said she needed.” Raziel answered.
                  That was when a thought occurred to me.  He’d said Sara.  “Hey Raziel, is this woman Sara Morrison?” I said softly.
                  “Yep.” Raziel muttered.  “Why’d he make me do it?  She could’ve picked it up.  She has a damn car.”
                  “You really are in a rotten mood.” I noted.
                  “Sorry.  It was just a long night.” Raziel admitted.
                  “Did something happen?” I asked.
                  “It’s… not worth talking about.” Raziel replied.
                  I couldn’t help but wonder about that one.  Whenever Raziel talked like that, it usually meant there was something he either didn’t want to, or couldn’t, talk about it.  A part of me wondered if maybe Raphael had laid into him about something.  But I decided it was better just to let it go for the time being.  He’d probably bite my head off if I kept questioning him about it.
                  It didn’t take us long to reach the small shop known as Jameson.  It was a bit of an antique store.  Call it one of my dad’s little eccentricies, but he loved old things.  Jameson was something that was his hobby when it came down to it.  I could recall very well when he’d decided to open it several years before.  He’d been excited to tell me about it.  And from the first time I’d visited there, I had been too.  The shop was full of things that were almost one of a kind.  Michael was rather picky about the things he took and sold.  And in the end, there was a bit of everything in there, from old dresses to really old restored furniture and art.  It was all very neat to see at times.
                  After parking on the side of the street, Raziel and I got out and headed inside.  The shop was exactly as I remembered it.  Looking around, I almost felt like