The main town square was desolate by the time my car rolled into the empty streets. Trees lined the night-forgotten roads. The truck came to a stop opposite to a closed bakery.

The Bedlam Bakery was the only bakery in town. Headed by Linda Hui Thiep, Mark’s mother. She is extremely talented when it comes to baking, my favourite food within the bakery is their cheese bread.

I watched as thin slivers of wind shook the trees.

Turning off the car, I shifted to a new and more comfortable position. Pulling out my newest manual, this one was about the basics of computer hardware and software, I began to flip through the pages. I could smell the wood and light floral scents of a new book.

The tip of my finger slid back and forth over the thin edge of the paper as I switched to a new page. I felt it passing beneath my skin so closely that it would’ve cut me. But I wasn’t human, and so I kept sliding the tip of my finger over and over against the fine paper waiting for human red-blood to be drawn.

None came.

Echoing footsteps brought my attention from the words and diagrams and instead to the not-so-empty streets anymore.

Elias Alvara curled away from the grey sidewalk and towards the stilled truck. His hands were stuffed into his leather jacket and his shoes were shined to a bright black light. He looked nothing like me, like a walking shadow whereas I looked like the wheat fields on the farm.

Groaning, I dog-eared the page I had stopped on closed my book.

He had donned a smirk as he walked up to the open window on the passenger side. Leaning against the door frame, their was a joking tinge to his words. Though I don’t know if the joke was with or towards me. “I thought that was your truck.” He said it as though he’d seen the truck many times before, “Are you aware that its kind of creepy to sit in dark cars at midnight and read…what is that, a computer manual? Every time I’m near you, you intrigue me more and more.”

“Are you aware that it’s kind of creepy to stare into those dark cars as well as creepily taking walks down deserted roads?”

“I like going for walks at midnight. Its nice, cool and quiet out. Is that illegal?”

“Technically no, “I replied accurately, “though some would deem it suspicious.”

“You’re not drinking golden boy?” His head was slightly tilted. This is when I noticed the half- full plastic water bottle held loosely in his hand. He took a swig and the water made his Adam’s apple bob up and down.

“Sorry?” I said, blinking and pulling my attention to the stars past his head.

“The big party? At…Laura’s I think her name was.” He snapped twice as he tried to think of the name.

“Oh no.” I chuckled so lightly I could barely hear it myself at even the thought of going to the party. It was anything but my typical scene. And anyways, I couldn’t get buzzed on human liquor. It was far too weak, “I dropped my sister off with her friends. Figured I’d occupy myself with my manuals till they’re done with all their fun.” I raised the book to show it off again.

Continuing the conversation I inquired, “Why aren’t you there?”

“I’d rather flail myself off a cliff than go to one of those parties. Plus I’m not trying to give anyone in this fucking town a good opportunity to kick the shit out at me.”

This fucking town - the words reverberated through me. I briefly wondered if he hated the town as much as the town hated him.

Then I remembered my parents, and how much disdain they had for the Alvara’s. How would they be if they saw me talking to Elias Alvara? How angry would they be that I was entertaining a conversation with him? I shifted awkwardly in my seat at the thoughts alone,

Elias’s gruff voice pulled me back to the shadow filled streets again. “Aren’t you cold?” I only had a flimsy sweater beneath my flannel.

“No,” I shrugged, knowing that human weather didn’t effect me in the same way. Cold, hot, freezing, sweltering, it didn’t matter, “It’s nice out to me, I like the warm wind. Not to mention that Polaris is extremely bright tonight and I can’t see it as well through the windows reflection. I’ve never seen so many stars out.”

Gazing out the window my eyes caught on the millions of stars hanging like string lights in the midnight sky. Constellations clumped together like paintings, weaving tapestries in black and white.

I pointed upwards, gaping past Elias, “Other than Polaris, I can see Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and the Summer Triangle.”

“And Perseus the Hero, Lyra the Harp.” Elias tacked on impressively. His gaze had followed the edge of mine to the dark sky, his head turned to study the stars. His shoulder was pressed against the frame of the truck now.

My voice was quieter, “…Perseus the Hero, Lyra the Harp.”

“What? A guy like me can’t like astronomy? That seems a little shallow even for you golden boy.” He taunted.

“No! No!” I clarified, “It’s just…unexpected, interesting.” Astronomy was simply not a a subject which captured the minds of the citizen’s of Bedlam. It was a farming and a high school football kind of town.

Trouble. That’s what Elias Alvara was supposed to be. Not interesting.

A silence fell between us like slipping fall leaves; comfortable and light. The night breeze carried something sweet.

His eyes are no longer sharp and analyzing like a hawk. Elias looked up at the skies, and they widen by just a fragment, they’ve softened and now I see the reflections from the skies in his eyes.

My fingers tapped against my jeans in a low tempo as the silence continued. Part of me wondered what would happen if I asked him to sit in the truck with me. I knew it was a bad idea. Both my parents disliked the Alvara’s, but still, I felt an overwhelming desire to know how much he knew of the stars.

Just as my mouth began to open to ask, a blaring ringtone played. Reaching over and grabbing it from the seat, I saw Evelyn’s name emboldened.

Sheepishly, I divulged, “Sorry, I have to take this.”

“By all means.” He allowed. As I picked up the phone he took another drink of his water, leaving nothing left in it.

And as soon as I clicked onto the call, my heart into a chasm below my feet.