Chasing the storm

03

The kind waiter guided the couple to their table, Scarlett walking quite slowly as she feared that if she picked up the pace, she would trip over her own feet. "Thank you" she smiled politely as she sat down, grasping the bottom of the seat and pulling herself further under the table. She took the folded creme piece of card from the waiter's hand as he began to describe the specials.

she put the menu up to her face, so it was just covering her mouth and nose but showing off her pretty blue eyes, which stood out over the black eyeliner sitting on top. Alex mirrored. Both of them not paying attention to the huge speech the waiter was giving.

Alex raised his eyebrow, unbeknownst to the waiter who was still droning on. Scarlett copied, holding back the laughter bubbling inside her. The moment developed until Alex was crossing his eyes and using the menu to switch facial expressions.

Scarlett couldn't take it anymore, she dropped the menu on the table and burst out in a loud laughter; she was usually insecure about her laugh, sometimes she would snort, sometimes she would go over the top. But this time she didn't care, tears were pooling in her eyes for the amount of time he had he'd this in. To Alex, her laugh was harmonic. He couldn't help but laugh with her.

A small cough intercepted them both and the managed to compose themselves ever so slightly to turn to the man. It was strange that Scarlett had not even spoke to Alex a lot and she still felt so comfortable with him. "excuse me can you repeat that again?" Alex smiled, and Scarlett let out a strange noise, the product of holding such a strong laugh in.

The man with the name tag which said John, did not look too impressed. "Can I take any drink orders before you order food?" He repeated

"Ah yes, may we have your most expensive bottles of champagne?" Alex demanded in the form of a question

"Or water, water's cool" Scarlett was stunned by the confidence of his voice when asking for the most expensive bottle. That would be over $100! She has never spent that much on anything but her apartment, and it didn't seem right to spend it on a bottle of champagne.

"nonsense" Alex refused "champagne please sir" and he almost shoed him away.

"You don't have to..." she began

"... I want to" Alex interrupted her, it was obvious that she wasn't accustomed to the finer things, which also attracted him even more. There we so much that he could show her.

"That's really kind of you, but I hope you're not expecting anything in return" she lectured. She knew about the guys in this day and age and it's pretty lucky just to get one that doesn't expect that, never mind one that would just bug super expensive alcohol for the hell of it.

"All I ask of you, is for a nice chat and a lovely night" Alex did know how to charm the ladies, during his younger days, he wouldn't be caught alone, he would always have a woman on his arm. That was until one of the women was murdered through association. And it wasn't like Alex didn't feel, he felt utter guilt and remorse for the girl, vowing that he would never put anyone In danger the way he did to the young girl.

Until now.

"So how long have you've been working at Rousseau's?" Alex said as a waiter approached the table and placed a huge bucket of ice with a small-ish bottle. He then placed two flutes on the table before pouring a small amount of the yellow liquid until the foam skimmed the top "I haven't seen you around often, and I would remember a face like yours"

"I didn't start the job until last week, I worked at a convinience store before that, and before that I was at home in Georgia" she explained

"So you aren't a local?" Alex asked, he felt a sense of responsibility and worry for her. If she wasn't a local, she was subject to their vampire's hunger; if only there were stamps they could have to stop anybody from touching someone else.