Bite Shift

44

Will walked in and pulled me into a hug. He shut the door behind him, looking around. "Very cute, Kate. Very suburban house wife. Not too small but not too big. Framed school pictures. Clean but not so clean that you can't be comfortable. Are the kids here?"

I was still a little speechless. If you had asked me to name the top ten people who might come and visit me, Will would have been nowhere on that list. But, there he stood in my living room. His hair was pulled back so tightly you would have thought he had short hair. It was the blonde that you just knew was natural. No box could create that shade. A dark green sweater was tucked into brown corduroy pants. A white collar peaked out from the top of the sweater and made me think of how boys would dress on picture day at school. I had only met him the one time, in Sorin's office, but I had liked him instantly. His energy was positive and warm, with a smile to match. It was a welcomed light in the middle of a lot of darkness.

"No. They're at their Dad's. I still need a little more time to sort everything out and figure out what to do. I feel like my world hasn't stopped spinning yet."

"Oh, I remember. How are you feeling?"

"Like I am waiting to wake up from a very long and weird dream."

He headed for the kitchen, opening several cabinets until he found two wine glasses. He set them on the counter, along with the lunch bag, and pulled a large Mason jar out. The bag was crumbled and thrown across the room, towards the trash can. He missed.

"I thought vampires were graceful and skilled."

Will laughed. "Not all of us, doll." He ran his eyes up and down my body. Before I could comment. "Do you want to go change? I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

I remember that I was naked under the robe and was immediately mad at myself. I had let a man that I barely knew into my home wearing only a thin wrap of flannel.

Will shook his head. "Kate. Don't be nervous. You're not my type, if you get my meaning. I like someone a little more masculine."

He's gay! How did I not see that? I am usually more sensitive and pick up on those things.

"Well," I said, smiling. "In that case, I will go put on my sexiest nightgown."

He laughed. "You do that. I will nuke the snack."

I heard the microwave door pop open and then shut. The buttons beeped three times so he had set it to run for more than a minute but less than ten. I would have to ask how long you microwaved blood for. I was going to have to start keeping a recipe book or something!

The long beep signaled the end of the cook time just as I walked back into the kitchen. I had chosen green pajama pants with little cups of coffee all over them and a shirt that said: I will start working when my coffee does. My hair was pulled up, into a sloppy bun, at the top of my head. A purple scrunchie held it in place. The outfit was completed by a pair of grey slippers. Will gave me another head to toe perusal and nodded.

"Very sexy. I may have to start playing on the other team if you keep dressing like that."

"You'll have to stand in line, cowboy."

Will poured the, now hot, blood into the two wine glasses and handed me one. He walked back in to the living room and sat on the couch. I followed and sat next to him.

"So, I have heard." He sipped on his drink and tried to look coy. Suddenly, my joke had backfired. I knew exactly what he was referring to and tried to buy time by drinking. The blood was heavenly but I couldn't sip on it forever. I took the glass from my lips and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.