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“Come on, Scott.” Drift waved the invitation in the air like a flag.
Shelby stood up and walked across the room to take the invitation. She’d already seen it. Many others like it had come addressed to them every year around this time. It was a personal invitation from Cleo and Pearl inviting them to stay the weekend at the castle Scott used to call home.
“We never get to visit them properly,” said Shelby as she looked over the handwritten invitation. Cleo’s handwriting was beautiful. “We always fly there, visit Avid, have tea with Cleo and Pearl, and fly home.”
Scott rolled his eyes dramatically. “You were trapped there for how many weeks?” He paused for a reply but before Drift or Shelby could answer he said, “Far too many. Wasn’t that enough?”
Neither one answered.
Shelby put down the invitation on the coffee table as she stood. “Oh well. Another quick visit it is.”
Drift sighed as she looked up at her clock. “Oh! It’s almost time to go.”
Scott’s ears perked up.
Shelby looked at the time as well. “Shoot, I still gotta change.”
“Change for what?” Scott asked, a little annoyed that he had been left out.
Shelby rushed into her room to change but as she scurried off she answered, “A show tonight!”
“Yeah, it’s a band that’s getting pretty popular,” Drift added.
“Did I miss getting invited?”
“Shelby!” Drift shouted so Shelby could hear her. “I thought you said he wouldn’t want to go.”
She came out of her room dressed in a pink and red flannel, dark washed jeans, and high tops that she had customized with embroidered bats. “I told you he might not want to go since he always makes excuses not to join us.”
This was true. Scott for the past few hundred years has made excuses not to join Shelby and Drift in situations he thought would be uncomfortable for him. He had been doing so well with his emotions and opening up but being in crowded spaces sometimes brought up old feelings and he didn’t want to tempt himself. But he had been getting better. He had been taking himself out more and maybe this was the next step.
“Can I join you,” he asked.
Drift looked down at her phone, “Of course you can!” Shelby nodded in excitement. “We leave in 15 minutes.”
Scott got up from where he was sitting and rushed to change.
——
The music coming from inside the club venue could be heard blocks away and not just because they had advanced hearing due to vampirism. Scott was already second guessing his decision to join Shelby and Drift on their nighttime adventure. He had also tried to bail out when they got to the train platform but Drift had reached for his arm and held on tight while encouraging him to stay by telling him how much fun the past few concerts she and Shelby had been.
Getting inside had been simple. Flashing the IDs that Abolish had helped them get every few decades to keep up with developments in the state of New York. He recalled the first and thankfully last time they encountered difficulties with the first round of IDs. The store manager was confused at how old the date was on the ID and how young Drift and Shelby looked. Thankfully Scott felt Drift's concern through the bond a creator has with his fledgling and hurried from where he was in the stop to help. Abolish wasn’t too happy when he received the call and they explained how Scott had to use vampiric persuasion to get them out of the store hassle free. That was the start of Abolish routinely changing out their identification cards.
“Anyone want a drink?” Shelby shouted to be heard over the loud music playing over the speakers.
Scott wrinkled his nose and was about to reject the offer when he saw Drift flash a copper flask in his direction and quickly put it back in its hiding place in her jacket pocket.
They discovered that human beverages were tolerable when laced with animal blood. The intoxication was nowhere near the same as what a human experiences but it had a buzz they all seemed to enjoy.
“The usual?” Shelby laughed.
Smiling while hiding his fangs he nodded his head. She glanced at Drift who was nodding as well.
Shelby gracefully turned on her tiptoes and headed for the bar. She returned at the perfect moment. The club's emcee ran on stage and began hyping up the audience. It didn’t take long for the front of the stage to be overrun with people jumping and chanting the band's name. The room was vibrating with excitement.
“Give it up for THE REJECTS!!!”
The crowd roared with praise as the band members rushed out one by one.
Scott had seen human musicians; they all seemed to be the same to him. He was about to take a sip of his drink when a tall blonde man rushed out and took the mic off the stand.
“You guys ready for a show?!” The British accent took Scott by surprise.
The crowd answered with loud shouts.
“I can’t hear you,” he teased. He looked back at his bandmates and shrugged his shoulders. His hair moved and Scott saw golden yellow wings painted near his eyes.
The crowd shouted louder causing him to break his attention on the singer and return to the present moment.
Shelby tapped on his shoulder. He leaned in and she loudly whispered in his ear, “You okay there?” She leaned away and raised an eyebrow.
He lifted his drink up to his lips and nodded as he returned his attention to the band on stage trying his best to look at the others and not just the singer. He could still feel her eyes on him but soon she moved her gaze to the performance.
The band played covers of songs as well as a few originals they said they had been working on. The music was fine. Or so he said when Shelby and Drift asked him on the train ride home.
The conversation lingered but eventually faded into casual conversation of what each one had planned for the upcoming week.
Drift had gotten a job at the NYPD as a file clerk. She put cold case files away. That’s the job description she gives when asked what she does when in reality she reads the cold case and has been investigating. She has managed to close a few though she’s not the one who gets the credit. Drift finds the information and leaves it very obviously on desks of working detectives. At first it bothered her but now she just enjoys knowing a case has been solved.
Shelby still continues to write. Her most popular title was enough for her to retire that pen name now she writes under an alias’. Some hit and others miss but she enjoys writing too much to give it up. Every once in a while Mr. M arranges a meeting with her and they chat and write in local cafes and even at the libraries around New York. The two have gotten very good at making up fantasies that neither one seem to have a problem convincing publishers they are completely different authors years down the line.
Scott however remains the wanderer. He enjoys the life he has now. Though there are moments he feels as if parts are missing. He is pleased to be the vampiric liaison between his world and the organization that Abloish works for. He recalls the night he finally decided to walk to the building Abolish would watch them from on the other side of the street. Scott had shifted into his bat and flew around his apartment building and transformed back next to Abloish. It was rare to catch him off guard but it happens on occasion. That night Scott arranged for them to meet properly so they could discuss his progress.
At their last meeting Abloish told him how impressed he was with Scott. He had been doing well adjusting to his new life and had managed to keep his fangs to himself.
But there was something about that singer.
As soon as they got home Scott excused himself to his room and went straight to his laptop. He quickly searched for the band's name. Fan club pages on MySpace showed up as results as well as images of posters for the groups past and future gigs. Scrolling through the results he found what he was looking for. Clicking the link he was greeted with a very basic website. A media player played a familiar song as he scrolled down the page. Dates of past and soon to be concerts and photos of the group littered the page making it look like a scrapbook. Scott finally found the member info section. Each member had a photo and small introduction just below it. He was glad to see the one he wanted was at the top.
“Jim “Jimmy” Canary,” Scott read the name out loud and smirked. “How fitting.” He continued to read about this canary. Nothing in his bio led to him understanding the unsettling feeling of familiarity. He tried to deny it at the venue after Shelby questioned him and all the way home but the gut wrenching feeling still resided. He somehow was drawn to the man who for some reason felt familiar.
He closed the laptop and stood up from his chair. He walked out of his room and to the kitchen. Opening the fridge he pulled out a covered dish and with his claws he pulled out a steak. He didn’t care if Shelby or Drift came in and saw him. He really needed the blood.
——
Scott couldn’t believe he was back in a club he only heard of waiting eagerly to get a glimpse of the lead singer of The Rejects.
He managed to slip out without Drift or Shelby questioning him on where he was going. He really didn’t know how to explain the odd feeling of familiarity he has with Jim Canary.
He sat at the back of the club regretting not taking the flask he kept in his other coat. He could use something to fidget with as he sat and waited for the show to begin.
Once it did it was just like the last one. The crowd roared in anticipation as each member walked out on stage.
Jim did the usual banter and soon after the crowd's level of cheering was on the border of deafening they began to play. Scott watched as Jim sang. It was as if he were a vampire; he charmed the entire room with his voice including him. He tried his best to listen and focus on the others. The guitar player that he learned was named BigBStatz played his instrument with ease. The bass was vibrating the room as the one known as SkizzelMan played. He tried to admire the way the added beat of the drums played by Joel , who was nicknamed SmallishBeans, made the music they all played come together. But his attention was focused on the blonde haired man whose voice had put a spell on him. He watched as he dragged the mic stand behind him as he walked back and forth on the stage. He wished he had made the effort to make his way to the front so he could somehow lock eyes with him.
He shook his head trying to clear it but the yearn to meet and speak to him grew stronger as he watched the show.
After the mob of people had dissipated Scott melted into the darkness near the club's backstage exit. He watched as the club staff helped The Rejects put their equipment into a U-Haul truck that had been repainted. The dumber carefully put his drum kit in the back and then hopped up on the number and rolled down the door. From inside he heard him bang on the door confirming everyone was set. Three of The Rejects jumped into the cab of the truck while Jim waved as they drove off. He pulled out his phone to check the time and put it back in his pocket.
Scott took the opportunity and stepped out of the shadows.
“Excuse me,” he said in a calm relaxed voice.
Surprised, Jim turned quickly to face where the voice that spooked him came from. When he finally saw Scott he sighed in relief and chuckled. “You surprised me, bud.” His smile was genuine and it warmed Scott that he couldn’t help but smile back.
“Sorry about that,” Scott replied. “You were great tonight.”
“You saw the show?”
Scott nodded. “Yeah. My friends and I saw a show a few weeks ago and I had to come see you guys play again.”
Pride crossed Jim’s face, making him smile wider. “I’m glad you enjoyed our music enough to come out a second time.” He put out his hand, “The name is Jim but my friends call me Jimmy.”
Hesitantly Scott took Jimmy’s hand and shook it. His grip was warm and firm.
“Your hands are really cold.”
Scott pulled his hand back quickly and laughed nervously. He was about to offer an excuse but Jimmy beat him to it. “It’s cold out tonight, huh?
Scott nodded.
“I know this is very random and we only just met but do you wanna join me for coffee?” He gestured down the block. “I was heading to a diner not far from here for a cup and maybe a bite.”
The word bite took Scott by surprise. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The old familiar urge he had been working so hard to control was surfacing. He wanted to drink from the man that stood before him. He should decline the offer but the urge to stay close was stronger.
“That sounds nice, thank you.”
The two men casually walked to the diner. The neon sign advertising fresh coffee 24 hours a day glowed brighter the closer they got.
Jimmy opened the door and the chime of a bell. They walked in and took a seat in a booth toward the back of the diner. Coffee cups on saucers were already set up side down as well as flare wear wrapped in paper napkins. Jimmy flipped the coffee cup upright. The waitress waited no time. She came over with a steaming pot of coffee, the aroma filled the diner. As she poured she looked to Scott, “What can I get you to drink, hun?”
“Do you have hot tea?”
She nodded as she finished pouring. Before she left the table side she placed down menus. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Not a coffee person,” Jimmy asked as grabbed the small pitcher of creamer the waitress had set down.
“I prefer it iced.”
“Gotcha.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I know we’ve been talking for a bit and I apologize for not asking sooner but what is your name?”
Scott couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t realized he had forgotten to introduce himself. He didn’t expect to actually get past saying hello let alone be sitting across from the man he had been drawn to and felt connected to that he had completely forgotten to mention his own name.
“Scott,” he said in between laughs. “My name is Scott Goldsmith.”
“Goldsmith.” He took another sip of coffee. “Fancy surname.”
Scott just shrugged.
He recalled the conversation he had with Abolish and the others. They were doing the paperwork for Abolish’s organization so they could get their identification figured out. Shelby was constantly changing her surname but keeping her first. It just made things easier when it came to publishing books. Same with Drift. She kept her first name but would change her surname when she was ready to change departments or when her coworkers started asking for her skincare routine.
Scott didn't want to change his. He had had his name for hundreds of years. It wasn’t like he needed to change it for a job. The line of work he dealt in didn’t require much face to face contact nowadays thanks to the internet. Before the internet, antique dealing was a slow enterprise. Now searching for certain pieces, verifying its origins, and contacting buyers was a simple and almost anonymous task. Abolish was a little skeptical but after time he came to understand.
“Sorry my name isn’t my occupation,” Scott teased with a smile that he directed to the waitress who had brought over a small teapot of hot water and a teabag for his cup.
Scott went through the motions of making his tea. He really had no intentions of drinking it but it was nice to have something to do with his hands.
Jimmy threw up his hands in mock defense. “Touche. So Mr. Goldsmith, tell me something about yourself. You probably know a bit about me.” He sipped his coffee as he waited for what he asked for.
Scott smiled as he stored the tea in the cup. “I know a few things but I wouldn’t mind knowing more.”
Jimmy smiled. If Scott's heart could still beat it would be racing. The two chatted until the waitress came to take their food orders. Scott tried to say he wasn’t hungry but Jimmy insisted. He gave in and ordered an open face rare burger. When Jimmy didn’t comment on his order he relaxed. The conversations continued long after the food was gone. Patrons came and went, the bell over the door signaling the comings and goings of regulars and newcomers.
Hours passed. Cups of coffee were drunk. Then a jingle was heard that wasn’t the bell over the door.
Jimmy pulled out his phone and flipped it open. “Yeah,” he said as he gave Scott an apologetic look. Scott waved at him, mouthing that it was okay. The voice on the other end would have been muffled for a human but for the vampire sitting across the table the conversation sounded as if the person on the other end was in the same room.
One of his bandmates was checking in with him. Apparently he never stays out this late and they were getting worried.
“I’m okay, dude. I’ll be back soon.” Jimmy nodded. “Okay bye.” He put his phone back in his pocket. “I’m sorry about that. They aren’t just my bandmates.”
“Roommates?” Scott asked.
He nodded, “And my best friends.”
“That’s nice. I have two roommates that are also my best friends. At first it was just Shelby and I but we eventually convinced Drift to move in with us.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t gotten a call from them.”
“Late nights are a normal activity for all of us. It’s not out of the ordinary for me.” He smiled as he picked up the now cold tea and pretended to take a sip. As he put it down he said, “Do you need to get home?”
“Eventually,” he chuckled. He waved to get the waitress’ attention.
He ordered burgers to go but let her know he was in no hurry.
She looked over at Scott and then back at Jimmy and winked. “It will be out in about 40 minutes, Sir.
“Thanks,” he replied blushing.
Scott couldn’t help but admire the life in his cheeks. He almost missed Jimmy continuing their conversation. They talked until the waitress reluctantly informed them that the food he ordered was ready.
Jimmy slid out of the booth and reached for his wallet. Scott followed him pulling out his own and asked, “What do I owe you?”
Jimmy waved the gesture away, “It’s on me. Really. I asked you out.”
“Oh,” Scott said, “thank you.”
Jimmy paid the bill and left a generous tip and the two walked out.
“Do you wanna take a cab?” Jimmy asked.
Scott shook his head and gestured towards the subway entrance that wasn’t far from where they were standing. “I take the subway home.”
“Oh.” Jimmy sounded disappointed.
“But I can wait with you until the cab gets here.”
The smile returned to his face which made Scott smile. He really didn’t want to go home. He wanted to stay with Jimmy. He wanted to continue talking to him. He wanted to wrap himself up in the feeling of familiarity and let it consume him. He didn’t fully understand why he felt like he knew Jimmy but he was willing to spend the time to find out.
The cab eventually arrived. Jimmy put the bags of food in the cab and asked the driver to give him a moment. The cab driver stated the meter as he acknowledged Jimmy’s request.
He closed the door and sighed. “I really enjoyed tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever clicked with someone this easily before.” He pulled out his phone and handed it to Scott. “Can I have your number?”
Scott took the phone and put his information in the phone and closed it. As he handed the phone back Jimmy took Scott by the wrist and pulled him close. Whispering into his ear he said, “I really don’t do this but I feel some kind of connection with you that I can’t ignore.”
Any words Scott had were lost as all he could focus on was the warmth coming from Jimmy. He could hear his heart beating and the blood rushing through his veins. He was so close. So close he could easily…
He lifted his hand over his mouth. He couldn’t feed on Jimmy.
“Everything okay?” Jimmy stepped back. “I apologize if that was too forward of me.”
Scott met Jimmy’s eyes. “No, I’m fine. Just wasn’t expecting that from you.”
“Well I bet you aren’t expecting this.”
Jimmy put his fingers under Scott’s chin and kissed him quickly. “I’ll call you later, okay. Get home safe.” He kissed Scott’s cheek before turning away and getting into the cab.
Scott waved and watched as the cab lights faded as it drove away. He touched his lips with his fingers. The kiss was quick but it was affectionate. Just like a kiss he shared with someone else. His unbeating heart panged at the memory.
“What have I done?” His emotions were ramping up. He needed to get home.
He quickly headed for the station and took the train home. Rushing up the flights of stairs that led to his apartment he did his best not to make too much noise but as he fumbled with the keys he knew that his roommates' vampiric hearing heard him from where they were inside. As he attempted to put the key in the lock the door swung open.
“You okay there pal?” Drift asked as he hurried past her and into his room ignoring her question.
He leaned against the door and tried his best to calm down. That was the first time since Avid that he’s kissed someone. There had been opportunities but no one really caught his attention in that way. No one could compare to Avid. It took years for him to fully admit it but he did love him. He still loved him. Even though kissing Jimmy felt right he still felt like he had somehow betrayed Avid.
Pushing himself away from the door he walked over to his desk and turned on the lamp. There, lying on top of the book he was currently reading was the invitation Cleo and Pearl sent every year around this time. Drift or Shelby must have put it on his desk as a last ditch attempt to convince him into visiting longer than an afternoon at the castle outside of Oakhurst. He normally would ignore it but he took this as a sign that maybe a longer trip wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Scott walked out of his room and into the living area and found both his friends. The moment they saw him they stopped talking.
He knew they were talking about him. He had come home in such a frenzy of course they were concerned.
“I’m fine,” he said calmly as he sat down in his usual spot on the couch.
Shelby and Drift just looked at each other speaking in a language of eye moment and facial expressions only they could understand.
Scott ignored them and put the invitation on the coffee table. “How about we stay a few days instead of just the usual afternoon?”
“Really?” Shelby asked with wide eyes.
Scott just nodded as he got up and headed back to his room. He could hear Drift and Shelby talking as he walked away. Each of them asking if they should question why he had changed his mind or if something had happened.
He should talk them but he wasn’t in the right headspace. He himself didn’t fully understand. All he really knew was that he needed to talk to Avid. Even if it was one sided.