~oOo~

Andrea stood up as the train came up on the station for Bryant park. This was not an area of the city she normally came too but was making an exception tonight. They had agreed to meet somewhere in midtown as that would be half way between for the both of them to meet. Kate had recommended a bar called the Cellar located at one of the hotels down there. Andrea had never been before and hoped it would be a decent location. With Kate it could go either way.

Agner had offered to pick her up but Andrea just was not sure about letting him know where she lives yet. Kate thought she was being more than a little paranoid.

"Andrea, as impressive as your stranger danger skills are, there are times when you really need to chill . . . seriously."

Andrea got off the train and headed up the stairs to the street. She supposed that her roommate was right, she could take it down a notch or two. Upon reaching the street she stopped and checked her reflection in the window of a building. It has been a while since she had gone out on anything even resembling a date and was hesitant to even call tonight one. Kate, on the other hand, had no such qualms.

"Ok, let's see," she had said as she rummaged through Andrea's closet, "you want to be sexy but not slutty soooo . . ."

Andrea sat on her bed and wrapped her hair up in a towel after just getting out of the shower. Clothes had been spread out all over her bed and she had to push them out of the way just to sit down.

"You want to wear something that hugs the right curves but is easy to get off -"

Andrea sighed.

"I grabbed some cute underwear for you just in case things go really reeeeaaally well," Kate said with a grin. "I have a cute little skirt you can borrow."

"That won't be necessary," Andrea said as she tossed aside the black panties on the bed.

Kate turned around and gave Andrea a stern look.

"You didn't shave your legs did you."

"Nnnnnnope."

"AArgh!" Kate threw her hands up in the air and dropped dramatically down in the chair at Andrea's desk. "Really Andrea?! Really?!"

Andrea had always found that the best form of birth control out there was a couple days' worth of growth on your legs to keep you from doing something you might regret in the morning. And Andrea had no intention of regretting anything in the morning.

"Yes Kate, really," she answered as she picked up a top and placed it back on a hanger as she moved towards her closet. "I will be coming home and I will be coming home alone so just drop it."

Kate sulked in the corner for a moment before getting up to plop down on the bed and giving Andrea an imploring look.

"Andrea please," she said grabbing at her hand, "pleeeeeaase, just promise me you will try to have a good time ok? Don't try to ruin it, ok?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, don't go in there and sabotage yourself by talking yourself out of even the possibility of something happening. Just try to have fun you know? Have some drinks, laugh, flirt maybe even get laid! Or don't! I don't know! Just don't shut it down before anything can even get started as per usual."

Andrea looked at her friend like she was crazy. "What are you even talking about? I don't do that at all! I am not even planning on kissing this guy much less sleeping with him! I don't even know him."

"Are you going to get to know him?"

"I'm meeting him out aren't I?"

"Is that a yes?"

"No! I mean yes! I mean . . . ah! I don't know! What the hell Kate? I have a million things going on in my head right now you know? Are you trying to stress me out or what?!"

Andrea rubbed at the space between her eyes. She was not sure what was going on tonight with her. She had been thinking about this night so much that it had started to affect her sleep. She had been having weird dreams ever since that day they got coffee together. Strange dreams that consisted of her running, always running as hard as she can but getting nowhere. And in front of her is some light. She does not know what is in the light, just that she has to get to it because for some reason she knows that if she does not get to it then something terrible will happen. But the harder she tries the further it moves away. And so she becomes desperate and tries harder but still cannot go anywhere. It is as if she is running under water and she is reaching and reaching and getting no closer and then she wakes up, her face wet with tears and sweat and she does not know why.

Kate stared at her for a moment, her eyes going wide.

"Holy shit."

"What?"

"You like him don't you?"

Andrea rolled her eyes. "Oh God."

"You do! You actually like this one don't you!"

"Oh. My. God."

Kate jumped up in triumph.

"Holy shit, praise Mary and Baby Jesus you like this guy!"

Andrea pulled the towel off of her head and began to dry her hair.

"I am getting ready now and you are going to leave me alone. No black panties, no easy to take off tops. Just me, getting dressed, and going out. Got it?"

Kate just grinned stupidly up at Andrea from where she sat on the bed.

"You so totally should have shaved your legs."

Andrea had thrown Kate out of her room after that so she could get ready in peace. She kept it casual but nice. A loose fitting jersey top and scarf with a pencil skirt and booties. Make-up was kept minimal. A little foundation, blush and mascara and a lip gloss with just a hint of color. She was going for the 'looking nice without trying to look nice' look when in fact she was desperately trying to look nice. When she finally finished she walked out to see Kate on the sofa with Gabe. Which was perfect really because she was just starting to think the night could not get any worse. Kate smiled up at her.

"You look good! Doesn't she look good?"

"Yeah, she looks great," Gabe said without looking up from his phone.

I hate you, she thought to herself.

"Thanks," she said out loud and grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

She finally arrived at the hotel the bar was located in and went inside. She was early. She wanted to be there before he came in. She has never been one to do the whole fashionably late thing. She hated being late. She would rather get there early and give herself sometime to get settled. Upon entering the lobby she began to get nervous and upon descending the stairs that lead into the bar, she felt completely out of her element. She had a sinking feeling that she might be out of her price range here and decided to keep tonight to a two drink minimum. Not that she thought she would have done any more that that anyway but looking around the place seemed to cement the deal. That is what she gets for coming to a place in Bryant Park. It was kind of cool though. It had an old world gothic sort of feel, with high arching ceiling and wrought iron work details. Maybe they would not stay long. There was a festival in the park area and they could always head out after a drink.

She looked around for a place to sit and froze. Across the room, standing in one of the more private sitting areas was Mr. Aeluin. He had gotten here before her. That son of a –

She smiled and began to head in his direction only to have him meet her halfway. He smiled as she walked up and she felt that same quick tight feeling in her stomach from before.

"Mr. Aeluin -"

"Agner."

"Agner," she corrected herself, "You're early."

"As are you," he said with unmistakable amusement.

"Right," she said.

"I hope you do not mind but I took the liberty of getting us a table in one of the more private areas. They are setting up for a band tonight and I thought it might get loud."

"No, not at all. That's fine. Let's go."

Before Andrea could move he held his arm out for her to take and it suddenly became her turn to be amused. She linked her arm around his and allowed him to escort her to the table. She had to admit that she kind of liked it.

Once they reached the table and sat down a waiter came by to take their order. Andrea ordered a glass of the house red and Agner said he would do the same.

Andrea made herself comfortable in the large sofa-like chairs and looked over at her companion for the evening. She had to admit he looked quite handsome. But then she knew that already. He was not wearing a hat and his shaggy blonde hair kicked out in unruly little flips over his ears. Andrea thought there might be hints of red, but in this light it was hard to tell. His shirt was a pale blue button down and tapered to be fitted. It brings out his eyes, she thought and then felt foolish for thinking it.

"So," she said in an attempt to get a conversation started, "Aeluin sounds French. Is it? But then Agner sounds Norwegian."

He smiled and Andrea felt that little flutter again.

"Danish," he said, "Agner is actually Danish. But I suppose Aeluin could be French. Its origins are quite lost unfortunately."

"I thought I heard an accent. I couldn't quite place it though. Are you from Denmark?"

"I have traveled so much it is hard to say where I am from anymore to be honest but," he stopped as the waiter brought two glasses of wine and Agner turned to him and spoke as she took her glass and settled back. After the waiter left he turned back to Andrea. "I am sorry, where was I?"

"You don't know where you're from."

"Ah yes, I travel. I always have so I feel that I have many homes. Although I would have to say Europe has always been where I am most comfortable."

"Is that where your family's from?" she asked taking a sip of her wine.

"My family?"

"Yeah, you know, siblings, parents, extended family, do you have any?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well how many," she asked with a laugh, "What do they do?"

"Ah yes," he replied and looked at his glass as he swirled the wine within it, "I have three elder brothers and a younger sister. As for what they do . . ."

He paused and Andrea looked up at him and began to think that maybe she should not have asked.

"I would have to say that I do not know any longer what it is they do. I do not see them anymore or any of my family for that matter."

Andrea felt she definitely should not have asked.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it is alright. It was my choice."

The waiter walked up again at that moment and Andrea had never been so happy to see another person before in her whole life. I am an idiot. He must think I am the biggest idiot. And I am. I am an idiot. The waiter refilled their glasses and set down the bottle on the table and left. Andrea silently wished he ground would open up and swallow her. How could she have known that there was some family drama that had caused him not to see any of them anymore?

"Family," she said trying to lighten the mood, "can be complicated."

He smiled again at that comment and she felt relieved.

"Yes they most certainly can. But enough about me. What of you? Tell me of your family."

Andrea gladly began talking about her family. In truth she would have talked about just about anything to get off the topic of his family.

"Well I guess I am just your typical middle child you know? I have an older brother and younger sister myself."

It may have been the wine but Andrea thought that perhaps he seemed to stare a little more intently as she spoke.

"My father has his own law firm and my brother will inherit the family throne no doubt," she said with a laugh.

"No doubt," he said, "and your sister?"

"Beth? Oh she is a free spirit. An amazing dancer. I could only dream to be as talented her."

"You do not believe you have any talent?"

"I guess that depends on your definition of talent," she laughed. "If you think spending every free moment pouring over old books studying and working on a masters on ancient civilizations and history to teach to a bunch of hung over undergrads a talent, well then . . ."

Agner smiled. "That is no talent, that is a gift."

Andrea found herself laughing again. "Good save," she giggled.

Wow he has a nice smile, oh my God I'm giggling.

She continued to speak of her family and her love for history. Her father had hoped that she would enter the family business as well but supported her choice and was proud of her nonetheless. She had lived upstate her whole life but had moved to the city about a year ago to pursue a Masters. He watched her as she spoke and she found she could not turn away from the intensity of his gaze and the strange way they reflected the light. She reached over to set down her glass and noticed that between the two of them they had almost finished the entire bottle. Had they really been talking that long? What all had she said about her family? She never talked like this with anyone she just met. It had to be the wine. No more wine!

They stopped talking for a moment to listen to the small band that had begun to play and Andrea found herself sneaking looks from the corner of her eye at him. There was something about this man that she just could not put her finger on. She could not shake the feeling that she had met him before. But surely one would remember a face like his and those eyes. Those strange grey eyes with their unsettling way that they reflect the light.

No, not reflect, she thought suddenly, the light does not come from a reflection but from within! The light is coming from within his eyes as if there were a fire inside!

Almost as if he had heard her thoughts he turned and looked at her and she found herself unable to move at all, frozen with fear that perhaps she had spoken out loud. I have had way too much wine, she thought.

"Would you like to get out of here," he said.

"Yes," she answered.

After Agner paid the tab he returned to the table and Andrea found herself on his arm once more except this time she leaned on him slightly more than earlier. The exited the building and they walked across the street to the park where there was a small art festival. There were street vendors and musicians and lights strung through the trees. They laughed as they walked and Andrea told him stories about how she used to go horseback riding while at home and a love of camping. She casually mentioned that he should come with her some time and when he said he would like that she felt that fluttery feeling in her stomach leap up into her chest, except this time she did not mind it so much.

By the time they finished walking through the park it was late and Agner offered to get a cab to take her home. They rode back in relative silence and Andrea could not help but feel disappointed at how quickly they got to her apartment. She got out of the cab and as Agner asked the cabby to wait for him so he could walk her to the door of her building, she checked her reflection in the mirror. The moment she had been dreading had come.

He walked over to where she stood by the door. Ok, try not to sound lame, she thought.

"I had a really nice time tonight."

Fail.

"As did I."

Seriously, who talks like that?

"Well, um . . . I guess I should go so . . ." and then suddenly without thinking she leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed a quick kiss across his cheek. She moved immediately to make a quick retreat but stopped when he took her hand. She turned and looked back up at him and waited. He stepped forward and leaned in very close but did nothing, his eyes searching hers. He stares so intently that she feels as if she is becoming wrapped up in the strange light from within his eyes and all coherent thought is lost to the wind. She pulls her mind together and smiles nervously and in an almost unconscious move, reaches up and brushes some of the unruly blonde mane out of his face.

"You should really consider getting this cut-" she stopped suddenly, her eyes going wide as he pulled back quickly and turned away, shaking his hair out.

"Yes I should," he said as he walked to the cab. "Good night Andrea," he called out and got in the cab and rode away.

Andrea stood there for a moment as she tried to figure out what happened. After a moment she turned and entered her building. When she got to her apartment she went in to find Kate waiting up for her.

"You're back!" she said brightly. "And you're back alone I see," she added a little less brightly. When Andrea only stood there without responding though, her roommate became concerned.

"Andrea are you ok? Andrea what is it? What happened?!" Kate said as she stood up.

Andrea looked at Kate with the same befuddled expression on her face since Agner left.

"His ears . . . are pointy."