The sun’s rays barely peaked over the horizon of Demaitre, some people were getting off of work, grabbing a bite to eat, or, the luckier ones, hitting a night out on the town. Obnoxiously anxious people were honking their horns, and screaming their heads off. Helen merely rolled her eyes. But, she remembered that they would soon die, not having the luxury of rejecting time for what it was worth. As Helen crossed the street, she began pondering about times for the umpteenth time since she’d been turned into a vampire. Of course that was a good…three hundred, plus, years ago, but hey, when you had an eternity to do as you pleased… Pondering subjects tended to recirculate.

Helen entered the library, and the librarian gave her a suspicious look. Helen never spoke to anyone in the library, though she was there almost every other night. The librarian probably thought Helen was some sort of ghost, figuring how pale her skin was. Pale skin, black turtleneck, black slacks, combat boots, long raven black hair put up in a messy bun, electric blue eyes… Helen Gustare had completely faded away from society, and though she encountered a person here and there… For a wee conversation, later turning into consumption… Her social interactions were slim to none. Not to say the least her biting sarcasm is still quite in tact.

By this month, Helen had read through all the modern works, and was making her way back into the classical fiction. She’d read each book so many times that she knew almost every single line by heart. Running her forefinger along the spines of the books, she came across her all time favorite, the Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. The scientist who had actually succeeded in making himself invisible, wrapping himself in bandages, looking like a man who had some kind of skin disease, holding up in an inn… It was such a grotesque romance… And Helen clung to it like it was her own story.

Claude lifted his head, eyes eyelids heavy with sleep. There was a hand on his shoulder, and a kind librarian connected to that hand, asking him if he was alright. He had fallen asleep in the library again. He sighed and nodded, sitting up. "Yeah, sorry. Just really tired." He got to his feet and doubled over to grab his bag. Then as he slung it over his shoulder, he stretched, a satisfied grin spreading over his face as his back popped and he sighed loudly.

The librarian had disappeared by now. He wondered if it was common for people to nap here, or if he should be wary about security coming to wake him up next time. The library was about midway between the motel he was staying at and the bar he had just started to work at, so he often found that he liked to spend his afternoon hours napping in the chairs by the fake fireplace they had just installed.

He sauntered drowsily around the long aisles of books now, peering at the titles and the authors. Loath as he was to admit it, he wasn't much of a reader. He had been trying to push himself to read more, but he really hadn't the patience, especially at the moment, to pick up a new book and start it.

He smirked as he stepped into the 'Classics' aisle. Now there was one thing that he felt guilty for. He had made up a list of books to read in high school and here most of them were. He reached up to pull one out, merely tilting it out with his finger to look at the front cover, and then stepping further down the aisle, tracing the bindings.

As he came to the end of the row, he paused, glancing over the books one last night. His eyes stopped on the Invisible Man. He'd heard of that one before. He'd seen the movie. Kevin Bacon, right? Mmn... bacon. He grinned, his stomach growling, and he reached out to take the book from the shelf. Books were almost always different than the movie. It was only a matter of how different.

Footsteps came from the other end of the aisle, and Helen glanced up, her book-daze slightly interrupted as her heightened sense of hearing echoed the noisy male’s movements. She flashed her eyes slightly, not really preferring his presence, but she was in a library… A public library. Well, actually it was the college’s library, and he looked like student material… So who was she, an isolated vampiress to kick him out or shove him off? She sighed, and merely sunk back into her staring, once again.

Helen smiled at the book, looking at it fondly. This was probably… The thousandth times she’d read it, and she reached down to run her fingers over the pages when… She blinked, finding her beloved book being sought for in the hands of some… mortal. She raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a rather perturbed glare. She curled her lip up slightly, slapping his hand and grabbing the book. She looked rather smug, opening the book eagerly and running her hand along the title page. Ah… It was so good to have it back in her hands… “Sorry, love, little protective of my literature.” She spoke as if it were her own works! Helen grinned, flipping through the pages, the smell of the old book wafting into her nostrils.

She looked at the man, who seemed nothing but a college student. She could have been wrong, but as far as she knew, The Invisible Man was not on the reading curriculum. “What would you want with it anyways? Wouldn’t you rather be reading a comic book or some other rubbish?” Her English accent slipped out a bit as she pronounced the ‘u’ in rubbish. After being away from the island for so long she’d just about lost her accent… But since she did not do a whole lot of talking in the first place… It still resurfaced every once in awhile. Mostly in her vowels.

Claude hadn't even noticed the small woman standing nearby him, hesitating slightly when they both reached for it at the same time... but then she slapped his hand. He took a slight step back, his brows furrowing as an absurd smile crept onto his face. His grandmother used to do that. He swallowed down the compulsion to laugh, watching her for a moment and then turning back to the other books on the shelf.

When she spoke again, he couldn't help the fluttery laughter that erupted from his gut. "I beg your pardon?" he quipped, smiling softly. "I hardly think you have any right to assume anything about me." He gave a smug grin and turned back to the shelves. "Besides, I was in this aisle before you were," he shot back, his lips twitching softly.

He turned his eyes to her again, though he made no physical movement to give away his gaze. Sharp tongue for such a little lady. She looked to be younger than him, more peculiar looking than cute, and lacking in the comparative size that should accompany such an outspoken manor. She was quite small next to him, yet she spoke to him like he was a child. He couldn't help but be amused.

Helen glared at him, almost pushing him back with her eyes as he took a few steps back. That’s right, back off, ye bugger, she thought to herself. Okay, maybe that was a little hostile for someone you didn’t know… but she couldn’t help it… Her people skills were a little rusty, despite her proper upbringing. His laugh and disgruntled smile made her grin as well. He seemed to be taking her antics well… She couldn’t help but cast him an amused glance as well. Maybe he had a sense of humor? Or, even better… He could catch sarcasm. Ooh, he could be so potentially fun. And, if he wasn’t, she could turn him into a nice meal later.

"I hardly think you have any right to assume anything about me."

Hmm. Interesting proposition… but the only problem was… Helen failed to care. She pressed the book against her chest, folding her arms around it, in case he decided to fight her for it. Why? She didn’t know, she was paranoid. “Well, that might be the case, but yet I find myself doing so, don’t I?” She grinned a bit wider, just to show off her lack of concern for such a statement. He was a nice boy… really… she could tell… but assuming was one of her favorite things to do. Just sit on the top of rooftops, watching people walk oblivious to her presence… As she tried to figure out their lives, their personalities, their flaws… What else was she to do with her time?

Though he was considerably taller than her, she was not intimidated. What was he gonna do, assault her? A vampire? That thought amused her slightly. She even wanted to see him try to take her down. She’d have his neck snapped, drained, and outta the bookstore before he could squeak out a yelp for help. Hmm… She was feeling a little hungry; but not enough to make a beast out of herself. She blinked her eyes a few times, and repeated her question. Her eyes were wide as she leaned in slightly. “What. Do. You. Want. With. This. Book?” Her enunciating was obnoxious and she knew it. She’d asked him a question and by golly she was going to get an answer!

Claude's entire face seemed to twitch as he tried his best to keep a straight face, but his smile wouldn't allow it. He felt as if he was bickering with his brother again, something he hadn't done in years... And they both seemed to be enjoying themselves.

He brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. "Well you know what they say about assuming... It makes an ass out of you and me." Oldest joke in the book, but he had always wanted to use it, and now he had a chance. Of course, he was sure he looked like a complete idiot but that was okay. He was used to that.

"I just wanted to read the back cover," he finally answered her, his tone finally taking a more serious turn. "Why are you so protective of it? I mean, it's just a book. I'm sure that right there isn't the only copy of it in the world."

Ah… Amusement on this lad’s face as well. Helen rolled her eyes, and slinked down onto the floor, patting the carpet beside her to invite him into her little world of twisted literature obsessions. He’d ask a question about her book, and wanted to find out about it. Oh boy, and was she going to tell him about it! He’d probably grow bored, shut her up, and fiddle off… but that was okay with Helen. At least she’d have a good ten, fifteen minutes of a social encounter to show herself that she was completely invisible.

"Well you know what they say about assuming... It makes an ass out of you and me."

Helen laughed dryly, shrugging her shoulders. “Oh, how very crude you are, sir.” She tapped the book with her thumb softly, making a bit of a beat with it. “But…” She grinned. “How very right you are. What a clever little brain you have in that little numbskull of yours.” She made a playful jab at his head, without touching him, though. It was a bit biting for a newcomer, but Helen had faith that his little college level self-esteem could handle it. Right? She didn’t know, but the words had already left her lips and out they went into the world to offend, disgust, and stab at this nameless male.

But then again... If she were to offend him... Wouldn't she have done it already?

"Why are you so protective of it? I mean, it's just a book. I'm sure that right there isn't the only copy of it in the world."

With an unnecessary sigh, Helen shook her head, staring at her beloved book. “Firstly, my name is Helen, and I am to explain my obsession, the Invisible Man, you have to at least know my name. Secondly, it is the only copy in this library, so it might as well be the only copy. Just a book… Maybe. But…” She stared at it, flipping to her favorite page, which the Invisible Man is scrambling to get this experiments together as the officers are pounding at his door. “I just relate… So well…” Her voice trailed off, and she bit her lip, before snapping out of it and looking up at the male. “Your name?”

Claude watched her as she slowly sank to the floor, hesitating a moment before sitting himself. "And I'm the crude one," he muttered, albeit loud enough for her to hear.

She was interesting. She had spewed nothing but insults his way, yet was inviting him to sit with her and share her company. He liked it. She was complex; he bet she would make a hell of an interesting character.

Dare he think that she reminded him of that gal from Pride and Prejudice? He'd read that book once upon a time ago. Elizabeth. That was it. Said whatever she pleased, made judgments that she had no right to make, yet beneath it all there was something very sincere and elegant in the way she acted and dealt with her affairs. He smiled softly to himself. Elizabeth Bennet reincarnated and modernized.

He sat close to her, peering down at the book while alternately watching her as she spoke, paying more attention to the way she said what she was saying, rather than what she said.

"Claude," he replied sharply, hardly realizing that she had asked and that he had replied. He blinked and looked down, offering his hand to her. "My name's Claude," he said, quieter this time.

"How exactly is it that you relate to it?" He paid better attention this time, actually seeking the connection that absorbed her so.

"And I'm the crude one,"

Helen snorted. She shrugged, turning her head to face him and raised an eyebrow. “Ah, but everyone needs a bit of crudeness to keep everyone on their toes, yes?” Helen was able to recall one particular instance when she was still mortal… When she’d be raised so properly, Victorian Era… And she’d made a comment on a man’s boot… and how it reflected to accurately to his reproductive organs… She’d nearly been beaten to death by her grandmother and whispered about for a whole week throughout the block. It was amusing to her, to an extent simply from the shock on her grandmother’s face. It was priceless, really.

Although she was a bit tempted to scoot away, as Claude? Yes, Claude sat down next to her rather… closely. However, she was about to get really into her book, so naturally he’d have to be close to see what she was pointing to or explaining so… she’d let it slide; for now.

She stared at his hand for a moment, deciding if she wanted to take it or not. He probably wasn’t going to kiss it, but shake it like other males did… It was so informal, but that’s what you get for being a vampire and living completely over your expiration date. However, she took it, very feminine like, only letting him hold a few fingers, until she just felt weird with it, and slid her whole hand into his grasp, holding it firmly. Hmm, not too bad, after all. Her grandmother had made it sound like if you held a man’s hand in a handshake your arm would fall off and fidget there on the floor. Perhaps the whole ‘proper’ thing was a bit overrated as well. Combat boots were defiantly out of the question during her age and yet she found herself never taking them off. Eh.

"How exactly is it that you relate to it?"

Helen’s mouth curved upwards slightly. She bit her lip, and tapped her finger against the book, thinking. “Read the book. Spend some time with me. Figure it out yourself.” She handed him the book and shrugged. “You can read the back too if you want.”

Claude's lips turned up into a little smile. "Yeah, I suppose they do."

He noted her discomfort at his closeness. He was a master at reading people. He made no response, ignoring her minute fidget, his smile curling just slightly more as she became more at ease with their close proximity.

As she gave him her hand, or rather, the tips of her fingers, he hesitated, pressing them gently with his thumb until she slid her hand fully into his. He blinked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. She was so cold... But so soft. And the pause between just barely touching him and giving herself over was probably the most adorable and enchanting thing he had experienced in a long while. He held her hand for a moment and then let it go.

He took the book from her as she handed it to him, running his fingers over the top, though he never took his eyes off of her. "You are..." his eyes squinted slightly, "surprising." She had just forfeited the book to him, finally, but had likewise invited him into her life at the same time. Had they gone from strangers to acquaintances to... Friends in fifteen minutes?

"Alright," he answered quietly, looking down at the old tattered book in his hands. He turned it over between his long fingers, glancing at the words on the back cover, but he didn't read it. "Although, I don't know if this will provide the answer I seek. It will tell me about how I relate it to you, not how you relate it to you."

Helen raised an eyebrow. What was he smiling about? He sure was the grinny little boy, wasn’t he? Sitting there, grinning away like she was a stand up comedian or something. She wasn’t fond of comedians… It was like they were trying so hard to excrete laughter from you, you could almost see it in their faces how hard they were trying. The overly characterized movements, yelling, insulting themselves… It was almost pathetic. However, Claude wasn’t a stand up comedic. All he did was smile.

Claude pressed his thumb against her fingers, until she slid them into his hand, and his face began to change suddenly. It was strange… He squeezed her hand, and held it there for a moment. Helen smiled faintly, unsure of how to respond. Was she supposed to pull away? Was this a normal time span between a handshake? She’d never done it before, so she had no idea… until he finally let her hand free. Of course, it was only a couple seconds, but just so many things were going through her mind so rapidly… She just needed to calm herself. Though… social humiliation was not really something she felt like experiencing at the moment.

"You are..." his eyes squinted slightly, "surprising."

The vampiress tilted her head slightly and furrowed her brows. “Okay? What is that supposed to mean?” She raised her knees up, and wrapped her arms around them. She stared off for a moment into the endless sea of books, before returning her gaze to Claude for his response. She had a bad habit of zoning in and out of conversations… Her mind was just always so occupied with frivolous and meaningless things. Though, naturally, to her they were important.

"Although, I don't know if this will provide the answer I seek. It will tell me about how I relate it to you, not how you relate it to you."

Helen thought about this for a second. She tapped her chin, sucking on her bottom lip, until she finally smiled, and shrugged. “I’d like to see what you come up with.” She then stood, and stretched, walking until she found a clock. 8:00p.m. Not too bad, she still had some time. She turned on the heels of her boots, and returned to where Claude was sitting, and sat right back down next to him. She took in a unnecessary breath, figuring it might be good for show around a mortal, and she sighed.

Claude shrugged and sat back, his brows raising. "Nothing," he said, flipping through the book and leaning against the shelf behind him. "You're just..." He looked at the ceiling, trying to think of better words. "You're not like anyone I've met before." He brought his eyes back to hers and gave a little shrug and then looked back down at the book. Way to go, Claudie. Always throw a weighted kicker in there to terrify the ladies. Why was it that he always had a way of saying things that made him seem like a lovesick puppy?

He looked up as she got to her feet, her words trailing off as she walked away. He watched her go, closing the book in her hands. "Yeah, me too." He put his bag over his shoulder and was about to get to his feet when she came back and sat down again. "Oh... I, er... Thought you were leaving."

"You're not like anyone I've met before."

Helen smirked, shrugging. Maybe that was because she was from the 1800s and she was different from anyone else he’d ever met? Not only that… But she was even different from ladies of the 1800s, simply because she didn’t buy into all that proper garbage… She was stuck in all these awkward time periods that didn’t fit her. At all. She felt like mumbling something under her breath, and a few words slipped out, but they were inaudible for his mortal ears. She looked up at him and bit her lip. “Glad I could be of some entertainment, then.”

"Oh... I, er... Thought you were leaving."

The vampiress raised an eyebrow, and smirked. “Would you like to leave? I was almost considering going on a walk in the park. You have some reason for coming here, right? You can come if you’d like, but I had figured you might have some work to do.” Helen stood, and leaned against the bookcase ever so lightly, careful not to let it fall, making a big commotion, making everyone notice her. She liked being a wallflower. She could do almost anything she wanted without a say from anyone. Helen looked to Claude stoically. Honestly, she wanted him to come, but seeming too eager or too attached was definitely not in her agenda. But even then… everyone needed a friend, right?

Claude frowned. "I didn't mean it like that." He knew that she knew he didn't... or at least he hoped she did. Surely with all the things she had said to him thus far, she wouldn't have low enough of a self esteem to be blown over that easily. "I just meant that... I dunno. At least you're not like everyone else, eh?" He offered a weak smile and stood up with her.

"I actually came here to sleep. I just got up from my nap over by that new fireplace they put in." He smiled sheepishly. "I have work in a little while." He checked his watch. "In about two hours actually. The chairs here are more comfortable than the beds of the place I'm staying at." He still hadn't found an apartment. Not one he could afford anyway. And the motel he was living in was nasty.

"I could probably do with a walk. Stretch my legs a bit... Maybe get something to eat. Just as long as we don't stray too far from downtown. Gotta be able to find my way back. I'm not from here."

"I just meant that... I dunno. At least you're not like everyone else, eh?"

Helen smirked, and shrugged. "You have no idea." Really. He didn't. Though, he'd probably intrept that as she had some mental deal... Or something. But not vampirism. If he could spot her little affliction, she'd have to give him twelve gold stars. It would be quite the accomplishment. Though... there was some part of her that just didn't care anymore. She felt like throwing that information around like wet laundry. Yeah, I'm a vampire, what are you gonna do about it? Tell me how much your blood stinks? Go on, try me.

"I actually came here to sleep. I just got up from my nap over by that new fireplace they put in."

She stared at him for a moment. He slept in a library? What the hell would you do that for?! So many precious books screaming to be read and all he could do was sleep? College kids... She simply grinned at the humor she found in his explanations. "Well, God forbid I interrupt nap time!" She nudged him slightly in the ribs and started towards the library door. She looked behind her, to see if he was coming, as he continued to explain to her:

"I could probably do with a walk. Stretch my legs a bit... Maybe get something to eat. Just as long as we don't stray too far from downtown. Gotta be able to find my way back. I'm not from here."

Ah, that peaked interest. "Oh, you're not from here? Where are you from then?" She stopped for a moment, letting him get all his things together, and ready himself to leave. "Don't worry... The park isn't too far from here." At least, to her it wasn't. Though if he decided to become directionally challenged and lost... There was really only so much she could do for him once the sun rose. She was glad he had decided to come with her. She hoped he knew he'd be seeing her again... He had her book. It was technically the library's... But her obsessions usually got the best of her. "Shall we?"

Claude chuckled at her, following along behind her. He opened his pack and took out his jacket, pulling it on and zipping it up. He turned up the collar and pulled on a stocking cap, covering his ears. The winter nights here were bothersome. He found himself outside at night more and more with his job at the bar.

"Uh, I'm sort of from all over the place, but I've spent the last few years in Toronto. My mum moved around a lot. I just moved here myself. Trying to establish a good job and get myself an apartment before I start school next fall." He hadn't actually started. Didn't plan to for a bit, and at this rate, he was beginning to wonder if he could afford to go this coming fall.

"Yeah I'm ready." He stepped out into the night with her, pulling on a pair of wool gloves and wringing his hands. "I'm working at the White Mice at the moment, but I don't know how long that will last. Depends on whether or not I get a better job." Life in the real world was... hard!

Normally, the night's breeze would have sent Helen's skin crawling with goosebumps, freezing cold. But... Being the living dead had a few advantages. However, for dramatics she shivered, and rubbed her hands against her sweater. She looked him over, seeing him put on gear like he was about to tackle the winds of the North Pole or something, and grinned.

"Uh, I'm sort of from all over the place, but I've spent the last few years in Toronto. My mum moved around a lot. I just moved here myself. Trying to establish a good job and get myself an apartment before I start school next fall."

Freshman in college. Jeez, this kid was young. Though, comparatively, she looked younger than he did, so she didn't say anything. Good thing he hadn't asked her about her own schooling... A little craft of white lies might have to be made. Homeschooling sounded reasonable. But, that would infer she still lived with a parental unit... Ah, she'd get it figure out. "Toranto... Interesting. Never been there." She let it stay there. She wasn't very nosy.

"I'm working at the White Mice at the moment, but I don't know how long that will last. Depends on whether or not I get a better job."

Helen laughed dryly as she continued down the street towards where the park was located. "So now I know where to find you when I want my book back..." She grinned and shrugged. They'd past a few blocks, and Helen stuffed her hands into her pockets. Helen turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "You doing alright there, snow bunny?"

Claude's brows furrowed as they walked. "Are you cold?" he asked, a concerned lilt in his tone. Without waiting for a reply, he stopped walking and took off his pack, then his jacket and put it over her shoulders. He then opened his pack and took out a hooded sweatshirt which he pulled on over his head, losing his stocking cap somewhere inside it. He laughed as he dug around inside the sweater for it, pulling it out and placing it back on his head.

When he was satisfied that she couldn't argue, he picked up his pack again and continued walking. "It's a bit too chilly for a little thing like you to be walking around without a coat." She looked as though his jacket were swallowing her, the thought bringing a soft smile to his face. "Better now?"

Claude shrugged at her comment about Toronto. "It's alright. I've moved so much in my life that one town isn't really much different than the next."

He chuckled softly at her... threat? Her threat to come get her book back. "But it's technically not your book." His words trailed off and he glanced up, his brows furrowing slightly. "Actually, I never even checked it out." He swung his pack around in front of him and dug through it. "No, I didn't. Otherwise the alarm would have gone off." He smirked. "Maybe next time, eh?"

"Are you cold?"

Helen opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say a word, Claude had already draped his coat upon her shoulders. She curled her lips upwards, wrapping the coat around herself. She felt as if she could wear this huge thing as a dress! It was enormous on her! She grinned as he put even more clothing upon himself, and shook her head lightly. “It’s not that cold!” Really, he was overdoing it a little bit, but hey, she wasn’t really one to judge… She couldn’t feel a thing. For all she knew, it could’ve been twenty degrees below freezing!

"It's a bit too chilly for a little thing like you to be walking around without a coat."

The vampiress bit her lip in a small smile. “I’d figured this sweater would be enough… Guess I was wrong…” She tugged on Claude’s coat a bit, with a small smile. It was really nice of him to give it to her… Not that he didn’t have four pounds of other clothing for himself… But still. The fact he was looking out for her, and barely even knew her… She thought it was nice. Didn’t mean she was going to run off and marry him or anything… He just racked up a couple cool points. He asked if she felt better, and she nodded, with a small, ‘mhmm.’

"Maybe next time, eh?"

Nodding, Helen looked back towards the library. As soon as they left, more students were leaving, and she hoped she wouldn’t get them locked out… She never really bothered to check when it shut down, for she was inside all of the time, and occasionally broke in. “What time did you say the library closed?”

Claude loved that coat. He had warn it ever since we was fifteen. His brother had given it to him on his birthday. He hadn't worn it much then, but after his brother's disappearance, he wore it ever since. It was the last memory of Sam that he had. He used to imagine that the worn leather smelled like him, but he shrugged off that silly fancy years ago.

Coming out of his reverie, he glanced back at the library. "Er, I didn't. I don't actually know. Everything here stays open so late... But who's ever heard of a 24-hour library." He smirked. "Why? Forget something?" He had a feeling that now that he hadn't checked it out, she would want to wander back and check it out for herself. "It's about 8 pm right now." He checked his watch and added, "a little bit after."

"It's about 8 pm right now."

Helen nodded. The night was only beginning, and she had until the wee hours of the morning before the sun rose that she had to find someplace safe to fall into her coma-like sleep. Surely the library would be open late... So many college students would have to be in there studying, doing research... Something along those lines that would entitle the library to stay open, right? "Well, since you didn't check out the book... I could always go back and read it again for an hour or two before heading home..." She shrugged, and walked down the street, thinking to herself.

Looking at Claude she stopped a moment, tilting her head. "So... Why Demaitre? There are so many other interesting places to move around to... Why here? In big 'ol Canada?" She started to chew on her lip a bit, curiosity forming under her tongue. She'd never been one to really pry, but how else was she going to disjoint an awkward silence? And it wasn't anything too poking... Just simply 'why'd you chose this place over all the other possibilities?'

Claude shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I wanted to be nearby in case my mum needed me, but just far away enough so that she wouldn't expect me to come home every night. A few hundred miles..." He scrunched his nose. "It's good enough."

"Plus I've been offered a few scholarships here at the college, so I thought I--" He stopped, glancing down at his pants pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and, seeing the word "Work!" dancing across the screen was enough to make him groan.

"Hello? Hi..." He glanced over at Helen, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "No, I'm not... Wha-... Oh, shit, are you serious?" He thrust his arm out in front of him, exposing his wrist watch and glared down at it. "Who changed my schedule?" he all but shouted into the phone. Then with a sigh, he gave in. "Alright, Alice, I'm sorry, I'll be right in. Bye." He closed the phone and arched his arm behind his head, pretending to throw it away from him.

"I have to go into work," he told her as he shoved his phone angrily back into his pocket. "Apparently some jackass changed me schedule and didn't tell me." He had already picked up on his pace, walking briskly down the street. "Sorry! I've got to run." He waved at her with only a quick glance back at her, "Nice meeting you," he shouted as he got farther away, leaving her jacket and wallet behind with her.