Avery Adlam (averyisgone) wrote in low_tide, @ 2009-11-18 15:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | avery adlam, mallory quinn |
Avery liked book stores. He always liked them better than libraries. No one glared at you when you spoke, and you didn't have to worry about forgetting to return the books, or messing them up. When the vampire had eaten regular food, he had liked to read at the same time. Nowadays, that wasn't really a possibility. He tried to picture himself reading a paperback while biting someone and drinking their blood. No, that didn't seem feasible.
It was about forty-five minutes before the small store closed. He browsed the stacks, but also kept an eye on the lone employee who stood behind a crowded-looking counter. She was ringing someone up. Avery turned his attention back to the top shelf. Up there were books recommended by staff, complete with little index cards explaining why he should read them. He pulled down a graphic novel that caught his attention, and examined the card. It was recommended by someone named Mallory.
After the last customer had left, Avery approached the counter. Holding up the book and the card, he asked, "Did you write this? The recommendation, I mean, not the book."
"Yeah, why?"
Mallory was distracted. They'd had a sudden rush of customers just before closing, and coins made noise as she dropped them into the little slots in the cash drawer. She glanced up at the card the guy was holding, then noted the book. Her interests ran toward graphic novels lately instead of regular fiction, although sometimes she picked up a mystery now and then. Then drawer dinged shut.
"Moore's really awesome," she added, giving the book a closer once-over. "From Hell isn't for everyone, but if you like that sort of thing it's like a true crime book with pictures."
He set the book on the counter and retrieved his wallet. "It does look interesting," Avery agreed. He waited for Mallory to scan the book, and he pretended to busy himself with reading the list of titles that were coming to the store soon. "Are you usually the one who has to close up at nights?," the vampire asked nonchalantly, taking a free bookmark with the store's logo and name on it. It was nearly 9 o clock, the book store's posted closing time.
"Just tonight," the redhead answered over the sound of the register. She fished a paper bag out from behind the counter and put the book inside, watching the receipt curl up on the hard plastic cover before she tore it free. "Tomorrow I'm supposed to be off, but I'm usually the first one they call if someone can't make it, sonothing's guaranteed."
She waved goodnight to one of the semi-regulars as they left, then continued, "You must be new, because I haven't seen you in here before. We change the recommendations every couple of weeks, so if you want to see what's worth reading you can drop in now and then."
Avery nodded, taking the small bag. "I probably will. I spend most of my paycheck on books." An idea came to him; he wondered if she would go for it. The vampire had already eaten earlier, so he wasn't after her for food. He wasn't sure what his motive was, but he decided not to dwell on it. "Do you live around here? It's kinda late, and maybe I could walk with you...unless you're driving, I mean." It wasn't hard for him to appear harmless, and his face was devoid of anything except vague concern.
"I'm pretty new here, and you seem to share my taste in reading."
Mallory paused, gave the guy a look. He was probably a couple of years younger than she was, shaggy brown hair tumbling over his forehead. Blue eyes. Dangerous for reasons that had nothing to do with him.
"I guess that'd be okay," she said dubiously. "I only live about three blocks over, but its fine with me. I need to lock up first. Can you wait for about ten minutes?"
"Yeah, of course. I'll wait outside." Avery pushed open the door. The temperature had dropped a few notches, but he liked it like this. It didn't feel like November, and it didn't bring to mind cozy Thanksgiving dinners. In his opinion, that was a good thing. What he couldn't remember, he couldn't miss. He was far removed from that past life, as he considered it. The vampire leaned against the wall. He had parked his car a block away; he'd walk back for it after escorting Mallory home.
Avery had already decided she would make it home without incident.
The redhead got the 'Closed' sign from its place next to the register and hung it on the door, then shut out the lights in the back before retrieving the keys for the nightly lock-up. The store couldn't afford a security system, but a squad car made a regular trip past the parking lot in the wee hours. The keyring jingled as she locked the door from the outside, then tucked it into the pocket of her lightweight jacket.
"So I guess you know my name," she said, gesturing through the glassed in door where the card with her name on it lay on the counter. "I didn't get yours yet, though."
"It's Avery," he said, switching the bag to his left hand so he could offer his right. He glanced at the 'Closed' sign and smiled at its familiar old-fashionedness. "Originally from New Jersey. I appreciate the weather here. It's good not having to worry about snow and shoveling." The vampire walked alongside her. It was a quiet night, and most of the shops along the street were closing up. He wondered what it looked like in daylight. "How about you? Are you a native?" There was something different about the redhead and how she carried herself, but Avery couldn't put a finger on it.
"I came down here from North Carolina, but I'm from Kansas." The Tarheel State was where she'd gone for college, and although she liked it there school had proved to be not for her. "Are you taking an early break from school? I didn't think classes would be letting out before Thanksgiving."
The street beyond was quiet, and as the pair of them exited the parking lot a scooter puttered by. She would go home and walk the dog, then put her feet up. Closing meant staying later, which meant more money, but it also meant more time on her feet. "Are you at the state university?"
He shook his head, zipping the front of his hoodie as the breeze picked up strength. "I'm at Florida Keys Community College, part time. I'm studying history." The bag Avery was carrying crinkled lightly, and he glanced at Mallory again. "You look tired," the vampire remarked. "Long day?" He sounded honestly sympathetic. He wondered where she lived. Real estate was expensive in the city, he knew that much. He was lucky to have bought when he did. It still took a big chunk out of his savings. Luckily, he wasn't above borrowing from his victims.
"I worked two shifts," the redhead answered, a reasonably good-natured gripe. "The community college is pretty nice, I've heard. I might be taking a class or two next year if I can save up enough money. But tell me you didn't come all the way down here from Jersey just for school."
Not that it was unheard of, of course, but there was something kind of old-fashioned about Avery. Somehow she could imagine his mother waiting anxiously on a letter or a phone call, as if he'd never been too far from home before. "Whose history are you studying?"
"Well, right now, America Before 1865. Interesting times," he smiled. "And no, I didn't come here for that. I made a few detours first." Avery paused, wondering how close to the truth he could get. The vampire rarely found good listeners, and Mallory seemed to be one of them. She radiated a practicality that was both hard and soft at the same time.
"I went to Boston with my girlfriend after high school, but...on different turf, it didn't really work out. I wanted somewhere new, with completely different scenery. I didn't want to be reminded of home, or rather, the home I used to have. So I came here." He shifted the bag to his other hand. "I like it, although sometimes it's a bit more sunny than I would like. Ridiculous to complain about in Florida, I know."
"At least the weather's predictable," she responded with a smirk. "Even if I will miss snow for the holidays, the smell of the ocean makes up for it."
Talk of a girlfriend probably meant there had been a break-up in Avery's recent past, and she added, "You must have just graduated, at least not too many years ago. I just had my twenty-third birthday, and you can't be much older than....twenty?"
"Just turned twenty," Avery replied. "Decided I'd see a little bit of the world before trying my hand at higher learning. Granted, I didn't get very far, andFKCC isn't exactly prestigious, but..." The vampire shrugged. "Everyone has their own path, I suppose."
In reality, he had turned twenty-one before he was made into a vampire by Margot, but he had always looked younger than he really was. He could be anywhere from eighteen to twenty-five.
"Sometimes community college is easier at first," Mallory replied. "If I had gone that route instead of going straight to a large school itmight've worked out differently. I guess things turn out the way they're supposed to, though."
There was a pause while she looked both ways, then crossed the street. "Do you work around here? I know not many people have been hiring lately, did you luck out and find a job nearby?"
"I'm living off of savings," Avery replied honestly. "I'm pretty frugal, so it works for me." He couldn't explain that one saved a lot of money when you didn't need to purchase conventional food. There was also that whole being 'alive' for decades thing. That helped, too. The vampire wondered if she was struggling. It wasn't really his concern, but...Mallory seemed nice. Nice enough to walk with him and engage him in conversation, anyway.
"Is this you up here?" He nodded toward a row of small houses and apartment buildings.
"Yeah, I managed to get a place near where I work, which is good since I think my vehicle is about to die." She'd left the Ford in the tiny parking lot precisely because of that. She would have to give Hayden a call, see if he could spare some time to look at it.
"Thanks for walking me home," she told Avery. She wasn't having to deal with swollen ankles yet, but she was marking the days off of the calendar in wary anticipation of it. "The neighborhood's pretty safe, but an ounce f prevention and all that. It's been nice meeting you."
He nodded somberly, but he offered her a smile. "It was nice meeting you, too," Avery replied. "And thanks for the book recommendation."