CHAPTER 7
From one pinch of salt, to a can of pepper and more, and now, I was currently on a date with my neighbour who had just moved into the neighborhood recently.
Or not, I haven't been on a real date before, and I could swear we're just hanging out, but Claire swears it's a date and he's into me.
I just didn't want to get my hopes up unnecessarily I guess.
“How are you coping with so many eyes on you?” I asked as I threw a nasty look at Mrs Jones who was sending one to Calvin as she walked by with her daughter.
It was the third I'd sent to some prying eyes since we sat down for milkshakes in the local coffee shop.
“Eh. I'm used to it at this point.”
“You're so chill, I would have freaked out.”
He sighed, looking out the window at nothing in particular.
I felt bad about the whole thing; it was like the town was screaming at him to leave, like it was their first time seeing a new face.
The quaint shop was my idea, and this spot was my own little sanctuary since I was in high school and got my first job. I did my homework here, I drew so many artworks that ended up in the dustbin courtesy of my mother right on the particular table we were sitting at.
But our conversations and vibe over the last week had made me feel deeply connected to him.
It might be because I had never really connected with anyone else before, or the fact that I'm trying to have a life outside work, and my possessive ghost that doesn't accept that he's a ghost but won't tell me what he is either has me on a tight string of constant lust.
Yeah, I'm as confused as you are, sorry.
But then, Calvin is genuinely nice and sweet to me, a contrast to Rowan's intensity.
It's so difficult not to compare them even though he'd not made sexual advances at me.
I was journaling last night when I realized I wanted him to want me that way, so I don't lose my virginity to a ghost, but I didn't want to ruin whatever was between us.
“You've got that faraway look in your eyes again,” he breathed, his brown eyes boring into mine.
“I'm always in my own mind, sorry,” I replied sheepishly.
“Don't apologise for that, it's a quality that's necessary yet rare. Self-introspection would have saved me from a lot of things if I had it.”
I wanted to pry, the urge was scratching at my nose but I had a deep secret that I didn't want to get tempted into spilling so I knew to stay on safe grounds
“So, why Nevada? It's hardly a tourist center or something too city for you to move to,” I asked, hoping it was a safe subject for him.
He sighed, making me feel it wasn't.
“It's out of the way. It's away from prying eyes and my Mom would rather die than come here to find me. So that's quite a lot of positives if we're counting.”
“She's from here?”
“Yeah, but left years before she met my father. She warned me to run from here and calls me every morning, begging me to come back to LA but I honestly don't understand her fear, the town is – is that bird angry at me or my mom's paranoia is having a go at my mind?” He veered off track, pointing at a bird perched outside on the window and I gasped at the sight.
A raven, black eyes and if birds could scowl, it had one blatantly on its face.
“Your mom has a point but it's not as bad as it may seem in a sense,” I replied, ignoring the bird entirely.
“Oh yeah? In what way?”
“Whatever is happening, men are surprisingly safe from it. I guess you can be scared when there are no more women to kill,” I finished with an irritated huff.
In a generation where we had the best detective equipment, a powerful police force and sophisticated weaponry, no one has been able to catch one serial killer.
What's worse is the lackadaisical attitude that the investigation is being carried out with.
People were running away from the town and only men were left behind, unable to abandon their jobs.
I bet if it were men who were being murdered every other Tuesday, they would do something about it and quickly, too. But unfortunately, the world loves to hate the portal through which all beings are born. No other species does this but humans.
“Earth to Celeste,” Calvin called with a chuckle.
I sighed, focusing on him again.
“Am I that boring? You've spaced out twice now, I really need to up my game,” he finished with a smile.
“I'm sorry, you're wonderful company, this whole murder situation has me irritated.”
“They can actually solve it, but everyone is just hung up on how it doesn't make any sense rather than on stopping it.”
“It's because it's only affecting women.”
“Come on Celeste, don't be like that. I'm sure the police are doing their best,” he chided but that pissed me off further.
“Typical of you to act aloof about things that affect us,” I snapped. “It's because of that attitude, that's why this isn't solved, and now I'm separated from my best friend, and the entire town is becoming empty by the day. Y'all will only act and actually do something when it starts affecting you!”
He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
“I'm so sorry, I didn't know, I thought they were doing the best but now I see it's not that way. I'll um, I'll go to the precinct tomorrow and make enquiries, or start a campaign online and on the radio for something to be done.”
“That'll be appreciated, thank you.”
“Here's your order,” Tara interrupted us with our drinks cheerily, dropping mine first and then lifting Calvin's Iced tea, but for what reason, instead of making it to the table, it went straight to his shirt.
Tara shrieked, Calvin yelled but I was stuck in place.
Rowan was definitely here and he wasn't being subtle anymore.
He wanted me to leave.