Demon Soul (1)

V

The sound of music began to pull me into the waking world. I sat up, blinking a few times to clear my vision. I hadn't realized that I'd fallen asleep in my truck until I was frantically trying to find my things. My phone had fallen beneath the seat and was ringing with the usual tone to wake me up before each day. I shut it off and sighed, leaning my head back to catch my breath. I was still oddly cold, my fingertips still a powder blue in pallor. It was alarming, but not enough to really make me care.

Since I still wasn't in the mood to go home and be left alone with Ronin, I grabbed my purse and got out of the truck. To my delight I'd found that I had parked in front of the towns bakery, and it seemed that I would be their first customer of the day. I ordered a couple of muffins and a donut, feeling my stomach squeeze in hunger. I had already munched through the first pastry when someone else walked in, followed by another. Everyone liked to stop in here and get their daily dose of sugar, and I wasn't opposed to it on occasion. When I was finally down to my donut, another few people had come and gone, but one familiar face walked through the doors. My eyes locked with Ryker's immediately and I saw him smile.

"Well look who it is!" He joked, taking a seat at the table with me. "How are you feeling?"

"All back to normal, save for a little blue paint on the fingertips." I wiggled my fingers for him to see. "All thanks to you."

"I'm just doing my job." Ryker grinned. "So how are the donuts here? Any good?"

"Really good, actually. I forgot you're new." I laughed to myself, glad he hadn't seen me pig out. "There's a coffee stand by the school that has really good mocha, and a sandwich and soup shop back towards the station that has incredible food."

"Thanks for the pointers, I'll definitely have to check them out sometime," He paused, a certain gleam in his eyes. "Would you maybe like to come with me?"

"I have a boyfriend." I smiled, a little disappointed.

"As friends then?" He smiled. It didn't take me as long as it should've to nod at him.

"That sounds like fun." I grinned, checking the time. "Hey, I have to get to school. I'll see you around!"

"Have a good day!" Ryker called back as I pushed through the door. I waved back at him, pulling out my keys and unlocking the door. The engine sputtered to life and I pulled out onto the streets, seeing the town begin to wake up for the day. The tension in my body was nearly gone, and it felt good to not have to go to school in a bad mood.

I made it down to Tara's stand, finding the girl standing there with my drink in her hand, already prepared. She gave me an inquisitive stare as she traded me the cash for the drink, and I just looked back up at her.

"What?"

"You seem awfully chipper this morning." She narrowed her eyes. "Did you and Blake...?"

"Lord no." I snorted, trying to contain my laughter. "Tara!"

"What?! I had to ask!" She grinned, leaning in the window. "So what's up? You haven't looked this happy in a while."

"Well, I actually made a new friend last night." I smiled. "His name's Ryker, he works on the police force and just got transferred out here to no man's land."

"Is he cute?" She raised an eyebrow. "Did he hit on you?"

"He's attractive, I'll give him that." I nodded. "And he invited me out as friends."

"Oh, have fun!" Tara squealed. "No offense, but when Blake leaves you might need to reconsider that long distance thing. It's...a painful situation."