My alarm clock jerks me awake. I turn over to see a very foggy version of my clock. I click the button on the side that turns the alarm off and lay back on the bed. I rub my eyes and will myself into getting up. I feel my toes step on the flashlights that were under my bed. I pick them both up and put them in my drawer. I shower quickly and wash my hair. I put on a casual outfit for work, but make sure to bring a sweater since it is always freezing in there. I tie my hair back in a bun and put some mocassins on. As I am walking down the steps I remember why those flashlights were under my bed. There is no way we didnt have a conversation that night! How else would the flashlights get in my room? There have been no other blackouts since then! Roman did say he had some memory problems... maybe he forgot about that night, just like he forgot about our date. I dont know whats going on, but something isnt right...

~~~~~~

I walk into the library, clutching the hem of my sweater and looking around. There are no librarians at the desk. I need to find someone so I can get my training started. Oh! I didnt finish my training packet. Oh well, I can always finish it when I get off. I turn a corner in one of the book stacks and the librarian that was at the front desk smiles at me and shakes my hand.

"Welcome aboard Angel. I will show you how to work the computer first and then how to sort the books. We will get to labeling later." She says, excitedly.

We walk over to the front desk and she shows me how to log in, how to check inventory, how to check out and enter in returned books, how to create library cards and a lot of other things. Every new skill she teaches me I remember to write down in my notepad. 

"Okay you have an hour for lunch. See you later." She smiles and walks out of the library.

I sigh. This is a lot of information to take in, but its not that bad. I can handle it. Better than being a waitress. Mom always complained about her time as a waitress. I look at the clock and go to the bathroom. One hour. I know where I can kill some time. I look at the door of the stall. Someone wrote something on the door.

RUN

Quite ominous.

I wash my hands and walk out of the library, taking my sweater off and feeling the warm sun on my face. I do like that its always warm here. I guess everyone is on lunch. It's busier than usual. I could go home and see if Mom has something, or I could go to that wrap shop. Yeah I will go there. I walk to the wrap restaurant and I get this eerie feeling that Im being followed again. I turn around often, checking every corner and alley. People start cursing me out for not paying attention to whats in front of me. Well, you would be looking everywhere too if you thought you were being followed. This tall, red headed lady bumps into me, knocking me down.

"Watch it!" She yells.

I hold my tongue and stand up, brushing off my clothes.

"You must be new. I mean look at your clothes. You look like my great grandmother!" She exclaims.

I roll my eyes. "Yeah well sorry for bumping into you."

"Oh hey wait! Im sorry. I have no filter." She extends her hand. "Claire. And you are?"

I give her and look and cautiously shake her hand. "Angel."

"Ohh what a pretty name. So how long have you been here in Cali Angel?"

"About a week." I shrug.

"Oh well you gotta always keep your eyes open around here girl. You never know whats gonna pop up in front of you." She says, smiling.

I frown. "I just kinda got the feeling like someone was following me, thats it." I explain.

She laughs. "Oh please honey get in line! If youre a beautiful girl having a stalker will be normal."

"But its not normal. I dont want a stalker. If thats normal, then Im happy to be different." I say, walking away.

She runs in front of me, her heels clicking. "I meant that these boys around here are harmless! If you have some guy gunning for you, begging for you, you should be happy! You should be proud of your womanly powers to catch that fish! They can get weird, but thats all they'll be, weird."

I still dont agree with it being okay to have someone watching me, if someone is watching me, but I guess she is trying to make conversation, so I will appease her.

"Good to know." I say simply.

"Are you on a break? You wanna go shopping?" She says excitedly.

I shake my head. "I dont like shopping."

Her smiles drops. "You are quite the Debbie Downer."

I feel eyes on my once again and I turn around. Through the busy crowd I see Roman standing there, waving to me. I smile and wave back.

"Whoa who is the hottie?" Claire says smiling.

I look at her, getting all bent out of shape because of Roman and hold back a laugh. "He's my friend."

"Friend? Oh well, I'd LOVE to be friends with a man that looks like that!" She bites her lip.

"Looks arent everything." I explain.

"Says the girl with the super sexy friend. Hey, if you ever wanna hang out, just call me." She slips me her phone number and winks before she leaves. 

I put the number in my pocket, a little confused and I turn around, almost bumping into Roman. I smile and sigh.

"Hi." I say softly.

"Hi." He says smiling. "Who was that?" He asks.

"Umm, I bumped into her and she asked me to go shopping. I dont know. I guess she wants to be friends?" I say confused.

"Those arent the kind of friends you want to be around." he warns.

"Oh only the super threatening muscular friends are safe right?" I tease.

He pokes me in my side and I laugh, flinching. "Thats not nice."

"Im serious Angel. Girls like that, theyre trouble." He says, serious.

I sigh. "Yeah I know. Im sure I wont see her again." I look up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Lunch break. Where do you want to go?" He asks.

"I was going to the restaurant with the wraps and salads."

"You're not a vegetarian, are you? Because I made you eat some meat the other day..."

"Oh no! I just dont eat a lot of meat, but trust me I love bacon too much to be a vegetarian. I get chicken and turkey  wraps and things of that nature." I explain.

He smiles. "Good. Okay lets go."

We walk into the Wrap Shoppe and order our food, waiting at a table for them to give us our orders.

"Roman Im surprised you remembered what we ate last night."

He raises his eyebrow. "My memory isnt that bad."

"Well I found my flashlights under my bed last night... you probably dont remember, but I washed your clothes and there was a black out during that storm that night you stayed over. I remember our conversation..." I say, trying to get him to remember.

"I remember the black out, but I honestly dont remember talking to you at all that night."

Well I tried. "Okay." I say, giving up. 

I get that feeling again that Im being watched and I turn around. No one is there. I turn back around and keep checking spots out of the corner of my eye. 

"Are you okay?" He asks, watching me.

I look at him and smile. "Im fine."

"Well, you look a little paranoid. Are you sure?" 

I take a quick glance behind the counter. Just workers. I look back at him. "Just checking on our food. Im starving."

He suddenly puts his hand over mine. I jump with the electric feeling. "We're friends Angel. You can tell me if something is bothering you."

I stare at his hand covering mine, the sweat starting to form on my palm and I look at him, nervously. "Im fine. Im okay." I say unconvincingly.

He just keeps staring at me, willing me to tell him whats wrong and I keep my head down, peeking out of the corner of my eye for any stalker that Claire seems to be so proud of having.

"I wont force you to tell me." he says finally, giving up.

The waitress comes over and gives us our plates. We smile and Roman removes his hand from mine. Great. I missed my chance to be comforted by Roman. I say grace silently and start eating my wrap. Wow it's good. Roman got this huge chicken salad. We eat in silence. Roman just devouring his food and me just trying to stop being so paranoid. I look at my watch. I only have twenty minutes left. 

"I'd like to take you somewhere tonight." Roman says after wiping his mouth off.

I look up at him. "Okay. Where?" I say, my eyes gleaming with curiosity.

He smirks. "It's a surprise. I know you will like it."

I smile. "Okay fine."

He looks at me, as if he wants to lean over the table, but he doesnt. He just stands up and offers me his arm. I stand, blushing, and I take his arm as he walks me back to the library.

"You're such a gentleman." I smile.

"I try to be. See you tonight." He winks at me, walking to his car.

I blush and go back into the library, putting my coat on. I finish the rest of my shift, looking through all of the sci-fi/conspiracy theory books. These are interesting. About the government and all of its efforts to enslave the world and magical beings. I like stuff like that. It's one book titled "10 Steps to World Domination" that I decide to check out. Gives me some comedic relief from this fast paced, superficial world I now live in. I go home and open up the book.

"Hi Mom. How was work?" I say, looking up from my book.

"Work was fine. How was your first day?" She says, exhausted. Mom is really like a zombie nowadays. Its sad to see her like this.

"It was alright. Mom are you okay? You get no sleep and you walk around like a drone. Maybe you should find a less stressful job." I explain.

"There is nothing wrong with working a little hard to get the things that you want honey. I will sleep on the weekends. Im fine." 

I grab her plate off of the kitchen table and place it in her lap on her recliner.

"Thank you honey." She says, smiling.

"Mom Im going out with Roman tonight, just so you know."

"Oh thats great! Im glad you two are together. Yall are so cute." She laughs.

I blush. "We arent together Mom. We're friends."

She gives me a look like she knows that isnt true. "He just hasnt asked you out yet. I heard that conversation by my front door last night. He likes you."

I shake my head. "Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see."

"We will." She says, as if she knows.

I go into my room and turn to the first page of the book.

Step 1: Be Likeable

I laugh, reading through the reason why. No one can control a world unless people like you. You have to rally people. Strength in numbers. Get the important people on your side so you can then manipulate them into believing what you're saying is right. Makes sense. I get to chapter two and I look at my watch. Oh! I gotta get ready. I put my bookmark in the book and shower, putting on a long skirt and a pink shirt. I bring a small sweater in case it's kinda chilly. I put my hair up in a braided bun and add some bracelets to my outfit. I usually dont wear jewelry, but Im feeling experimental tonight. I put on my sandals and grab my purse. I walk past Mom sleeping in her recliner and lock the door behind me. I see Roman's Jeep sitting in front of my house and I knock on the window. He looks startled and he opens the door. I get in smiling.

"Hi."

"I was just about to get out and get you." He says.

"It's okay. I guess I was kinda eager." I shrug.

He looks me up and down. "You look beautiful."

I blush like crazy and look down at my sandals. "Thank you."

Roman drives off and I try my best to see whats around us while we are heading to our destination. It's too dark so I sit back, just enjoying the ride. Roman parks in Culver Park and he opens my door for me.

"This isnt new Roman. I hope you didnt 'forget' that you brought me here before."

He rolls his eyes. "This isnt it. Come walk with me."

I grab his arm and we walk deep into the park. Very deep. Makes me wonder if all of this niceness has led to this point. He's gonna kill me in this dark park. But Mom knows I was with Roman so all shouldnt be lost. At least he will go to jail for it. He stops and looks at me. Okay now Im scared.

"Roman.." I whisper.

"Shh. Close your eyes." He says softly.

I dont know if I trust him, but I close my eyes anyway. I feel him touch my shoulder and I fall, feeling like I am about to die. I open my eyes and all I can see is Roman smiling like a maniac above the water. I resurface, catching my breath and jumping back on land.

"What the hell?!" I yell at him as he is laughing at me.

I look down and groan. "My clothes and my hair is soaked! I hope youre proud because that was not funny! I thought you were trying to kill me!"

"Actions speak louder than words." He says simply, holding back a laugh. "But isnt it a beautiful lake?"

I turn around, getting behind Roman. "It sure is." I push him in the lake, and he falls. I stare at the lake. "It is beautiful." I say, smiling.

Roman resurfaces, smirking. "Touche Angel. Enjoying the view?"

"You know Im freezing now, right? The point of this was to leave me freezing huh?" I turn around when I see a light flashing our way and I feel Roman tug on my foot and pull me into the lake with him. I scream before I go under and resurface quickly.

"Do you even know if I can swim??" I yell at him.

"You dont have to know how to swim." His caramel eyes and wet hair is shining in the moonlight as he pulls me into him by my waist. "I wont let you drown." He says softly. He gazes into my eyes and I blush, looking up at the moon. 

"You know how to pick interesting dates." 

He smiles, putting me against the grass. "Im an interesting person." 

He holds me against the side, making sure I dont drift away, as we are staring into each others eyes. It is taking everything in me not to kiss him, but at the same time I just cant bring myself to do it. I take a shaky hand to his wet face to remove a stray hair away from his gleaming eyes. I feel him leaning in and I hold my breath. He looks down and jerks me up onto the grass. I let that breath out and sigh. Damn. I stand up, my clothes weighing me down, and I walk to the bench nearby. Roman comes and sits next to me.

"Someone broke into my house last week. I guess thats why Ive been so paranoid. They didnt take anything, it didnt seem like they did, but, I just feel like Im being watched." I say, finally.

Roman turns to me. "You dont have to worry."

I look at him. "Why?"

Roman slips his fingers in between mine and smirks. "I wont let anything happen to you. Or your Mother."

"You cant do anything about a robber..." I say, trying to be smart.

Roman shakes his head. "You dont understand. I will find that robber and beat his ass. Nobody messes with my Angel."

I blush and look down, not being able to say anything. I look back up at Roman and he is looking as serious as ever.

"Believe that." He says.

I nod. He lowers his eyes and pulls at my arm gently. "Come here."

I slide over to him blindly as he places his free hand on my waist and pulls me in. I take a quick whiff of his cologne before our lips meet for the first time. It's euphoric and electric and fantastic. It sends my body in a frenzy of emotions and my senses are knocked out of whack. A nearby howling wolf suddenly gets silenced and I am stuck in this one moment with Roman. Time seems to have stopped when he kissed me, and I responded, kissing him back, showing my approval. He removes his hand from my waist and I scoot back, shaking a little. I look down and Roman smiles.

"That felt really good." He says deeply.

We stand up from the bench, hand in hand, walking to his car. He drops me off at home, never letting go of my hand and as we are standing in front of my door yet again, the air has changed. I look into his rich brown eyes and he smiles a little. 

"Thank you for being a good sport about me throwing you in the lake. Most women would-"

"Punch you in your pretty face?" I say, cutting him off.

He laughs. "Probably. Thats why youre special."

He brings my fingers to his lips and kisses them gently.

"Goodnight Angel." He says.

"Goodnight Roman." I respond, doing my best to hold in my excitement.

He walks to his car and drives off. I go inside and stare at the door to my room, not even believing what just happened. I remove my wet clothes and put my pajamas on. I empty my mind so I can go to sleep, but I just cant seem to come to the realization that... Roman kissed me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I havent seen Roman in a few days. I havent told Mom about that night. I figure I need to keep it to myself. Mom comes out of the bathroom and looks around.

"Honey what kind of curtains would look nice in the living room?"

"I dont know Mom. Anything that's black." I answer.

"Youre no fun!" She says, laughing.

I smile and walk through the store. Maybe Roman is working today? I sit on a mattress and lay back. This one is wayy to comfortable to be real. I close my eyes.

"No laying on the furniture." I hear someone say to me.

I sit up quickly and get down.

"Sorry."

I look up and its Roman. He looks at me and looks like he wants to say something.

"Oh. Angel. Nevermind." He says flatly.

Oh?

I smile. "Hi Roman. I havent seen you in a few days. I guess you've been working."

"Yeah. I got called in a lot." He says, clearly trying to get away from me.

"Well, hey! I know you dont work weekends. Do you want to come over my house or something? I dont have anything to do and Mom is barbecueing."

"No thanks." He says coldly.

I frown as he walks past me. God, what is he being stalked too?

"Roman." I call to him and he turns around, not even looking at me. "Are you okay?"

He smoothes his bun back. "Im sorry Angel. Im sorry for leading you on and Im sorry for pushing you in that lake and forgetting about our date. Clear conscience." He says, walking away.

"What do you mean youre sorry for leading me on? Saying Im cute is leading me on, kissing me is a whole nother story!"

"Like I said, Im sorry. I shouldnt have done that."

"You didnt seem so upset about it when it happened." I say, folding my arms.

"Angel. I like you, but Im not gonna be your boyfriend. Maybe we can be friends still."

My heart sinks.

"I guess not..." He says. "I gotta get back to work." He walks away, leaving me there, feeling like an idiot.

~~~.~~~