-1-
There was a loud long honk every second. People everywhere. Streets super crowded. A coffee shop that serves alcohol ?
Only in New York City, I guess they say.
It was night time and I don’t know why I was still in the coffee shop. I had come in the afternoon when my parents suggested I get out of the apartment.
I told myself I would read just a little bit of my creased and worn copy of Romeo and Juliet for the 10th time this year. The book is my guilty pleasure. I was halfway through Act III when I noticed it had gotten dark outside and I had been reading well into the night.
I flipped open my phone to see it was 7 :30 PM and Mom nor Dad hadn’t called me asking where I went. I quickly called home. I decided I needed to let them know I was alive.
“Hi, Mom. I just wanted to let you know I lost track of time I am just at--,”
“Honey, it is Saturday night and we live in New York City now. You are 17 and responsible just text me every now and then and have fun. You have money for a cab, right ? Maybe see if you can make some new friends or something.”
“ I don’t know,” I said.
“Well, be safe.” She said and hung up.
I had just moved from the suburbs of Nebraska to New York City with my parents. My dad had a new job here. We had moved in a week ago. School did not start for a month. I was becoming bored.
I put my book in my purse and went to get a refill to go. I set the travel mug on the counter. The barista looked at it, rinsed it out and went to the coffee machines. As the barista made my coffee I noticed the boy waiting for his coffee drink next to me. He was standing close to the coffee bar.
His arms spread along the railing of the bar.
The rest of his lean sinewy figure was dressed in a crisp white shirt with a high collar, a tie hung loosely from the neck and a pair of black pinstripe pans.
What held my attention and terrified me at the same time was the white-washed color of his skin and long white hair surrounded by eyes that were so light. He looked as if he may have stepped out of a Victorian melodrama or I'd stepped into one.
A Ghost ? An Actor ?
He turned quietly to me.
I for some reason could not stop staring.
The barista called my name. He set my mug with the aromatic, brown coffee filled to the brim. I liked it black. As I turned the boy did too. He was staring at me and then he collided with a female customer. She spilled her glass of red wine on me.
“Oh no,” she said.
“It’s fine.” I said. Even though I was on the verge of tears.
I was wearing my mother’s designer blouse. The dry cleaning would cost hundreds.
The customer quickly got out of my way leaving me in my stained shirt. The next thing I felt was a hand on my shoulder. Then, I turned to see the man. I saw his gaze. It made my knees feel strangely weak. It was like my bones were no longer made of ivory but, of jell-o. I quickly retained my balance.
“It is my fault,” he said, referring to the stains, “I will get that stain out. Follow me.” He said.
I never imagined New Yorkers could be so nice.
“Are you sure ?,” I said
He nodded his head. I then noticed there were quite a few wine stains on his shirt to.
He took me to the side of the coffee shop and up a flight of stairs and through a door into what was an apartment. It was not what I expected. When he said he could help meI thought he was going to take me to a Laundromat or dry cleaners.
I guess I followed him because I just felt like I could trust him. I had a tank under my blouse so, he took my blouse for me and I sat on the couch alone.
-2-
The apartment was dark and I noticed lots of old pictures. Then,within minutes the boy came back out.
“I will make sure the stain is out. It will only take an hour.” He said and handed me a sweater, ”You can put this on.”
“I’m fine in this.” I said referring to the tank I had on.
He had a strange almost pained look on his face.
“Is that okay ?,” I asked
“I guess I am just old . . . fashioned,” he said.
Then, he handed me the sweater and I felt his icy hands. I guess he used ice to get the stains out of my sweater.
“I’m Guilana by the way.” I said
“You can call me . . . Alucard.” He said.
“Do you live here with your parents ?,” I asked
“I like to be alone. I’m kind of a piranha,” he said, “I used to live with my parents but, they died so I live here alone mostly. No one has been inside of here except you, actually.”
“I’m need to text my mom. To check in.” I said taking out my phone and sending her a quick note that I was allright. I took the phone out and then my book hit the ground.
Alucard picked my book up.
“Romeo and Juliet—I love Shakespeare.” He said
“Me too,” I smiled “ It is so romantic. You know ?”
He flipped through and I was embarrassed. He saw all of my favorite lines highlighted and the hearts or stars I had drawn in the margins for fun.
“Excellent wretch!
Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again,” He read,” I like that line too.”
He went to his book case and took out a similar copy but, much older and much more warn. He sat down beside me and opened the book.
“I had no idea a copy could be more worn than mine.” I laughed.
He laughed and next we started talking about the book back and forth for hours. He read passages to me and I to him. He finished a line in one of the final scenes when he leaned in and kissed me. The kiss felt like heaven and perfect to me. I did not believe in love’s first kiss until that very moment
I was ready for more of a kiss when he backed a way.
“I don’t want to give you the wrong impression,” he said,”I am forgetting myself.”
“I don’t.” I said.
We kissed innocently for a few minutes, when I felt the pain in my back from sitting on the couch. I shifted my back and put my hand on it to ease my pain.
“Are you okay ? ,” he asked
“Just my back.” I said, “The couch--,”
“It is old.”
He took my hand and lead me into another part of the apartment and on to a much softer bed. I was enjoying it but, I saw the time ticking.
“I have to—,”
“Text home ?,” he asked
I nodded. I had done it 4 times tonight. I decided to lie. I was telling my mom I ran into one of my friends from my summer camp I went to in upstate NY every year. I told her I was staying the night.
“Guliana—there is something you need to know --,” he began
“Yes ?,” I said as I finished the text. I felt bad for lying but, I was having fun.
“I’m not like you. As you can tell I am --,”
“Old fashioned ?,” I questioned
“No. I can’t tell you. It is just I am afraid of what will happen when you find out.”
“I’m not judgmental.” I reasoned.
He sighed reached into his drawer and pulled out what looked like an empty IV bag of blood.
“You have diabetes ?” I questioned. My father is a doctor and lots of his patients keep blood.
“No.” he said and then shut the desk door,” You know what ? Nevermind. I am tired. We can split the bed with pillows. I will stay on my side. I cannot be near the sunlight so if it is morning I may be in the attic.” He said.
“Okay.” I said.
I wondered about his strange behavior but, I began to feel lethargic and soon I fell asleep. The bed was so soft, it was like the finest sheets and geese feathers. I simply drifted
-3-
A sweet scent woke me up soon and I realized it was coming from Alucard. He must have taken a shower while I was asleep. The sun had not come up just yet so he was still in bed.
I leaned over the pillow barrier and kissed his lips. As I put my hand on his shoulder I realized his chest was bare. His skin was so pale against my hand, and I was never much of an outdoor fan so I was always called pale.
With each kiss I laid on his lips he woke up more and more. He turned and smiled at me, flashing his brilliantly white teeth, that back molars had a strange angle. They were sharp but, I liked that.
I tried to think of the mysteries about this boy.
He was pale.
Hated the outdoors.
Kept blood nearby.
Old fashioned.
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions about him. Despite it all he had stolen my heart and I knew he would one day become my Romeo.
I would figure out his mysteries soon.
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