A/N: Rumor has it ff . net is going to read only for a few days and I just had to get this out there. If you have any ?'s or comments – please make sure you let me know once it returns back to normal. I really want to know what you think. And as always – please tell me what you want to see more OR less of. There's always room to adjust. ;)
Until 31! Enjoy! xox-G
Chapter 30
"School's almost over." Ella said with a sigh. "You're so lucky Ty. You don't have to go for months and months."
"Yeah..." He replied a bit distracted. He had something on his mind. Usually he would talk to Billie – but this was something about her.
He sat on the couch in the back of the bookshop, munching on a cookie as he overheard Billie and Ella's mom and Aidan's mom talking about weddings and second honeymoons. He was more confused than ever.
Ella heard them too. She decided she had something to say. "Did I tell you guys about how my brother got married at like – midnight? And I got to stay up and see it. They said I had to be there. I was that important." She shook back her curls and gave the boys a smug look. "I stayed up until the sun almost came out."
"Oh yeah?" Aidan replied, not to be outdone. "My sisters are getting married both on the same day. That's because they're twins." He added as if it explained everything.
He looked over at Aidan and said softly. "Is your brother getting married too?"
"What?" Aidan looked at him confused.
Ty swallowed his cookie and looked at his friend nervously. "Quinn – is he like getting married or something too?"
Aidan began to laugh. "Nah uh. Not Quinn. He can't settle down – at least that's what my Ma says. He likes lots of girls – I mean – he's gone out with like a million. But I don't like any of the ones he likes though."
"Yeah really." Ella agreed. "They're all frilly and they don't like to get dirty. Quinn would only marry someone who likes to get dirty."
Ty got even more nervous. Billie didn't mind getting dirty. When she used to make her pots and things she was dirty all the time.
"And they don't ever really like kids. They think we're pests." Aidan rolled his eyes. "Like that nasty one – what was her name El? Oh yeah - Delilah. She hated us."
Billie liked kids. Ty thought. This was getting worse.
"And they HAVE to like baseball – right El?"
"Right." She nodded.
"Does he ever kiss anyone?" Ty asked, slightly embarrassed to ask but he needed to know.
Ella giggled loudly. "OH yeah. All the time. But that's nothing. Everyone's always kissing around here. When Grant and Chloe got married he kissed her for like a half hour."
Quinn only kissed Billie really quick – but he still kissed her. Ty was convinced. He had to do something. Quinn couldn't ask Billie to get married. If he did then she'd make him get dressed up and then Quinn would never meet them at the place and Billie would cry. And they'd have to move and he didn't want to. He liked living here, he liked hanging out with Ella and Aidan and he liked the story hour too. He didn't know how he'd do it – but he knew he had to stop it.
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Out in front of the store Becky smiled as she rang up a customer. She put the books in a bag and handed the girl a receipt. She loved both her jobs . She liked the energy in the gym and the quietness of the bookshop. She'd been working overtime at both since Grant and Chloe's wedding but loved every minute of it.
He stood outside the door of the bookshop, watching her through the window. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair . Even though he'd been here for weeks he never got tired of looking at her. He'd heard about her forever it seemed. Looking at her now – he couldn't believe the stories were true – not now. Not now that he saw what she looked like.
Kyle Arceneaux expected the legendary Rebecca Kovich to be taller, stronger and certainly less beautiful than the tiny, flaxen haired girl with skin like porcelain and eyes as blue as a summer sky. He watched her smile as he handed change to a customer. She acted so normal. He wouldn't have believed it.
She was getting suspicious – he knew. He could see in her eyes that she senses someone watching her. He could tell she had been trained well and it was only a matter of time before she found him out. Kyle blinked to focus and found she was no longer at the counter. It was now – or never. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
He was instantly at home. He always had loved the way bookstores smelled and this one was more fragrant that usual. There was the sweet scent of sugar in the air, coupled by the aroma of fresh coffee. It reminded him of Café du Monde back home, and suddenly a bit homesick, he could smell the powered sugar coating the beignets and coffee and chicory. Kyle turned around in a slow circle – and nearly collided with her.
"Whoa!" Becky said with a laugh, bobbling the tray full of muffins and pastries she held in her arms. She steadied the tray, saving the treats from landing on the ground.
"Sorry." He mumbled, completely off guard.
"No harm done." Becky replied, smiling up at him. "Did you need something? Can I help you?"
She placed the tray on the counter and moved behind it, busying herself with loading up the display case.
Kyle blinked and said the first thing he could think of. "Yeah. You can." This was harder than he thought. How on earth was he supposed to start this conversation? He thought to himself. Slowly. He decided. Carefully.
"Coffee?" Becky offered, her eyes glinting in amusement. Maggie would eat this one up. She couldn't help but think. Tall with these amazing amber colored eyes and the lazy drawl to his voice. His hair was cool too. Streaked by the sun, it was all mussed and sticking up – but like he'd just run his hands through it. So many guys she knew spent longer on their hair than her. She thought with a bit of disgust. This one looked like he didn't care. He also looked confused and a bit off balance – like he had a lot on his mind.
His voice was distracted as he added. "Coffee's great. And I'll take one of those powdered sugary things too."
"Linzer tart?" She asked as she pointed to it.
"Yeah. That's great." He said with a nod.
Becky took a sheet of waxed paper and wrapped one carefully. "To stay or to go?"
"Stay – no – go. No stay. No..." Kyle flushed and stammered as he argued with himself.
Becky bit her lip and fought back the giggle that rose in her throat. She decided to take pity on him. "I'll tell you what. I'll give it to you to go and if you decide to stay – it'll still work . OK?" She asked. She flashed him a smile that made his palms sweaty. "Relax. It won't be the end of the world."
That's what you think. Kyle said to himself, referring to much more than his afternoon snack.
She was suddenly curious. Maybe she should talk to him. He wasn't originally from here – she knew that for certain and if that was the case he hadn't had the chance to hear that her father ate college guys for breakfast.
"So. Are you just visiting – or do you go to PCU?" She asked shyly.
"Hmm. What?" He had been trying to figure out a way to start but she beat him to it.
"I'm just wondering." Becky continued. "I think I've seen you around – but I know you didn't grow up here. I know pretty much everyone. So is that it? Should I be calling you College Boy?"
Becky beamed. Maggie would be so proud. Becky Kovich – actually flirting with a guy she'd never met. She shivered a bit as she remembered that her father – on the other hand – would be out for blood if he knew what she was up to.
Kyle finally found his voice and laughed softly. "Let's say I'm visiting."
"OK." Becky replied – still not finished with him. "Why Port Charles. Do you have family here?"
"You ask a lot of questions." Kyle replied.
"You don't give many answers." Becky countered. She narrowed her eyes at him and handed him his coffee. She suddenly realized why he'd seemed so familiar. She'd seen him around A LOT lately. The coffee shop, the movies – even outside the gym at least twice in the last week. Her slayer instincts went into overdrive and she began to get suspicious.
"What's your name, College Boy?" She asked then.
He decided he'd at least give her that much. "It's Kyle – and I told you. I'm not in college."
"OK." She said, deciding to give a bit herself. "Nice to meet you Kyle. I'm..."
"Rebecca Kovich." He cut her off.
She blinked and suddenly all her defenses were up. This was no longer funny or casual. "How did you know that?" She demanded.
"I know a lot about you." He said then.
"Seems that way. How?" She said, her eyes beginning to glint with annoyance.
Kyle looked around and realized the shop was too busy to continue this conversation. "I'll tell you all about it – but..." He leaned his hands on the counter and stared into her eyes. "Not now." He whispered. "Meet me later."
Meet him? What he nuts? "I don't see why..." She began, her voice defiant.
"Rebecca. Please. Don't do this. Just meet me later." He implored her. He threw a 5 dollar bill on the counter and grabbed his order. "Meet me on the bench outside after you close."
Becky stared at him. Something in his eyes made her trust him – but in the back of her mind she heard her father's voice. "Just when you think you can trust them – whoever the enemy is – that's when they'll go in for the kill." Becky knew Kyle – whoever or whatever he was – was not a vampire. Nothing about him even seemed dangerous. But still she had to be careful.
He could see he was losing her. "Please. Meet me here. I'll explain it all then. I promise."
"OK." Becky reluctantly agreed. She'd have her cell phone ready to dial. She'd take precautions so that she'd be safe. Something deep inside her told her whatever this Kyle had to say was going to change her life forever. It gave her the chills but still she agreed.
"OK." Kyle exhaled sharply. "I promise you you won't regret it."
Becky watched him leave and pressed a hand to her thundering heart. "I guess tonight we'll see."
