Chapter Four: "Connor"
Thierry leaned forward in his soulmate's desk chair and stared at the enigma before him. She had suffered so much already, but he had a feeling that Piper's story didn't get any happier. She was staring vacantly at a paperweight on Hannah's desk. Thierry would have thought her comatose except for the fact that her jaw was imperceptibly trembling. He felt like a monster making her go through all of the bitter details, but he had a feeling she needed to tell it as much as he wanted to hear it.
"Piper? Piper, why did you say Connor was your soulmate? Did something happen to him? Piper?" Thierry stared at her expressionless face and waited to be acknowledged.
She spoke after a moment of hesitation, but her voice could have been that of a stranger. There was no emotion; she was just stating a fact. Her eyes, however, continued to stare at memories that were branded into the back of her mind.
"Connor was my soulmate, but not any more. He's dead."
Thierry sat in shocked silence. The dead look on her face made him want to weep for her, but now wasn't the time for sympathy.
"Was Connor a human? How did he die? I don't mean to upset you, Piper, but I'd like to get some background here."
Piper's throat constricted as demons from her past danced in her eyes.
"Connor was a twenty year old NYU student. He was from San Francisco and loved New York City like a second home, but most of all he loved to play chess in the park." Piper's voice was foreign to her, as if someone else was speaking those words. Words from her past which had been locked deep inside her. As the words escaped, so did the memories. Suddenly, Piper wasn't in the opulent office chair with the pink cushion. She was sitting on a stone bench in Central Park, watching the fountain in the mid- afternoon sun…
~~~~~
The park was bustling with people that morning. There were joggers on the path, tourists with cameras around their necks, and children feeding the ducks. Piper was wearing a very expensive Armani skirt and jacket. It was a bit chilly out, but her hair was tied up out of the wind. She wore dark Oakley's to protect her sensitive vampire eyes from the glare of the sun off the pond.
Piper had no fear of being recognized by anyone from her old life. She had completely changed in the last eight months. Her hair was now just above her waist, instead of falling softly past her shoulders. Her complexion had become translucent and unearthly beautiful. Her once dusty-green eyes had become an ever-shifting green. One minute they were jungle green and pensive, the next vibrant emerald and hostile.
Piper glanced over towards the chess tables. Miss Emma was sitting at her usual table trying to coerce a passer-by into a game or two. Piper had seen this woman come to the park just as often as she did. Miss Emma was a mid-sixties black woman with dirty clothes and glasses but an award winning smile that caught people's attention. Piper suspected that she slept in the park somewhere nearby.
Miss Emma was sitting with her hands in her lap and an old, scuffed chess board set up on the table before her. She smiled invitingly at all of the tourists, but they just walked past her on their way. Miss Emma loved to play chess, and she'd become quite good at it over the years.
"Are you ready to get that grin wiped off of your face, Em? You know I could always whip you at chess." A young man was walking up to Emma's table. Piper guessed him at about 19 and around 6'1". He had short, curly, sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was slightly broad- shouldered and had a light tan that suggested a recent vacation to the west coast. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt with "I 3 NY" on it. Piper sensed a very easy-going personality in this boy. Although he was a good sixy feet away, Piper heard his voice and Emma's quite clearly.
"Bless my soul! Connor James, when did you get back in town?" Emma clutched one hand to her chest with surprise and delight.
The boy named Connor sat down across from Miss Emma and moved forward a white pawn. "I just got back this week. I had to move into my new apartment or I would've stopped by sooner."
"How was California?" Emma reached for a pawn of her own.
"It was good to be home again for the summer, but I'm glad to be back in the city." Connor frowned and pushed forward another white game piece.
"When do your classes start up again?" Miss Emma didn't miss a beat as she countered with a move of her own.
"Two weeks. That means I've got some afternoons free until then. I think I'll reacquaint myself with the little book stores and cafés around here." Connor hesitated before pushing forward one of his bishops.
Miss Emma smiled and moved forward one of her dark pieces. "That'll be nice. Will you stop by the park to see me?"
Connor looked up at her in surprise. "Of course. I'm the only person who can kick your ass at chess, Em. Somebody's got to put you in your place. I can't let you start thinking you're good at it or anything."
"Connor James, that California sun has played tricks with your memory. I believe that the day before you left this city back in May, I kicked your ass." Miss Emma smiled sweetly and pushed forward her king. "What happened with Rachael?"
Connor sighed and moved forward a knight. "We broke up right after I returned home. She was seeing somebody else behind my back the whole time I was here. I just wish she would've told me it was over instead of sneaking around for four months. The funny thing is, I was going to break it off with her anyway. She just beat me to it."
"Never did like that girl."
"You never met her, Em. She lives in San Francisco."
Miss Emma shook her head and pursed her lips. "Always knew there was something wrong with her head. Any girl that cheats on you, Connor, doesn't have her thoughts straight."
Connor grinned at the elderly lady and pushed forward a chipped game piece. She immediately reached out and moved her king.
"Checkmate." Miss Emma gazed across the small table at her opponent.
Connor's eyebrows shot up into his curly blonde hair. "That's impossible. I must not be in the game today. I'm sort of nervous about starting up school again." He pulled out a ten dollar bill from his wallet and put it in her wrinkled hands.
"Don't you worry any, Boy. You've got some good brains in that head of yours. You're gonna be a big man someday. Wearing one of them four piece suits and waving around a briefcase. You won't have any time to visit a dotty old lady in the park." Miss Emma pouted playfully and Connor shook his head stubbornly.
"You know that will never happen, Em. You're my favorite girl in this whole city." Connor stood up from the bench and knocked over his queen in surrender. "I've got to go, but I'll be back. Same time tomorrow?"
"I'll be waiting for ya'."
"I'll see you then, Emma." Connor moved all his game pieces back to their starting positions so Miss Emma could welcome another challenger.
"Goodbye, Connor James." The old woman smiled at him and then began to return her own pieces to the end of the board.
Connor turned to leave the park and get something to eat. He happened to glance to his right and see a young lady sitting on an isolated park bench. She looked classy and uptight, but something about her struck a chord in Connor. After a moment, he realized how rude his staring must be. He continued on out of the park and crossed a few streets over to a nearby deli. The image of the young woman on the park bench stayed with him every step of the way.
~~~~~
Piper didn't know what it was about the boy, Connor James, but he had the strangest effect on her. She sat at her same bench for the next three afternoons and waited for him to visit Miss Emma. At first Piper thought that Connor wasn't coming today, and she was amazed to discover herself disappointed. Why was she infatuated with this human? Perhaps she should just lure him in, feed on him, and let him loose again. Maybe then her curiosity would be satiated. A small voice in Piper's mind whispered that it wasn't curiosity she felt towards this boy.
All of a sudden, the object of her affections came around the jogging path and headed directly towards her. Connor had on a blue long-sleeve shirt and faded jeans today. Piper thought he looked wonderful. As he passed her on the bench, she lowered her shaded eyes to the grass. Her vampire senses told her that Connor didn't do the same. His gaze remained fixed on her until he collided with a man walking his dog.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please excuse me." Connor's face blushed a vibrant red as he apologized profusely to the annoyed man and his Husky. His eyes flitted back over to where Piper sat, then turned towards his original destination—Emma's chess board table. He went to go join his friend for their daily game. Piper smiled at his jumbled thoughts: Who is that girl? I think I've seen her before somewhere…did I have a class with her? I can't believe I ran into that poor guy! Why can't I watch where I'm going? I have to beat Emma today, I'm out of cash. Did I remember to lock the apartment door? And amidst all his ramblings the Beatles' song 'Yellow Submarine' was playing in the back of his head. We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine….
Piper found herself grinning at Connor's retreating back.
An hour passed—in which the college student lost two chess games to the homeless senior citizen--- before Connor decided he was sick of chess. He moved his pieces back in place, just as usual; said goodbye to Emma and promised to return tomorrow, just as usual; and walked past Piper's bench, just as usual. Except that today was different. Connor stopped, turned, and started walking straight towards her. Piper started to panic.
"Excuse me, I know this is going to sound like a total line but it's not. Have we met? I could swear that I know you from somewhere…" Connor came to a stop right in front of Piper's sued-clad body. His shins bumped her knees softly. Good going, Don Juan. At least give her room to breathe, Connor chastised himself and took a hasty step back.
Piper's palms were sweating and her mouth was dry. What's the matter with me! I'm acting like a deranged stalker! I'm one of the undead, for crying out loud. I probably fed off his second cousin for breakfast. Why is he stepping back? Do I smell bad? Vampires don't get B.O…
He had taken her nervous silence as rejection. "Right, well, so sorry to bother you. I guess I'll just go back into the hole from which I crawled."
"No, wait. I don't think that it did." Wow, how articulate, Piper.
"What?" Connor's beautiful blue eyes reflected confusion.
"I don't think it sounded like a line. The truth is I seem to recognize you as well." Her vampire cheeks were actually blushing.
Connor's eyes brightened. "I knew I wasn't imagining things—not that I do that. Imagine things I mean. I don't hallucinate. I have a very normal thought process." He groaned inwardly.
Piper smiled shyly and picked up on his feelings of embarrassment in his mind. "Well that's good to know."
"Yes, I know. It comes in handy. I'm a very resourceful thinker. Apparently, however, my communication skills suck ass." Connor gave her a bone-melting grin.
Piper couldn't help but smile back.
"Hey, would you want to go with me and get some coffee? We could figure out where in the world we've seen each other before, and I could have another chance to prove that I'm not mentally handicapped." Connor stared at her hopefully.
Piper hesitated a full three-point-two seconds before letting him help her up from the bench. They left the park side-by-side and stayed that way until they reached a small café off of forty-second avenue. Connor's breathing was a bit labored from all of the walking, so Piper decided to pretend she was winded as well.
"Finally! Nineteen blocks is a hell of a lot farther than it sounds. I'm just glad it didn't start pouring yet. Those clouds look pretty nasty. I would've gotten us a cab but I'm short on cash." Connor's eyes widened suddenly and his jaw dropped half-way open. "Oh, crap! I don't have any cash on me! I had to write Emma an I.O.U. I wonder if this place will take checks." Connor scanned all of the signs on the register counter of the café.
Piper was having the time of her life and they had only been together for twenty-five minutes. She didn't mind having to buy both their coffees, she was in too good of a mood—and she didn't even like coffee! Not that drinking it would have any affect on her digestive system whatsoever. Besides, Piper never wasted any opportunity to spend Adrian's money.
The two sat across from each other at a small table. Piper kept fidgeting and readjusting her jacket buttons. She took her jacket off and put it on the back of her chair. Then she folded it in half and laid it across her lap. A moment later it was back on her shoulders and unbuttoned. This all happened in the space of three minutes.
Connor just kept looking at Piper with a stupid smile on his face. He picked up his coffee mug, set it down again, lifted it half-way to his mouth, and put it back on the table.
"I'm Connor James, by the way. What's your name?" Connor asked attentively
"Piper."
"Well, Piper, I know how artificial lighting can be gruesome, but I think it's safe to take your sunglasses off in here."
Piper silently wondered how oblivious she could be as to leave her sunglasses on in a dimly lit café. She removed her Oakley's, and set them down on the table top.
Connor's reaction was quite humorous. Piper tried hard not to grin at his frantic thought pattern: Oh, wow! I think I'd remember eyes like those! I'd love to sketch her portrait. Maybe we haven't met before…but she seems so familiar. She's so beautiful, and classy, and…I'M STARING AGAIN!! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME! Connor jerked upright in his seat. Quick, ask her another question before she thinks you're a weirdo! What an interesting tattoo…We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine…
"That's a weird tattoo you have there--I mean interesting!" Connor cringed at his tactlessness. "Does it mean anything?"
Piper quickly put her hands in her lap and shook her head. "It's just a rose. So you go to college here in New York? What's your major?"
"Well, it's just a general business degree right now. I'm thinking about owning my own business someday. That's just an aspiration of mine. I don't know what will happen when I actually get out of college. I just want to be remembered as having done something in my life. You know what I mean? I don't want my epitaph to say 'Here lies what's-his-name, we will never forget him'." Connor worried that he was boring this poor girl.
Piper thought that Connor could say anything he wanted as long as she could here that sexy voice of his. Wait a minute! What's the matter with me? I'm fawning over a human! Adrian would be furious!
A picture of Adrian's face flashed in Piper's mind and her vampire blood ran cold. "I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Connor." Piper grabbed her purse and stood up from the little booth.
"Wait! Do you have to leave so soon? It's raining outside! Just let me get you a cab for wherever you're going."
"You're broke, remember?" Piper smiled softly at his desperation to make her stay.
"Well at least let me walk you there! It's cloudy and drizzly out. If anything, I can block you from the wind." Connor stood from his chair, too.
"NO! I'm sure I can manage by myself, thanks." Piper pulled a scarf over her hair and walked towards the exit. She stopped and turned back to Connor for a moment. "I'll be in the park tomorrow afternoon. If you see me, you'll have to say hello."
"Of course I will. We should do this again tomorrow! Goodbye, Piper!" Connor shouted towards the café's entrance. An old lady next to him glared at the noisy hoodlum.
Piper pulled out her flip-phone and called her driver. Oliver was there in ten minutes with the black Roll's Royce. Piper quickly ran out from under the green and white striped awning and climbed into the backseat.
Connor watched her departure outside the café window with curiosity. He would definitely be in the park tomorrow afternoon--with cash. Connor sat down in his chair again to finish the rest of his coffee. He noticed the mug across from him was completely full of cold cappuccino.
Thierry leaned forward in his soulmate's desk chair and stared at the enigma before him. She had suffered so much already, but he had a feeling that Piper's story didn't get any happier. She was staring vacantly at a paperweight on Hannah's desk. Thierry would have thought her comatose except for the fact that her jaw was imperceptibly trembling. He felt like a monster making her go through all of the bitter details, but he had a feeling she needed to tell it as much as he wanted to hear it.
"Piper? Piper, why did you say Connor was your soulmate? Did something happen to him? Piper?" Thierry stared at her expressionless face and waited to be acknowledged.
She spoke after a moment of hesitation, but her voice could have been that of a stranger. There was no emotion; she was just stating a fact. Her eyes, however, continued to stare at memories that were branded into the back of her mind.
"Connor was my soulmate, but not any more. He's dead."
Thierry sat in shocked silence. The dead look on her face made him want to weep for her, but now wasn't the time for sympathy.
"Was Connor a human? How did he die? I don't mean to upset you, Piper, but I'd like to get some background here."
Piper's throat constricted as demons from her past danced in her eyes.
"Connor was a twenty year old NYU student. He was from San Francisco and loved New York City like a second home, but most of all he loved to play chess in the park." Piper's voice was foreign to her, as if someone else was speaking those words. Words from her past which had been locked deep inside her. As the words escaped, so did the memories. Suddenly, Piper wasn't in the opulent office chair with the pink cushion. She was sitting on a stone bench in Central Park, watching the fountain in the mid- afternoon sun…
~~~~~
The park was bustling with people that morning. There were joggers on the path, tourists with cameras around their necks, and children feeding the ducks. Piper was wearing a very expensive Armani skirt and jacket. It was a bit chilly out, but her hair was tied up out of the wind. She wore dark Oakley's to protect her sensitive vampire eyes from the glare of the sun off the pond.
Piper had no fear of being recognized by anyone from her old life. She had completely changed in the last eight months. Her hair was now just above her waist, instead of falling softly past her shoulders. Her complexion had become translucent and unearthly beautiful. Her once dusty-green eyes had become an ever-shifting green. One minute they were jungle green and pensive, the next vibrant emerald and hostile.
Piper glanced over towards the chess tables. Miss Emma was sitting at her usual table trying to coerce a passer-by into a game or two. Piper had seen this woman come to the park just as often as she did. Miss Emma was a mid-sixties black woman with dirty clothes and glasses but an award winning smile that caught people's attention. Piper suspected that she slept in the park somewhere nearby.
Miss Emma was sitting with her hands in her lap and an old, scuffed chess board set up on the table before her. She smiled invitingly at all of the tourists, but they just walked past her on their way. Miss Emma loved to play chess, and she'd become quite good at it over the years.
"Are you ready to get that grin wiped off of your face, Em? You know I could always whip you at chess." A young man was walking up to Emma's table. Piper guessed him at about 19 and around 6'1". He had short, curly, sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was slightly broad- shouldered and had a light tan that suggested a recent vacation to the west coast. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt with "I 3 NY" on it. Piper sensed a very easy-going personality in this boy. Although he was a good sixy feet away, Piper heard his voice and Emma's quite clearly.
"Bless my soul! Connor James, when did you get back in town?" Emma clutched one hand to her chest with surprise and delight.
The boy named Connor sat down across from Miss Emma and moved forward a white pawn. "I just got back this week. I had to move into my new apartment or I would've stopped by sooner."
"How was California?" Emma reached for a pawn of her own.
"It was good to be home again for the summer, but I'm glad to be back in the city." Connor frowned and pushed forward another white game piece.
"When do your classes start up again?" Miss Emma didn't miss a beat as she countered with a move of her own.
"Two weeks. That means I've got some afternoons free until then. I think I'll reacquaint myself with the little book stores and cafés around here." Connor hesitated before pushing forward one of his bishops.
Miss Emma smiled and moved forward one of her dark pieces. "That'll be nice. Will you stop by the park to see me?"
Connor looked up at her in surprise. "Of course. I'm the only person who can kick your ass at chess, Em. Somebody's got to put you in your place. I can't let you start thinking you're good at it or anything."
"Connor James, that California sun has played tricks with your memory. I believe that the day before you left this city back in May, I kicked your ass." Miss Emma smiled sweetly and pushed forward her king. "What happened with Rachael?"
Connor sighed and moved forward a knight. "We broke up right after I returned home. She was seeing somebody else behind my back the whole time I was here. I just wish she would've told me it was over instead of sneaking around for four months. The funny thing is, I was going to break it off with her anyway. She just beat me to it."
"Never did like that girl."
"You never met her, Em. She lives in San Francisco."
Miss Emma shook her head and pursed her lips. "Always knew there was something wrong with her head. Any girl that cheats on you, Connor, doesn't have her thoughts straight."
Connor grinned at the elderly lady and pushed forward a chipped game piece. She immediately reached out and moved her king.
"Checkmate." Miss Emma gazed across the small table at her opponent.
Connor's eyebrows shot up into his curly blonde hair. "That's impossible. I must not be in the game today. I'm sort of nervous about starting up school again." He pulled out a ten dollar bill from his wallet and put it in her wrinkled hands.
"Don't you worry any, Boy. You've got some good brains in that head of yours. You're gonna be a big man someday. Wearing one of them four piece suits and waving around a briefcase. You won't have any time to visit a dotty old lady in the park." Miss Emma pouted playfully and Connor shook his head stubbornly.
"You know that will never happen, Em. You're my favorite girl in this whole city." Connor stood up from the bench and knocked over his queen in surrender. "I've got to go, but I'll be back. Same time tomorrow?"
"I'll be waiting for ya'."
"I'll see you then, Emma." Connor moved all his game pieces back to their starting positions so Miss Emma could welcome another challenger.
"Goodbye, Connor James." The old woman smiled at him and then began to return her own pieces to the end of the board.
Connor turned to leave the park and get something to eat. He happened to glance to his right and see a young lady sitting on an isolated park bench. She looked classy and uptight, but something about her struck a chord in Connor. After a moment, he realized how rude his staring must be. He continued on out of the park and crossed a few streets over to a nearby deli. The image of the young woman on the park bench stayed with him every step of the way.
~~~~~
Piper didn't know what it was about the boy, Connor James, but he had the strangest effect on her. She sat at her same bench for the next three afternoons and waited for him to visit Miss Emma. At first Piper thought that Connor wasn't coming today, and she was amazed to discover herself disappointed. Why was she infatuated with this human? Perhaps she should just lure him in, feed on him, and let him loose again. Maybe then her curiosity would be satiated. A small voice in Piper's mind whispered that it wasn't curiosity she felt towards this boy.
All of a sudden, the object of her affections came around the jogging path and headed directly towards her. Connor had on a blue long-sleeve shirt and faded jeans today. Piper thought he looked wonderful. As he passed her on the bench, she lowered her shaded eyes to the grass. Her vampire senses told her that Connor didn't do the same. His gaze remained fixed on her until he collided with a man walking his dog.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please excuse me." Connor's face blushed a vibrant red as he apologized profusely to the annoyed man and his Husky. His eyes flitted back over to where Piper sat, then turned towards his original destination—Emma's chess board table. He went to go join his friend for their daily game. Piper smiled at his jumbled thoughts: Who is that girl? I think I've seen her before somewhere…did I have a class with her? I can't believe I ran into that poor guy! Why can't I watch where I'm going? I have to beat Emma today, I'm out of cash. Did I remember to lock the apartment door? And amidst all his ramblings the Beatles' song 'Yellow Submarine' was playing in the back of his head. We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine….
Piper found herself grinning at Connor's retreating back.
An hour passed—in which the college student lost two chess games to the homeless senior citizen--- before Connor decided he was sick of chess. He moved his pieces back in place, just as usual; said goodbye to Emma and promised to return tomorrow, just as usual; and walked past Piper's bench, just as usual. Except that today was different. Connor stopped, turned, and started walking straight towards her. Piper started to panic.
"Excuse me, I know this is going to sound like a total line but it's not. Have we met? I could swear that I know you from somewhere…" Connor came to a stop right in front of Piper's sued-clad body. His shins bumped her knees softly. Good going, Don Juan. At least give her room to breathe, Connor chastised himself and took a hasty step back.
Piper's palms were sweating and her mouth was dry. What's the matter with me! I'm acting like a deranged stalker! I'm one of the undead, for crying out loud. I probably fed off his second cousin for breakfast. Why is he stepping back? Do I smell bad? Vampires don't get B.O…
He had taken her nervous silence as rejection. "Right, well, so sorry to bother you. I guess I'll just go back into the hole from which I crawled."
"No, wait. I don't think that it did." Wow, how articulate, Piper.
"What?" Connor's beautiful blue eyes reflected confusion.
"I don't think it sounded like a line. The truth is I seem to recognize you as well." Her vampire cheeks were actually blushing.
Connor's eyes brightened. "I knew I wasn't imagining things—not that I do that. Imagine things I mean. I don't hallucinate. I have a very normal thought process." He groaned inwardly.
Piper smiled shyly and picked up on his feelings of embarrassment in his mind. "Well that's good to know."
"Yes, I know. It comes in handy. I'm a very resourceful thinker. Apparently, however, my communication skills suck ass." Connor gave her a bone-melting grin.
Piper couldn't help but smile back.
"Hey, would you want to go with me and get some coffee? We could figure out where in the world we've seen each other before, and I could have another chance to prove that I'm not mentally handicapped." Connor stared at her hopefully.
Piper hesitated a full three-point-two seconds before letting him help her up from the bench. They left the park side-by-side and stayed that way until they reached a small café off of forty-second avenue. Connor's breathing was a bit labored from all of the walking, so Piper decided to pretend she was winded as well.
"Finally! Nineteen blocks is a hell of a lot farther than it sounds. I'm just glad it didn't start pouring yet. Those clouds look pretty nasty. I would've gotten us a cab but I'm short on cash." Connor's eyes widened suddenly and his jaw dropped half-way open. "Oh, crap! I don't have any cash on me! I had to write Emma an I.O.U. I wonder if this place will take checks." Connor scanned all of the signs on the register counter of the café.
Piper was having the time of her life and they had only been together for twenty-five minutes. She didn't mind having to buy both their coffees, she was in too good of a mood—and she didn't even like coffee! Not that drinking it would have any affect on her digestive system whatsoever. Besides, Piper never wasted any opportunity to spend Adrian's money.
The two sat across from each other at a small table. Piper kept fidgeting and readjusting her jacket buttons. She took her jacket off and put it on the back of her chair. Then she folded it in half and laid it across her lap. A moment later it was back on her shoulders and unbuttoned. This all happened in the space of three minutes.
Connor just kept looking at Piper with a stupid smile on his face. He picked up his coffee mug, set it down again, lifted it half-way to his mouth, and put it back on the table.
"I'm Connor James, by the way. What's your name?" Connor asked attentively
"Piper."
"Well, Piper, I know how artificial lighting can be gruesome, but I think it's safe to take your sunglasses off in here."
Piper silently wondered how oblivious she could be as to leave her sunglasses on in a dimly lit café. She removed her Oakley's, and set them down on the table top.
Connor's reaction was quite humorous. Piper tried hard not to grin at his frantic thought pattern: Oh, wow! I think I'd remember eyes like those! I'd love to sketch her portrait. Maybe we haven't met before…but she seems so familiar. She's so beautiful, and classy, and…I'M STARING AGAIN!! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME! Connor jerked upright in his seat. Quick, ask her another question before she thinks you're a weirdo! What an interesting tattoo…We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine…
"That's a weird tattoo you have there--I mean interesting!" Connor cringed at his tactlessness. "Does it mean anything?"
Piper quickly put her hands in her lap and shook her head. "It's just a rose. So you go to college here in New York? What's your major?"
"Well, it's just a general business degree right now. I'm thinking about owning my own business someday. That's just an aspiration of mine. I don't know what will happen when I actually get out of college. I just want to be remembered as having done something in my life. You know what I mean? I don't want my epitaph to say 'Here lies what's-his-name, we will never forget him'." Connor worried that he was boring this poor girl.
Piper thought that Connor could say anything he wanted as long as she could here that sexy voice of his. Wait a minute! What's the matter with me? I'm fawning over a human! Adrian would be furious!
A picture of Adrian's face flashed in Piper's mind and her vampire blood ran cold. "I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Connor." Piper grabbed her purse and stood up from the little booth.
"Wait! Do you have to leave so soon? It's raining outside! Just let me get you a cab for wherever you're going."
"You're broke, remember?" Piper smiled softly at his desperation to make her stay.
"Well at least let me walk you there! It's cloudy and drizzly out. If anything, I can block you from the wind." Connor stood from his chair, too.
"NO! I'm sure I can manage by myself, thanks." Piper pulled a scarf over her hair and walked towards the exit. She stopped and turned back to Connor for a moment. "I'll be in the park tomorrow afternoon. If you see me, you'll have to say hello."
"Of course I will. We should do this again tomorrow! Goodbye, Piper!" Connor shouted towards the café's entrance. An old lady next to him glared at the noisy hoodlum.
Piper pulled out her flip-phone and called her driver. Oliver was there in ten minutes with the black Roll's Royce. Piper quickly ran out from under the green and white striped awning and climbed into the backseat.
Connor watched her departure outside the café window with curiosity. He would definitely be in the park tomorrow afternoon--with cash. Connor sat down in his chair again to finish the rest of his coffee. He noticed the mug across from him was completely full of cold cappuccino.