But, as I lay in bed when it became night, there was once again another thump. Sighing, I put my book down and headed downstairs. As I looked towards the TV stand, I saw that the ball had gone, again.

“Again with this?” 

Turning towards the front door, I saw that the ball was there again. Rolling my eyes, I picked the ball up and, instead of putting it on the stand, I just threw it on the sofa.

“Mum said that you were never allowed on the sofa, but she’s not here, so there.”

Grumbling to myself, I headed back upstairs.

I kept up with that routine of trying to find work for three days more. The same things kept happening though. The glimpse of something red following me, then just vanishing, then the whole fiasco about Rufus’ ball. It still kept rolling towards the door. In truth, I thought I was going to go a little crazy when it became the fifth day. Fifth day in London and still nothing. I really had the worst darn luck. But was I just looking in the wrong places? Saying the wrong things? Or was I seriously that darn unlucky?! Thinking back on my life? It kind of made sense. What would be even more unlucky is that I was hit by a car now. However, I must've wished for it, since I was so in my own little world, I heard a car beep and, as I looked up, I saw something coming towards me. Wait, how was I supposed to act? It caught me off guard! Panicking, I froze. So this is how a deer feels like in headlights. But I felt something grab me and pull me back. My back hit something and a strong whiff of strawberries went right up my nose.

“Do you not look when you are crossing the road? Surely they teach you that here?”

A masculine voice speaks to me above my head and, as I turned around to thank my rescuer, I blinked several times. Wait, I have seen this man before. Wasn’t he the one I first met five days ago?

“I was distracted….”  Which was true, I was distracted, but only because he was standing in front of me again. “But erm, haven’t we met before?”

“I don’t know….” He cocked his head to the side. “Have we?”

“Wait, yes, you helped me with my runaway ball.”

“Ah yes, those runaway balls. But that explains why you look familiar to me as well.”

I couldn’t help smiling at him. “Thank you for that by the way, that ball is highly sentimental.”

“You’re welcome.”

That was when I noticed it, he kinda stood out. Up against the people coming and going, he was dressed in a casual red suit with a black shirt and, as I looked down, I saw that he was still wearing immaculate shoes. They all kind of complimented his long dark brown hair and striking green eyes. However, I couldn’t help but start questioning my own beauty regime, when I noticed that his skin was absolutely flawless. However, I didn't really have one to begin with anyway.

“Erm, I should treat you to lunch, for saving my life and the ball.”

“That warrants lunch?”

“I insist.”

The man looked at me, like he was pondering something but, after a while, he spoke again.

“If you so wish.”

Grinning at him, I gestured to a nearby cafe, and headed over there. Whilst inside, I slipped into a booth and placed our order. I was painfully aware that a lot of female heads turned when he walked through the door. Now that he was in a booth, they couldn’t really see him anymore, but I also noticed that he didn’t even acknowledge any of them. Instead, he was looking at me, which was perhaps just a tiny bit embarrassing.

“Erm, I suppose I should introduce myself…. I’m Alexis. My friends like to call me Lexi, however I don’t have friends to call me Lexi, so I just call myself that.”

“I know, I remember that you had your name on your bag.”

“Oh right, yeah…” This was still slightly embarrassing. But that particular bag was from my teenage days and, back then? Man everything had your name on it.

“But….” He leaned on his hands. “You don’t have friends?”

“Oh… You caught that one, did you?” 

“I’m quite observant….”

“Well… I did kinda have friends once, but it’s such a long story.”

“Hmmm…..”

Man, why did he have to pinpoint that? As he continued to look at me, I suddenly felt very self conscious that this head turning, handsome man was sitting in a booth with me. Wait, how was my hair? Did I even remember to brush it correctly? The makeup routine was out the window, since I was wearing nothing, perhaps just lip balm, but that was all. But man, did I look frumpy? God, I hope not.

“You can call me Nocte.”

“Huh?” Him talking took me out of my inner turmoil.

“My name.”

“...Nocte?” I repeated. “Are your parents hippies?”

Oh god, no…. Why did I say that? I cannot believe it…. But, before I could apologise, he laughed.

“I should ask them that.”

Wait, he wasn’t offended?

“Ah, sorry…. I just haven't met anyone with such a unique name from around here….”

“Probably because I’m not from around here.”

“You aren’t?”

The man, who calls himself Nocte, shakes his head. “Nope.”

“So you’re a foreigner?”

“You could say that.” 

“You have pretty good English, I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.” Aww man, why do I keep saying this ridiculous stuff? But it seemed like he wasn’t bothered, since he just carried on with the conversation.

“I have a habit of learning a country's language before visiting.”

“Really? Oh wow, that’s pretty amazing.”

“Well, it keeps me busy.”

With that, the food and drink arrives. The waitress placed each plate and drink in each respective person's range. But I couldn't help but notice that the waitress was just hanging around, and staring right at Nocte. But this Nocte? He pretty much ignored her and spoke directly to me.

“So what brings you to London?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw that the waitress huffed, and left.

“Erm.. New adventures.” Was it weird that it was really easy to talk to this man?

“Really?” Nocte picked up his tea cup and stared at it, then he narrowed his eyes before grabbing the sugar cube pot and dumping like four sugar cubes into the cup.

“Yep… But erm, you have a sweet tooth?”

“Hmm?” He looked up. “Oh no, not as much as someone I personally know, but I was never really fond of sugarless tea.”

“Oh, right.”

I watched him again as he took a sip, his face became a bit disgruntled before he dumped two more sugar cubes into the cup.

“But enough about my sugar intake…..” He commented, putting down the cup. “What’s this about new adventures?”

“Well….” I dumped one sugar cube in my own tea. “If I have to be honest? Life back home really sucked. I swear I must’ve been the unluckiest girl ever, so I thought to myself, why not try the big city. Hence why I came to London.”

“Why London? There are other cities, are there not?”

“It felt like a good idea at the time.” I told him as I sipped the tea. “But erm, what about you? What brought you to London?”

“Me?” He picked up a fork and stared at it. It honestly looked like he was studying it as he stabbed the pasta with it. “Mostly looking after someone.”

“Anyone special?”

“Well….” He brought the fork, with a bit of pasta, to his mouth and took a bite. For some reason, he managed to do it rather handsomely, which was a feat all by itself. “They don’t think they are, but I tend to say otherwise.”

“Awww, that’s kind of sweet of you. But wait, am I interrupting you with that?”

“Not really.”

Smiling at him, I turned my attention to my own sandwich and took a bite. Man, it’s so good! But, as I ate, my eyes kept flicking to this man in front of me. There was something off about him, but it was weird. It was like he was hiding something, perhaps with his clothes? Ok, that sounded ridiculous. 

“I don’t suppose….” This was a shot in the dark, but man was I getting a little desperate right now. “You know of any jobs going? I don’t really know anyone, and trying to get one by myself has, for some reason, been so hard….”

“Jobs you say? Anything in particular you are looking for?”

“Honestly? Scrubbing toilets is good, as long as it pays.”

“Hmm….” Nocte scratched his chin. “I might have something.”

“You do?” My eyes lit up, could this be my salvation at last?

“I kind of have an event in three days time that I need to attend. Would you like me to hire you as my escort?”

I couldn’t help blinking at him, escort? Isn’t that…

“Erm… Hang on, this sounds like that film I rewatched earlier this week. Beautiful woman.”

“Hmm?” He tilted his head. “Oh. Not that type of escorting.”

“Oh good, cause erm…. Yeah….” My cheeks felt rather flushed.

Nocte coughed to ease the tension. “I just need a plus one basically, if you don’t mind. I will pay you of course.”

“What’s the event?” 

Was this considered weird? I had only really met him twice, and here he was, asking me to his plus one for some event.

“A charity thing.”

“Oh, I see….” I mean if it was for charity, it can’t be too bad, right? “Where?”

“At my house in Mayfair.”

If I wasn’t sitting down right now, I would have fainted. Did he literally just say ‘Mayfair’? But that’s one of the richest places to live in London, and he just said ‘my house’.

“Did you just say ‘Mayfair’? What are you doing in East London?”

“Why shouldn’t I be?” He looked a little confused at me.

I just blinked several times, was I literally talking to a rich person right now? Now, with this thought, I couldn’t help eyeing up his clothes, but they showed no sign of a brand, they just looked casual. The stuff you could buy anywhere. 

“Errrr…..” I am really lost for words now.

“Well….” He moved his hand and took something out of his inside jacket pocket and slid it along the table. “If you thought I had other motives? That’s the event in question, and you can double check it online too.”

I looked down at what he put in front of me. I then took it and looked it over. It was a well designed leaflet. In fancy writing, it said ‘Masquerade charity ball and an auction’. As I looked over it, I noticed that everything seemed to be legit but, to double check, I had to check online. So, taking out my phone, I typed in the details and there, on my screen, was the same leaflet on the website. As I looked up at him, I realised that this man was legit. I mean, if he was a creeper, no one would go this far for an average Jane like me.

“What’s the charity?” I asked him, it probably said on the leaflet and the website, but I actually didn’t look that far.

“Turn it over.” 

“Huh?” Doing as he said, I turned the leaflet over and there, as clear as day, was the information about the charity in question. “For the protection and welfare of endangered animals.”

“That sort of stuff interests me on a personal level, so it’s a good cause.”

“I can get behind that.” I put down the leaflet and pocketed my phone. “Why do you need a plus one?”

“It’s mostly so others don’t harass me.”

Was it worth it? Was it worth me saying yes? I felt giddy for some reason. Perhaps Lady Luck was finally sending me some fortune my way. After so many years, maybe I hit the lucky lottery?  

“I mean, I don’t have other plans, as you heard me say. But surely someone prettier would be better for you?”

“The great thing about masquerades is that no one will know you are, so it doesn't matter. Besides? I asked you. Not anyone else.”

Ok, he had a point. A ridiculously handsome point, but a point either way.

“Of course, like I said, I will pay you.” He took out another piece of paper and slid it along the table towards me. “That is for the night.”

Taking the piece of paper, I felt like my jaw was going to hit the floor. That number? That amount of zeros? Man, what the hell?

“I can’t accept that amount….”

“I insist.”

“I can’t….” I really couldn’t. That was enough rent for like a year! Maybe more!

“If you can’t accept the full amount, then just donate it to the charity.”

“.... Ok. That sounds good to me, I will only take as much as I need, then donate the rest.”

“That’s fine by me.” Nocte smiled at me. “However, I will say that, since it is a ball, you will need a dress.”

“Ah…. I don’t really have anything flashy or, well, that dressy….”

“Then would you like to go shopping?”

“Now?”

“Nah….” He waved his hand at me. “Tomorrow.”

“Errr…. Sure?”

“Brilliant!” He flashed a really cute smile at me. “To be honest, after nearly getting run over? I’m sure you want to go home anyway.”

“Well… Basically….”

“Then I shall escort you home.” He stood up and held out a hand.

“I mean you really don’t have to.”

“I insist. Call it a gentleman's duty.”

“... Old school, huh? But ok then. I can stand up for myself though.” I just stood up without taking his hand and started to walk out of the cafe. I mean I would've maybe taken his hand, but I’ve been flushed for ages now, and I really didn’t want to make it worse. That and I could, in fact, stand up myself. However, I had to admit that it was rather chivalrous. So chivalry isn’t dead? It just walks around in a red suit.

So I found myself walking home with the man who called himself Nocte. I really couldn’t help but point out that he was rather weird, and didn't act like some rich guy either. Instead, he was really down to Earth. Eventually I led him right outside my block of flats.

“Well, this is me.” I turned to him, as he was staring up.

“Nice place….” He commented as he turned his attention to me.

“Well, it’s not bad. Dad set it all up for me.”

“Good on him. Oh, right….” Again, his hand went into his inside pocket, and he took out a piece of paper again. “This is my number, I’ll let you know the time for tomorrow…”

“Oh…. Ok….” I took the piece of paper.

“Well, thank you for the food, and try not to get run over.” With a wink, he turned and started to walk away before I had the chance to say anything.

Nocte is a strange man, I could NOT help thinking. I honestly kept thinking about it. But, as I looked down at the piece of paper he gave me, I realised that he had given me a number. As I looked at it, I quickly realised an actual male gave me his number! Grinning to myself, I rushed upstairs and slouched on my sofa and continued to stare at the few numbers. Taking out my phone, I put in the number and sat there wondering how he spelt his name. Noc? Knoct? It kinda sounded like ‘nocturnal’, so perhaps it was just ‘Noct’. I did decide to name the contact ‘Noct’, does that kinda make sense? But, wait a minute…. As I sat up, it occurred to me that I never gave him my number. So how would he contact me later? Considering the fact that he gave me his number, surely it would be ok if I sent a text?

Err. How would you let me know about tomorrow? I didn’t give you my number.

A short minute later, my phone buzzed. Opening up the message, I saw that Nocte had replied.

I have your number now.

“Huh? Wait, was he somehow expecting me to text him? Nah, that can’t be right…”

Oh, by the way, how do you spell your name?

I had to ask him that.

Nocte

As I stared at the reply, I was kinda right. I just missed the E, so of course I edited his contact, placed my phone on the table, and leant back on the sofa. 

This was the start of a new life. My new life and it started with a ball, lunch and an invitation to be a plus one.