It had been exactly five days since Jamar began his studies at Demaitre University, and in that time, he had neglected to explore and appreciate the city around him. In an effort to sate his curiosity about and become more familiar with Demaitre, Jamar decided to spend his day at the city’s various cultural venues.

Jamar had considered taking a friend or a group with him on his adventure, but he decided against it. Walking through the streets of Demaitre, he fell in love with their quaint sophistication. Detroit, Jamar’s hometown, didn’t even begin to compare to the beauty of Demaitre.

After a morning in the museums, he began to search for a good place to enjoy lunch and found an upscale Chinese restaurant on Kensington Avenue, which he chose from the helpful advice of a local. During his lunch, he sat alone at a table set for two and thought deeply about his life. It was here in Demaitre that he searched for artistic inspiration. It was here where he hoped to find something new to life. It was here that he wished to find love.

For some reason, he felt drawn to visit a famous cemetery. Walking down the rows of graves, he stopped casually when he saw a famous name that he knew. It seemed interesting that he could stand next to these influential people; yet, they couldn’t communicate like him anymore. He suddenly felt a weird disconnect and was reminded of his grandmother who died of breast cancer two years ago.

Moving from the cemetery, Jamar continued his journey in hopes to catch a gaze of Demaitre’s skyline from the top of a tall building. On his way up an elevator of the Memorial Building thoughts from the cemetery pervaded his mind. He thought about how someday he would die and wondered if anyone would visit him, like he had visited other people earlier today. Then, he remembered that he wouldn’t care because he would be dead.

Once at the top of the building, his mind immediately transitioned to the skyline before him. He was reminded that he was a happy person with many friends, but at times he wished had someone to share things with. For example, when he saw all of Demaitre from a skyscraper. He wanted to say to someone, “Isn’t that beautiful.” Yet, there was no one there.

Then, Jamar found a lovely little park. Finding a nearby bench, he sat down to enjoy a sandwich that he had brought. Then something happened, something difficult to describe. Sitting there, alone in a foreign country, far from what was familiar to him, a feeling came over Jamar. It was like remembering something he’d never known before or had always been waiting for, but he didn’t know what. Maybe, it was something he’d forgotten or something he’d been missing his whole life. All he could describe it as was a feeling of joy and sadness at the same time. The sadness was very small because he felt alive. It was in that rare moment, he felt in love with Demaitre, and he felt Demaitre fall in love with him.

Chi had woken up after a restful nap sometime in mid-afternoon. She didn't sleep all day like some vampires did, after all she was old enough to be beyond that stage. She had spent the rest of the daylight time moving around her apartment and cleaning up a bit. It was a mess after the last few days of experimenting with her powers. Cloth and blankets laid spread across the room and she spent the time folding them and placing them in piles and making note to whom they were for. She creating things from images she might have seen or her own memories and then gave them to people she knew. She have lived for six millennium but she was a natural kind soul.

With the setting of the sun she skirted outside. She could finally head out for some fresh air. She was one of those vampires that could go out in partial sunlight. As long as the sun's direct rays didn't hit her she was fine. She was still slightly skittish that something would happen to her. After living for so long it would be sad for her to die because she got careless.

She headed directly for the park as soon as soon as the sun was below the horizon and the only the reflection of the rays on the clouds allowed light to still filter through. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that now she would be safe. She smoothed out her dark skirt while parts of it shimmered in the fading light when it moved. She straightened out her red tank top and fixed her silver length hair, making sure that it flowed smoothly down her bank.

She walked calmly through the park, sticking through shadows, watching everything and everyone. She wasn't the most sociable of people and had only a few selected friends, yet she liked to meet new people when she wanted to socialize and her friends were busy. She stopped suddenly as she felt overwhelming emotions coming from a young man. Positive, energizing emotions, almost like some she had never felt. That was what caught her attention, She slipped into another shadow closer and then smiled. "You know that there are things that go bump in the night." If he turned he would see her leaning against the trunk of the tree.

Glued to his bench, Jamar watched the sun inch closer to the horizon. The sky, beautifully painted with hues ranging from vibrant yellows to deep purples, captivated Jamar and took his breath away. Nature and its simplicity and order had always fascinated him.

Consumed by his childlike obsession with the sunset, Jamar was oblivious to the world moving around him. With such a beautiful and enriching day coming to a close, he felt a mixture of remorse and thankfulness for such a wonderful day. Not too much remorse because he felt confident that there would be another day.

Before Jamar had the opportunity to move from the bench, he was alarmed by a female’s voice behind him. Immediately, a jolt surged through his body causing his heart and body to jump and hackles to stand erect on his neck. Turning around to see a short woman leaning against a tree, Jamar felt slightly silly for being alarmed. Also, her words made him uneasy.

“You scared me.” It was all he could say at the moment. Nothing else seemed to fit the situation. It sounded silly after he said it.

Chi continued to smile as she moved from her spot, getting closer to the bench. She wanted to see this one up close. It wasn't often that a mortal caught her interest, the last mortal that had done so had been dating a thousand year old vampire, wanting to become a vampire when she was in her twenties The one before that she had turned into a vampire, he was her fledgling. She really didn't have a good track records with mortals, considering the last few that had caught her interest were either vampires or going to eventually become vampires.

She settled on the bench, fixing her skirt so it wouldn't confine her legs and her face showed amusement. "Obviously I did, I don't think I've ever seen anyone become so alarmed. You must have either been deep in thought or really enjoying your day as well as the setting sun." She turned to the horizon as watched as the sun last rays played across the sky, painting pastel colors of pink and purple. "It is very beautiful though." She couldn't remember the last time that she had simply sat to enjoy something like a setting sun, then again vampires usually enjoyed the setting sun for only one reason. They could leave their abodes and prowl the night. "So what's on you mind."

The short, beautiful stranger glided closer to him in what seemed one graceful, fluid motion. Her movement was a planned and controlled. Perhaps, she was a dancer or a beauty queen. Whatever it was Jamar found himself immediately captivated with the woman, which was strange considering it was usually men that had this effect on him.

“I honestly didn’t know anyone was around. I must have lost myself in the moment,” he said trying to defend his momentarily lapse.

Looking at the stranger, she looked like a Roman or Greek goddess sitting motionless on the bench with him. His eyes felt drawn to her. It was as if he wanted to remember every inch of her. Damn, what’s wrong with me. He took a moment to close his eyes and take a few deep breathes. It may have looked strange, but he immediately felt relaxed and his mind working again.

Then, the stranger’s last question perturbed him. Why did she want to know what was on his mind? She didn’t even know his name. He felt compelled to tell her, but he resisted the urge.

“Why?” He simply inquired. “You don’t even know my name or anything about me.”

He was pretty sure he hadn’t looked upset. Otherwise, he would have understood the strangers concern.

(This isn't my best post. Sorry.)

Chi held the smile back, yet amusement showed on her face. She had certainly captivated this one, he seemed enthralled by her. It wasn't very often that you met a six thousand year old vampire. She tilted her head to one side as she looked him over. He was still young, close to her apparent age. A teenager in this world and he liked men, she could tell. After all she liked both men and women. She wasn't all that picky, though she had some guidelines that she followed almost religiously.

She watched him close his eyes and breathe in deeply and this time fought to keep the smile back. He was an interesting one, this night seemed to hold surprises in store. "Well, I was simply wondering what got you so lost in thought. It must have been something to not see me coming. Granted I tend to be very quiet, but I'm not that quiet." That last part was a lie, no one heard her when she didn't want to be heard and she hadn't wanted to be heard. Unlike most vampires she wasn't a liar or a killer. She had aged and had gained a mild like personality.

She allowed the smile to pierce the surface of her usually stoic face. "I'm Chi." She might as well present herself, after all he seemed to hold an unusual interest to at least knowing the person's name before divulging what was on his mind. She flicked her silver hair over and shoulder and waited to see if he would tell her his name.

Jamar wasn’t used to complete strangers taking such an instant interest in him. What could it be? Perhaps, his good looks? It could hardly be that. Since it probably wasn’t his appearance, he decided, instead of brainstorming various scenarios, to simply ask her.

“Well, Chi, I suppose I am not used to strangers being so forward and interested in me.” He paused for a moment. Did he know her? She didn’t look familiar. “Have we met before?”

What he really wanted to ask her was if she asked everyone these things.

Throughout high school, he had a problem with woman being attracted and crushing on him. Not willing to be forthcoming with his sexual preferences, he usually looked like a jerk shrugging them off. Something told him this was different. He just couldn’t place it.

“Oh, my name is Jamar by the way,” he offered as an afterthought.

Chi grinned at him, when he asked if they had met before. Was it truly that foreign to him, for complete strangers to talk to each other? Perhaps it wasn't the normal course for mortals, yet it was for Chi. How else was she supposed to meet people. "No we haven't met, I'm sure you would remember silver hair if we had."

It was different. She didn't have a crushes on mortals, she simply was looking for friends. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you Jamar." She continued to smile at him. "To you it might seem weird that I would voluntarily go up to someone and talk to them. Yet I don't go to school so I have very few friends. This a way for me to make them, though it is straightforward." If he wanted to know why she would volunteer the answer, she had a few already made up. None of them were real, but they would do the job just fine.