My father opened my bedroom door wider and stepped inside the room.

"Alexandria, what did this man look like?" he asked me as if he was speaking to a five-year-old.

I sighed, sitting crossed legged on my bed ready to go to sleep.

"Um, he had thick black hair, a sleeve of tattoos, he was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt in weather like this. And his eyes, they were kind of...this gorgeous light brown. As if they shone even though it was dark outside" I admit to my dad.

He rubbed his hands over his tiresome face and ran a hand through his head in clear frustration. I wondered what this gentleman had done so wrong to get under my dad's skin.

"What happened?" I asked quickly and quietly, but dad seemed to have caught on. He always did.

"Don't worry Ria"

"Well, clearly I am- it's obviously bothering you. Also, he was kind of intimidating. I hope you aren't in any trouble at work or anything" I say carefully, hoping not to push the boundaries of this discussion.

"I'll see you in the morning Ria, goodnight". And with that he shut my door and ended the conversation. My dad angry was not someone I particularly wanted to be around. He loses his temper a lot but at least he has my mom by his side, always helping him through thick and thin. It was kind of nice just seeing how they melted together perfectly. As if fate scanned the entire earth, picked them up like chess pieces and moved the king to his queen.

There was not a single person in Essex, or even Vermont that would take the slightest interest in me. I'm a book worm and I'm boring. End of story. I kind of liked it though. No one disturbed me or hassled me into doing or being things I didn't want to do or be.

As I watched the door close I whispered to myself 'goodnight' and climbed into my soft white sheets.

Sundays usually meant relaxation, although mine didn't start so well due to an early rise which the sun shone through my sheer curtains waking me up at an unreasonable time. I removed the quilt covers from my body and got out of bed to start my day. I was planning on going to the library to check out some books and get a head start on this semester's reading.

I brush my teeth, wash my face and brush out my hair. A little concealer and mascara did the trick. I pulled a pair of black jeans and a cream knit out of my wardrobe and slipped on some black water resistant boots. To double the warmth, I threw on my handy jacket with the hood and cosy pockets.

As I reach downstairs, both my mother and father were eating breakfast together, and they were actually talking to each other instead of typing away on their laptops or answering phone calls. I walk into the kitchen and both my parents look my direction with small smiles. Weird I thought.

"Good morning" I say quickly and poor myself some chamomile tea from the already boiled water. As my tea was brewing, I pulled out some bread from the basket and toasted it slightly. Waiting for my breakfast to be ready, I turned back around towards my parents who were still staring at me.

I rose an eyebrow in confusion, "Uh, did I do something wrong?"

"No sweetie" my mother replied, "just wondering where you are off to so early?"

My parents didn't usually question my whereabouts or what I was doing- simply because I was always in the same places doing the same things. There wasn't a need for them to worry.

"Um, well I'm just off to the library. Is there an issue?" I ask, trying to uncover some explanation for their odd behaviour.

"No of course not Ria, just message us when you arrive there okay?" My dad says trying to be casual while sipping his coffee.

"Okay, yeah sure" I reply and then turn back to breakfast to quickly skull it down so I can leave whatever was going on here.

I grabbed my bag and quickly said goodbye, almost running to my car. I turned on the ignition and sat in my car to warm it up so it could drive better. After a couple of minutes, I put the car into drive and made my way to the library.

I couldn't help but think about how my dad acted last night and both my parents this morning. It was unusual and had me a little worried. Did something happen?

I parked the car in the library's small parking lot and headed inside. As I entered the library, I noticed the small amount of people who here. Good, I thought. That's the only reason why I come on a Sunday because there is barely anyone here and always a table available. I walked straight into the New Arrivals aisle and skidded my fingers across the books. My hand landed on a book which sparked my interest. 'Folk Legends: Native and Colonial' read the title. I opened the book to the contents page and skidded across all the different legend stories that were compacted into the one book. I pulled the book off the shelf keeping in mind that I'd read some of it later.

I then walked into the School Referencing section and picked up two books on Modern History and Creative Writing. Subjects I wanted to get a head start on for this year.

I sat down at a secluded table and opened the history textbook. I took down some notes about World War I, looking at Ally and German perspectives. I continued to highlight and write down study notes for an hour until my mind got bored with it. I closed the textbook ready to move on to my Creative Writing notes when my eye caught onto the Folk Legend book I picked up early. I caved against the resistance and opened the first story.

The chapter titled 'Indo-European Mythology'. My eyes skidded over the introduction and body paragraphs. Words screamed at me on the page, like 'shape-shifting', 'mythological hybrid' and the one that immediately caught my attention 'lycanthrope'.

Sure, I've heard of the occasional Werewolf in fantasy novels and movies but I never knew they were folklore legends. The story spoke of how werewolves were genetically born, how they were an aspect of the initiation of the warrior class. How their territorial and loyal behaviours were major aspects. And lastly, how different breeds carried different specialties.

I was so stuck into the book that I didn't realise another hour had passed and I was shivering where I was sitting. I push the hair back that had fallen on my face and packed up my stuff. I walked up to front desk to borrow the books. As I handed my card over to Shannon, the librarian she asks me, "leaving so soon?"

I gave her a small smile a reach for the text books after she scans them, "I was getting a little cold"

She looked at me in confusion as she passed me the last book, "Folklore huh? It's pretty scary stuff, don't you think?"

I shrug my shoulders and take the final book, "I guess so, more interesting though. I never knew they were something outside of Fantasy genre stories in Hollywood".

She laughs and hands me the library card, "Well enjoy it, see you soon"

I smile and say goodbye as I shove the books in my bag and head back to my car. I quickly sent my mother a message about me leaving the library and going to get something to eat before I came home. I thought I'd head over to the coffee shop and continue reading the book. I was way too cold to sit in my favourite spot outside and read.

I reached the coffee shop and took a singular table beside the window. I pulled out my notebook, a text book and then the folklore book. Just so it looked like I was studying. The coffee shop was quite cosy and warm, so I took off my jacket and hung it on my hair. I pulled out my wallet from my bag and walked over to the cash register. Mahogany and Isaiah were working the kitchen away, and Kelly walked up to the register to serve me. Her face broke out into a smile as soon as she saw me.

"You just love this place, don't you?"

I let out a light laugh, and pushed back a strand of hair behind my ear. "Uh, yeah totally. I'm just getting ahead on some study".

She looked quite impressed, "Good stuff, keep at it yeah?". I was the youngest worker at the shop, so it was understandable that most of the staff here were so protective of me...even though I was almost 18.

"Anyway, what can I get you my dear?" she asks ready with her notebook.

"I'll just get a rose tea and some avocado on toast, thanks". After I had ordered and paid, I turned back to my table only to see someone already sitting on the other side of it.

I gulped and walked slowly back to the table. As I reached my chair, the gentlemen looked up at me through his thick, long lashes. My words were caught in my throat, I couldn't muster out anything to say. He just stared, with his beautiful light brown eyes, his body postured in a way which made him seem so untouchable. I couldn't look away, what was wrong with me?

"You're into stories?"

He was holding the book I had borrowed from the library in between his muscled hands. I nodded slowly in response, still not finding words to reply with.

"Why don't you sit down?"

The first thing I should've done was grab my things and left, but something about his voice made me slowly pull out the seat and sit down to face him. I was a little scared, but even more in complete and utter awe of him.

He is beautiful.

We just stared at each other for a solid two minutes. He took in what he saw and I did the same until he slowly smiled and said, "Nice to meet you Alexandria. I'm Kellan".

~~~~

Swooooonning, hahaha

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-G