Starting over (Closed)

[Elighan (DELETED 7699)]

When I left, I didn't think I'd ever be coming back at yet here I am. My sister needed me, so of course I dropped everything and went to her. That was several months ago now and things have since settled down for Caitlyn. I'm a third wheel in her life and I miss having my own space. I tell myself this but I don’t think it's true. I didn't have my own space in Harper Rock, not before I left. My life was shared with a certain feisty female that broke my heart, and yet I still can't stop myself from thinking about her. Adelita needed me too, even if she would never admit it. And so here I am, sitting in my car outside of my old apartment block. I'm going to sell the place, it holds too many bad memories. Or rather it holds one particularly painful bad memory. I couldn't think of selling the apartment while I was out of town, as I didn't have time and throwing good money after bad didn't seem to matter to me. Now I'm here, I'm going to move forward. I'm going to start over, that much is partially true. I need to get back to running my businesses and I need to keep myself busy. I need to keep my mind off of her.

Of course thirty minutes later I find myself in my office and staring at an email to a certain seductress. The cursor hovers over the send button, as I try to talk myself out of sending it. I refuse to play the part of the needy male but I should tell her that I am back in the city. The woman is far stronger than me and I would hate to be on her bad side. Once more, I'm making excuses to fit with what I really want to do. I want to email Melete. My motives are purely selfish. I can admit that much to myself. She's bound to have moved on to bigger and better things by now, as she's as smart and cunning as she is beautiful. I really wouldn't be surprised if she's forgotten me altogether. I hesitate a moment longer before my selfish nature kicks in and I click send.

• To: Adelita
  Subject: Happy New Year Melete.
  Message:
  Good evening beautiful. I hope this message finds you well.
  
  I owe you an apology, so I pray you read this. I should not have left the city without making time to say goodbye to you properly. I also should not have stayed silent this long. For both these indiscretions I humbly apologise and beg your forgiveness. You deserved better from me. I hope the money I left you kept you comfortable and made up for my absence in some small part. I know money cannot keep you company, nor your bed warm, but you have someone in your life that could provide those for you. I would not have left you otherwise.
  
  And now to the true purpose for this email. I am back in town, and I did not wish for you to find out through a third party. If you can find it in your heart to forgive my stupidity, I would love to see you. If not, I fully understand.
  
  I may not deserve it but I'm going to ask again anyway in the hopes that you will take pity on me. Please forgive me, Melete.
  
  Elighan

It's conceited to believe that I'd mean enough to her that she'd hold a grudge, but a guy can dream. If she hates me, it means I meant enough to her that she cared that I left. If she cared, it means I might be able to make things up to her. In all likelihood I'll never get a reply from her, but I had to try. It was the right thing to do.

I click to another window and look through a couple of spreadsheets, but I soon find my concentration wavering. I didn't get into business to be sat behind a desk. Unfortunately, that's exactly where I'll likely be for the next few days while I get myself back up to speed. After a few more minutes, I grab a folder off of my desk and start to thumb through it. Leaning back in my chair, I familiarise myself with the case. It seems simple enough, unfortunately, which means the lead investigator will not need my help.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

"He's the killer, you dumb punta." Adelita sat up in the bed and pointed to the male on the television that she believed to be Maskara on the latest telenovela that she had been sucked into at night time. "No, don't kiss him." Lita groaned as she flopped back in the big bed, tossing the plastic bowl of popcorn to the left of her as she watched Jasmine kiss the man Lita was positive was the bad guy in this story.

Adelita turned her attention away from the television screen and grabbed her phone to text her favorite person; her thrall and noticed the alert about some new emails sent to her email address. Lita disregarded the idea of texting Whinny to see what she was doing for the time being and went through all her emails. Some, if not most of it was junk, but the second to last notice wasn't.

Lita grabbed the remote with her other hand, licked her bottom lip and clicked off the television before she opened the email. And as she read it, Adelita felt her temper start to rise. Lita felt no pity for Elighan. She felt like gouging his eyes out for the way he just skipped town on her like that. At first, Adelita pretended she didn't care, but when the weeks went by and his absence was noticeable in more than one way, Lita realized that she did care. That Elighan actually meant something to her. That he had been more than just a **** toy. That he was her only friend and biggest life support in this foreign country. And when he left, Lita had no one and life sucked ten thousand times worse than it had when he was around. And it made her angry.

Did she want to leave Harper Rock? Absolutely. Did she blame him for leaving Harper Rock to handle his affairs? No. But he could have done more than just dump some cash in her account, send her a crappy email and fall off the face of the earth. Lita felt rage and mildly annoyed.

To: Elighan
Subject: RE: Happy New Year Melete.
Message:

I don't forgive you. You are one of the biggest pendejos I have ever met in my life. Which says a lot because I've met a few of them in the last year or so, but you might seriously take the cake. Is this how you treat people you consider a friend? No wonder you have so many of them.

Stop begging and whining. It's unattractive. We can meet up, only for me to give you your money and your apartment key back. I'm there now. You can come to me because I have muy importante things to do and can't leave the apartment.

Adelita

P.S. Melete is only reserved for the guy who I considered my friend, but he fell off the face of the earth months ago after writing a big screw you email. Maybe you can find him and bring him back?


Lita tossed the phone to the nightstand next to the bed, captured the remote once again and turned the television back on to her programme. Did she have anything truly important to do? No. But she wasn't going to him, not after the stunt Elighan pulled with her.

[Elighan (DELETED 7699)]

I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. My office is so quiet and still that any change is immediately noticeable. I'm reading through my forth file when I'm disturbed and sit up straighter when I notice it was the flickering of an email announcement in the bottom right had corner of my screen that disturbed me. At first, I'm wondering who could be contacting me at this hour. I'm known to do business after dark, but I've not been back long enough for anyone to know I'm here. I click open my email and stare at the screen. Adelita replied. I honestly wasn't sure she would reply to me and now that she has, I'm expecting to be hit with a lot of profanity, mixed in around a number of threats.

I read the email and a smile curls the corner of my lips. The woman still loves me. She'd of accepted my apology if she didn't care, so no matter what she says, I now know she did care for me. This is a fact I have doubted often over the last few months on the nights allowed myself to analyse our rather unconventional relationship. As I reach the end of the email however I pause. Adelita is at my apartment? I can't fathom why she'd be there. Or rather I hope I'm wrong in my assumption as to why she's there. I'm almost positive she's entertaining a lover there. It's the only reason I can think of for her not being with her husband, or at one of their properties. The fact that she's unwilling to leave them, means that she wants me to see what she's been up to in my absence. Seeing Adelita with someone else is not at the top of my to-do list for today. Though, she could be with an equally attractive female. That could be interesting.

I stand and pull my jacket from the back of my chair, before slipping my arms into it. I'm shaking my head as I straighten the collar of my leather jacket. Only Adelita would think to tell me to man up the first time she speaks to me in months. She always did like it when I was more assertive. I can try to be that man, but my nature always wins out. I owed her an apology and she was going to get one whether she wanted it or not. I'm not above debasing myself to make her happy. I already know I'll have to stop and pick her up some sort of gift; preferably one she can't throw at me. Stopping to buy her something will also give me the time I will need to psyche myself up to face her. I'm not a wimp, but I'm expecting her to verbally and physically abuse me. Lita is a firecracker and when she gets going, she doesn't hold back. I'm more than willing to accept my punishment, she was right, I was not a very good friend to her.

I switch everything off and lock up. I stop briefly at the shops to buy Lita flowers, chocolates, perfume and what the saleswoman assures me is the latest 'must have' purse. I've always spoiled that woman and there's no reason for that to change, even if she does hate me at the moment. Adelita always has been and always will be a princess to me.

Standing at my own front door I find I'm nervous. What is the protocol for a moment like this? Am I supposed to knock on the door? Do I let myself in? Am I a guest in my own home? I decide to do as Adelita suggested, without actually saying the words. I square my shoulder, select the appropriate key on my keyring and unlock the door. Adelita, as I suspected, is not in the front room and noise is coming from the bedroom. I scrub my hand down my face, mentally shake myself and move to embrace my fate. If I leave the apartment in one piece I'll be a very lucky man.

"Melete?" I knock on the bedroom door as I enter. "Princess?"

I can't believe the sight before me; she's alone, watching television. I look over my shoulder wondering if I missed her companion on my way in, but I don't believe I did. The woman makes me nervous and I'm man enough to admit it. I place my offerings on the end of the bed and step back. I want to hug her, but I know I have no right, so I stand there like the idiot that I am.

"I bought you a few peace offerings."

I wipe the palms of my now lightly sweating hands on my jeans. I know my dress shirt is a little rumpled from all the time I spent in my car and at the office, but she's seen me in worse. This outfit is quite casual for me and the navy shirt is even unbuttoned at the top, revealing the neckline of a plain white t-shirt below. I have sneakers on instead of dress shoes too. I run my hand though my disheveled hair and hold back from questioning her about why she's here, as I'm almost certain that I'm about to be hit by hurricane Adelita.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

Lita heard Elighan enter, but she didn't move from the bedroom, or the bed. She was in the middle of her telenovela and as the Mexican woman told him, he would have to come to her. Her brown irises don't move from the television until the thirty second commercials for other shows show up, oblivious to what he had brought her at first. Until Elighan mentions bringing some peace offerings.

The covers she's half covered in; from torso on down, are pulled back, and even make the bowl of popcorn tip over and make a small mess of kernels and popped corn on the bed. Lita looks at all the 'offerings,' but doesn't reach for any of them. She laughs at his words; at him in theory, but takes the purse and re-positions herself at the head of the bed, not at all bothered with her lack of every day clothing for the cotton and lace nightie she was wearing. He had seen a lot more of her and seen her in a lot less clothing.

"You stink." Adelita waved a hand in the air, but it wasn't his hygiene she was talking about. It was his varying emotions that clung in the heavy air. "After months I thought you would have grown a pair by now." She could almost smell his fear, if not feel it herself. But Adelita wasn't afraid of Elighan, or anyone. Lita grabbed the remote and paused the programme, finally giving her undivided attention to the male. "Why have you come back?"

Elighan would be lead to believe Lita didn't want to see him from the things she said, but it couldn't be the furthest from the truth. Her inner circle was very small and he had been in it, even if she didn't know it at the time. But the truth was, Elighan's abrupt disappearance had hurt Adelita in a lot of ways. She had no steady income anymore, and had no job she actually liked and was good at, and no one to talk to, even if most of her words had been spent degrading the male in front of her.

[Elighan (DELETED 7699)]

I'm pleasantly surprised by her reaction. I'd expected her to slap me and verbally berate me. So far I think I'm getting off light. She's annoyed at me. That's fine. She's accepted the purse at least, so that's a step in the right direction. My real issue isn't Adelita words, it's her body. My memory did not do the woman justice. Of course she's as thin as ever, but that doesn't surprise me.

"You look as stunning as ever, princess."

I say that in earnest. She looks quite fetching in that little teddy of hers. If I was mad at her, I'd of had to forgive her immediately just because of the outfit she's wearing. Unfortunately for me, I'm the one in the dog house and I'm not sure what my chances are of getting out of there anytime soon. Her cold reception leaves me wanting.

"I came back to the city for a number of reasons. Firstly, I still have my apartment and all my businesses here. I may have left Harper Rock, but I didn't take everything with me. I had planned to sell up once I’d settled in at Caitlyn's but I didn't get around to it as my sister kept me quite busy. So when her life settled down I began thinking about relocating my life and realised that I had things here that I wasn't ready to give up."

I consider telling her that she's part of the reason I'm back. Correction, that she's the main reason I'm back. I can work anywhere and relocating would have been easy enough. In fact had I relocated, I'd be a lot safer. My lie of work doesn't have me mixing with the best people and the criminal underworld in this city goes far deeper and far darker than any would imagine. This city is the supernatural capital of the world, and so staying away would have been the smarter choice.

I can't stop my eyes from wandering over her, taking her in. I've missed Melete. I've even missed that smart mouth of hers. It would be very easy to give myself over to fantasy in this moment but I can't afford to do that now, I will however test the waters of our friendship.

"Come on gorgeous," I open my arms to her. "Come and give me a proper hello."

I walk around the side of the bed, moving closer to Adelita and trying to ignore the fact that she's made an absolute mess of my bed with that popcorn of hers. I never did like her eating in bed, but the little minx had ways of distracting me and giving into her. Even now, I don't have the upper hand in this situation, and so can't bring myself to say a word about it.

"I've missed you, Melete. Haven't you missed me at all? Not even just a little bit?"

The words are needy, but my tone is teasing. As I said, I'm testing the waters of our friendship. I highly doubt the woman will ever admit to having missed me, but she's mad, so I know my absence affected her. I feel a little guilty about that, but when family calls choices have to be made and Adelita had already chosen to reject me. She won't see it, but it takes strength for me to be standing before her right now, risking rejection once again. Of course I'm under no delusions this time. My time away from her did allow me to gain a little perspective. I won't give her the opportunity to break my heart again.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

"What is it about men and only thinking about themselves first?" A free hand, the one not holding the purse goes to Elighan's chest and pushes him away. The woman could feel his appreciation for her lack of clothing at the moment, but she was choosing to ignore it. Strange how the two were on opposite coins yet again. Months ago she would have been clambering all over him, and he fighting her off; and now the situation was the reverse. Only, he wasn't being as forceful as Adelita could be. The gesture wasn't enough to actually push him away, or off the bed, but just enough to let him know she wasn't giving away free hugs. Or hugs for a purse. "I don't eat chocolates, do you want me to get fat?" Lita was picking a fight just to pick one, because it was physically impossible for her to get fat; or any vampire that could eat to get fat once they were dead. "And I'm allergic to flowers." Lita wasn't above lying, especially since she wanted Elighan to feel bad. Lita wanted to feel how bad he felt before she even attempted to forgive him.

"Not even a little bit." Adelita looks up from the new purse to answer Elighan's question, but avoids looking at him altogether."Look at the apartment. I've moved on, just like you did." Lita was tempted to move out of the bed and away from Elighan, but this was after all, her bed now. She paid the rent this month, not him.

"You're in my bed." Cool eyes pivot up to him as the purse is set to the side of her in choice of the popcorn bowl once again. "Interrupting my novelas." Brown irises moved to the paused show before Adelita decided to chuck the bowl right at Elighan. "I'm so pleased everything was so great for you while you left. Just rub in your wonderful, mundane, and boring life some more, Elighan." Her eyes moved back to him as her arms crossed over her chest. "I have your money, I will get it for you tomorrow night. You can have the apartment back at the end of the month, since I paid for the month of rent. Had I known you were coming back, I would have not bothered."

She had missed Elighan, but Adelita wasn't about to confess that to him. What could she say without sounding pathetically whiny and incapable of sorting her own life out until recently? "Maybe I missed you a little. You were always an easy way to get a drink." Well and truly cunty, which was just Lita's style.

[Elighan (DELETED 7699)]

I seat myself on the edge of the bed, at arm’s length from Adelita of course as that is where she's keeping me. She says it's her bed, and I'm not going to correct her, even though she's wrong. If memory serves me correctly the woman moved in and claimed my bed the first week I met her. I'm not so sure she'd be willing to share it now, not that she was all that willing then. She just couldn't understand how two people could share a bed and just sleep in it. She learned, of course, until she got her way that is. A small smile plays on my lips.

"Not all men put themselves first, sugarplum. You may feel that I was doing that when I left the city but I didn't leave because I wanted to, I left because Caitlyn needed me. I put her first. I can't apologise for what I did, only how I did it. My family will always be important to me."

I move away from Adelita, pick up the flowers, chocolates and perfume and carry them into the kitchen. I know she wants to fight so I'm not going to give that to her. I'm surprised she admitted me even a little, even if she did feel that she had to quantify that statement by suggesting that feeding was all that she wanted me for. I'd consider the fact that I might have bruised her ego in leaving the way that I did, but that can't be right, she'd already proved I chosen to leave me. So perhaps me leaving the city wasn't totally selfless after all.

Walking back into the bedroom, having put the flowers in water, the chocolates in the fridge and the perfume on the counter in the bathroom, I take my place on the bed once more. I'm still a respectful distance from her, though she has nothing to fear from me. Never has, and never will. Even if I were stronger than her, I'd never hit a woman.

"I'm not here for the money Melete. I'm not even here for the apartment. I was planning to look for somewhere else anyway." I think it's important she knows this. She needs to know that while I am stepping back into my old life, that I'm also making changes while I'm at it. "I emailed you because it was the right thing to do and I'm glad you said that I could come and see you. I'm glad to see you are well and I hope that you are happy, even if some of what you just said to me makes me think otherwise. I'll see you around, beautiful."

I stand up and lean over her, kissing her cheek before pulling away. I fully expect to be slapped for doing so, but I can't control myself any longer; the woman has always had a way of driving me insane. She may not wish to hug me, or have me here, but I need her to know that I'm trying. In the spirit of not overstepping the mark, I plan to walk out of the door and leave her alone for the night. I'll call her tomorrow, see if she answers.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

Lita inched away when his lips found her cheek, resisting the urge to place yet another hand at his chest to shove him away. He didn't stay by her long enough to manage he task, instead he decided to do a runner again. And it irritated her. Bothered, Adelita. He came back, so what? And now Elighan was off leaving again, after announcing his presence like he had the right to leave.

The Mexican woman allowed Elighan to get out the bedroom before the woman moved off the bed and followed after him. "Elighan--wait." Adelita called out to him as her shoulder pressed against the side of the frame of the door in the bedroom. "Lo siento." He didn't speak Spanish and Lita was positive he preferred she didn't either, but tough. "I did miss you." Lita pulled a small pout on her face as she stood there, looking at his back.

The woman sighed and opened her arms. "Can we make friends?" Oh, what a beautiful trap he was walking into, if Elighan decided to accept Adelita's open arms. How dare he think he can come back here, announce he was back in the city and screw off again, after giving her some lame apology. That will not do. "I have some wine and I can make you some dinner. Are you hungry? Please stay for a little bit. I don't have anyone else to talk to other than Whinny." Partly the truth, as Adelita knew she could talk to one other person in the city; a mentor of sorts from The Academy, Blake. His door had always been open since Lita joined the school. "I will make you something delicious." Lita's tone fluctuated just a little, as if attempting to sweeten the deal for the male and make him want to stay.

[Elighan (DELETED 7699)]

I stop half way across the main room. She didn't even have to tell me to wait, as the moment she spoke my name I froze and waited to hear what she'd say next. I turn to look at her as she stands in the doorway to the bedroom. The woman stills sets my pulse racing and I know she knows it. I look her over, as discretely as possible and when she opens her arms, I have to stop myself from running into them and sweeping her off of her feet. She'll only think me a wimp if I do, so I stand my ground and listen as she offers to make me something to eat. It's not entirely out of character for Adelita to be nice to me but I have to admit I'm a little suspicious f her motives, considering she didn't seem to want my company a minute ago. I wonder if she was holding onto her anger to punish me and then realised I wasn't going to grovel - anymore than I have done, anyway.

I smile as I move towards her. "Of course we can be friends, Melete. That never changed for me and I'm more than capable of weathering the storm of your emotions. You can be as cold as you like towards me. I know you'll thaw in time."

My words are a little cocky for me, but subtly so. I do know how to handle Adelita, and better than most I'd wager. I spend a lot of time watching people and learning their routines, that's probably why. When it comes to Adelita, I would never say that her bark is worse than her bite, as I know what she's capable of, but I also know that she's passionate and hot-blooded and that if I wait her out, that she will calm down, eventually. Timing, bribery and sometimes a little force seem to play an important role in placating the princess.

"I'm not hungry. No. But thank you so much for thinking of me."

I reach out and grab one of her hands and pull her into me, before wrapping my arms around her waist and squeezing her lightly. I have to remind myself to keep my hands in the friend-zone, as placing them on her backside would be all too familiar and, given what little she's wearing, completely inappropriate. I need to work on earning her trust back, not on groping her the first time she lets me near her.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

And just like that Adelita was in Elighan's arms, but it didn't matter where she was, as long as he wasn't leaving. The Mexican woman had plans for Elighan, wonderful, wonderful plans. It had not been thought about before, as the woman told him time and time again that she would never, ever, ever turn him into a vampire. The idea of being shackled to Elighan was horrifying to Adelita for two reasons. The first was because he needed to be taken care of, and she could barely take care of herself, let alone someone else. He was very dependent on people in a pathetic sort of way. The second was because the woman had never sired someone before. But, she had given it a whirl since then and it wasn't as difficult as she thought it would be for the person killing someone and then giving them a brand new life.

Was it selfish? Absolutely. Was it the best reason to sire someone? Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not. Who cared anyways? No one cared what she did or didn't do, so Lita could do what she wanted to do. What she felt like doing. Yes, Lita was going to kill Elighan and then she was going to trap him here. Because he deserved it. Elighan didn't care how much her life sucked, until recently. Had he even bothered to ask? No. Not really. And he claimed to be her friend.

Adelita buried her face inside Elighan's chest and took a deep breath in. He always smelled nice, but then again so did at least seventy-five percent of the male population. Still, she would enjoy the embrace for now as Adelita plotted Elighan's death. She could stab him and make him bleed to death. No, who was she kidding? This nightie was almost five hundred dollars. To replace it was not an option.

She could drain him dry, but she wasn't even peckish. Besides, could a vampire really drink all that blood? Lita was positive the floor would collect more blood than she would. Death by bludgeoning. Could Adelita bludgeon Elighan to death with something? Smash his beautiful face in with the microwave or toaster oven? She couldn't. What if his face stayed flat like a pancake for eternity? And then it struck her. The perfect murder. "We should toast to our renewed friendship." Adelita untangled from Elighan's arms as she moved to the kitchen for a bottle of red wine. "Can you stay for a little bit?" Adelita moved around the corner and eased an arm on the surface of it to place a hand in her opened palm as she looked Elighan in the face. Just enough for him to get a glimpse of the valley between her not so great assets. Lita wasn't above playing dirty to get what she wanted and if Elighan got distracted by what she set up and fell into her trap, then that was his fault and not hers. He should know better by now.