The Lost Vampire

The Lost Vampire: Chapter Six

**Unedited**

Robyn once joked that anyone can look in firelight, from candle to fireplace, though we hadn't considered bonfire. While most around me would be mesmerised by the flickering flames I was more entranced by the radiant glow they cast on Cole's face, a dance between light and shadow across his face, amplifying and at the same time softening his rugged features.

'Should I be happy that you find my face so fascinating,' he chuckled causing me to break my gaze.

'Sorry,' I quickly replied while shifting my eyes away.

'Oh I didn't really mind, it gave me a way to break the ice.'

'Yes but I was staring,'

'True and for almost two full minutes,' his tone was serious but I could see the laughter behind his eyes.

'That's...' I sighed, 'Well that's quite creepy, that's what that is,' unable to keep it any longer Cole busted out laughing. I looked over at him dying with laughter about the fact that I was behaving like some kind of creep, which I guess thinking about it, is pretty funny.

'See it is funny, not even you can control that smile,' he stopped laughing suddenly, just sat there staring at my face.

'Okay, you've made your point you can stop staring,'

'You have one the most beautiful smile I've ever seen,' he just blurted out, 'I mean I've seen you smile before, last night but it's a whole other feeling having it directed at me.'

'Thank you that's, that's very sweet of you to say,' I did my best to hide my discomfort at the sudden change in topic.

'And you don't like sweet do you?'

'Cole I...' I said.

'You don't...' he spoke at the same time.

'You first,' I urged him. It's better for him to say his piece before I have to turn him down. He removed his hat, which now made him look even more vulnerable by this fiery glow.

'I know blind dates aren't usually the best but I do hope you had some fun.' I wasn't sure if he was changing the topic or not so I decided to just answer honestly.

'I did and I still am, it's rare that I just sit and enjoy...well anything. So star-gazing by a bonfire is already a big improvement,' I gave him a reassuring smile, 'And of course Robyn's birthday to which I was given clear instructions to "kick back and have some fun"

'You mean she didn't celebrate enough last night, 'I'm surprised she was able to wake up at all today,'

'Her secret,' I leaned in closer, 'Grandma's famous hangover cure,' our boisterous laughter caught the attention of the others sitting around the fire.

From the moment we arrived we caught more than few curious glances especially from the other familiar Rosemead faces, even without my enhanced hearing I knew they were discussing my being here with a date. Apparently it was big surprise for most that I had any kind of social life that didn't include opening a beer bottle, one person even used the phrase "crawling out of her cave". There was nothing I hated more than gossip but this was the world I lived in and being a vampire living among humans like this well it's bound to have blowback, this was just another bullet on a very long list. Nonetheless, I wasn't planning on letting anyone or anything spoil this evening, I wasn't here only for me but I was here to support a friend, a friend who still hasn't reappeared since running off with Hunter. Those two had wandered off not too long after arriving. They only stayed to greet the host who turned out to be Riddles regular, Steve Jensen, never missed a single Karaoke Fridays. Steve introduced us to his out of state friends who were in town to see "the best the state of West Virginia had to offer".