by M. K. ROZE
I’d been there an hour or so when one of the other waitresses approached me. “Viata, someone’s asking for you.”
“Who?”
She pointed toward the door.
“Thank you.” I wondered who it could be.
I got up and moved to a position where I could observe him without being seen. He was facing away from me, so I walked over. As I got close, he turned in my direction.
“Constin,” I said, smiling.
He got up and gave me a huge hug. I stood on my tippy toes and wrapped my arms around his muscular body, squeezing him back.
“I thought you went back to Miami.”
His gorgeous green eyes gazed into mine. “No, I’m here for a month or two. Would you like to sit and talk for a while?”
“Um, sure,” I hesitated, looking around, knowing I could get into trouble.
Constin sat across from me with his hands at his sides.
As he talked about his father’s construction company, I couldn’t help but be captivated by his gorgeous face and soft, full lips. I felt like a prowler, so I glanced at the menu on the table.
My boss walked past us and gave me that look to get up.
“Oh, no, I hope I don’t get fired.”
“Don’t worry—you won’t.” He seemed confident.
I looked to see where my boss went. He was walking into the kitchen. I didn’t want to leave Constin, but I didn’t want to get fired either.
“What’s your number?” Constin asked.
“Let me have your phone.”
He handed it to me, and I called my phone. “There, now you have my number.”
When I gave it back to him, he reached out, grabbed my arm and pulled me in for a hug. He was extremely hot. Maybe he had a fever and didn’t tell me.
“I hope to hear from you when you get off.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you for stopping in,” I said and walked him to the door.
“Talk to you shortly.”
It was hard watching him walk away into the rain, but I felt better when he looked back at me, smiling.
After he left, it got busy. I waited on table after table and looked at the time. When it turned eleven, I clocked out, grabbed my keys, and headed to my car. As I got in, someone texted me. It was Constin.
Are you off work yet?
“Yes,” I screeched.
I tossed my phone on the passenger’s seat and drove home faster than usual. I rushed inside, lay in bed, and texted him back. We communicated like that for most of the night. In one of his texts, he asked me out on a date, and I accepted.
The next day, I jumped out of bed and raced to Kaylee’s room and told her all about Constin.
“Show me a picture?” Kaylee said.
“I don’t have one yet. I’ll take one the next time I see him.”
She elbowed me. “Don’t forget,” she said, smiling. “How old is this hottie?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I never asked him.”
“What?”
“He looks a little bit older than me. Maybe twenty.”
“Well, you better ask him. He might be like thirty or something.”
“No, he’s not. I’ll think of a way to ask him when we go out.”
“You better not forget.”
“I won’t. I have something to confess.”
“What’s that?” she said with a straight face.
“I know this sounds crazy, but I think I’m in love.”
She grabbed her chest. “Oh, I thought you were going to tell me you already had sex with him.”
I smacked her playfully. “No way. I’m still a virgin.”
“Me too,” she said and snorted.
I laughed and snorted too, messing with her. “But seriously, is it possible to fall for someone that quickly?”
She shrugged. “I did, but he ended up a player.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that jerk.”
“Just be careful and take it slow.”
“I will.”
“Hey, I know it’s your birthday, but do you want to go with me to my aunt’s wedding on New Year’s Eve? I don’t have anyone my age who will go with me.”
“Um, I don’t know her that well. I’d feel stupid.”
She pouted. “Pretty please.”
“If I say yes, can I bring Constin if we hit it off?”
She backed away and gagged, being funny. “Hell no. You just met him.”
“I was kidding. I’ll go with you.”
I lied. I did want Constin to go with me.
“What do you want to do today?” Kaylee asked.
“I don’t know. I’m still tired from the long week.”
Let’s watch some movies and eat tons of junk food.”
“Sounds good,” I replied.
We walked into the living room and sat on the couch. I started looking for a movie and stopped when I saw a romantic one.
“This looks good. What do you think?”
“Boring. I got something better to watch.” She grabbed the remote from my hand and went on Netflix.
“I’m not watching a stupid vampire show.”
“This one is cool. You’ll love it. It’s romantic.”
“How the heck is someone who’s dead and feeds on a human romantic?”
“You’ll see,” she said and pressed play.
We ended up watching Vampire Diaries. After three hours, I needed a break.
“Hey, I said, “can you pause it?”
Kaylee did and got up. “Do you like it?”
I walked into the kitchen. “Yes, it’s a cool show but not realistic.”
“Who cares. Damon is hot. That’s all I care about.”
I laughed and opened the refrigerator. “Yes, he is. What should we eat?”
“Let’s make breakfast for dinner,” Kaylee replied.
“Sounds good.” I got the eggs out and fell to my knees, grabbing my head. “Kaylee, I’m getting those sharp pains again.”
She came up to me. “What’s wrong?”
I curled into a fetal position.
Kaylee said something, but her voice was muffled.
Her face blurred out, and I was standing in an alleyway with three other males. One of them flew at me, and I tore off his head with my hands. The other two males looked at me confused and hissed, showing their fangs.
“Why are you killing your kind?” one male said.
“I walked toward them. “Because I can,” I shouted.
They looked at each other, nodded, and they flew away.
I ran after them at an unnatural speed, leaping over horse carriages and climbed a two-story building like a cat.
They turned to me and hissed.
I flew at them and impaled them with my dagger.
“Viata!” Kaylee screamed out as she shook me.
Her face came into focus, and I got up. “Holy crap,” I said pacing the kitchen.
Kaylee followed me. “What the heck just happened? Your eyes were rolling in the back of your head.”
“I-I just had a vision that I was a damn vampire, and I killed others like me.”
“Are you okay? You looked like you were having a seizure or something.”
“I’m fine. I need to take my pill.”
“You need a doctor, not a damn pill.”
“Kaylee, I’ve already been to the doctors. They can’t help me. It’s all in my head.”
She came up to me and held me. “I’m sorry for having you watch that show.”
I exhaled sharply. “It’s not the show or your fault. It’s me. Will you go get me a pill and lay with me until I pass out?”
She nodded. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to the hospital?”
“No, I just need my pill, and I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, be right back.”
I laid on the couch wondering why I had a vision like that. Maybe certain things triggered my headaches and caused me to see things.
Kaylee came b
ack and gave me my pill with a glass of water.
I took it and lay there as she rubbed my back. Eventually, I fell asleep still trying to figure out what was going on with me.
CHAPTER TEN
DATE NIGHT
Two days later, after Kaylee and I ate dinner, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I grabbed it and smiled when I saw Constin’s text.
Hello, gorgeous!
I didn’t want Kaylee to see me squirming around in the chair, so I got up and walked in the hall and texted him back.
Hi, stranger.
I walked toward my room, waiting for his reply.
Are you ready for our first date?
My hands were shaking when I texted him back.
Me: Yes, I’m ready.
Constin: Great! Would you like me to pick you up?
Me: No, I’ll meet you at my job.
Constin: Okay, how does 9:00 sound?
Me: Perfect. See you then.
I rushed back into the kitchen. “I have a date with Constin. Please, please, please do my makeup.”
Kaylee laughed. “Come on.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me in her room.
When she finished, I looked in the mirror. “Wow! I love it. Thank you.”
She smiled and hugged me. “You look gorgeous! Go get him, tiger.”
I kissed her cheek and rushed into my room.
“Wait,” she called out.
I peeked around the corner. “What?”
“Is he coming here to get you?”
“No way. I don’t know him that well. I told him to meet me at my job.”
“Smart girl. Have fun.”
I smiled. “I’ll tell you all about our date later.”
In the closet, I tried on several outfits, but I didn’t like any of them. They were too dressy, so I ran over to my dresser and got out a pair of jeans and a pink top. Twirling around in the mirror, I gave myself a thumbs up and left to meet Constin at the restaurant.
When I didn’t see him, I got out of my car and looked around. He was nowhere in sight. As I waited, I heard a galloping horse. That was normal where I lived, so I returned to my car and sat there for a few more minutes, leaning my head back on the headrest.
About to leave, someone knocked on my window. I flinched and turned to see Constin grinning at me.
He opened the door. “Are you ready?”
I looked away. “I’ve been ready for quite some time.”
“Please forgive me,” he said, as he reached for my hand and helped me out of the car. Still holding my hand, he raised it and kissed it gently.
I blushed. “So where are we going?”
“Over here. He held my hand and walked me around the corner to a white carriage, drawn by two gorgeous white horses. Unable to believe my eyes, I came to a stop.
“Are you serious?” I gasped, running my fingers along the metal carriage.
“Yes, hop in.” He boosted me up into the front of it.
“Who’s going to drive it?” I asked, looking around for the driver.
“I am. Hold on tight.”
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
He turned to me and smiled.
“Is this your carriage?”
“No, I borrowed it for the night.”
“Oh.” I readjusted myself and waved at a few young children with their families as we passed by. I felt like Cinderella, minus the dress.
We visited all the local historical sites, looking at the Christmas decorations and gorgeous lights. He gave me a running commentary on each place we passed by. He knew a lot, considering he wasn’t from around there.
“Do you like this better than a car?” he asked.
“It’s different, but I could get used to it.”
He scooted closer to me. “Here, take the reins.”
“No way,” I protested. “I’ll get us killed.”
He placed his hands on mine, and before I knew it, I was steering the carriage like I’d been doing it for years. I could see him from the corner of my eye, staring at me, while I was desperately trying not to get in an accident.
I glanced over at him and chills moved down my spine.
“Pull the carriage over.”
“I-I can’t. You have to help me.”
He took the reins out of my hand, pulled over, and jumped out.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He ran to my side and reached for my hand.
As I started to get out, he grabbed me by the waist and spun me around.
I giggled. “Thank you!”
He treated me like a queen, and I loved it.
We walked around until we found a bench that faced the main road.
Constin went silent, staring at a couple kissing off to our right.
“I know I already asked you this, but when are you leaving to go back home again?”
He hesitated. “In a few months.”
I lowered my head, knowing I liked him, and it would suck to fall for him and then see him leave.
As if he could read my mind, he lifted my chin. “I will come back for you,” he said, softly.
His tone seemed sincere. I did, however, feel a little foolish because I didn’t know his age. “How old are you?”
He chuckled. “Older than you.”
I bumped him with my shoulder. “Come on. Tell me honestly.”
“Twenty-two.”
Usually, I would run from someone older than me, but with Constin, it didn’t bother me at all. I placed my hand on his. “It’s okay. You’re only a few years older than me. I turn eighteen in a few weeks.”
He grinned and rubbed my leg.
After a while, he walked me back to my car, and we shared the warmest of embraces.
“Good night,” he said, with a final kiss on my forehead.
I stood frozen, wanting him to kiss my lips. I’m sure I looked desperate.
“Are you okay?”
My eyes shot open. “Y-yes, I’m fine.” I turned and reached for the handle.
He removed my hand and opened the door.
“Thank you.”
He winked and helped me in.
“Have a great night,” I said, not wanting to leave.
“You as well.” He didn’t look like he wanted to leave either.
I drove down the street watching him grow smaller in the rearview mirror. It was only a minute without him, and I missed him already.
When I got home, I told Kaylee all about my night. She was happy for me and asked if I’d kissed him. I told her no, but he did kiss me. She laughed.
* * *
Several days had passed. Constin and I hung out a couple of times. He took me around town and out to eat. When I asked him to go to my house to meet Kaylee, he was hesitant at first then agreed.
December 19th was our last day of class for winter break. School went by fast. That evening, Constin pulled up in a rebuilt black Model T.
I walked outside to greet him. “Lovely car, old man,” I teased.
“It’s my dad’s,” he smiled, patting the hood of the car with his hand.
“I pictured you in a BMW or something, not a classic.”
He leaned against the passenger door. “Nothing is better than driving an old car.”
I chuckled. “First a horse and now a classic. Hmmm. You are one mysterious individual.”
He winked. “You have no clue.”
We continued to the house. Kaylee was standing at the door, waiting for us to come in. Before he could enter, she stepped out and walked up to him like she knew him and hugged him.
“It’s an honor to meet the prince,” she said.
Constin kept his hands to his sides and gave her a blank stare. “Why did you call me that?” He seemed annoyed by her.
“I was messing around. Chill out,” she replied.
He turned to me like he was waiting for me to say or do something.
I grabbed his hand and started to walk inside, but he stood frozen.<
br />
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“What’s the rush?”
When I looked over at Kaylee, she was covering her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Come in, already,” I said, pulling him by his silk shirt.
He followed me inside, and we sat on the love seat next to each other. Kaylee stood near the kitchen, shaking her head, as he continually adjusted himself. It was like he had ants in his pants. His face became paler than usual, and his eyes kept twitching.
“Are you okay? You look ill,” I asked, concerned.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s hot in here.”
“Oh, I’ll turn the heat off and get you water.”
I started to walk away, but he grabbed my waist. “It’s not the house.”
“Then what is it? Do you have the flu?”
He coughed and ran his hand down my back. “No, it’s nothing to be concerned about.”
“Would you like some water?” I asked.
“No, thank you.” He grinned and took a tissue off the coffee table, wiping the sweat off his face.
What’s wrong with this guy?
I cleared my throat. “Do you want to go to my room and watch a movie?”
“Perhaps another time. I’m tired and need to leave.”
Even though he was smiling, he made me feel as if I’d done something wrong.
Kaylee rolled her eyes behind his back. “Nice meeting you. I’m off to my princess bed.” Her tone was harsh.
He got up and cleared his throat. “Your sarcasm may bite you back one day.” He looked serious.
She lowered her head. “I was only kidding. I didn’t mean to sound rude.”
“You're fine. It was nice to meet you as well.”
When Kaylee walked into her room, Constin looked at me. “It’s getting late. I must go.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”
He frowned. “Maybe some other time.”
“All right.”
He helped me up, and I walked him to the door. I gave him a hug and a kiss on his soft, warm cheek.
“I’ll call you in a few days.”
“Okay,” I said, as I watched him walk quickly down the steps. It seemed he couldn’t wait to get out of there.
As soon as I shut the door, Kaylee emerged from her room. “What was with that dude?”
“I have no clue.”
“I can’t believe he said that to me. I thought he was going to kill me. How old is he anyway?”