Nights

I do not own any characters

Chapter one

Neville rolled onto his back and stared up towards the ceiling. It had been a very rough day, dismal revenue reports, discouraging meetings and forever the feeling of failing at some point. He turned his head over to the nightstand, glancing at the business card propped up next to the lamp. Picking it up, he studied the wording. Upraised type for the name Delia's and a phone number. Handwritten in pen underneath the words "Ask for Luna."

Neville hesitated for a few seconds then reached for his cell phone and made the call. A few moments after, a voice on the other end stated "Delia's".

"Umm, yes. Well…"

"How did you get this number?"

"Oh well, I know someone who suggested…"

"Name?"

"Mine?"

"No, the someone who suggested."

"Oh, uh Seamus."

A pause. Then "Is there anyone in particular?"

"Uh, I was told to ask for uh, Luna?"

"One hour. Your address please?"

"Oh yeah, uh it's a hotel. In town." Neville proceeded to give the person directions ending with "So, what happens?"

"One hour" Click.

Neville dropped the cell phone and covered his eyes with his arm. What am I doing? Cancel it, watch a television program. Call your fiancée. Take a cold shower. Anything but what you are about to do.

Of course, he would do none of that. Instead, Neville brushed his teeth and stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. Tall, dark and boring. Unshaven. A sweater vest for god's sake. Maybe he should get a pipe to complete the look of a middle aged man instead of a 24 year old. Neville spent so much time staring at himself that he was startled when there was a knock on the door. He tensed up and held onto the sink edge. Last chance. The knock repeated itself. Neville crossed the living area and went to the door. He opened it and there stood a girl. Well probably not a girl, she must be at least 21. He hoped. But she looked like a girl.

"Hello." The girl said in a high pitched sighing voice.

"Hello." Neville replied. He didn't move.

"May I come in?"

"Of yeah, yeah of course. I'm sorry, I'm not usually…"

"Don't worry, I'm sure that your mind is just filled with fuzzies right now." The girl replied as she stepped into the room, looking around. "Can I put my coat down here?"

"Yes, let me help you."
"That's all right." The girl took off her black coat and Neville took in the pink sweater, purple skirt, blue leggings and black boots. She turned to him and smiled and Neville forgot the clashing parade of colors. Instead he saw bluish-gray eyes, curling blondish hair and a luminous glow. He nervously ran his hand through his own hair and dropped her coat on the floor."Oh sorry. I'm so sorry. " He picked it up quickly and placed it on the sofa.

"Well this is very nice. I've never been to this part of town before."
"Oh where do you normally, uh, visit?"

"Oh, different places none not as fancy as this though. You have 2 televisions." She looked at the flat screen on the wall in front of the seating arrangement then turned her head to the television mounted in front of the bed.

"Three, there's one in the bathroom." Stupid, why did you say that?

"That's nice. That way you don't miss anything important." She took a seat on the sofa next to her coat.

Neville dropped down opposite her. "So, now…"

"Oh we can talk right now if you want. Whatever you want. My name's Luna."

"Yes, I know. Well I guessed since when I called, I asked for you. But maybe you were busy or maybe it was short notice." Neville trailed off as Luna smiled at him. "Oh no, I wasn't busy tonight. Usually I'm just relaxing at home, reading a magazine. Do you know the Quibbler?"

"Can't say that I do, I don't read too much though. At least not for pleasure."

"Oh? What do you read then?"

"Well I read a lot of reports about nature and pharmaceuticals. Boring things I'm sure to you." Neville picked at his pant leg nervously.

"That doesn't sound too boring. Is that what you do for a living? Study nature?"

"Well kind of. My family owns a pharmaceutical company, mostly herbal supplements and from nature products. Uh, my parents aren't well and so the company was run mostly by my grandmother. But after college, she thought it was time I learned the business so for the past year I've been touring factories and offices and finding my way through it all. Only it's a bit boring. Business never interested me I like the parts about research and the plants and all. I went to school to study herbology but seems like I'm expected to go back and get a business degree." Neville stopped his babbling to take a breath. He hadn't talked like his in a long time. And not to a girl. Any girl. He flushed a little red. "Sorry I'm going on like this, I'm a bit nervous."

"Oh it was very interesting what you were talking about. I wish that I could go back to school. But you see, my own family needs me to work so here I am." Luna got up from her seat and stood in front of Neville. "You're sweet and pleasant. Don't be so worried." She placed a hand gently onto Neville's shoulder. He tensed up for a moment. She moved her hand to the top of his head and stroked his hair for a moment.

"Do you want me to kiss you now?"