It had been a while since I had been kissed, at least kissed in the way that Tony was kissing me. I’ve had my fair share of drunken hookups, men that I would meet at a bar as I crashed at a hotel for the night as I was passing through. They never meant anything, just something to get my mind off my troubles, something to make me feel something again.

It wasn’t like that with Tony though. For one, I knew a whole lot more about Tony than any other man I’ve met through my copious travels; I could just barely remember the names of the other men. I had not met them in a small diner, sharing secrets in the darkness of the mornings. I had never cried in front of them and they had never admitted to wanting to figure me out, to see the thoughts that haunted this battered mind. I had never shared myself in the way that I had been sharing myself with Tony these past few nights.

Tony was different, he was changing me. He was this tiny spark of light in the world of darkness I had grown to know.

I guess that was why I had found myself kissing him back, my lips gently brushing against his as my hand floated up and rested against his cheek.

I pulled away suddenly. I was letting Tony kiss me, I was kissing him back. I was letting him in, letting him get close to me and that was bad. I couldn’t let him get close to me; it wouldn’t be fair to him. He would only get hurt in the end. I hurt everyone who was close to me, I ruined everything.

“I’m sorry, I, I should go, I’ll see you around,” I stammered out, picking up my bag in a hurry and pushing the car door open, stepping out into the light of morning before closing the door behind me.

I didn’t look back and if Tony had called out to me I didn’t hear him as I hastily made my way toward the entrance of my apartment complex. I jogged up the steps, taking them two at a time and my hands were shaking tremendously as I tried sliding the key into the lock, finally managing to get it open after I took a calming breath. I stepped inside my apartment before I slammed the door behind me, locking the deadbolt. I was immediately met by the comfort of my old friend, the darkness, as the black curtains blocked out the sunlight trying to sneak its way into my apartment. I took another deep breath as I leaned back against the door, letting the darkness surround me.

“Effie!” I heard Emily call as I looked up from the book I was reading, seeing her bounce into our shared bedroom.

“Yeah?” I asked curious, she looked so excited.

“Mom and Dad are gone.” She grinned.

“Okay?” I said, though it came out as a question.

“They left me the keys for Dad’s car,” she said suggestively, raising her eyebrow at me.

“Congratulations,” I said sarcastically, why was my sister acting so dang weird?

“Ugh, come on you noob, let’s go get ice cream.” She laughed, coming over and pulling the book from my hand, letting it fall to the bed and I grimaced as I realized I had lost the page I was on.

“Hey! I was reading that!” I whined, reaching for the book.

“Effie, come on, let’s go do something, I’m bored as hell.” Emily said, plopping down on my bed, effectively blocking me from getting the book.

I sighed. “Won’t we get in trouble for taking the car?” Won’t I get in trouble, I added silently; Emily could do no wrong in my parents’ eyes.

“Nope, they said that if I needed to use it, I could, and I need to use it, I will slowly perish if I don’t get my ice cream fix soon.” She faked exhaustion, placing her hand over her forehead, palm up.

I giggled. “You’re such a dork.”

She grinned. “That’s why you love me. Now let’s go.”

I sighed but gave her a grin anyways. “Fine.”

I wish I had known that with that one word, my world would come crashing to the ground, leaving me a broken mess with no way of picking up the pieces.

---

Work had been rather uneventful tonight. I sighed as I ran the damp cloth across the wooden bar top, wiping away the liquid rings that had formed throughout the night. I was a little more than disappointed when three thirty had rolled around and there was still no sight of Tony. I guess I had no reason to complain, I was the one who left in a flustered rush after our kiss this morning.

I had kissed Tony this morning.

Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips as I thought about the feeling of his warm, soft lips on my own. It was something I wanted to feel again, but I was torn. I shouldn’t let myself feel this way, I didn’t deserve the happiness that crept over me whenever Tony would happen to cross my mind.

Lucky’s voice coming from behind me made me jump. “Effie, take off, I’ve got it covered.” He smiled at me, reaching his hand out for the towel I was holding.

“You sure?” I asked, handing him the towel.

“Yeah, I think I’ll manage,” he chuckled, gesturing to the rather empty bar, only three or four people were currently in here.

I smiled as I shrugged before I grabbed my bag and jacket from under the counter. Lucky gave me my tips for the night and I made my way out into the darkness of the night. I had decided that I was just going to just head home, skipping the diner for the night but a loud grumble from my stomach caused me to rethink that decision and being as I had no food in my apartment right now, the only other place that was open, well other than McDonalds, was the diner so I sighed and began to walk the familiar route.

As I walked in, smiling at the waitress I tried to hide the disappointment once again when I looked over at the booth to see it was empty. I could have understood why Tony wouldn’t come to the bar, it was, after all a bar, but I had at least hoped to see him here. At the same time though I was glad because a part of me didn’t want to have to worry about what will happen the next time I saw him, would he bring up the kiss?

I sat down, pushing away thoughts of Tony, or at least trying to as I saw Darlene coming over to me, a wide smile on her lips.

“’Evening darling,” she said, placing a hand on her hip before glancing at the empty seat across from me. “All alone tonight?”

I furrowed my eyebrows at her comment because it made me question all the changes that Tony was causing in my life again. I had been alone for such a long time now, it never even bothered me, but after not spending the past few nights alone and now with Darlene pointing out that I was once again, all alone, I couldn’t help but feel the sadness creep over me. I quickly pushed these thoughts aside though, not letting her words faze me.

I shrugged. “Guess so,” I said, my voice impassive.

“Well what will it be tonight darling?” she asked with a smile and I was grateful that she didn’t press harder on where Tony was.

“I’m feeling adventurous, hot chocolate, pancakes, and some bacon please.” I gave her a cheeky grin.

She chuckled. “You got it love.”

She left swaying her hips as she went and I couldn’t help but laugh at the strange old woman. I turned my attention to the window, staring out at the world, surprised that my thoughts were giving me a rest for the moment.

“So, I have something I’ve been wanting to ask you since that first night.”

Tony’s voice startled me and I turned just in time to see him plop down in the seat across from me, an amused look on his face.

“Um, okay,” I said with a slight laugh.

He surprised me, I was expecting the kiss to be the first thing we talked about the next time we saw each other.

“Are you a vampire?” he asked seriously, giving me a strange look, raising his eyebrow.

I laughed. “What?”

“You said you have a thing against the sun and kind of freak out as soon as daylight comes, those are typical warning signs of vampirism.” He nodded slightly, his face still holding a sense of seriousness.

“If I say yes, will it scare you away?” I said, trying to sound as serious as him but letting the amusement slip just slightly.

He thought about it for a moment. “No.”

I laughed. “No, I’m not a vampire.”

He pursed his lips and squinted his eyes at me as he cocked his head to the side. “Okay.” He finally said with a shrug.

I just laughed again as Darlene come back and dropped off my hot chocolate. She greeted Tony and he ordered his usual once again before she left, leaving us alone. We were quiet for a moment as I brought my hot chocolate closer, stirring it.

“So what is it then?” he asked after a moment and I glanced up to see him staring at me, his eyebrows pushed together.

“What’s what?”

“Why don’t you like the daylight?” he asked, placing his hands on the table, tapping out a rhythm with his fingers as he waited for my answer.

“It’s against my religion,” I stated, trying to hide my smile.

He gave me a confused look. “What religion is that?”

“Vampirism.” I said seriously.

This caused him to burst out laughing and I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I watched him. Darlene came back again, dropping off our food. We were quiet for a few minutes as the each of us began to eat.

“I’m serious though, what’s wrong with the daylight?” he pestered.

I sighed. “Bad things happen in the daylight.” I finally said.

“I thought we were past this whole answering me without actually answering me thing?” he questioned, giving me a pointed look.

“That is my answer though,” I said quietly, hating how he was pushing through my boundaries yet again, causing me to share more than I should.

“Alright, then can you elaborate? What kind of bad things happen in the daylight?” He reasoned, his face softening.

I didn’t answer at first, focusing my attention on my pancakes as I began to cut them into teeny tiny morsels. He didn’t rush me as he too brought his attention back to his food but I could see him looking up every few seconds, waiting for my answer.

“Things that I want to forget.” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Why?” he whispered back.

“Talking about it won’t exactly help me forget, you know.” I pointed out, chewing my bottom lip as I moved the pancakes around on my plate.

“If you tell me, maybe I can help you forget.” He countered, his voice soft and comforting.

“That’s the problem though, I can’t forget. I’ve tried.”

I frowned down at my pancakes, my appetite now gone. I picked up my hot chocolate as I leaned back in the booth, pulling my leg up and under me as I turned my attention out the window, staring out at the darkness of the night, thinking of all the secrets the absence of light held. All of my secrets the dark held.

Tony didn’t say anything after that and he finished eating but I kept seeing him stealing glances at me, his face furrowing with confusion as he watched me, staring out the window, getting lost in my thoughts again. I finally sighed as I saw just the smallest hint of light beginning to peek up in the horizon.

“I should get home,” I said quietly, pulling out some money and setting it on the table as I scooted up and out of the booth.

I waved to Darlene as I walked out and she looked back at the booth curiously and I heard the stumbled of footsteps behind me, of course he wouldn’t let me get away that easily. I stepped outside, smiling as the darkness still overpowered the light and I took a deep breath in, waiting for him to say something.

“Effie, wait.” Tony said from behind me and I turned, watching as he walked closer.

“What do you see in me Tony? Why are you so interested in me?” I asked him before he could say anything.

My words seemed to surprise him as he stopped in front of me, a puzzled look coming across his face.

“I see a girl who’s been lost in the dark for too long, a girl who needs to be saved.” He finally said, taking another step closer to me, his eyes boring into mine.

“What if she doesn’t want to be saved? What if she doesn’t deserve to be saved?” I whispered.

“Everyone deserves to be saved.” He said simply and I couldn’t help but get lost in the safety his eyes seemed to offer.

“Effie?” he asked quietly.

“What?” I whispered back, noticing a change in his eyes.

“Can I kiss you again?”

Notes

hmm, I may have gotten carried away on this chapter, sorry @Lost in Neverland, hopefully you can figure something out... ;)


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