Elliot was abruptly woken up by the force of a pillow being tossed at his face.

"Are you serious Elliot?"

He knew that fatherly voice from anywhere. The morning sun burned his eyes as he tried to force them open. Gale stood over him, and if looks could kill Elliot would be six feet under by now.

Elliot tried stretching only to groan in pain. His body felt like it had been hit by a train.

"I was up all night worried about you!"

"Shit, sorry Gale."

"Sorry? Sorry is all you have to say?" Gale's patience wore thin and he was basically on the verge of tears.

"Woah, hey," Elliot stood up, only to be pushed back down by Gale's forceful bear hug.

"Don't ever do that again. I thought you were dead."

His memory of last night came to mind as he hugged Gale back. He was in the right to be upset after all, Elliot did almost die. Luckily he was saved by another vampire.

"Jesus, what happened to you?" Gale examined Elliot’s bruised neck closely. 

Elliot was torn on whether or not he should give him the truth.

"Got into a fight with some assholes at the Café before my shift was over, nothing too serious." He didn't want to lie but at the same time he knew Gale would overreact if he found out that it had anything to do with vamps.

Last summer a girl was murdered in the next town over by some vampires and all summer long Gale personally drove to pick up Elliot from work and force him to come home before dark. It was sweet but obnoxious. It was also the cause of Gale's last breakup. His ex was jealous about how much time he was spending with him and since then Elliot swore to never let Gale get that worried again. He never wanted to get in between any of Gale's relationships, ever.

"I promise I'm okay," Elliot gave him a smile that seemed good enough to pass his suspicious gaze.

"Fine, but if they show up again you let me know, understand?" Elliot only nodded.

"Well then you and I should probably get ready for work."

Elliot looked down to see himself still in his same apron and clothes from last night. He glanced at the time on his almost dead phone.

"Shit." It was ready an hour past when he was supposed to be at work. Had he really slept that long?

It was 4 o'clock. He was supposed to take on another evening shift but he wasn't sure if his sore body was up for it. Then again he was very interested in seeing if Leo kept true to his word. Is he really watching over me?

After a brisk shower and a change of uniform he began his walk towards the café.

It was quiet for the most part, well as quiet as a bustling city could be. Red Falls wasn't much but it was still full of people and felt overpopulated. The most fun things to do in the city consisted of a few bowling alleys, the downtown shopping area and a movie theater. Other than that it was boring and overcrowded.

If he received any chance to speak with Leo tonight that would probably be one of his main questions. Why here? Why this city of all places? Was it because of how many people lived here? Maybe it's just a buffet for rogue vampires.

Elliot waltzed into the café full stride trying to avoid his manager's glaring eyes.

Before Elliot could get through the kitchen door a gruff voice called him.

"Elliot!" He turned sheepishly towards the old man, avoiding eye contact. He felt like a small child getting scolded by parents.

"Where in the hell have you been, young man?"

His manager eyed him then paused his scowl when he saw the bruises across Elliots neck.

He huffed in frustration. "I'm letting it slide this one time, never again son ya hear?"

"Yes sir." Elliot was glad Rodger let him off with a warning. He didn't really feel like making up lies and excuses for the old man.

Work was as exhausting as ever. There was nothing Elliot hated more than busting his ass for little to no tips.

He heard the bell chime on the door and when he turned to see the new customers coming in he couldn't be more disappointed. Of course Trevor and his group of preppy friends couldn't just choose somewhere else to bother hard working people. That dark haired, blue eyed, tall asshat sat in the same booth everytime.

Elliot prayed that anyone else would go take their order, but since he was the only one working as a waiter tonight, it was his job.

He solemnly walked up to the table and greeted them with a fake smile.

"What can I get for you?"

Trevor gave Elliot a sickening grin.

“We’ll have our usual.” He turned towards his blonde girlfriend Tracy, and gave her a slow kiss. Elliot was never sure why Trevor did this around him. Was it to show off that he had a girlfriend and Elliot didn’t? Not that he cared, obviously women are not his type.

“The special with a smokehouse burger, fries, a platter of wings, and a round of beers for everyone?” Elliot scribbled on his notepad without making eye contact.

“Yeah moron,” his buddies laughed. His girlfriend on the other hand would always just pull out her phone and ignore the whole situation.

Elliot heaved a sigh, “Okay, comin’ right up.”

The bell chimed again but Elliot was already annoyed as it was. He didn’t want to see who else he was serving tonight. He already knew it was a bad night for tips and to top it off, he was going to be bullied and harassed for the rest of his shift.

“Here’s the order Chris.”

The quiet cook signaled he understood with a nod and Elliot turned around to serve the next customer. To say he was surprised was an understatement.

There stood Leo and all his handsome features. His hazel eyes bore into Elliots like he was trying hard to read him. They stood there for a few minutes with no words exchanged between the two men. While it might have seemed awkward to anyone else Elliot felt quite calm, studying the other man’s features. Leo was wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over. He hadn’t realized this before but they looked about the same age. Although Elliot knew better. He knows that vampires can look like teens and still be hundreds of years old. What is he even doing here? The sun is still out, barely but still-

“Uh hey,” Leo’s alluring voice pierced Elliots thoughts.

“Shit, sorry. Can I get you anything?” Elliot fidget with his apron nervously, now trying to avoid eye contact.

Leo shrugged, “Mmh, a coffee I guess.” He seemed tired, more so than the last time Elliot saw him.

“Vampires drink coffee?” Elliot wanted to slap himself in the face after allowing his mouth to let such a stupid question fall out of it.

Leo laughed and for the first time since they met, Elliot saw the vampire smile. It was cute. He had dimples that complimented his strong face.

“Yeah, believe it or not we get tired too.” He threw back his hood revealing his messy hair.

Elliot was starstruck by how captivating the man looked.

“So, can I get that coffee? Black.”

Elliot scrambled nervously, preparing the cup of Joe. God, could I be any more obvious?

Leo propped his elbows on the counter sipping his mug. Not once taking his eyes off of Elliot.

It was starting to make the human nervous. Was he being eyed as a meal or something else?

“Hey fag,” Trevor walked up with his arms crossed. “Where the hell's my drink?”

Elliot grimaced, he was never one for confrontation, that’s probably why he was such an easy target for people like Trevor.

“Right here,” Elliot grabbed the glasses filled with foaming alcohol and pushed them towards Trevor.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Trevor clutched one glass in his hand angrily. “I’m not the damn waiter, you are faggot.”

“Okay, I think I’ve heard enough.” Leo stood glaring angrily at Trevor.

The man grinned. “Wow, the fag actually has a boyfriend?”

“I’m only going to warn you once- stop using that slur or else.”

The human sized up the smaller looking male. “Or else what?”

God, Elliot could practically smell the testosterone in the room. 

Leo laughed darkly and opened his mouth, flashing his fangs. “I don't have to do anything, these will do all the work for me.” A few gasps could be heard throughout the almost empty cafe.

And that was all it took to shut Trevor up. The look of fear in his eyes said it all. If it wasn’t for who he was, Elliot would almost feel sorry for the poor bastard. Trevor backed away and walked back to his table and signaled for everyone to leave. As they walked out they wouldn’t stop whispering to one another.

Leo resumed his position at the counter. Elliot wasn’t too sure what to say, that’s twice now that Leo had selflessly helped him out of a situation with an egotistical douchebag.

“Thanks.” Elliot gave Leo a bashful smile. “You’ve been really helpful, y’know saving my life and shit.”

Leo smiled back. “No problem, I do have a favor to ask of you though.”

Elliot cleaned the counter top quietly. “Anything, but I’m not sure what I could really do for you?” He prayed that the vampire wasn’t about to ask him for his blood. Although at this point he did feel like he owed him at least that.

“I need you to come with me tonight.” Oh shit, oh shit. 

“Uh- where?” Elliot asked, feeling the weight of his anxiety crushing his chest.

Leo even looked a bit nervous. “To meet my parents.”

What the hell.