The Lost Boy

“Monica…” Nora sighs, leaning against the counter as usual. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting, watching.”
“For…?”
“The regular customer.” Monica replies quietly. Nora sighs again and returns to flipping through her magazine. She glances up momentarily to catch Monica watching her with sad eyes.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Honey.” She rubs her eyes. “It seems like you two had a good thing going but… he hasn’t shown his face in two weeks. I don’t think he’s coming back.” Monica bristles.
“We didn’t have a ‘good thing going’. We weren’t even together.” She defends, sounding almost angry.
“Are you, like, in love with him or something?”
“No!” Monica pauses for a while. “It’s just… weird that he hasn’t come once all this time.” She adds in a hushed voice. Nora only hums quietly, not believing Monica, before returning to her magazine. Monica sighs this time and continues to watch the door.
“Monica, I swear!” Nora slaps the magazine down on the counter. This startles her and her eyes widen at Nora who tiredly rubs her face. “Just… why don’t you leave early? Because you’re obviously not focused enough to get any work done.” Nora snaps.
“But-”
“Monica.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Look, I’ll cover for you and come over later to check on you, okay?” Monica nods guiltily. Nora waves her away before opening her abused magazine in frustration.
Monica doesn’t hesitate at the opportunity to rush home.
Every day she rushes home to see if Harry maybe, just maybe, returned for her.
Nora was right, though. I can’t focus on work while constantly thinking of Harry. I’ll just have to rest up and try to forget him… well it’s easier said than done, anyway.
She reaches into her purse for her keys when she notices that the front door is open a crack. Glancing around, she slowly pushes the door open.
“Hello…”
Pause.
“Is there anyone in here?” She calls timidly. After not hearing a response, she reaches for the light switch.
A figure is illuminated on the couch. She sucks in a breath and her heart leaps in her chest.
Holy shit.
“Harry?”
He glances over, looking even worse than the first time they met almost two weeks ago. She drops her purse and rushes over, forgetting in that moment how afraid of him she previously was. All she cares about is that he is back.
“Harry, what happened?” She kneels at his feet, her hands on his knees. He tenses as she touches him.
“It’s not safe, Monica.” He utters quietly, looking away.
“What? Have you had anything to drink since you left?” She asks instead. He shakes his head. “Are you okay?” She furrows her eyebrows, leaning in closer to him.
“Please, Monica.” He warns in an almost growling voice. “I might attack you if you stay this close to me.” He lowers his voice. “I won’t be able to control myself.” Shivers travel up Monica’s spine and she stands to relocate herself elsewhere.
“Where were you all this time, Harry?” Harry visibly loosens up but that hungry yet tired look still remains in his eyes.
“You’re not safe here, Monica.” He repeats.
“Yeah, you said that already, but you didn’t say why.” Harry turns his gaze away.
“I shouldn’t say yet. It’s too early.”
“Harry, you’re making no sense. What’s going on?” She demands. Harry doesn’t move an inch. “Come on, what’s going on, you’re freaking me out.” Harry’s eyes flit to her when he senses her heart rate rising again.
“Please calm down.” He breathes heavily.
“No!” She shouts. “You left me for two fucking weeks, Harry, and out of the blue you return and act all mysterious. What the hell happened that you feel the need to tell me but ‘not yet’?” Monica mocks angrily.
Harry gives her a once over, his teeth gritted. Her heart beats loudly, drumming in his ears. He squeezes his eyes shut.
“Stop!” He suddenly shouts.
Everything falls silent except for the ticking clock over the television and Monica’s beating heart.
“Please trust me.” He says slowly.
“How can I trust you when you refuse to tell me what’s going on?” Monica frowns.
“You really want to know?” He snarls.
“Yes!” She begs.
“Fine.” He snaps. “Someone has been watching you for the past two weeks. That’s why I’ve been gone.” Monica blinks back in surprise, no longer angry with him.
“Watching me…?” She glances at her window.
Perverts have been watching me?
Harry follows her gaze.
“Remember that first night when I was watching out your window?”
“Yes…”
“There was someone out there that night watching. For you or me… I’m not sure.” Monica involuntarily shivers.
“That’s so creepy.” But she quickly straightens up when she realizes something. “Wait, you left me alone with a creepy stalker following me for two weeks, you bastard?” She cries out. They meet eyes.
“I was following your… ‘stalker’.” Harry says. “I was trying to divert them away from you because it seems that they may be interested in you.”
“Oh my god.” Monica places her head in her hands. “Wait, hold on.” She says, looking up at him. “Why would someone follow me? And why are you getting in the middle of this when it has nothing to do with you and I just met you?” With a quiet sigh Harry squeezes his eyes shut.
“Because I’m the one who led them straight to you.” Monica lets out a nervous laugh.
“You’re kidding right? That sounds really dramatic and I don’t know, fantasy-like to me.”
“Don’t play around, Monica, this is serious. Your life is on the line.” Harry snarls hungrily.
Rule number one: when a vampire tells you your life is on the line… well, he’s probably not joking around.
All the color drains from her face.
“What?” She squeaks, finally understanding how serious he is. “What are you talking about?”
“You have a vampire tailing you, Monica.” Is all he says.
I’m still dreaming. Dear god, please wake me from this never ending nightmare.
Monica sits down, numb, her head spinning.
“What would a vampire want with me?” She asks after a while, her voice quiet. A few silent moments later.
“Why make it your business?”
“I don’t think you’re ready for the answer yet.” Harry replies sadly.
“Then when is the right time?” She asks impatiently. Harry doesn’t say a word. “Is this all because you told me that you’re a vampire that night?” Monica cries.
“No.” He finally says. He looks around her apartment. “Although I’m not certain the vampire court even knows of you now… unless she informed them…”
The clock ticks in the space where words are absent.
“She?” Monica’s heart raps against her ribcage.
Why would a vampire girl turn me in? What have I done wrong?
Harry meets her gaze. She can’t get any words to come out. They just jumble around her head in a nonsensical manner.
“She’s dangerous and reckless and jealous… and I think she might try to take you out to get me back.” Harry hums, mostly thinking to himself than to Monica. Monica, who finally can form what she’s thinking into words cries out in anguish.
“Take me out? You mean, like, kill me?” Harry nods.
“Something like that.”
“You have a really insane ex-girlfriend.”
He laughs heartily.
“She was my girlfriend for a while, yes.” His eyes suddenly darken. “She may do anything to get you out of the picture, Monica.” He says seriously in a low voice. Monica stares back in horror.
“Y-you’ll protect me though, right?” Harry nods.
“I’ll do all I can.” Monica smiles weakly in return.
Harry looks down at his hands, suddenly nervous.
“Uh, I know this is kind of a bad time but…” He fiddles with his fingers. “Could I drink from you?” He smiles both hopefully and sheepishly, his fangs peeking out from behind his lips.
Monica opens her mouth to say that, yes this is a bad time, Harry, but he interrupts her.
“It’s just that it has been a long time since I drank.” Monica purses her lips. “Don’t you trust me?” He asks.
She raises an eyebrow and considers telling him, are you kidding me?, but he cuts her off again.
“Okay bad question.” He lets out a sigh. Monica notices how bad he looks again.
“Okay, fine.” She gives in.
“Really?” He sits up straight. She nods with a sigh.
“But,” she adds loudly, “if you leave another bad hickey then I will you send you straight to vampire hell. That thing took forever to fade.” She rubs her neck as if reliving all the teasing from Nora.
“Vampire hell?” He grins.
“Shut up. You know what I mean.”
Harry beckons her closer and she obeys, grudgingly standing and dragging her feet all the way to him. She sits down beside him on her couch and automatically tilts her head to the side with an added sigh. Harry ignores her sigh and hungrily but tenderly brushes her hair to the side, leaning in closer.
Then a loud knock comes from the door, startling both of them. Monica quickly rights herself, a blush quickly spreading across her cheeks. She stands to answer the door without looking back at Harry.
The door swings open to reveal Nora.
Crap. I totally forgot she was coming over.
She grins at Monica.
“I came to see how you were doing, as planned.” Monica’s face flushes red.
She almost caught us in a really awkward position. Well, if she would have barged in. Thank god she’s not the barging in type.
Nora raises an eyebrow and leans past her coworker to get a better look inside. She spies Harry and he tenses up, his eyes widening. Nora flashes him a toothy grin before stepping back.
“I see you have your boy toy over, you dirty animal.” She nudges Monica who stands there stunned as Nora butts in. “I can see why you can’t keep your mind off of him.” She teases.
“Uh…” Monica’s blush involuntarily deepens in embarrassment.
“Sorry, I’ll leave.” Nora shakes her head. “I just wanted to check up on you. I have to get back anyway.” Nora sighs. “You know the boss. He wants it done now.” She laughs to herself before poking her head back into Monica’s apartment to wave at Harry. “Bye, boy toy. I’ll see you tomorrow, Monica.”
Nora waves again before walking away.
Monica shuts the door quickly and locks it. She rubs her face. There’s a long silent void between the two that is only filled with the ticking of the clock.
“I’m sorry. My coworker- she’s-” Monica cuts herself off with her own groaning. Only when she glances up at Harry does she realize something’s off. She ignores it.
“I should have mentioned that she was coming over-I – I just forgot.” She apologizes again.
“Monica…” Harry finally says. He draws her name out slowly.
“What?” She frowns.
“That’s her.” He appears almost numb, not even looking at her.
“Who?”
“She’s the one who was following you.”
“What?” Monica lets out a scoff in disbelief. “No, no, you’ve got it wrong she’s just my co-”
“Monica.” Harry says more sternly. His eyes finally meet hers.
“No.” She breathes. “She- she isn’t- can’t be a vampire.”
“Monica.” He repeats in the same tone. She approaches him.
“I’m telling you she can’t be the one. She isn’t, she can’t.” She says, desperate to believe what she is telling herself is the truth. Harry stands, taking her face in his hands.
“Monica.” He says quieter.
“That can’t be right.” She whispers. He gives her a pitying look.
“She’s the one who wants to kill you.”

Notes