When I woke up, I was on my very uncomfortable couch. I wiped the drool streaking down my chin and stretched. I really had to get a better couch.
I looked to the clock; 9:45 in the morning. It was one of my days off from the studio, but I grabbed my phone to see if they needed me anyway. A simple alert on the screen told me that Will had sent a text my way.
Will:
Thanks again for last night! I heard through the grapevine you're getting a surprise at 10AM sharp! See you tonight at Shades!
I always loved it when Will texted formally; it was quite the drastic change to Alana, who used text speak if it didn't have to do with work. But I didn't have long to get lost in thought; I quickly brushed my hair and teeth, not taking the time to change. I stuck my phone in the waistband of my sweats, and lounged around for ten minutes, dicking around on television.
A paisley swatch catches my eye; there sat the Doctor's jacket on my living room chair. In the midst of being creeped out, I must've forgotten to give it back. That made this date tonight result in one good thing; I wouldn't have to meet him alone to return it.
My stomach begins growling. I walk to the kitchen and grab for some cereal, but a harsh knock on the door pulls me away. I rub my aching stomach as I march to the door. I fling it open, the chilly winter air swirling around my visitor; Doctor Hannibal Lecter.
"Am I interrupting, Celeste?" He smiles that stupid fucking smile. In that moment, it all makes sense; he knew what he was doing when he pointed out my perfume. This was a game; I was a game.
"No, just about to eat some cereal. Will told me there would be a surprise at ten. I assume you're my surprise, Doctor?" I'm not impressed; surprises are fun. This is just freaky.
"Will gave me the idea, so I would suppose he would call this a surprise."
"Idea?"
"A peace offering, of sorts." Doctor Lecter help up his sleek bag.
"Peace offering," I repeat with a nervous laugh ", and what do you bring as an offering?" I already know; the wafting scent of deliciousness using the winter breeze to its advantage. I feel so hungry, my tummy void of food and cheated out of my cereal. I know that the only way to vanquish my hunger sits within his black bag.
"Breakfast."
"Okay, you may enter for now." I was never one to turn down a meal made for me. Much like a vampire, he didn't set foot in my home until I invited him in and stepped aside from the doorway. I hung his coat for him and led him into my home.
"Nothing extravagant; a simple scrambled eggs and sausage dish. But after last night, I thought giving you a taste of my food may warm you up to me." The gesture seems sincere enough; setting up the table with items brought from his home. Like his entire demeanour, it is off putting and intriguing at the same time.
"So, you're going to train me like a Pavlov dog? Make it so every time I see you, I start drooling uncontrollably?" He laughed, placing a small plate of eggs in front of me.
"So you've caught on." It was a joke, but this guy is unreadable.
"Yeah, so," I move the subject along in a quick manner", I want to say sorry if I came off a certain way last night. I didn't mean to be distant or awkward, or be inappropriate." Wait, why am I the one apologizing; he's the creepy fucker.
"I didn't find you rude, I would have spoken up. From what Will has told me, who I saw last night is not who you are. For being in a foreign situation, you behaved quite well." He implies he doesn't want to train me like a dog, but he sure does praise me like one.
"I tried to be somewhat of a decent person because Will would have killed me if I hadn't tried." I picked up my fork and he followed suit, watching me carefully.
"I made you uncomfortable last night."
"Yeah, you did."
"You were uncomfortable that I could smell your perfume." Doctor Lecter is carefully watching my face.
"It was abrasive. I hadn't worn perfume in three days when you noticed. It was… enough to make my skin crawl," I took a bite of the eggs and sausage ", oh my god, this is really good."
Doctor Lecter offered me a smile before he spoke again.
"I apologize. It was meant to inspire intrigue, not fear. And thank you."
"This is blowing my mind. What's your secret?"
"A chef must have secrets." He winks. It was true what they said about food; being what connects every culture as a whole. For a minute, I totally forgot thank this man gave me the heebee jeebees.
We finish up breakfast and we're left together with ourselves. Now that we're away from the dimmed lights of that stuffy restaurant, I can see him. I want to keep thinking my preconceived notions about him, but he's lacking a tie and handkerchief, and the top buttons of his shirt undone. In this moment, I would go so far as to call him handsome.
"You're not very sly." He noticed; god damn it.
"Fly on the wall behind you." I grumble, looking away.
"I haven't heard a fly."
"Well, it's there." I can tell he's amused by me.
Our conversation trickles into nothing too serious, he asks about The Shades bar; a little hole in the wall that Will, Alana, and I had spent many nights doing stupid shit at. I ask about his job, knowing pretty much the song and dance of it.
"I got so carried away with delicious food and stimulating conversation that I forgot to offer you something to drink." I said, going to stand but he stopped me.
"I brought a light pink Rose De'franc breakfast wine."
"There's breakfast wine? How am I just learning about a wine that's acceptable to drink in the morning?" He laughed at me, walking to my cupboards.
"I'm glad I could open your world to a whole new avenue. Now, wine glasses seem so formal." He checked the cupboard closest to the fridge and seemed happy with what he found. He took my teacups, as given to me by my grandma, and placed them in front of our chairs.
As he pours the cute pale pink wine, I'm actually happy I let him in. Unlike last night when everything seemed forced for everyone, this was a candid moment I probably couldn't get on a double date. He sets the bottle back down and lifts his teacup for a toast.
"To new friends?" I posed.
"To new friends." He repeated.