it's a date!!

Chapter 8

Nicholas 

It was great seeing her admire the gorgeous restaurant. From the moment she stepped out of the limo, she has been completely blown away. 

The place was beautiful, I wouldn't lie, but it was strange because my friend Alberto, a fellow vampire, decided to open it. 

Sure he was just the money behind the project, he left the cooking and actual running of the restaurant to a very known chef. 

Still I found it funny that he chose to open a restaurant of all businesses. Maybe he felt nostalgia for a time in the past when he could actually enjoy real human food. 

As vampires we could eat normal food alright but we derived no satisfaction from it. Still I never shy away from eating it just because I could. It was a necessary skill to get used to, especially when we try to blend with humans and make them think that we were just like them, even though we really weren't. 

However, knowing Alberto, I'm sure he had a very private area for just vampires, I just hope he wasn't doing anything illegal. 

Just like he was reading my mind, the 300 year old talkative vampire made his way to come greet us. 

We were already inside the restaurant and while Clara was appreciating the beauty of it all, I was calling out for him, letting him know of my presence. We could do that as vampires, especially since we were very close. 

"Nicholas! I thought you'd never grace my restaurant with your presence!" He exclaimed with that loud boisterous voice of his. 

I looked towards him and I couldn't help but smile. Even though he wasn't officially part of my family, he was as close to a father as I could ever hope for, he was also the only friend I ever truly listened to, but he always said that I should call him uncle instead. 

"Uncle Alberto, It's been forever," I said as I hugged him gently. 

He chuckled at that. I knew he had one snide comment coming. 

"At least we still have forever," he told me. 

"It seems so, but who can tell what will happen tomorrow?" I asked. 

"I'm afraid that doesn't come with the job prescription my dear friend," he replied. 

"What a wonderful thing it would have been," I commented. 

"Indeed," he agreed.  

Then it seemed he finally noticed Clara by my side and I felt bad for abandoning her even if it was only just a few minutes. 

"And who is this beauty whose elegance sweeps my heart away?" he asked Clara as he took her hand in his. 

"I'm Clara, Clara Shawn," she said politely.

"Enchante," he said as he kissed her hand lightly. Trust him to always make a memorable introduction every single time.

"So Shawn, that name does ring a bell. Are you by any chance related to Austin Shawn?" He asked. 

She looked taken aback for a second there, like she had no intention of answering that question.  

"Yes actually, he was my father," she replied. 

"I see," was all he said after that. 

"And how did you know him?" She asked. 

"Well through a friend, I'm sorry for your lose though, he must have been a great parent," he said. 

"Not really, I never knew him," she replied. 

"Ah! Well forgive me for bringing up old memories! Tonight should be about having a good time, come now, follow me," he told us, like the previous discussion did not just happen. 

He led us past the normal room to a more private room just as I suspected. However, unlike my suspicion, this private section was not piling with blood bags at every corner. 

It was just like a normal human restaurant but with more exquisite designs and each table was like a private place for each couple. It was smaller than the general room but this place was meant for the VIP. 

I liked the privacy each table provided. There was a music band playing soothing music that added a special touch to the entire scenery.  

The female lead singer was pleasing to the eyes. If I hadn't met Clara, I might have taken an interest in her, but now she was just like every other good looking girl around the block. 

Uncle Alberto led us to a table at the far left of the room. From here we could see everything that went on in the room while still maintaining our privacy. 

"Alright love birds, have a seat," he said. 

"Thanks," I told him. 

I drew back Clara's chair so she could sit that down like the priceless jewel she was, before seating on mine. 

I wanted this night to be perfect and natural. So far I have refrained from using my vampire powers with her here with me. 

I didn't need a limousine to get here in less than a minute. I didn't need human food in a fancy restaurant to quench my appetite. I certainly did not have to bear with her one of a kind roommate. 

However I did all these things because I was crazy about her, I chose to put her needs and comfort first before mine. Giving her a normal dinner date was part of the plan to make her not see me as a monster, even if I was.

"So my waiter would be with you in a moment, feel free to order whatever you want, it's on the house, I'll see you lovers later," he said with a wink. 

"No problem, thanks for the special welcome," I told him. 

"What are friends for?" He asked, hands in the air. 

He gave me a pat in the back, winked at Clara and disappeared just as sudden as he came. 

"Your friend is a handful," Clara said. 

"Yeah he is, but he means so much to me," I told her. 

"I could tell, but one question though… is he a vampire too?" She asked. 

Of course she couldn't tell if he was or wasn't. I mean where do you see a vampire investing so much in a restaurant, a normal human restaurant. 

Certainly it was odd, uncle Alberto was unique that way. Still there was no one else like him in my life and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else in the world. 

"Yes he is," I replied. 

"Whoa, he seems so cheerful! I thought every vampire was as brooding and dark as you are, being all mysterious and what not," she scoffed. 

"Sorry to burst your bubble babe, but believe me, he is the only exception to the status quo that I have seen, maybe it's because of our diet, maybe it's because of our beastly nature, I'm not sure, but we are a very dark, broody, extremely proud bunch of supernaturals," I told her. 

Of course I was being a little bit sarcastic, but just a bit.

"Yeah about your diet, can you really eat normal food? you know since you are a vampire," she asked. 

"Yes, I can eat normal food but I can not really enjoy it, still it's fun to do it sometimes," I said. 

"How is it fun?!" She asked. 

"Well for one, it is very effective in deceiving humans that I am like them, even though I am not," he said with a wink.  

"Why would you want to deceive anyone?" She asked. 

I knew she was setting me up for a trap question. It was so obvious, still I spoke what was on my mind every single time, and I knew I was falling straight into her trap. 

I didn't mind though. It would only make the night a lot more fun, and I was always up for anything fun. 

Anything that would take my mind away from the fact that I was practically a living corpse is always welcomed. 

"I love to play with humans, you'll find that they can be quite gullible and easily manipulated," I told her. 

She asked for it and there it was, the plain truth and nothing but the truth, served on a hot plate of garlic… yes I was not a fan of garlic, but it was a personal choice, not that it would kill me if I dared to take it. 

If looks could kill right now I might have died again, and come back to life, then die again and again, in a vicious cycle. Clara obviously took what I said to heart and was looking at me in a way that even I was fazed. 

"So are you trying to tell me that we are just a bunch of gullible beings at the beck and call of the vampires?" She asked, looking irritated. 

"Well I wouldn't say that exactly," I told her. 

"Then what makes you so sure?" She asked. 

"I'm sure because I have had time to be with humans and observe these things by myself," I replied. 

"Oh please, you are not even up to a thousand years," she scoffed. 

"True, but I'll say 200 years is more than enough to know these things. I've been to alot of places, I have seen so much, I now know so much," I told her. 

"Still you can't possibly know everything about every human in just 200 years," she retorted. 

"I don't know everything babe, but I'm pretty sure about this," I told her. 

"Yeah right!" She said, rolling her eyes like she still didn't believe a word I said. 

It was so much fun riling her up this way. I enjoyed it a little bit too much I must confess but she was just too cute when she was angry. 

Her eye shines in that way only human eyes could, her flawless smooth skin bursts with colors from the adrenaline. I love the way she licks her lips every now and then as if in preparation for her next reply.  

I was falling hard for this human girl and I couldn't do anything to stop it. Even when she teased me it felt kind of good, she might not be perfect but she was perfect for me. 

I picked up the menu that was left by the waiter and browsed through the list of meals. Absolutely nothing interested me. They would all taste the same to me that's for sure. 

I looked over at her as she did the same with the menu. Unlike me, she was intently considering what she was going to order. She looked so serious like the decision she made tonight would determine her future, needless to say I loved her serious look too. 

"What do you want to order," I asked her. 

"Erm the Braised Leeks with Mozzarella and fried eggs seems nice, I like the name at least," she said with a smile. 

"So just because you like the name you are going to get it?" I asked, intrigued. 

"Exactly!" She replied, "I plan to be as spontaneous as you from now on," she said slyly. 

"Oh is that so?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes Nicholas," she replied. 

"Okay, but I'll have just a simple salad and red wine," I said, signaling for the waiter to come get our orders. 

"I'd like some red wine too," she said. 

"Sure you would," I agreed.  

After we gave our orders to the very dutiful waiter who I could tell has been waiting for a while now for us to stop bickering and make up our mind. 

Apparently uncle Alberto had given him strict orders to make sure we got what we wanted as soon as possible. He was a lanky human boy, with a very thin face but he looked like a hard worker. 

As soon as he finished writing down our orders meticulously, he took the menu book and confirmed that he would be back in a jiffy with the orders. 

Finally I was alone with Clara, she seemed to be having a good time, but I couldn't be 100 percent sure, I wanted this night to be perfect for her after all. 

The food and wine came as quickly as the human waiter promised and soon we concentrated on the meal with very little words being exchanged. 

Actually, I concentrated more on the wine than the food because at least I could enjoy the taste of alcohol to a certain extent, plus I never got drunk. 

I had no interest in the food. This time I didn't want to pretend to her that I enjoyed human food, so I abandoned it and focused on the wine. 

When she was done, the waiter came back as quickly as before to take the plates away. 

"So how was the meal?" I asked her. 

"Splendid, absolutely splendid, but I noticed that you didn't touch your food," she said. 

"I'm a vampire, remember," I told her.

"Ah yes, I'm dining with a vampire, how could I forget that?" She said, she even hit her head for emphasis! She was certainly something. 

I didn't want this date to just be the usual fancy dinner date and drop home kind of thing. I wanted the night to be memorable. 

As much as the restaurant was nice it certainly was not really my taste. I liked a place with more dancing and louder music. Somewhere to drink and dance the sorrow away. 

"Let's get out of here," I told her. 

"Where are we going?" She asked, obviously surprised that there was more to this. 

"It's a surprise," I told her with a wink. 

"Hmm, okay… we'll have to say bye to your friend first though," she suggested. 

Little did she know that I was already one step ahead of her. As vampires we could communicate with our minds so I had already informed him of my intentions. 

"That's covered," I told her as I helped her out of her seat and placed her arm in mine, "see here he comes," I said, as uncle Alberto could now be seen walking towards us. 

"Leaving so soon?!" He exclaimed as he got close with that cheerful voice of his. 

"Yes uncle," I told him.

"Thank you for having us," Clara said, obviously pleased with the elegance of the restaurant. 

"Anytime darling, please do drag this stubborn man here more often," he told her. 

"I'll try my best," she said with a smile. 

"Hey guys I'm right here, remember," I objected. 

"Shush, your opinion is not needed right now," he told me. 

"Oh I see, well we have to get going now, I'll find time to see you later," I said. 

"You had better! And make sure you bring lovely Clara with you," he said. 

"Sure, take care," I told him.

"Good night," Clara said. 

"Alright lovers take care, let me go back to running a restaurant." He said. 

When we left Steven was already by the limo, waiting for us. 

I opened the door for Clara to get in, while Steven was already by my side of the car and he opened the door for me.

"Thank you," I told him as I got into the car, he simply bowed a little as usual. 

"Where to?" He asked as I sat down. 

"A place where the light shines darker," I told him. 

He simply nodded, got into the car and drove. He completely understood what I meant by that, he has been with me for more than I can remember and he knew me too well… maybe a little more than I would admit.