Dan, The Early Years.

Dan, The Early Years. 2040

Year 2040

Lieutenant Dan Haeckel

Age: 20

Location: Starbucks, Dublin City Centre, Ireland

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I struggled to keep a straight face, the need to look cool and unfazed was the only thing stopping my lips spreading until half my face was a loony grin. I was good. I was nearly too good to be true. Sondra, the girl I couldn't get out of my head for five fucking months, Miss Sondra Lillian Dutta, was about to find out how good I was.

After our first meeting, I'd gone a bit overdrive with my need to find her again and used the LASER institute's technology and information to link the blurry image of her from the diner's surveillance to her driver's licence and her tertiary id card. Pretty little Sondra was only a petty thief, never arrested, and spent most of her time studying to be a nurse at Saint Vincent's University Hospital. She'd been born in Northern France but moved to Ireland with her mother at the age of eleven. She'd moved out of home at the age of eighteen. To pay for her University bills, she had a part-time job at Starbucks and had worked there long enough to be promoted to store manager. She worked there weekday nights and Saturday mornings. Today, Saturday, she clocked off at one. I checked my watch. Twelve fifty. I leant back against the wall of the shop opposite the coffee store, reminded myself that I was NOT stalking her, simply determined to get her back, and waited for her to walk out the shop.

This girl was a puzzle, she didn't need extra money from thieving, she had an honest job. So why had she picked my pocket? Was it for a thrill? To see if she could? Or because she wanted some hot guy to chase her and tackle her to the ground, inducing a 'spontaneously' steamy scene, as they occurred in cheesy soaps, Japanese manga and the average girl's fantasy? But then why had she squeezed my nuts into pulp?

I scratched my nose, adjusted my scarf and glared at the cafe's door. Why was I even here? She'd take one look at me and laugh at my stupidity. Chasing a girl who I'd talked to for less than a minute? I was daft. I pushed myself off the wall, ready to walk off, when the door to the store jingled and she stepped out. Her face had matured a little, her cheeks thinned out slightly and her skin glowing a little brighter. An angel. Or, more correctly, a demon disguised as an angel. Or, more probable, an absolutely stunning woman.

Shit. I tucked my hands into the pockets of my coat and walked down the street, keeping her in sight. I would've been more stupid to have just gone home. To have missed this sight would have been one of the poorer points in my life. I crossed the road so that I walked behind her, enjoying the behind view just as much as the front, and tried to think of a way to subtly get her attention. Pretending that I was in the neighbourhood was out, especially since I wanted her to know that I hunted her down. Pushing her up against the wall for a false arrest and bringing her back to the apartment sounded like a great plan. But James might disapprove...

I sighed, straightened my posture and worked up my courage. "Hey there, pretty lass. Mind giving me some directions?"

She glanced back, not sure if she was being spoken to, and her eyes widened when she saw me. I nearly lost control of my composed look. She remembered me. Oh, praise the Goddess, she hadn't forgotten me. Had she thought about me as much as I had thought about her? My conscience ruined my joyous thoughts. She probably remembered me because she had stolen from me and was now wary that I was going to haul her in. It wasn't a bad idea, at least that way she wouldn't run away, but I didn't want her scared.

I tilted my head to the side. "Remember me, Miss Dutta?"

I prepped my magic in case she decided to run away. I wasn't chasing after her this time.