6: Just One Call

He stared at the business card above his palm.

Macey Hermione Monreal, a librarian in town.

He chuckled in disbelief. Who would have thought that, just like the cliché and repetitive scenes in all the movies he has watched in his thousand years of existence, he will once experience bumping into a person while he walks in a street, feel a sudden connection, electricity against his skin, and recognize that someone as his past lover in only one eye lock?

It was surreal, like a fairy tale, a thing he hasn't believed until it happened to him earlier that day. He felt like dreaming, and he didn't want to wake up from that sleep, not ever again.

Before that night ended, only a few counts until dawn, he has found himself clicking on a phone. Macey's number.

He has already memorized it in mind, afraid he might lose the only card he holds on to.

When he  was able to type it in, a lot of contemplation has pushed him to remove it on the dial. One second, he was typing it again, and the other, his fingers were erasing what was written.

He groaned in annoyance, then pulled on his hair.

He has been in this world for over a millennium now, yet he's still getting shy like a freaking teenager, and over JUST a message that should be sent virtually?

The written letters he has received and sent to Macey in the past were even more delicately made, sweet, and contains all that is to be said. And now that it's just a text message, which will arrive in Macey's mail in a lone click, he was thinking twice whether to click it or not?

He was better than that, he knew he was more capable than that.

One courageous stunt.

[ To: Macey

       Macey , I enjoyed your company. Thank you for having me today. I think I might visit the town's library very often now that I am friends with its beautiful librarian. Have a great slumber <3<3 ] 

He let his body fall down the floor of his dark room after seeing his message marked as sent.

What has he done? That was very awkward.

What if he typed something to turn Macey off? What if Macey freaks out? What if Macey never talks to him when they meet again?

He can't afford to lose this opportunity. He has to befriend her. He has to stay close to her, he needs to. If she was the soul of Macey Schmidt, his past lover, he needs to keep her for as long as possible.

Macey was the only one to tame him and calm him down whenever he loses his grip. Macey was the only person to hold him, even when he becomes a monster.

Macey. Obsessed as it may seem, but everything is about Macey.

Macey is the only reason why he has chosen to live in this curse. If he couldn't have Macey, then what was the point of staying for a millennium? Nothing.

He was brought back to his reverie when the phone he has thrown on the other side of the bed, rang. The last name he expected late in that evening has flashed on his screen, and it made him halt.

Macey, it says.

He squealed, screaming with all his voice. A few things around his room flew over, some even hit the wall and made dents, cracking the thick concrete.

[ “Calderon? Hello, is this you?” ]

“Yes,” he cleared his nearly drying throat. “Hello, Macey.”

[ “Great! I... just called to clarify. You've forgotten to introduce yourself in the message, eh.” ]

“Ah, yes, about that,” he itched his nape. Of course, that's it. What else would be Macey's reason to call? Of course... “I'm sorry.”

[ “It's fine. I have saved your contact now.” ] he heard Macey giggle. [ “Anyway, I also want to thank you. I've enjoyed the day just like you did. I'll look forward to seeing you in the library, then.” ]

After the last word from Macey, the call died down.

But his heartbeat won't shut.

~

When the morning came after that first sleepless and bloodless night in months, he was quick to run after the alarm he has ticked for nine. He speed dialed Jarvy and forced him to get up to once again bring a testing sample from the lab.

“You were excited, Calderon,” Jarvy's frown greeted him in the morning. The man clicked the elevator close, then walked after his widely smiling vampire friend. ”Will you calm your rod down—?”

“I found her. Jarvy! How do I calm down?” Calderon turned around, his orbs were red, his fangs were visible in the smile his lips hold, and Jarvy took it as a sign to halt his steps in a screech. “Jarvy, did you hear me? I found her!”

“Wh... who?”

“My girl, Macey. I've found her!” He was ecstatic, euphoric. If Jarvy would be sure in only one thing at that moment, it would be about the sight of certain delight and happiness in Calderon's bloody eyes. “I am very sure that it's her. It's her, and she's finally here. She's back...”

“Oh... Cal, I'm so happy for you!”

“Tha—” Calderon has been hit by bewilderment and shock. Jarvy has closed the gap between them, hugging him so tight that he couldn't breathe. “Uh... Jarvy... back off.”

“Hmm?”

Calderon, still fighting the urge, has lost it. He let himself sniff on the neck before his nose.

Jarvy squirmed, flinching out of the embrace. “Calderon!”

“I'm sorry... I...” he scolded himself internally, “I just... didn't get to grab a drink last night. J was busily talking to Macey on the phone—”

“Drink some.”

“Huh?”

“A little drink wouldn't hurt. Come. I am your friend, I trust you.”

“No. Just... get me a pack. Jarvy, we couldn't risk you, I'm thirsty—”

“Right, this is why I brought one available freshie from the blood bank before I go here. You sounded hoarse and drained when you called me early in the morning, so I was worried,” Jarvy looked at him with serious concern, finally letting the man's unusual vampire physic sink in.

It was Jarvy's first time to ever see Calderon in the state. The most meetings they had, Calderon hides his eyes under sunglasses, or his eyes were light brown and calm.

But this time, Calderon was thirsty because he didn't get to have his meal the night prior, so he will most probably feel it the whole day, and his appearance would reflect the hunger.

“Here, Cal,” Jarvy chirped, pulling out a bag of thick liquid from inside his pouch. “Have one. Just don't... expect me to look while you do your business.”