by Megan Derr
Pulling up the phone on his camera, Lee took a few snapshots of the ocean. The sun was setting behind him, not over the ocean, but it still painted the water some pretty colors. Lee set one of the pictures as the background on his phone then headed back down the boardwalk, aiming lazily for the hotel.
It wasn't even eight when Lee reached the hotel again. Jayden was busy at the desk, and Lee didn't bother him, heading straight up to his room. Once there, he kicked off his shoes and turned on a baseball game, then wandered out to the patio. He set a timer on his phone on the off chance he managed to fall asleep, then pulled up the ninja game on his phone and set about wasting time.
The two hours before he was supposed to meet Jayden passed slowly, but finally his alarm went off five minutes before ten. Lee rolled out of his seat on the patio, padding into the bathroom to make sure he didn't have anything stuck in his teeth from dinner. Thankfully, nothing, and he returned to the bedroom to slip on his sandals before heading downstairs.
Jayden wasn't there. He wasn't at the desk anymore, and he wasn't waiting in the lobby. Lee pulled out his phone, checking the time. 10:02. So probably he was clocking out and grabbing whatever stuff he had to grab. Lee sat down heavily in one of the overstuffed armchairs in the lobby, pulling up the game he'd been playing upstairs and pretending he wasn't nervous all over again.
At 10:09, he died a tragic death and frowned at the lobby that still lacked a Jayden. Was he being stood up, as it were? Had he really pissed Jayden off that much? Or had Jayden felt like he couldn't say no when he was working and this was his way of saying it without having to say it?
Or maybe Lee was being paranoid and Jayden had gotten tied up in something work-related. Starting another game, Lee tried to focus on making his character jump and dodge flying fruit, but it wasn't long before his concentration lapsed and he died again.
10:13. Lee scowled at the time on his phone then glanced up in time to see Jayden coming out of an unobtrusive door to the left of the reception desk. He wasn't dressed in the hotel's uniform again, so he'd probably taken the time to change. Lee stood as Jayden approached, slipping his phone back into the pocket of his shorts.
"Shall we?" Jayden asked, gesturing towards the hotel doors.
"What? Oh, sure," Lee said, startled. He hadn't thought they'd leave the hotel, but their conversation was probably better done somewhere it was a little harder to eavesdrop.
Jayden led the way out of the hotel, waving to the bellhop who opened the door for them. Lee nodded, falling into step beside Jayden as they walked down the street towards the boardwalk that Lee had visited earlier that evening.
"So, Lee, you a born or bitten vamp?" Jayden asked, tucking his hands in his pockets. The air was chillier than it had been earlier, Lee noted, wondering if he should have worn sleeves.
"Born halfling," Lee said, shrugging. "My mother is, my father wasn't."
"Wasn't, but is now?" Jayden asked then flashed him a grin. "You don't have to answer. I'm just being nosy."
"Eh." Lee shrugged. "I don't care. My mom never turned him. He couldn't deal with the supernatural. He ran off when I was little. Last I heard, he's settled down into some suburban life with a blonde stepford wife, two kids, and a picket fence, pretending his fling with the supernatural never happened. My mom's family is pretty close, though. I grew up with my cousins and aunt and uncle right down the street, and my stepdad and half-sister are pretty cool."
"Still, sucks." Jayden wrinkled his nose. "My mother never really got the magic thing. My dad tried to explain it to her, but she really only humored him and his 'superstitions.'" Jayden pulled his hands from his pockets to make quotation marks in the air.
"Any other family?" Lee asked, curious. He didn't often meet other supernaturals—mostly it had only been vampires, and the ones he'd met had been severely afflicted with an inflated sense of self-worth and a propensity to play up the stereotypical gothic fashion statements.
"A brother," Jayden said, shrugging. "He's annoying, but most siblings are."
"Yeah," Lee said, grinning. "Amanda's great sometimes, but in small doses only. She's got a new drama fest over her boyfriends every other month, I swear."
"Jordan's the opposite," Jayden said, wrinkling his nose again. "He's a hermit. No drama, but I'd almost take drama if he'd get out once in a while."
"Jordan?" Lee said, laughing. "Your parents named you Jordan and Jayden?"
"Yeah," Jayden said, shoving him. "Shut up. Barnaby."
Lee snorted as they headed down the boardwalk. "Point."
"So what did you want to talk about?" Jayden asked, tucking his hands back into his pockets. He cast Lee a look that was impossible to read in the pale light from the street lights that ran along the boardwalk.
"Um, well," Lee started, then shrugged. "I haven't … I don't know much about hedge witches. Like, at all. All my mom's ever said is to stay away and that they smoke too much of their herbal concoctions. I was hoping you could tell me more?"
Jayden snickered. "Herbal concoctions? Jordan's into that a bit, but that was never my shtick."
"Didn't smell like it," Lee said, grinning.
"Oh, yeah?" Jayden said, giving him a smirk. "So what did I smell like, then?"
"Herbs, basil, and mint," Lee said honestly. "I thought it was odd, but I liked it."
"They're protection herbs," Jayden said, touching the necklace he still wore. "Hedge witchery is a bit odd in that it doesn't require a lot of complicated spellwork and the crazy stuff some of the other witches do. The downside is that it's not as powerful. We do mostly protection and cleansing stuff, though again, Jordan's more into that than I am."
"There are other types of witches?" Lee asked, wracking his brain to remember if his mother had ever mentioned that. He didn't think so, but then, she'd been more focused on making sure he and Amanda were prepared for mostly-normal lives than on educating them on all the different paranormal stuff that was out there.
"Yeah, but they're pretty rare. Elemental witches and what not." Jayden shrugged. "I don't know much more than that, sorry."
"It's cool," Lee said, following Jayden when he approached the rail of the boardwalk. Jayden leaned against it, staring down at the ocean barely visible below. The sound of the waves hitting the beach was calming, soothing, and Lee lapsed into silence easily, letting the sound of the ocean wash away the last of his worries about Jayden.
Lee followed Jayden's example, leaning against the boardwalk's railing. It was surprisingly comfortable, hanging out with Jayden at the edge of the boardwalk. It wasn't awkward at all, and if Lee were doing more than vacationing, he'd be tempted to make Jayden a friend at least. Given how well last night had gone, more than a friend wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility either.
"Got plans to see any of the local tourist traps?" Jayden asked, breaking the silence after a few moments of quiet.
"Actually, yeah," Lee said, grinning. "That's one of the reasons I'm here. My cousin, Astor, does these stupid ghost hunting books."
Jayden groaned. "Not the lighthouse."
"Yep," Lee confirmed. "Going up tomorrow. He was going to come on his own, but then he went and broke his ankle in three places falling off his deck. I was already planning a vacation here, so he told me he'd upgrade my hotel if I checked it out for him. He's a bit bossy about it, but that's why there's a silencing feature on my phone."
"Nice," Jayden said, shifting slightly to glance at Lee. He was even more handsome in the half-light of the boardwalk's street lights, and Lee really wanted to kiss him. "Want company tomorrow? I've got the day off."
"Sure," Lee's mouth agreed before his brain could catch up. It was probably a bad idea, but honestly, what was the worst that would happen? He highly doubted Jayden would try to cast a curse on him, and Jayden didn't seem to have any issue with it, so why should he? "I was planning to hit the tour at eleven, get it over with so Astor can stop pestering me, but if you want to hit the later tours, that's cool."
&nb
sp; "Eleven's good." Jayden straightened, pulling out his phone. "Here, put your number in, on the off chance something comes up."
"Sure, that's why you want my number," Lee said, flashing Jayden a grin before fumbling with the unfamiliar phone. He called himself quickly then added the number to Jayden's address book.
"You caught me," Jayden said cheerfully, stowing his phone away. "I just want to sign you up for obnoxious telemarketers. There's a way to do that, right?"
"I'm sure," Lee said, fighting the urge to grin stupidly. "Though I'd appreciate if you didn't try to figure it out."
"Play nice and I won't have to."
"Define nice," Lee said, wishing there was a bit more light so he could read Jayden's expression better.
"Buying me lunch after the tour would be nice," Jayden said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "I mean, if I have to hear the terrible ghost story that everyone in town has heard ten million times growing up, it's the least you could do."
"I'd say you don't have to come in that case, but I'd much rather misery have company. Lunch it is, but take into account that my cousin's paying for the hotel and I'm a broke, barely employed bum when you're picking the place," Lee said, wondering if Jayden meant it as a date or not. Not that it mattered much, Lee supposed, given he'd be going home in a week.
"Barely employed, huh? Given the way you dressed, I thought for sure you were a rich socialite fishing for a sugar baby," Jayden said, snickering at the look Lee gave him.
"What's wrong with the way I dress?" Lee asked, offended. "At least it's not Hawaiian t-shirts."
"Nothing's wrong with it if you're going preppy boy 101," Jayden said, poking Lee's chest. He pushed away from the railing, and Lee's heart stuttered in his chest when Jayden leaned close enough to murmur in his ear, "Never said I didn't like it."
Jayden stepped away while Lee was still spluttering, leaving the scent of herbs in his wake. "I should get going. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah," Lee said then kicked himself for not coming up with something more flirtatious, or at the very least, intelligent. He watched Jayden wander off down the boardwalk, staying where he was until Jayden was out of sight. Then he headed back to the hotel, unable to keep the silly smile off his face.
*~*~*
Friday dawned gray and miserable. It wasn't raining, but given the way the clouds hung dark and heavy, Lee figured it was probably only a matter of time. Dragging himself out of bed, he reluctantly shut the patio doors that he'd left open since he'd arrived. It had been nice since he'd arrived—highs in the lower eighties, nighttime lows of sixty or so, and nothing but sunshine—and unfortunately, statistics were against his getting nothing but sunshine the whole week.
Still, why did it have to be gloomy on the one day he had actual plans? Scowling at the clouds through the window, Lee went to grab a shower on the off chance Jayden was still up for doing the tour. It was only once he was out, dried, and dressed that he realized they'd never arranged where they'd meet up. Picking up his phone, Lee sent Jayden a quick text.
Do you melt in the rain?
Turning up the sound on his phone so he'd hear when Jayden texted back, Lee returned to the bathroom to brush his teeth. It was already ten, so he probably didn't have time to grab breakfast. He could wait until lunch, Lee decided, and he didn't need blood until tomorrow at the earliest, Sunday if he didn't tax himself.
His phone buzzed, and Lee pulled it out, grinning at the reply.
no, smartass. we're still on?
Yep. Where do you want to meet?
lobby at 10:30? the hotels bt my house and the lighthouse
Lee sent a text of agreement, then pulled up his ninja game and set to work wasting the half-hour before he had to go meet Jayden. The time flew, and Lee grabbed his hoodie on the way out the door. He had to go back halfway to the elevator when he realized he'd forgotten Astor's camera, but then he was on his way.
Jayden was waiting for him this time. He wore dark shorts, a blue t-shirt, and sensible-looking shoes. Lee was probably going to kill his feet with his sandals, but he hadn't brought any other shoes so he was stuck. Jayden smiled when he looked up to see him, showing off the dimples in his cheeks again. Lee waved, then immediately felt silly for doing so.
"Hey," Lee said, stopping a few steps from the seat Jayden was sprawled in. "Ready?"
"Just waiting on you," Jayden said, shoving up out of the chair. He smelled fresh and clean, a hint of the basil and mint teasing Lee's nose.
"I had to do my face," Lee said solemnly, letting Jayden take the lead out of the hotel.
"Well, I suppose you couldn't leave the hotel without doing that," Jayden said, playing along. "I mean, you'd make small children cry if not."
"Hah," Lee said, shoving Jayden just hard enough to make him stumble a few steps. "You're not funny."
"You have no room to talk—seriously, a wicked witch of the west reference?" Jayden shoved him back, nearly sending Lee off the sidewalk.
"I had to make sure," Lee said, barely keeping a straight face. "I mean, I didn't want to be responsible for your disappearance. I'm sure you've got evil relatives who would hex me or something."
"Or something," Jayden agreed, far too cheerfully. "So, what do you know about the haunted lighthouse?"
"Not much," Lee said, shrugging. "Just that there's a ghost and it's a lighthouse. I'm assuming the tour will enlighten me."
"Yeah, but it's a really dreadfully boring tour," Jayden said. "I went on a class trip. The fourth graders always go."
"You grew up here?" Lee asked, because learning more about Jayden was much more interesting than learning about the lighthouse ghost that didn't actually exist because ghosts were not a thing.
"Yep, fourth generation here. So we're sort of kind of locals, even if they prefer five generations here before they grudgingly call you local. Where did you grow up?" Jayden asked, giving him a curious look. "You know, I don't actually know where you're from at all."
"Inland, actually," Lee said, "Essville. Grew up there and still live there."
"That's not too far away. Just a few hours' drive, right?" Jayden said, looking at Lee thoughtfully.
"Two and a half," Lee said, shrugging. "Far enough away that getting to the beach regularly doesn't work well."
"Especially if you've got a job," Jayden said in agreement, heading up the path towards the lighthouse.
"I do. I'm a file clerk at an accounting office," Lee said, rolling his eyes. "It's not glamorous, but it pays the bills."
"Yeah, because hotel desk clerk is glamorous."
"Everything is more glamorous when you live beachside," Lee said solemnly, noting the gate was open. He followed Jayden through it, pausing to take a few pictures of the lighthouse itself as they approached. There were signs directing them to the lighthouse keeper's cottage that was attached to the lighthouse for tickets.
The lighthouse itself looked to be six or so stories off the ground, though it could be taller and Lee wouldn't know. He'd never been particularly great at judging distances. There was a small cottage attached to the lighthouse that looked to be two stories tall with a sign above the door proclaiming it in large letters to be Moreston Lighthouse, Haunted Since 1831. Lee took a quick picture of that, then, before Jayden could protest, turned the camera on him and snapped a quick candid.
"Hey," Jayden said, but he didn't seem to be actually annoyed so Lee took another.
Lee stepped into the cottage first. The foyer had been converted into some sort of ticket booth. There were a handful of tourists hanging about, one in an atrocious orange Hawaiian t-shirt featuring pineapples of all things. Lee stepped around him with a grimace, approaching the ticket counter where a woman with gray hair piled atop her head, large, round-framed glasses perched on her nose, and a flowery blouse was painstakingly sorting ticket stubs.
"How many, sweetie?" She asked, barely giving Lee a second look.
"Two, please," Lee said, fishing out his wallet. The sign said $10 each, which wa
s a little much, but he'd submit an expense report to Astor later.
"Twenty dollars. We don't give refunds if the ghost doesn't show or for inclement weather, just so you know." Lee nodded in agreement, handing her a twenty. She ripped two red tickets off a roll, tore off half of each ticket, and handed them off to Lee. "Enjoy the tour!"
"Thanks," Lee said, passing off one ticket to Jayden. He pulled out the camera and took a few shots of the pictures and news articles on the walls, which seemed to indicate the ghost—one Charles Robertson—had died from jumping off the lighthouse tower over some heartbreak or another.
The clock above the ticket seller's head proclaimed it was 10:57, so the tour would be starting shortly. Turning to Jayden, who had trailed him with some amusement around the foyer, Lee took another snapshot just to be annoying. "So where am I taking you for lunch after this?"
"Depends on the weather," Jayden said, shoving the camera away from his face. "Stop that."
"Nope," Lee said cheerfully, hitting the button to take another picture even as Jayden put his hand in front of the lens. Before Lee could follow up on pestering Jayden about lunch, an older man appeared in the doorway to the left of the ticket booth and cleared his throat loudly.
"If you will all follow me into the living room," he announced gravely, "the tour will commence."
Lee debated snapping a picture of the tour guide, but he seemed the sort to take offense so Lee tucked the camera away and obediently followed the small crowd into the living room. It was… rustic, Lee decided was the best word for it. Definitely old-fashioned, though whether it was authentic 1800's décor was beyond him.
The tour guide started droning on about the family that had lived there in the 1830's, named Moreston, not Robertson, and that, at least, was interesting. Lee took a few more pictures, only half-listening to the tour guide as he droned on about the family: the lighthouse keeper, his wife, and their lovely daughter Abigail. There was a portrait of the family over the living room, and Lee took a picture of it, then a picture of Jayden pretending to gag when the tour guide described Abigail's perfect golden curls in detail for the third time.