The next day, Chloe found herself browsing the local bookstore. Absent-mindedly, she scanned the shelves of the culinary section. Her thoughts were still focused on the two men at the bar last night. She couldn't shake the weird feeling she got from Steve, though.
The Roberts moved? Why didn't I hear about it before last night? Chloe ran her fingers through the ends of her hair. Something doesn't feel right... Her heart sped up a bit when a thought crept into her mind. Oh no... I hope they're not dead!
"Chloe?" A voice called out, startling her as she turned around with her hand on her chest. "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." He smiled kindly at her. Chloe smiled back at him then laughed softly.
"No, no. It's OK." She replied, lowering her hand to her side. "I was just lost in thought." Another laugh escaped her lips as she stared into his blue eyes. "How are you, James?" She asked.
"Pretty good. How about you?" He asked as he casually leaned against the bookshelf. There were a few books in his hand. Chloe didn't notice last night, but he had a glove over his left hand. Just his left hand... Not to mention, he was wearing a jacket in the middle of summer.
"Same." She nodded, still smiling. "Something I didn't get to ask you last night, though." James looked at her eagerly. "How did you get the nickname 'Bucky'?"
"Ah." James smiled. "My middle name is Buchanan, and it kind of just derived from that." He explained. Chloe nodded, mouthing a little 'oh'. Her eyes resting on his black jacket. It looked like it was made of leather.
"Aren't you hot?" She couldn't stop the words that fell from her lips. James laughed and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that was pretty forward of you." He joked. Chloe immediately blushed and looked at the floor.
"No, no! I meant..." She shook her head and laughed as she looked back up at him. "I meant because it's summer and you're wearing a jacket." James chuckled. Chloe ran her hand through her long dark hair.
"Not too hot, no." He replied. Chloe tilted her head to the side with a puzzled expression.
"What about the one glove thing you have going on?" She asked. James' eyes strayed from her and fixated on the couple that walked down the aisle. Chloe turned to look at them, then back to face James. He motioned for her to follow him, and she did so quietly. They wound up completely alone in the mythology section of the bookstore.
"Sorry about that. I'd just rather not talk about things like that where other people can hear." James apologized, placing the books in his hand on the shelf for the time being. Chloe nodded.
"I'm sorry for prying. You don't have to - "
"No need to apologize. It's only natural to be curious." James interrupted her with a smile. Before Chloe could reply, James took off the glove on his left hand. She felt her jaw drop open as she stared at his hand. Words escaped her as he held out his hand for her. "You can touch it if you want." He offered.
With some hesitation, Chloe reached out with both hands and gingerly touched her fingertips to the cool metal. She ran her fingers over the grooves and spaces. James wiggled his fingers in her hands and Chloe jumped in surprise. They both laughed softly at her reaction. She gently turned his hand over and looked at his palm. James just smiled as he watched her study his metal limb.
"This is..." Chloe breathed softly, unable to take her eyes off the shiny metal. "Does it..." She finally met his gaze. Her eyes were wide. "Is the rest of your arm like that?" She asked. "Is that why you're wearing a jacket?" James nodded silently. Chloe's head swam with questions.
"Chloe?" James said softly. The dark haired girl blinked a few times. "Are you OK? You were just staring at me for a good thirty seconds." He said.
"I...I was?" Chloe could feel her cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I just...was taken aback." She admitted, letting her hands fall to her sides.
"I tend to have that effect on people." He joked, slipping his glove back on. Chloe giggled softly.
"I'll say..." She replied softly, hoping James wouldn't hear it. "So, James?" His blue eyes locked onto her and she felt her voice get caught in her throat. "How..." Chloe paused, trying to figure out how to phrase her question without upsetting him.
"How what?" James asked gently, urging her on. She licked her lips and swallowed nervously.
"How are you able to be here right now?" She asked. James furrowed his eyebrows as if he didn't know what she was talking about. "How are you able to walk around in the daylight?" Chloe explained more clearly. She could see his crystal blue eyes widen in surprise.
"I, uh... I'm not sure I know what you mean." He replied, feigning ignorance as he ran his hand through his brown locks. Chloe, feeling intrigued and confident, took a small step towards him.
"I know..." She said softly. Her eyes scanned his face until they locked onto his eyes again. "I...know you're a..." Chloe bit her lip. She could say it. She knew she could because she had said it before. But why couldn't she say it now?
"I'm a...?" James looked at her expectantly, anticipating what she would say.
"A...vampire." She finally whispered. The silence drug on for what felt like an eternity. Slowly, a smile spread across James' lips.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked her softly. Chloe shook her head.
"No." She replied truthfully. To be honest, she wasn't completely positive that he was a vampire. She wasn't afraid of him and he didn't give off the normal predator vibe that most vampires did.
"I'm not surprised." James said casually. Chloe raised her brows at him, wondering where he was going with this. "Supernatural creatures are rarely afraid of other supernaturals." Chloe's breath hitched in her throat.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, taking her turn to fake ignorance. James smiled.
"I know what you are, Chloe." He replied. The dark haired girl couldn't move.
"I'm just a girl in a bookstore." She joked nervously, pulling her hair in front of her shoulders to cover her neck.
"You're so much more than that. We both know it." James said, keeping his voice low in case there were people nearby.
"Wh-what am I, then?" She swallowed nervously again. James slowly brought his right hand up and gently brushed it against her cheek. He softly trailed his fingers down her jawline, but stopped before touching her neck.
"You're an angel." He replied confidently. Chloe bit her lip and looked away.
"How...did you know?" She asked, wondering if he was planning something sinister now that he was sure she was an angel.
"I've met my share." James said. Chloe backed up, a wave of fear washed over her.
"I...I have to..." She motioned over her shoulder to leave. The second she turned around, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Chloe, I'm not going to hurt you." James said. He gently turned her around then let his hand fall to his side. "If I wanted to, I would have done so already." She looked up at him, trying to sense any deception he might have been trying to hide from her. "I'm sorry if I scared you." He apologized and backed up to give her some space.
"It's OK." Chloe let out a sigh. "I'm just a little nervous. I've had some...less than pleasant experiences with vampires in the past." She admitted.
"I understand." James replied. "I'd like to make it up to you. Show you that not all of us are bad." He smiled and Chloe blushed slightly.
"Are you...asking me on a date, James?" She asked with a giggle. The brown haired man smiled and laughed softly with her.
"Haha. Yeah, I guess I am." He replied with a casual shrug.
"I'd like that." Chloe nodded, a wide smile on her lips. James smiled wider at her acceptance.
"Well alright, then. Wanna meet up at the bar?" He suggested.
"Sounds good to me." She replied. "Is six-thirty good for you?"
"Perfect." James nodded, still smiling. "I'll meet you there."
"Oh wait." Chloe said. "What about your friend, Steve?" She asked. "It's kinda obvious that he likes me too. I could tell last night. Is this gonna be a problem for you?" James shook his head.
"Don't worry about me and him." He reassured her. "But," he paused and took a breath. "Be careful around him, OK? He's...not like me." James warned her. Chloe nodded silently before the two of them walked out of the bookstore together. James leaned down and gave Chloe a slight hug before they parted ways.
Across the street, a pair of ice cold blue eyes glared at them both before fixating on the dark haired girl as she walked down the street.