by J. E. Cluney
I had a bunch of one-night stands in the few months after that, and then my hours got increased at work and my social life died. Goodbye Tinder. Hello constant tiredness.
And then I decided it was time to learn more about myself and pursue a real career. I hated hospitality. I wanted more.
I finished my ice-cream and set the bowl on the table as I settled in for the show.
Oliver was right, it was a unique show, and funny.
We spent the next hour watching a few episodes since they only ran at around twenty minutes each, and even Marcus had been sucked in, removing his headphones to watch.
It was a nice, quiet evening with the soft sound of rain outside.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged.
Like I was right where I was meant to be.
9
The slap knocked me to the floor, and I whimpered as I scrambled to get away.
“You’re all useless, the lot of you!” the man roared as my Aunt tried to avoid his wrath. Too bad my cousin had walked in right then.
“Where have you been?!” he screeched, and I watched from the floor as my Aunt stepped in, taking the harsh blow intended for her daughter.
“Why do you even have this pathetic child? She’s not even yours!” he shouted as he turned on me once more.
I closed my eyes as I leaned up against the wall, waiting for the next slap.
Then the scene changed, and I was crying out as I was held down.
“Tell me, little one, how does it feel, how does it feel for your flesh to burn?”
I shot awake, gasping for air as sweat soaked through my top, and I groaned as I slumped back against the pillows.
Another nightmare. Well, were they still nightmares if they were memories?
I rolled over, watching as the morning sun filtered through my open curtains. I’d left them open last night, forgetting to close them after staying up with Oliver watching Netflix.
I smiled softly at the memory. Such a perfect man.
I sighed, fully awake now, and reached for my iPod to check the time. Not even seven in the morning.
Well, never too early to shower, and these clothes would be added to my dirty clothes pile in the corner. I’d ask someone to show me to the laundry room later.
I climbed out of bed, stretching and wiping my sticky hair from my face. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and headed out into the hall.
I froze as I caught the sight of someone at the end of the hall, standing just outside the door on the verandah overlooking the backyard.
I blinked, waiting for my sleepy eyes to focus as I headed down the hall.
“Marcus?” I murmured as I stepped through the open door and onto the verandah.
He gave me a confused look, giving me a once over before smiling softly.
“You get nightmares too?” he murmured as he looked back out.
“Vampires sleep?” I scoffed, avoiding the question.
“That we do, normally during the day though. Nighttime is when we can move around easiest. We’re more tired during the day too anyway, although some of us still do things during daytime, but we mostly try to get some sleep,” he murmured. I just nodded as I looked out at the morning sight.
To our left, the same side my room was on, was the glow where the sun was slowly creeping over the horizon. The backyard was covered in a soft fog, and just past the estate homes beyond the back fence was the rolling farmland as far as I could see, all covered in a fine foggy haze.
“It looks so serene after a rainy night, foggy like this,” Marcus said, his voice barely audible.
“I think this is the most you’ve ever spoken to me,” I stated as I stepped up to stand beside him.
“Hmph,” was the only response I got from him.
“Do you miss it?” I asked quietly, enjoying the cool morning air on my clammy skin.
“Miss what?” Marcus frowned, his arms crossed, but his mouth set in a knowing line. He was wearing some grey shorts and a black t-shirt with a skull on it and the text ‘The Punisher’. I’d seen some of the TV show before I’d cancelled my Netflix subscription to save on bills. I’d enjoyed what I’d seen.
“The sun, being out in the daylight,” I said. He knew that was what I meant.
He just gave me a look, a sad, pained look that made me shiver.
“Well, I’m off to bed, have a good day,” he said, and I could see those walls slamming back up as his face turned stoney once more.
He turned and flitted inside, disappearing into his room with barely a sound.
Well, I hadn’t expected that this morning. And to say seeing a vampire flit for the first time was pretty cool. They could move at incredible speeds if they wanted to.
I stretched, letting the cool morning air hit my sweaty armpits. I gave them a sniff and gagged. Yep, definitely needed a shower. And a shave. Hopefully Marcus hadn’t caught a whiff of me, it might have scared him off if he did.
No, I knew it was something else. He’d dropped his walls down, even if only for the briefest moment. And I finally got to see the real Marcus, the one that hid behind a cold exterior.
And to be honest? I kinda liked him. Maybe I’d catch more glimpses of him.
“Morning,” Lucas greeted me as I strode into the kitchen. He was wearing a purple suit today, and it suited him surprisingly well, even with the red tie. It was still quite a sight, but he’d said it was his brand, so I’d just have to get used to it.
“Hey,” I gave him a soft wave as he stood before the stove cooking up breakfast. A glance in the pan revealed pancakes, which made my stomach groan.
“Hey, how many drinks did you have last night? And you’re perfectly fine? No hangover?” I asked as I padded over to the fridge. I’d thrown on my blue dress again for today after eyeing the clear sky outside. Today was probably going to be a warm one. And it wasn’t dirty, I’d only worn it the once. Dresses could be worn more than once before washing in my books. Besides, I only owned the two dresses. I’d buy more once I had more money. I did love dresses, but I’d lost most of them when I’d broken my lease. Let’s just say my housemate had not been too happy with my desire to pursue a better life, and a fair few dresses had wound up tossed when I hadn’t packed them soon enough. It was a real shame, since I thought we could’ve remained as somewhat friends, until she went all Godzilla on me.
“I don’t get hungover,” Lucas chuckled as he turned to me. “How many pancakes would you like? Consider it your formal breakfast welcome.”
“Um, three?” I frowned as I doubled checked the size of the pancakes in the pan. Easily a medium plate size. “And why don’t you get hungover?”
“Magic, because of what I am. Skip, on the other hand, will probably be regretting those drinks last night. Luckily for him, I’ve got a potion in the cupboard above the fridge to help relieve them faster than anything else,” he said as he flicked his hand at the fridge. I was now standing at the table pouring myself a juice to get me started for today.
“So, what are your plans for today?” he asked as he began serving up the first few pancakes.
“Well, I’d like to maybe check out Maple Grove a bit, go see Dingo Diner and chat with them,” I said as I sat down at the table.
“I’ll drive.”
I turned to spy Skip in the doorway, slouched over in nothing but a pair of boxers as he groaned and rubbed his face.
“I want to get you a slice of that bee sting from the Maleny bakery,” Skip said, groaning again as he closed one eye against the sunlight filtering in from the window over the sink.
“Top cupboard,” Lucas indicated at the overhead cupboard with his spatula, and Skip dragged himself over there.
“I’ll come too, would be nice to show you around,” Lucas said.
“Cool. Hey, do you ever not wear suits?” I asked, trying to keep my eyes off Skip who was too tempting on the eyes. That gorgeous, golden, toned back was being arched and stretched as he rummaged in the cupboar
d for the potion. He grumbled, but then relaxed when he pulled out the small bottle with a hand-written label.
“Suits are my thing, but sometimes I might wear swimmers, I guess,” Lucas shrugged.
“What about jeans and a shirt, or a singlet?” I asked, unable to stop myself from rolling my eyes over Skip’s bare chest as he leaned on the counter facing me. He poured some of the potion into a medicine cup and downed it quickly.
So chiseled and perfectly defined, they should all try to get jobs as models to be honest. Lucas and Marcus were the only ones who I hadn’t seen with their shirts off, and I doubted they wouldn’t be the same as their companions.
“No singlets!” Lucas said as he held up his spatula. “I’m no bogan.”
“Hey,” Skip warned as he put the potion away.
“I wear singlets,” I said as I sipped my juice.
“Singlets are not my style,” Lucas said as he turned and cocked his head at us.
Skip pushed off the counter and sunk into the dining chair beside me.
“Dress looks nice on you, can see why you’re re-wearing it,” Skip remarked as he slumped his head down on his arms on the table.
“Thanks,” I murmured, surprised he’d taken note of it yesterday. You look good in nothing at all, I thought.
“Pancakes, Skip?” Lucas offered with a smirk at our hungover friend.
Skip groaned but nodded weakly.
“All right, well, Ally’s are nearly done,” he said as he flipped the next batch.
“Can I have some too?”
I turned and smiled as Oliver strode in, stretching and yawning in his batman boxers and iron man shirt.
“Aren’t they different universes?” I asked. I may have enjoyed my superhero movies.
“Huh?” Oliver frowned.
“Batman and Iron Man,” I specified.
Oliver’s face broke into a broad, boyish grin as he plopped down on the chair off to my other side.
“They are! So you like your superhero movies too?” he asked, the excitement reaching his eyes.
“Yes, which are you, DC or Marvel?” I asked, my mouth curving up at his cheeriness.
“How can you both be so awake right now?” Skip groaned.
“Don’t make me choose, I love them both,” Ollie pouted.
“DC,” Skip muttered. “Because Batman.”
“Marcus is into superhero movies too, he watches the TV shows on Netflix. Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Gotham, Arrow, you name it. I’ve watched most of them too,” Oliver grinned as Lucas set down some pancakes before me.
I drew in the warm aroma of them, and giggled as the fridge opened and the cream floated over to sit on the table, followed by the real Canadian maple syrup in a glass jug and some cutlery. I could tell it was real from the label plastered across it.
“Want any berries or anything on top?” Lucas asked as he focused on finishing the next batch of pancakes.
“Mmmm, that sounds good,” I said as I went to push my chair out.
“Stay, I got it,” Lucas gave me his charming, lopsided grin as he waved his hand.
I froze as a knife shot out of the cutlery drawer, hovering mid-air over my plate.
Then some strawberries floated out of the fridge, and the floating knife sliced the tops off and then quartered them before they drifted down to sit on my pancakes. Some blueberries joined them, and I just shook my head in utter amazement as the knife floated away and the leafy tops of the strawberries floated into the composting bin at the end of the counter.
The rest of the pancakes were served quickly, and only Lucas and I chose to have berries with ours. Oliver went with just cream, while Skip had an equal mix of syrup and thickened cream on his.
“We should’ve whipped it first,” Oliver mumbled through a mouthful of pancakes and cream.
“Too late now,” Skip said as he finished off the second of his pancakes already.
“So, guess we’re checking out your new place of work today,” Lucas said as he delicately ate his pancakes, making sure to cut everything to a nice portion, nothing like the massive chunks Skip and Oliver were shoveling into their mouths.
“You don’t have to come,” I said, but Lucas waved me off as he straightened his red tie.
“No, it’ll be good to support a local business. I applaud them for opening it in this dreary town of supes. Hopefully the other locals will join in and support them too,” Lucas said.
“It’d be good to see Mr and Mrs Melvin again,” Oliver piped up. “I haven’t seen Mr Melvin for ages.”
“He was your old neighbor, right?” Skip clarified as he held his fork out.
“Yeah, my parents’ place,” Oliver said, and I noted how his smile faltered.
“So, you can make a mean coffee then?” Oliver changed the subject. “You said you used to work as a barista?”
“Yeah, I guess I make a decent coffee, my new position is barista and waitress,” I said as I sipped my juice to wash down my first pancake. God, they were good. Lucas sure knew how to cook.
“Awesome, I know where I’ll be getting my coffees from now,” Skip said, his voice muffled through his food.
“Well, we might as well show you around the rest of the town too, and give you a proper tour of Maleny while we’re at it,” Lucas said.
“Sounds like a plan,” I smiled, flicking my eyes around at the three guys. They sure were a sweet bunch.
“Well, this is Dingo Diner,” Skip stated as we pulled into the small six bay carpark out the front of the small cafe building.
“Who even says diner,” Oliver murmured as the old Landcruiser rumbled to a stop.
“They’ve done well actually, it’s been open only a few weeks, but they’re getting a decent amount of business,” Lucas said as he climbed out of the backseat. I was in the front with Skip, while the other two were in the back.
I smiled as Lucas held open my door for me and did a little over the top bow with a cheeky grin.
I just rolled my eyes as I climbed out of the cruiser, and readied myself to meet my new employers.
“C’mon, it’ll be fine, they’ll love you! We do,” Oliver assured me as he popped up beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Mr and Mrs Melvin are really nice, you’ll see.”
“Don’t crowd her, Oliver,” Skip chuckled as he rounded the bonnet of the cruiser to join us.
“I’m not, am I?” he pouted and turned to me with those big amber eyes looking thoroughly concerned.
“No, you’re not,” I gave him a sweet smile and he relaxed, not removing his arm from around my shoulders.
“We should order, you know, to support their business here,” Skip said as he eyed the big painted sign across the top of the building. A dingo was sprawled out with the shop name over it, the scenery of Ayers Rock behind it.
“We literally just ate,” Lucas sighed as he shook his head.
“We could grab a milkshake each? I could go for one?” Oliver suggested as he started forward, pulling me with him.
I eyed the cafe, taking in the unique orange window frames around the windows. Even the glass door had a thick sandy orange strip. The dark orange made me think of the outback, or even the hide of a dingo. Guess that was the intention.
It was a small building set up on the corner of the main street of Maple Grove.
To be honest, there wasn’t much to the main street at all. A corner store on the other end of the rather short street, a barbershop, a real estate, a healer for supes, and an old-looking bookstore with the sign faded and peeling above it. Oh, then there was the small complex about midway down the street, set in an old brick building. It homed a solicitor’s and lawyer’s office, specifically for supes, and an employment agency, which Oliver said consisted of two ladies who helped supes find jobs in supe businesses.
We pushed through the glass door, and I sighed at the cool air-conditioned building. It was hot and muggy outside, and I was beginning to sweat already, feeling sticky and yuck.
&n
bsp; “Welcome!” a cheery voice rang out, and my eyes fell on the older blonde woman behind the counter. Her hair was cut short, pixie style, and she wore a white apron over a navy shirt that had ‘Dingo Diner’ embroidered over the right breast, and her name over the left. She had her elbows resting on the counter as she stood patiently at her post.
“Hi Mrs Melvin!” Oliver waved, and the older woman’s hazel eyes lit up.
“Ollie! It’s been so long, how’ve you been? Henry! Ollie’s here,” she called over her shoulder.
The cafe was small inside, booths lining the walls and the kitchen easily visible over the counter, only a steel bench with a high back blocking the view of the stoves and fryers.
Mr Melvin, Henry, appeared from behind the steel wall, obviously having been by the stove or fryers. He had short brown curls tinged with grey, and those blue eyes looked pleased at our arrival.
A few of the booths were occupied with patrons enjoying breakfast, and I was glad to see that they had some business going on a Sunday.
“Ollie! Is that Lucas too? And Skip? Damn, I still remember when you three were this small,” Henry beamed, indicating waist height. His rounded belly stuck out from his navy shirt as he made the size reference. He was clean shaven and a large man, someone I could picture happily sitting down after a long day to watch some footy and down a few beers. The belly certainly indicated as much.
I wondered what kind of supe he was? Shifters had trouble gaining weight thanks to their genetics. “Yeah, that’s us,” Skip laughed as he stretched and held his hands behind his head. He’d thrown on a red singlet today, but wore his trademark board shorts and thongs.
“Well, what do we owe the pleasure?” Mrs Melvin said as she wrapped one arm around Henry’s waist as he drew up beside her.
“Well, this here is Allison Smoak,” Lucas began, but Mrs Melvin jumped in before he could finish.
“Oh, so you’re Allison! We spoke on the phone! It’s so lovely to meet you,” Mrs Melvin said as she rounded the counter to stride over and greet me.
“Likewise,” I smiled brightly.
