"What?" I'm blabbering, awkwardly removing myself from the booth. I watch her stand up and saunter towards the ladies room down the little hallway near the entrance. I stare after her and slowly become aware that I've been left alone with Felix. I swallow and peer over my shoulder at the dark haired mystery. He's engrossed in his coffee.

I slowly sit back down across from him and make marks in the condensation of my water glass. I feel those stunning eyes on me again.

"A very good coffee they brew here," he says casually breaking the silence. "Nice atmosphere."

"Yeah," I say softly. Still keeping my eyes down. This is by far the most awkward of our interactions. Okay, well waking up in his apartment and thinking he was about to cannibalize me or something was probably a little above this but still. "My mother worked here briefly. The food is good too."

"How is your mother?"

I glance up at him, surprised at his query. He's got a concerned look on his face and he's leaned in a bit, eyes focused solely on me. The shivers come again.

"She's, uh, she's good." I swallow and lick my lips but I can't look away from those strange eyes. "I think her new job is working out."

He smiles, something very genuine. "Glad to hear it, and how are you?"

"Well, I guess," I say and shrug. "My birthday is this weekend."

What the hell, Colin? I have no idea why I have just told him this.

"Really? How old will you be?" He asks.

"Um, I'll be eighteen." I still can't believe it. It's legally adulthood, though I feel I've been an adult for some time.

Felix looks oddly pensive. He takes another sip of his coffee. Its like he's debating something and before he could ask me whatever it seems he wants to ask next, his phone rings. It's an odd little melody, that sounds familiar but I can't quite place it. Felix gives me an apologetic look before answering.

"Yes?" Is about the only English he says before suddenly he is speaking very rapid French and in a rather harsh tone. I can only tell the language from the very basic lessons I've had with Mrs. Cunningham. I can't really tell what Felix is saying except maybe one or two words. He has a very angry expression and his jaw muscles have tightened considerably. I look down and then back toward the restrooms where Joanna still hasn't returned.

"Merde!" He growls out before ending his call.

I stare with concern and a tad frightened. "Is...is everything okay?"

He seems to remember I'm there and his face softens. Though he still seems agitated. "Yeah, I just, I have to go."

"Oh." Is about all I can say as I watch him stare at me a moment before standing up and fishing something out of his pocket. He pulls his wallet out and drops about thirty bucks on the table, more than enough for the entire check. "Wait, you don't—"

"It's no problem," he says with a smile. Out of nowhere, he lays his hand on top of my head. Those tingles come strongly, racing through every nerve of my body like liquid fire. I shut my eyes. I half expect him to rub my head like a dog and like every other person older than I tend to do, but he just lets it linger there, a cool and calming presence on my head. "I'll see you around, kid," he finally says before dropping his hand. By the time I open my eyes, he's gone and I shoot a glance at the entrance just in time to see it swing close.

I'm very hyper-aware of my surroundings and I drum my fingers on the tabletop to release this buzzing energy. Everything sounds very distinct and looks ultra bright. I stare at the coffee mug Felix left behind.

Joanna plops down in front of me in the space where Felix had previously occupied. She's frowning even as she pulls her burger from her previous position. "Where'd he go?"

I stare at her a moment, still a bit fidgety. "He got a call, said he had to go. Not sure where." I supply with a shrug.

She shrugged back and started to devour her burger again. I glanced out the window and watched people pass through the night. Why was everything so vivid?

                                                                      ---

"I still can't believe you left me alone with him, Joanna." I grumble while leaning against the back of the elevator as we rode up to my floor. Lucky enough that high or whatever I was on has dissipated.

"Just wanted to give you guys some alone time and save myself from all that sexual tension in the air," she says with a shit-eating grin because she thinks she is so hilarious.

My cheeks flush at her words never the less and I glare at her so hard, hoping I might leave a mark with my mind. No luck, unfortunately. "There is no," I start to say but lower my voice for the last two words. "...sexual tension." I agree that he is an attractive guy. I mean anyone would, but I don't have any sexual or otherwise feelings. At least, I don't think so. No, of course, I don't.

Joanna is laughing so hard, she's holding on the bar along the wall and gripping her stomach as if she was in pain. "You are so adorable, Colin! And so young," she says wiping away actual tears from her eyes.

I frown. That sounded a bit insulting to me. Joanna apparently could sense my offense to her comment because just as the elevator dinged for my floor she threw her arm around my shoulder.

"There is nothing wrong with being young, trust me," she says, ruffling up my hair. "All I'm saying is that...just enjoy your youth and innocence. It's precious." Jo steps forward bringing me along and stops the doors from closing. "Anyway, better go check on your ma and get some sleep."

I roll my eyes but smile at my older friend. She isn't that much older but I guess she has some solid points. I am so used to being a grown-up its weird to be a kid for once. She's right though as much as I act like an adult, I'm still barely eighteen. What do I know about anything? But this is why it seems so impossible that Felix would have any affinity for me. I'm just some ridiculous teenager who lives in the same building. The past few days have been so bizarre though. I still can't shake the feeling that Felix is hiding something, more than that he's a private eye.

I step out of the elevator and turn around to face Joanna as she holds the doors open by leaning against the jam. "See ya tomorrow?" I say.

"You bet, Kiddo," she says in return with a wink. I shake my head and turn to start heading down the hall to my apartment when Jo calls after me. "Hope your dreams are filled with sexy, dark-haired vampy detectives!"

"Joanna!" I nearly shout, as I spin on my heels to scold her. The elevator doors are already closing however. I roll my eyes again and continue down the hallway.

I yawn as I shuffle towards my apartment door. I finally realize how exhausted I am after our little adventure today. The world is starting to haze around the edges like a vignette filter has been placed over my vision. Everything is surprisingly quiet too but then I remember it's a Tuesday night and most normal people are home and asleep. My mom is probably passed out on the couch with the TV still on playing 90s re-runs. I stop in front of my apartment and blearily search for my keys in my various pockets. Which one did I stuff them into?

Bones crack.

I jump and quickly look behind me. What was that? Of course, there is no one there even though I could have sworn I heard someone in a rough, scratchy whisper. I swallow and finally find my keys in my back pocket. I pick out the door key and get ready to unlock it.

Eat the flesh.

I drop my keys and press my back against the door, staring at Miss Rosie's apartment door. I get shivers up and down my spine but these are far from the tingling euphoric ones I get around Felix. These make my skin crawl and the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I can feel my heart pumping hard and my veins vibrating all over my body. I'm struggling to breathe properly. I distinctly heard that this time. There was no mistaking those words and the deeply disturbing whispering voice. It had been in my head but behind me at the same time. I glance down either end of the hall but I am very much alone.

Something is wrong, very, very wrong. However, I didn't know what to do. I just stand there, staring at the door across the way. Is Miss Rosie in trouble? Or is it something else?

Suddenly, I find myself staring up at the ceiling with a bit of a sore back and head. My mother's face comes into view and she is giving me quite the concerned look. It seems she had opened the door while I had been glued to it. "Sweetie, what are you doing? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." She helps me up and rubs my back, fawning all over me. I'm still rattled though as I pull my inhaler out.

"I'm...I'm fine, mom," I say softly, even though I know I'm not at all.

"Okay," she says but doesn't sound convinced.

I don't get to sleep right away. In fact, it's nearly three or so in the morning before I finally drift off but my dreams are plagued with ghouls and goblins.