What Could Go Wrong? [Eliza]

[Robin Little]

WEARING

Robin had run into Eliza the previous night.

Well, she’d had to call out to him numerous times before he stood still and waited for her to come to him, as he could not see her to tell who it was who’d hailed him down. But, after a short chat he recognised who she was; they’d not seen each other in years, but had shared a couple of classes at University. They were both obsessed with books, though their inevitable careers went in different directions. They’d agreed to catch up the following evening, for old time’s sake.

The following evening had arrived and Robin pulled on the jacket that Vexen had helped him to select. He’d told her where he was going and who he was meeting because, well, why shouldn’t he? And if she was home, he often grabbed her to help pick what he should wear, because when he did it himself the outfits never matched, and were ill-suited to the weather. Vex had helped him roll the jacket’s sleeves up to his elbows, and he’d kissed her hastily on the way out.

Robin had requested that Samuel be their driver for the evening—the thrall was none too happy about playing chauffeur, but Robin had eased his complaints by paying him generously for the evening, despite not having to. Robin hadn’t meant to enthral Samuel, and Samuel tried to avoid Robin as much as he could in order to avoid having to do the vampire’s bidding. But they’d become friends, of a sort, over time. Samuel was indispensable, some nights. Robin didn’t think he’d ever adjust to this ‘being blind’ business, and he’d yet to explain to Eliza what had happened. Last they’d met, he could see, and there was nothing wrong with his eyes.

The car was not Robin’s. Robin’s car had been stolen, as luck would have it. Instead, Samuel had borrowed his parents’ Volvo—sleek and understated though it also looked like it belonged to a 50 year old man who liked to golf on weekends. Not that Robin could see the car; he just hopped in the back seat, without question.

Robin gave Samuel the address Eliza had given the night before, and within fifteen minutes they were waiting out the front.

[Eliza (DELETED 10725)]

Eliza had run into Robin the night before. The woman hadn't really run into him, she had called out his name multiple times before standing before the male. After a while, she realized that Robin was now blind. He hadn't been blind when they met at University. They had agreed to catch up the next night which is why Eliza was now sitting at her small flat, trying to decide what to wear. She had been in the city for a few weeks, her new job bringing her here.

However, she had heard some crazy stories about the city but she couldn't pass up the pay. Now, she also had a friend in the city, someone she could talk books with. The brunette stood up, finally settling on some clothes. She needed to get dress, Robin was going to be at her home soon.

She slid into the jean leggings and the white shirt. She wasn't sure what tonight held, so she went with something simple and a little bit classy when she added the heels. Eliza wasn't one to get too dressed up, unless for work. She liked to just roam around in comfortable clothing. Minimal make-up was applied. Robin wouldn't be able to see what she looked like anyways.

After she applied the last finishing touch to her lips, she heard the beep of the horn to his car. Eliza grabbed her cross-body purse and headed out of the flat, locking the door behind her. She headed to the car and slid in, smiling at the driver and Robin.

"Hey!"

Wearing

[Robin Little]

It was strange to be in a car with this friend from years ago. It was as if they had travelled ten years into the past and were again the students they had once been; or was Eliza still studying? So many people did that. They didn’t know what to do with their lives so just continued to study. And why not? Robin might have still been there had his life turned out differently. Instead, he had to remind himself, he was a vampire now. Blind, with bad luck following him around like a bad cloud. He almost hesitated when Eliza said hello, so brightly and confidently. He almost wanted to tell her it was a bad idea and she should get out. So many things could go wrong!

Instead, his head swung in her general direction and he smiled.

”Hey,” he said. ”How was your day?” he asked. Samuel pulled away from the curb, and Robin told himself to hold his tongue. He wanted to warn Eliza; wanted to tell her that hanging out with him could be dangerous. It could, at the very least, lead to ruined clothes or loss of money or minor injury. It could lead to police interrogations and being shot for no reason at all. It could lead to falling pianos or cracks in pavement appearing just as Robin put his foot down.

Instead, his fingers gripped the leather of the seat beneath him, white-knuckled. Always on edge.

”Where are we going?” Samuel asked, and Robin arched a brow. He turned to Eliza. ”Do you have a preference…? I was thinking of the pizza and beer place we used to go to…” he said. He didn’t know whether Eliza’s tastes had changed – or whether he’d ever gone there with Eliza to begin with.