Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 52

While I hadn't intended on utilizing Helen beyond a few questions, I was glad she'd agreed to meet. They were closer in age and maturity level, I was struggling to even keep up with the emotional roller coaster, let alone carry on a meaningful conversation that lead to anything. 

Standing up, I move to the counter to pay our bill, dragging along the jittering youth and Helen. She scrolls through the phone's lock screen, muttering to herself about the use of codes nowadays. "I bet Landon can hack this." She peeks towards me, I find it an obvious statement. 

"Don't attempt too many times, you'll alert them that we have it." Snagging the device, I slip it into my back pocket. "I think we've scared our waitress." Humans had some sense about us, though I had found it extremely justified, I hadn't noticed just how off-putting a lycan could be even subconsciously. We lacked the allure that a vampire might possess, instead, it was as if people realized we weren't quite the same.

Moving through the cafe, they parted like the sea for a vessel, naturally deterred from stirring the predator lurking under the sheep's clothing. I hadn't had much time to get used to my lycan body in the public, the majority of my interactions had been through others who were accustomed to the aversion. In fact, it was one of my first solo trips, come to think of it.

Randy hops over the counter, narrowly missing Helen clutching for his shirt. "Get back here!" She spits under her breath, almost climbing over to go after him before my growl stops her.

Making himself at home, he snags a strip of bacon from an outgoing plate before hitting the small bell in the window. "Boss says we've gotta go." He moves to grab the pot of coffee off the burner as the waitress rounds the corner, horrified to come face to face with a customer behind the register. For a moment, she only seemed to wonder if we would be robbing her.

"Sir! You are not supposed to be back here!" Her voice is small, her body pressed against his as he smirks down at her, purposefully positioning himself to close to gain access to her precious cargo of mugs.

A second male waiter follows behind her, Randy snags the mug off the shouldered tray, in a careful twirl to avoid the attempts to usher him out. Pouring himself a cup, the woman takes the mug pot back with an exasperated exhale. He winks at her, grabbing the man's wrist before he can take hold of his arm. 

"I don't like to be touched." He tells him firmly, taking a sip of his coffee and wrinkling his nose. "Mmm. Disappointing."

"Are you done making an ass of yourself?" I demand, uncertain how so much chaos can unfold in only moments. I'd be amused if I wasn't so livid at the scene he was making.

"Nearly. You should have walked out while you had the chance." Placing the mug in the man's hand, he hops back over the counter, nearly colliding with a customer. Snugging his arm around her waist, he swings her back onto her feet with an apologetic, boyish grin. I roll my eyes in disgust as I unhinge him from her. 

"We don't steal," I mutter through my teeth. "How do you go from meek to horny?"

The male waiter snags our bill from Helen, red-faced as he hurriedly punches in the numbers. "You're lucky we don't call the police."

"What if we are the police?" Randy scoffs. He shrugs at my question, "I've been fed?"

 Helen puts her hand over his mouth, laughing apologetically. 

"Sorry.. my er.. well. He's not himself today." She attempts, keeping a firm grip on his arm. 

Embarrassed, I place the cash in the man's hand. "We truly are sorry, police won't be necessary, there is more than enough there to pay for the inconvenience." It was grounds to give me whiplash. Going from one extreme to the next, he seemed to thrive on substances and relied on them to get to his next emotion.