Part Three.
Luce was taken to her sister's house, which was close to the coast. The shoreline was rocky and the clouds hung rather low. It was really gloomy this time of year, and rained a lot. She felt comfortable looking out from the window of the spare room. She was considering going out, since the room had a door leading out to a path to the dock.
She was to stay with her sister until tomorrow, when she would come back to her apartment. Her sister insisted she at least stayed for dinner, but Luce didn't mind staying the night. Her sister laid out a clean tank top and shorts. She was a little bit worried about going back to her place, knowing that her paranoia had been enhanced so much. She changed, and then crawled into the bed. It was soft, and feather like. She laid there, and closed her eyes. She battled for sleep, but she never won. The old looking alarm clock on the night stand read two-thirty in the morning. She stood up out of bed, and wobbled a bit until she could walk. She grabbed the black sweater off the hanger on the door, and put it on. She was a tad bit smaller than her sister. Maria was a lot taller, and muscular than Luce, who only seemed to be skin and bones. She hugged the material to her body, as she opened the door. It was cold, but she continued her way to the dock. She sat on the very edge, and dipped her big toe into the water. The feeling was what she expected, freezing cold, and the temperature made her shiver deeply. She sat there for a good ten minutes before deciding to go back.
"Luce?" She heard. She was startled, nearly tipping over the edge. A hand touched her arm loosely. She turned around to see her sister's medium length black hair.
"Oh, Maria, you scared me," She said, giving a faint smile.
"What are you doing out here? You should be in bed," She persuaded. Luce's eyes fell down to the wooded dock, thinking.
"Okay, I just," She started, looking up at her sister's face again. "I couldn't sleep. And I was feeling over heated so I came outside for a bit," She lied. She felt fine but she didn't want to make her sister think she went mental.
"Oh, Okay. Would you like some herbal tea? It's helps me sleep," She persisted.
"Yes, please. That would be great," She said, giving another light smile. She followed her sister to the back door that went to the kitchen. After the water boiled, Maria took two cups out of the cupboard, and placed a tea bag on each one.
She handed Luce the cup, and then she took a sip, enjoying the herbal flavour.
XXX
Spencer woke up at seven, he was already showered and dressed by seven thirty. And he fixed himself some toast and coffee. It didn't take him long finish his break fast and catch a bus to the office. He found his desk, and swung his bag over his chair.
Derek handed him a few folders off his desk, and Spencer took them. He opened the file, glancing at the page, and then flipping to the next. He had gone through thirty seven files by the time the clock hit eleven thirty, He was excited, and then nervous. What if they had nothing to talk about.
He gave a sigh, and then stood up, taking his bag. Spencer wore a white button up shirt with a black sweater over top, and black pants. He fixed his sweater, smoothing the material out with his fingers.
"Getting ready for you coffee date lover-boy?" Derek teased.
"That I am," He said with a normal voice, "Call if you need me,"
Starbucks wasn't far, so he decided to walk. It was at least five blocks away. He tucked his hands in his pockets – as a usual habit. The sky didn't brighten up one bit, it was still a dull colour, and he watched as birds flew past, most of which were crows. He came into view of the Starbucks, and he began to feel nervous again. Hell, he didn't even know her. But he was well aware of the magnetic pull he felt. He grabbed the door, and held it open for a young couple. And there, he saw her. She was wearing a gray shirt, and black pants. Her long black hair curled, and tied back with a ribbon. Her head was cocked over a book, and she was reading silently. She hardly took note of him, and then he noticed her head move up.
She gave a smile, and automatically Spencer returned it. His feet took him to the table, where he sat down in front of her.
"Hello, Luce," He smiled. "What book?" He asked, curious.
"Dracula, it was always a favourite. I've read it at least twenty times," She said, giving a slight smile.
"Ah, I remember that book, I read it when I was a kid," He laughed lightly,
"I think it's a personal favourite," she said, now looking at him in the eyes.
"So, what do you do for a living?" He asked.
"I have an art studio, and I'm an art teacher for a catholic school not too far from here," She explained.
"How long have you been doing art?" He asked her. She looked away again for a brief moment. Her brown eyes calming.
"Since as long as I can remember, it's just something I liked to do. My dad pushed me to become a doctor or a real estate agent. He didn't believe that I'd make a very good living out of doing art." She said, closing the book without even saving her spot.
"I bet you're really talented, as seeing you have a successful job at twenty-six," He acknowledged.
"Well, my opinion doesn't really matter, it's your own that really counts. Have you been to the Window Bay Art Gallery down by Riverside?" She asked him.
"No, I've heard of it, though," He said, studying her.
"You should stop by sometime, I work there all week from three to seven," She told him. He felt the urge to touch her, to stroke her cheek, or something. He resisted, and kept his hand on his lap.
"We should order some coffee, shall we?" She suggested, Spencer nodded, and walked with her to the till. May I have a pumpkin spice latte?" She asked. The man asked her what size, and she replied with a grande. "And you? " She looked towards Spencer.
He snapped back into reality, and replied with a caramel latte.
"That'll be ten eight-five," The man at the till said.
"I got it," Spencer said, taking out his wallet. He handed the man fifteen dollars, and he gave Spencer back four dollars and fifteen cents.
Both Spencer and Luce walked towards the other counter, where they served the orders.
"I though we agreed that I was paying," she said, with a slight smile on her face.
"Well, I think that it's more polite if the man pays on the first date," he said, a slight grin forming on his face.
"Oh, so this is a date is it?" She laughed, looking at the counter.
"Well, only if you want it to be," he said, now feeling a weird pang. He didn't have that much experience with girls, so why was he trying his chances with Luce? She was gorgeous, she could have been a model or an actress if she wanted.
"A date it is," She confirmed. He was relieved, and his heart began to go off-balance.
"Pumpkin spice and caramel latte!" The man said loudly, even though they were the only ones waiting for an order.
"Thank-you sir," Luce said, Spencer gave a quick nod and a thanks.
He didn't know why he was so worried, Luce and Spencer talked for a solid half hour, Spencer leaned in, and touched her cheek softly he was about to kiss her when he heard a gasp escape from her mouth.
"I think I tore a stitch," She said. Spencer watched as a red colour began to stain her shirt.
"Here, come with me," He said. She got up, but seemed to be hunched over a bit. The employee didn't seem to notice anything. They walked to the handy capped bathroom, and Spencer opened the door for her. She leaned against the sink, and Spencer took some paper towels and dipped them in water. He lifted up her shirt, and dabbed the area where the stitch had snapped.
"I'll be right back, stay right here," He said. He grabbed a few packets of salt, and went up to the employee. "May I have a large band-aid?" he asked him. The man fetched a brown band-aid that was made out of fabric.
He came back to the bathroom, and he saw that Luce didn't even move an inch. He opened the salt packages in the sink, and mixed the salt in with warm water. He dabbed the paper towel, and rinsed it out.
"This may sting," he warned. "salt kills the bacteria," he explained. The blood was gone, and then he placed the band-aid over top.
Luce pulled down her shirt, and then looked at him.
"Thank-you, again."
She slowly moved closer to him, and placed her fingertips lightly on his cheeks, and her lips were soft on his. He wrapped his arms around her waist – well aware of her stitches, being more careful, and she pulled back, giving him a smile.
They left the bathroom and went to retrieve their bags. She picked up a felt from her bag, and then lightly took Spencer's arm. She wrote a phone number on it.
He did the same to her, and she watched as the slid the pen in little movements, creating numbers.
"My sister is picking me up," She said. Once he realized she wasn't going to walk out with him.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'd love you hug you, or something but I don't want to hurt you," He said. Half-smiling.
"It's okay, have a good day, Spencer," She said smiling. Spencer turned for the door, trying to create some story to tell Derek. He didn't want to admit how much he liked Luce.