Bright Lights That Cast A Shadow

It was another two days before the short tattooed man walked through the music store doors. Like the first time I saw him, I was absorbed in a comic book and was startled by the ring of the bell above the door. He didn't even bother looking through the aisles before marching over towards the cash register and me.
"Figured I'd find you here," He said casually leaning against the counter. His forehead still had the stitches in and he had a couple of bruises, but he seemed to be healing up pretty nicely. I didn't think he would have any scars.
"Well," I said throwing my comic book behind me carelessly and turning to look at him. "Seeing how I work here, I don't think it was that difficult to figure out." He chuckled and grinned up at me.
"Well you got me there," He laughed, "But hey, I had to guess when you would be working!" He playfully tried to defend himself.
"Which is everyday, open to close," I replied sassily. What can I say? Sometimes I just feel a little sassy. Sass is good.
"Well then I guess I guessed right now didn't I?" He sassed back jokingly. I gave him an exasperated eye roll, to which he grinned even wider. I swear this guy never stopped grinning. I mean it suited him and made him that much better looking, but I was a vampire and that would never work.
"But anyway, I came here actually to talk to you," He looked up at me and blushed slightly. "I wanted to thank you for helping me the other night. I was really drunk and it was nice of you to stop those guys from beating me up and helping me to the hospital." He scuffed his shoe against the floor as he talked and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.
"Eh, it was nothing," I told him with a shrug of my shoulders. "I couldn't just leave you there. But you're welcome." Another customer appeared at the checkout. Frank politely stepped off to the side while I rang them up.
"Have a nice day sir!" I told the customer with a fake smile and cheeriness. My face dropped again as the customer turned and left, causing Frank to giggle. He stepped to the front of the counter and played with his hoodie sleeve.
"So I have to go out to the mall later today. I was wondering if you wanted to come with maybe? I can like buy you something, you know, as a thank you?" He blurted out the sentence then looked down scrunching his nose up and blushing a deep red.
I'm glad he was looking down, because I could feel a million emotions fly by on my face in the next couple of moments. On one hand I really wanted to go spend time with this cute guy and get to know each other better. But on the other hand, as I keep reminding myself, I am a vampire who wants his blood. The closer to me he gets, the more danger he's in. If he had an accident lets say, and cut himself deeply, I might not be able to control myself. No, it would be better for him if I didn't go.
"Yeah, uh, sorry Frank, but I'm really busy after work today and I don't think I can make it. Sorry," I sincerely apologized. Lord knows I want to go.
"Oh," I felt a pang in my chest when I watched Frank's face drop. "Oh, well o-okay." He mumbled slightly embarrassed. "Well I'll see you sometime later I guess." With that he turned and walked out of the store, not turning to see the regret forming in my eyes.
~~~
The next time Frank came calling on me I wasn't up front. I was in the backroom sorting through boxes of CD's. I had my headphones plugged into my iPod. I was blaring Green Day's Basket Case when someone tapped me on the shoulder, causing me to jump. I turned to see Bob giving me a mischievous grin.
"Shit Bob!" I gasped as I tried to slow my heart rate. "You scared the ever living Christ outta me,"
"Don't turn your music up so loud," He said with a shrug. I glared at him in response. "Anyway, there's a guy up front who asked for you. Short, black hair. Know him?"
Frank? Here again? I thought my turning him down the other day would've kept him away. Apparently not. I hope he gives up soon. There's only so many times I can turn the dude down before hurting him, and that was what I was trying to avoid to begin with.
"Yeah, I know him. I'll go talk to him." I put the CD I was holding back in the box and headed for the front counter. There he was, dressed the same as usual with his skinny jeans and band t-shirts. He was examining a Used CD while he waited for me.
"You asked for me?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral and with a slight uncaring tone, trying to convey that I didn't want us to be friends. But everyone needs friends... The back of my mind echoed up to me. You have Frank and Bob. That's more than enough friendship. I reminded myself irritated.
"Oh, uh, yeah." Frank tore his attention away from the CD to look at me. "When's your break?" He asked suddenly putting it back in it's correct spot on the shelf. I scratched my head awkwardly while I thought of the reasoning behind the question.
"I get an hour break at one, but I rarely ever use it. Why?" I said cautiously. The last thing I wanted was to give him too much info to work with to get me out and to do something with him.
"Well, I still haven't re-payed you for helping me. Can I take you out to lunch? I'll pay," He offered with a hopeful expression on his face. I felt my insides squirm. No way could I go. I'm a vampire. I don't eat normal food anymore. He's trying to get closer to me and make me eat. I don't think this could get any worse. I looked around for a means of escape but couldn't find any. Where are Ray and Bob when you need them? I thought with frustration.
"Listen Frank, I really can't eat lunch with you," I really really can't. I struggled to form a reason that wasn't a total lie. "There's a lot to be done today and I can't leave." His face fell again but brightened way to quickly for my liking.
"Well what about dinner? I could come by after your shift?" I gazed at him sorrowfully. He was gonna make me turn him down the hard way. It's for his own benefit... I took a deep breath.
"I can't go,"
"What! Wh-"
"I just can't okay?" I forcefully said trying to get my point across. His face fell again and we fell into an awkward silence. I shoved my hands into my pockets and rocked back and forth while I waited for what would happen next. The silence carried on until he finally looked up from the floor. He gazed at me for a second before speaking up.
"You know, if you didn't want to hang out with me or be friends you could always just say so," He spat bitterly before turning and storming out the door. I watched him exit the building with sadness.
"Why won't you hang with him?" Ray asked seeming to appear out of nowhere. He walked over to where I had moved to seat myself behind the counter and stood in front of me, waiting for an explanation. I sighed.
"Its just that I don't want to end up hurting him. If I let people get close then eventually I'll slip and someone will get injured or maybe even killed." I liked explaining my problems to Ray. He was like a mentor and I always went to him when something was bothering me. He sat thinking for a bit before he responded.
"Gerard," He began making sure he had my full attention. "You are around people everyday and you never bite them. You're around me and Bob all the time and we haven't been bit yet. And even when you do have to uh, well eat, you don't drain the people. Why do you think that is?" I shrugged half heartedly. "Because you're careful. You don't want to bite anyone so you don't. I really think that if you let yourself get closer to Frank he will be fine. You're careful Gerard and you act more human than most humans I know. So do yourself a favor a live a little."
"But I'm already dead," I said with a hint of a small smile. He grinned and punched me in the shoulder.
"Then that makes it even better. Now go, He couldn't have gotten that far. Just apologize and get something set up," He pushed me towards the door.
"Fine mum," I grumbled, but I didn't protest and let myself be led out the door. It was a weakness of mine. I would fight against something, no matter how much I wanted it, but the second someone gave me the slightest hint that I should stop I would. In this case, Ray had given me the excuse to get closer to Frank and form a possible friendship. I just hoped for Frank's sake that I could keep myself in check.
~~~
I only had to walk about a block before I saw him standing outside of a nearly empty bar smoking. I walked up to him and pressed my back to the brick wall of the bar like him. We stood in silence, him smoking and me people watching, until he finished, He stubbed the cigarette out on the wall before throwing it to the ground.
"Hey," He said simply, not looking at me. I felt shameful and I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks.
"Hey," I responded back. We slipped into silence again. I was the one to break it this time. "Look, I'm really sorry for being such an asshole. It's just...there are complications you wouldn't understand at the moment. But I really do want to hang with you sometime." I finished weakly. He was silent for another moment before speaking up.
"What kind of "complications"?" He asked, bending his fingers when he said complications.
"I really don't want to tell you." I turned to look directly at him, "You just need to be warned that I'm dangerous, and I could be hazardous to your health." He turned to look at me. He gave me a once over before giving me a grin.
"You don't seem very dangerous," He teased poking my slightly scrawny arm. "Besides, my health was pretty much saved by you the other night. So as far as I'm concerned you're good." I gave him a half smile.
"Now about the other night..." He continued, "I still owe you. There's a band playing tomorrow night that I'm going to go see. Want to come with?" He raised his eyebrows as if daring me to say no. I found myself nodding yes. "Good!" He grinned again. "Here..." He mumbled trailing off as he searched through his pockets. He produced forth a Sharpie from his back pockets. "Write down your address. I'll be there to pick you up at 7." He instructed. I nodded and wrote down my address on his hand." He looked down at it before looking up at me. "You live a couple of blocks from me!"
"Really?" I asked. I had never seen him before he had come to the store.
"Yeah!" He replied enthusiastically. He reached for his phone to check the time. "Oh hey I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow!" He called before running off. I gave him a small goodbye wave as I watched him disappear into a throng of people.
See you then Frank...
With that I turned and walked home, done with work for the day.

Notes

Hey so sorry for the long wait for the new chapter. But my brother is now gone so now I will get back to hopefully posting daily. Maybe every other day, but it shouldn't be longer than that from now on. But I did write a slightly longer chapter to make up for it. So yeah, love, hate, enjoy :3
P.S. does anyone feel like making like a banner/poster/cover or whatever you call them. I would appreciate it. just message me. thankssss