A short while later, I was standing in my flat, staring at a small bag that I had in my hand. As I took out what was in it, I saw that there, as clear as day, was some contraceptive pills. Why, oh why? I got told that I can start taking these whenever, but I have to take ‘extra’ precautions for a few days. Man, like that was ever going to happen. But heading towards the bathroom, I opened up my little cupboard there. I already took some extra vitamin pills in the morning, so I placed the box next to my vitamin pills. They’re just some extra tablets to take each morning, I suppose? There was no rush, so I’ll probably start the round tomorrow.

As I walked out of the bathroom, I saw that the painting was still resting up against the wall. I really had no idea where I was going to put it. It wasn’t exactly a big painting, but still. As I pondered, my phone buzzed on the sofa, and I reached over for it.

Unknown: Hi Lexi, Nocte gave me your number. So I’d thought I’d hit you up

Who did he give my number to this time? As I thought that, my phone buzzed again and another message came through.

Oh, this is Rupert.

Aww. As I added his number to my contacts, my phone buzzed again, but since I just added Rupert, I noticed that the message that came up was from a totally different number.

Hey girl, Nocte gave me your digits. We should hang, love yah. Ruby xxx

My eyebrow raised at that. I knew that they were the same person, but they spoke to me with two different numbers, which meant they had two different phones. It was kinda weird to see, since I’ve never seen something like this before. But my phone buzzed again and, this time, it was written as Rupert.

Rupert: If you are confused, I do get it. A dual persona is new for some people, but I thought I’d explain. But both of us are available for hanging out, just text whatever one. 

Me: Thanks, Rupert

It would take some getting used to, but this is who Rupert is.

Rupert: You’re very welcome, also I hope that you had fun last night

Me: I did, actually

Rupert: Excellent! And you met Charlotte’s grandson too.

Me: Ethan? Yeah I did, that sure was something nice

Rupert: I’ve only met him a couple of times, but he’s a good guy

Me: Yeah, I get that feeling too

Rupert: But I won’t keep you. But remember if you want to hang around with me or Ruby? Just message either one! It doesn’t bother me one bit if you want to hang with a certain one, we both have different perspectives

Me: You’re just double the fun!

Rupert: Hah. I should use that next time. 

With a smile, I sent Rupert back a little heart emoji and turned the screen off. So Rupert and Ruby were the same person, but they were also completely different people. I smile to myself, I will definitely take up either of their suggestions. Ruby for a female point of view and Rupert for everything else? Yeah, that sounded right. I became weirdly happy that I actually made a friend, and I just happened to get a two for one deal! So, with a smile on my face, I spent the rest of the day lounging about, and headed to bed to get ready for the new day.

A new adventure’s more like it!

~One Month Later~

A whole entire month went by, and it is now May. What did I get up to in the month of April? Well, several things in fact:

First point is that I continued to text either Rupert or Ruby, however texting Ruby was a bit of a hassle half the time, since she always ends our conversations with either a skin or hair routine. I mean I kinda did them? But she was like a hard arse drill instructor, but I would never say that to her face.

The second point is that I finally hung up that painting. It is in an area in the living room where it won’t be noticed straight away. I mostly put it there in case I ever had guests round and they ask about the really expensive painting. That's the last thing I need to try and explain, especially to my mother. 

Which actually brings me to the third point…. My mother. She was still prying me for information on this ‘boyfriend’ that she thinks I have. Even though I tell her I don’t have one, she just tells me that I’m being too modest and should stop hiding him? I don’t get her, I don’t get her at all. I even asked her once to put dad on the phone so I can sort this out, and the outcome to that? She didn’t believe him either! It kind of makes me think that if I actually did get one and admit it, she might think I’m lying. However, I don’t have anyone in mind, well maybe apart from my… Fourth point.

The big major fourth point is that Nocte gave me more odd jobs. A few of them were a lot of filing and documenting about his various charities. I didn’t actually find this when I searched him on the internet, but now looking at all the paperwork? That man had started over a hundred different charities! Sometimes I wonder if he does things for himself. But, with more jobs, it did in fact equal to more money. 

Which leads me to the fifth and final point. With the new found money that I made in the past month, not only did I give some of it to various charities, but I also gave some to my little Luna and I also actually treated myself. Well, I only treated myself to some new furniture. Mainly a new bed, sofa and a microwave, since the original up and died on me in the second week of April! But the new bed?! I loved it! Well, I loved it mostly for its storage capabilities! Which actually just houses a lot of shoes, since Charlotte sent me various amounts of different shoes! It just makes me wonder how many feet she thinks I have….

But it was now May, and I was at one of our usual business meetings. Which was legit just at the cafe near my house, but I think I zoned out because my eyes were staring right at Nocte’s half opened shirt, which of course revealed part of his chest. Does this man not know what buttons are? Or….?

“Earth to Lexi.”

Eh? His voice, directed right at me, jolted me to attention, and I realised that he was staring right at me, with a raised eyebrow.

“I’ll say it again….” He sighed. “You don’t mind coming with me on a business trip, do you?”

“Wait…. A trip?” That surprised me. “Where?”

With a smile, he slid a piece of paper over to me and I saw that, in fancy writing, it said

Greece

“Greece?” I inquired.

“It will be for two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” I parroted back.

“Would that be a problem?”

“Oh, no….” I shook my head. “I mean I don’t have a pet to feed, so there is no worries on my end.”

Nocte kindly smiled at me. “Then you are good to go?”

“Yes! But what's it for?”

“It does say it right there.” He pointed to the piece of paper, and I looked back at it and, just as he said, it did in fact say at least something.

“Dolphins?” 

“It just so happens to be Greece’s national animal.” 

“Oh…. So it’s kind of like how Lion’s are the national animal of England, though Lions aren’t even native here.” 

“Well….” Nocte leaned back on his chair. “Lions were once native to Europe, though the national animals of Wales and Scotland are debatable.”

“You mean the dragon and unicorn?”

“I mean given some stories, who says they are not real?” He shrugs.

“I think most little girls want a unicorn to be real.” 

“Who says they aren’t?” He gives me a wink. “And they just happen to be all shy and just appear as normal horses?”

“Perhaps, but ok then, what about Dragons?”

Nocte shrugs. “Eh, I have not thought of anything for those….”

I could not help but laugh at that, he really was an oddball! And during this past month, I picked up on more of his weird quirks. However, according to Ruby, he shuts himself off a bit, which was a bit surprising to me since he seems to be open about a lot of stuff? But that was the vibe he was giving off whenever she spoke to him. The main quirk that he seemed to give off was the whole vegetable thing, which actually extends to literally ANY vegetable, which also included potatoes. I mean how could he hate these? Weirdo! Another small quirk that he has was that I sometimes caught him playing with that necklace that I never saw him take off, and there were a lot of times when I saw him stare off in a certain direction. Like he could see something there that I couldn’t. There was a lot more that I could start explaining, but I could be here all day, which now makes me realise that I’ve been watching him a lot.

“So how about it?” He spoke, breaking me out of my own thoughts. “Come to Greece with me?”

Honestly, there was only one answer to this, and I aggressively nodded. Plus I never really been there before. The closest I have been to it was Italy when I was young. But that really doesn’t count.

“I would love to.”

“Great, we leave in a week.”

Nocte then gave me some more details, saying that he will pick me up in the morning in three days time and that I need to pack beforehand. The last one was quite obvious, but he still said it anyway. With all of the necessary details out of the way, I bidded goodbye to him and returned home. Since it was the beginning of May, the weather did NOT know what it wanted to do, so even though it looked sunny when I left, it now looked like it was going to chuck it down with rain. So I made sure to hurry. 

I just so happened to get into my building just before it started to rain and, when I was finally in my own place, I slumped into my new sofa. 

“So a two week business trip, huh?” I mumbled out loud to myself as I sank lower.

As I sat there, it made me remember what I realised back at the cafe. I’ve been noticing Nocte a lot more recently, like everything he does. It didn’t help that I also had to admit to myself that my mind wanders in his direction during my private matters alone. I feel like I need some word of advice? So, taking my phone from the coffee table, I started to scroll up and down at two contacts. My mother and Ruby. Who would be the better person to ask? As I scrolled up and down between them, my finger ended up landing on Rupert. Which made me go…..Maybe? Taking a chance, I sent a message to Rupert asking if we could meet. Shortly after, he replied saying ‘yes’, and he gave me an address and time. The place where he told me to meet him wasn’t that far away, and the rain had stopped so, instead of me turning up late, I headed right out. 

The address that he gave me led me to a cute little vintage cafe. As I headed inside, I looked around for him but, since I didn’t see him, I decided to head straight to a booth. About ten minutes later, Rupert strolled in and I waved him down. Once Rupert spotted me, he gave me a warm smile, headed right for me and sat opposite me.

“Thanks for meeting with me.” I said with a smile.

“No problem.”

Before I got started, I ordered us both some tea and Rupert was starting to look at me like he was waiting for me to start talking again. Well, there’s no time like the present!

“Do you know much about relationships?”

“Not really. But neither does Ruby, why do you ask?”

“Oh….” 

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to ask him? But he also name dropped Ruby, saying that she doesn’t know much either.

“But…..” Rupert began explaining. “It doesn’t mean I can’t give advice though.”

“Oh, really? Hmm….” Maybe this can work then? “Ok… Well, what is your opinion on him?”

“Him? You might need to elaborate a little.”

“Oh, my bad…. I mean Nocte.”

“Ah….” He moved a hand to his chin, like he was in deep thought, then started to speak again. “Well, he is a good guy. A bit odd, and he’s also really foreign, but he’s still a good egg.” I then saw him eyeing me up. “Ah, I see now….”

“What?”

Rupert gave me a cheeky little smile as he said. “You like him.”

“Wha? No.”

“Then why did you ask me about relationships then ask me about him?”

“I…. I don’t know….” I slumped over the table.

“A girl’s heart is such a fickle thing.” I felt him pat me on the head.

“Urgh….” 

“But, from all the years I’ve known him? He has his barriers up, like he doesn’t actually let anyone in.”

This intrigued me, and I sat back up. Ruby mentioned that he shuts himself off, but now this?

“It’s a little hard to explain….” He continued. “But, from what I’ve seen, yeah…. It might be the main reason why I have literally never seen him with anyone.”

“So you’re saying that one needs to get past those barriers?”

“Perhaps….”

“Do you know how?”

Rupert raised an eyebrow. “And here I thought I was led to believe that you didn’t like him?”

“No, I meant as a friend, like to try and help him, y’know?”

“Uh huh…. But maybe acts of kindness?”

“I see….”

“But I’m no relationship guru.”

“I do appreciate it.”

Rupert gave me a smile, as our coffees arrived. They arrived a little bit later than I expected, but the little cafe did look a little busy so I’ll let them off.

“I’m rooting for you.”

I nearly spat out my coffee as I picked it up to drink.

“Wha?!”

Rupert gave me another of his warm smiles. “You’ve had your fair share of mess, it’s time for you to find a good one.”

“Oh right, yeah…. David….” I shivered at the sheer mention of his name.

“See?”

“I suppose….” I hid my face as I took a sip.

“Honestly, I hoped I helped in some way.”

“You actually did.” 

I gave him a smile and, from then on, we just chatted about complete nonsense. With that, before we knew it, a whole hour went by and we finally parted ways. I headed straight back home, and the first thing I did? I headed right to my bed and collapsed onto it. As I hugged one of my pillows, my face started to become a bit flushed. I suppose if it is true and I DID like him, that would kind of ruin the whole thing back at the ball that I said I wouldn’t fall in love with him. As I continued to burrow my face in the pillow, I just hoped that this was just a school girl crush, and nothing more.

With that, the next few days dragged on. Nocte didn’t give me any jobs, so I hadn’t seen him since we decided on going on this trip. Charlotte apparently caught wind of what was going on, and she sent me a whole load of summer outfits and swimsuits. There was even a couple of sexy looking cami’s for sleep, with a note saying

With love, Rupert

Thanks Rupert…. I guess?