Happy Birthday to Me [Hamish]

[nefret2011]

Ava looked up at the structure that loomed in front of her. She glanced around at the street, hoping to look less of a newbie than she was. She'd been in town all of a week. Ginny, the nurse from the hospital, had been more than helpful. Letting her stay until she could find a place of her own, explaining the laws and the little tips that most city-born humans knew by heart. The key one being the time of day you went out. The vampires are civilized, make no mistake. She could hear her voice as if the kindly woman was standing next to her. But they still thirst for the stuff running through your veins. Best shot is to stick to daylight. Usually, she would have followed her advice to the letter. But today was different. Today was her birthday.

And not just any birthday, but her 18th. And spending all day looking for work didn't seem like the right way to celebrate. She hadn't told Ginny. She'd spent most of the day working and Ava didn't want her to feel bad about not being about to celebrate with her. So she was doing this on her own. She took a deep breath and went inside. The place was clean and well kept. No one jumped her with fangs bared. She walked over and sat at a table. People glanced at her, but otherwise paid her no mind.

She had a sudden feeling of homesickness. If she'd been back at the farm, there would've been a little gift waiting for her. A new dress or book. Perhaps even a journal. Her mother would kiss her on the head and her father would smile. Her brothers would go over the top celebrating, teasingly, congratulating her on making it another year still alive. But they weren't here. And she was no longer there. Probably never would be again. She found herself fighting back tears.

"What's the problem, gorgeous?" She looked up to see a man, human, she was fairly sure, standing over her. She shrugged. "Just...having a bad day I guess." The man sat down across from her. Her instincts were warning her he probably wasn't any good. She glanced around, but no one was watching. Calm down. She told herself. He's just being friendly. He smiled....in a way that was definitely unfriendly. "Maybe I can help with that." He reached across the table to brush her cheek. She jerked back. "Uh...no...I....I'm fine." She stuttered, standing up. Well, there was nothing wrong with celebrating back at Ginny's. Maybe they could do something tomorrow. A belated celebration.

"Hold it, sugar." There was a hand on her arm and a voice in her ear. "It's not polite to go running off. She took a step forward, only to be pulled back. "I don't want to be polite." She said, tugging on his arm. "I want to go home." The man chuckled. "Oh, I'll take you home, don't you worry sugar." Fear was beginning to set in. As was anger. She didn't come all this way for some lonely jerk to scare her away. "Let go." She said firmly, bringing her elbow back into his stomach. A grunt of pain told her she his his kidney. He dropped to the ground, nearly taking her with him. She managed to stay upright, but just barely. There were plenty of people staring now. Including a couple of serious-looking men that were probably security guards. "Brilliant work Harper." She muttered as the men walked towards her.

[caleb]

Caleb sat writing down his thoughts in his book that he carried. He wrote down most things that would seem not very understanding to anybody but him or someone that was very close to him. He sat in the dark corner of the club dressed in a black suit. Some said he always dressed to the tens which in most circumstances he did. He had left Autumn locked inside the room asleep. He didn't want to disturb the woman and she had been through quite a lot.

He continued to write before he felt a tap on his shoulder. He had been deep in thought writing about Autumn. He shouldn't even be thinking about her at all. Maybe it was the circumstances that had them thrown into a room and his fangs stuck into her skin. Maybe it was the way he held her prisoner. He pushed the thoughts out of his head as he took both hands after sticking the pen in his mouth and slammed the book closed. He stuck it into his pocket and looked over his shoulder.

He pulled the pen from his mouth. "Yes?" He saw the young man point over to where there was an altercation. Dammit. Not again. He put the pen in his pocket even as he stood up slowly. He came into the light and a few women gasped having not seen him there in the dark corner. Then a few men moved out of his way as he began to walk. He looked at the man that was obviously antagonizing the woman.

"Pardon me for being late. Seems you caught another suitor while I was busy with my work." He looked at the man with a look as if to say make the wrong move and let's see if you will be able to talk later. He moved to offer his elbow. "Seems men don't know how to treat ladies anymore. Is there much of a problem?" He looked out over the crowd even as the man spoke.

"I'm sorry, Caleb. I didn't... I mean she doesn't..." He walked off but turned to the woman. "Be careful. He's worse than I am. Gentleman Death isn't one to play nice. Dress him up in handsome clothing but doesn't change the facts." Caleb lifted his shoulders. "To each their own opinion. Scat!" The man looked at Caleb. "Whatever happened to that woman last night?" Caleb went to move but then stopped himself and gave him a look.

"When she left here..." He began smoothly. "She was feeling much better. Be careful where you step. A crack may make you fall. And wasn't there a curse that said speak of the Devil and he will make an appearance. Get out of here before the Devil does make an appearance." The man frowned. "But you own Styx so who could be the Devil?" Caleb tilted his head some. "Oh, let's see... Me? Most definitely."

Caleb then turned and looked at the woman. "Pardon the rudeness, lady. I am Caleb. Someone told me you looked to be in need of assistance. I own Styx and so I am privvy to much knowledge of what goes on here. If you like you can sit in my company for a bit or I can move on? I was just writing out some things..." While the woman slept in my office and hoped that she awoke soon so that... Dammit stop, Caleb!

[nefret2011]

The jerk, as she refused to think of him as a man, glared at her as he got up. She took an involuntary step back. She might've been able to hit him once, but she doubted she could do so again. He was bigger than her, and undoubtedly stronger. She was just about to turn and run when several gasps told her something else was about to happen. She looked to see a man appearing out of the shadows. He was handsome, well dressed, and moved with fluid grace. Even though she'd hardly seen any vampires, he couldn't be anything else. Oh crap. She thought. At least she had a chance against a human, albeit a small one.

The moment he began speaking, her fears dissipated somewhat. He was less preoccupied with the fact that someone had fought in his club and more with the fact that a man was being....ungentlemanly towards a woman. He even offered his elbow, like a prince straight out of a book. She opened her mouth to say that there wasn't much of a problem ( at least not anymore) when the jerk jack-knifed to his feet and started speaking. When talking to the vampire, whom he called Caleb, failed, he turned to Ava. Gentleman Death? As much as she hoped it was a harmless nickname, she was utterly certain it was well earned. However, she doubted she was in any danger.

They began thinking of something that had happened the night before, involving a woman. There was more to the story, she was sure, but she didn't really want to ask. He's a gentleman. She reminded herself. Gentlemen don't hurt ladies. It didn't help her sense of well-being when the man called himself the Devil. Although it did scare the jerk. It was probably mean to take pleasure in the way the color drained from his face.

"No harm, no foul." She said dryly. She wondered who had told him she needed help. How many people here kept an eye on things for him? How tight a hold did he have here? It wouldn't do to look around for security cameras, so she kept her eyes on Caleb. He had to be a vampire. Very few humans owned anything in the way of business in New Vegas. If they did, they were small shops, not hugely popular bars. She should probably decline his company. But Ginny wouldn't be home for hours and she didn't want to sit alone. "Your company, in comparison to the others I have been offered..." She glanced at the jerk, who was starting to back away. "...seems quite amiable." She rarely ever spoke so formally. There was no use for fancy words growing up on a farm. She read every book she could get her hands on, but hardly ever got a chance to use the words in them. With the Gentleman Death, however, it seemed almost a requirement to use formal speech.

[hamish]

Hamish flicked the screens from one room to another, the best security system that Styx had, no one could move within the building him without him seeing it on the screens before him. Not exactly a member of the security it was how he spend his nights, the images on the screen the closest to company and contact he had with anyone, except Caleb.

He flicked the screen to the front doors and watched as a very young blonde girl walk in, he zoomed in the camera, something about her interesting him. She seemed bewildered somehow, a little wide eyes and amazed at everything.

"A newbie" he said to himself "A human newbie"

He thought for a moment but was certain he had no memory of ever seeing her before. She was enchanting in her nativity, the look of innocence that was really seen in a place like Styx. He shifted from the screens, sliding across the room on his roller chair to the myriad of telescopes. The way the building was made he could see most of the first and second floors from his room through the telescopes and spyglasses from his mazzanine floor.

He watched the girl take a seat and the way she looked sad suddenly, he was about to call down to the bar to have a drink sent to her but then a man joined her. She had obviously been meeting someone. He sighed and went to move away but then there was something in the way she looked that made him focus the lens closer. It was a barely perceptable look of fear.

He got up and paced across the room running his hands through his hair, should he alert security or was he wrong. Without being there he couldn't tell. Back at the spyglass he looked again and she looked even more horrified. Without waiting for more clarrification he grabbed the radio and radioed down to security.

He felt helpless, caged, seeing such a beautiful helpless creature in distress was nearly enough to make him burst from his room to save her.

He rushed back to the screens, flicking through the screens he saw one of the bounces heading over to Calb, who was sitting in a dark corner writing in his book. Hamish heaved a sigh of relief, Caleb would protect the girl, that much he knew.

He sat back, leaning back in his chair and heaving a sigh of relief. He reached for a pen and scribbled a note:

My dear, I apologise I could not come to your assistance personally. If only I knew why you looked so sad, I would move heaven and earth to change it just to see you smile. Please accept this drink and toast to your beauty.
Kindness and warm regards Hamish

He stuffed the note in an envelope and placed it in the vacuum shoot that sucked it through to the front office, he lifted the radio and spoke to the office manager giving strict instructions to send a bottle of the most expensive champagne to the girl that Caleb was now with.

[caleb]

Caleb saw that they were drawing attention. Women were staring at him even with him showing no interest really to anyone in particular except for the woman he had offered his arm to. It was kind of strange that he wasn't really interested. The woman was kind of pretty he supposed. She was rather young looking though. Maybe it was just him really. Or perhaps he was looking at her out of the corner of his eye. The lighting as well. Or perhaps it was her innocence.

His words held his accent as he spoke to the man. The thickening was showing with his frustration at the questions. But what really was angering him was that he knew the man had been there that night. Had he gotten some of her blood? He watched the man closely as the man began to move away. His eyes showing his intent as he spoke to the man once more. "I will be seeing you later. Check mate." By the last word he meant the man was going to be caught and there wouldn't be a stale mate or even a maneuver to get away from Caleb wouldn't work.

He looked more fully at the woman next to him. He heard the whispers and met a few eyes. "Who is she?" He heard quite plainly and turned more fully to the woman. "Never mistake amiable with me. I find amiable is quite a dull word. Perhaps charming and delightful company is more to be said in response. Besides I doubt..." But before he could finish a man came up with a bottle of Caleb's best champagne and a note. Only one that he could think of would be sending that to this woman.

Hamish. How interesting. He wondered what the note had to say. He took a step back though to give the woman privacy. Had Hamish done this before? His face remained impassive even as people snickered. He put his hands behind his back and grabbed his wrist with one of his hands. He heard the whispers again. "I guess Caleb isn't as smooth as he appears. A letter from someone that obviously knows Caleb since it was brought by one of his employees." Caleb turned to his head of security.

"Thank you, Walter." Walter was quite a big man. He stood even taller than Caleb but Caleb didn't care. Him and Walter went way back. When Walter came to work here the place wasn't as good as it was now. Walter knew how Caleb could be and he knew that in a fight he'd rather be standing with Caleb than going against Caleb. Walter whispered to Caleb then. "It's from H." There way of saying Hamish. Very few if anybody knew about Hamish.

Hamish really was the eyes of the place. When things went down Caleb could always guarantee Hamish knew about it and generally got word to Caleb as soon as he could. Hamish was his all seeing eye. His best friend really. If anyone had the ability to take Caleb out it would be Hamish that could. Most of his secrets were with Hamish. He slowly brought his gaze upward as if he could see Hamish through the barriers. He had tried countless times to get Hamish to come out but the man refused to.

How many times had they sat and joked like brothers? He wondered if Hamish knew that Caleb was keeping a woman prisoner. He realized he was staring up at the ceiling and then turned his gaze back to Walter. "Thank you, Walter." Walter gave him a grin and nudged Caleb. "Looks like someone is after your fair haired beauty." Caleb looked at Walter and rolled his eyes. But then he gave him an impassive look.

"Shall we move to a table?" He looked to where one of the security cameras are and gave it a wink knowing Hamish was probably looking in on them. Maybe he could tie her up and take her prisoner as well. He was just becoming quite the pirate. Perhaps... Oh yes, maybe he would throw a Halloween Party this year. Decisions, decisions. He'd definitely go as a dashing pirate. He looked over at the woman once more.

He wished he could be back in that room with his prisoner. She didn't treat him the same as everyone else did. Whoever had said it was right... It was lonely at the top. He felt a hand slide along his shoulder and turned his head to see a woman as she practically wrapped herself about his arm when he loosened his hand from his wrist. "Hello, my Knight." Caleb looked at her impassively. "Who is this... woman?" Caleb just stared for a moment thinking over his words well.

"She's a friend. But seems you should be working, little bird." He tapped her lightly on the nose. "Perhaps little bird, you should fly away." She gave him a pout. "You always make excuses, Caleb. When are you going to pluck me up?" He would have responded happily with a never but he was born a gentleman and he wouldn't say that to any woman. "Perhaps after your shift." No, he'd be heading soon back to his office. "You always say that!" She whined and Caleb hated when she did that.

"Please, little bird. I apologize for my lacking in morals in keeping you waiting but I do tend to work quite a bit." She gave a smile. "All work and no play makes Caleb a boring boy." Caleb actually grinned as he leaned down and whispered into her ear even where the other woman could hear. "Do I ever seem like I'd be boring? I think not. Now you should be going back to work and I will possibly see you later." Not really but okay. The woman walked away and he looked towards the woman who Hamish had written.

'"What is in the note, lady dear? Seems the rascal did quite well. Chose the best champagne and as well wrote you quite the missive." He chuckled softly and offered her a friendly arm once more. "Shall we move to the table I was sitting at? I find that it is quite a place to look out at the crowds and get some semblance of privacy." Plus it was close enough to the security camera that Hamish could see her perfectly even in the shadows. But Caleb could always light a candle so he could see the woman by firelight.

[nefret2011]

Ava was hardly ever the center of attention. Her older sister was always prettier than her. Her brothers joked around and caught people's attention more than she could. Her mother had a commanding presence that made everyone else in the room seem diminished somehow. So to have so many eyes on her was unnerving. She saw the glances aimed at her. Was this all because she was standing next to Caleb? Was this man truly that popular? She tried to look she she was focusing on what the vampire was saying, but she couldn't fully ignore the stares.

Checkmate? She'd played chess on a beat up set her father had managed to salvage from before the apocalypse. It was basically a threat. What was he going to do? Yes, the jerk had overstepped boundaries. But she shuddered (inwardly, there were enough eyes on her as it was) at the implication of Caleb's tone. He meant the threat completely.

"My apologies." She said, confused as to why the word had offended him. "Charming and delightful..." Strange words to use after hearing such a threatening tone. "They are excellent words, but I don't know if they are all that can be used to describe you." She didn't know if she was overstepping any boundaries. She didn't know if there were any boundaries in the first place. "I would use....intriguing....perhaps chivalrous." It was a new experience, and not an unpleasant one, to be able to talk purely about words and their use. Farmers didn't care about words. Midwives weren't any better. Maybe it was actually a smart move to come here. She thought.

When a man, taller than Caleb, came up with a note, she expected the note to be off some importance business-wise. Then she would be shooed away while he went back to work. Surprisingly enough, the note was for her. She read it...and then re-read it, unable to believe what it was saying. At first there was a hint of paranoia. Someone had been watching her closely. Enough to see her brief homesickness. But as she read it yet again, she was struck by how sweet it was. I would move heaven and earth to change it just to see you smile. She'd been told her smile was her best feature. But how did this stranger know that? Again she had to force herself not to look for the cameras.

"Looks like someone is after your fair haired beauty." She looked up sharply. She'd heard several horror stories about vampires growing up. One of them being they own and traded humans like livestock. Ginny, however, explained that yes, there was slavery. But it was punishment for crimes rather than the sport for vampires. When Caleb rolled his eyes, she took it as confirmation.

She nodded at his invitation. While there was a part of him that made her uneasy, he was nice enough to talk to. Much better company than a lonely apartment. She was about to move toward the table he looked at, when another woman came up. She practically bled sex appeal and made no bones about draping herself about the man. Ava lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing. She stood there awkwardly, waiting for the woman to finish throwing herself at the proprietor. Caleb made a few vague comments about seeing her later, although none of them sounded definitive. Was that because he didn't want the company? Or because he had so much to choose from?

She looked down at the note in question when Caleb mentioned it. She smiled a little. "It contains an apology, a vow, and an offer." She looked at the champagne. Toast to her beauty? She wasn't aware she had enough to toast to. She took his arm and allowed him to escort her to the table. It seemed so formal, yet completely effortless on his part. Was this how he acted all the time?

She sat down at the table, glancing at the note again. She doubted it was the kind of thing that happened often. There was still the slight paranoia of being watched. But, if the mind behind the eyes was so sweet, then she supposed being watched wasn't entirely horrible. She realized belatedly that she'd been sitting in silence for several moments now. She shook her head slightly, trying to focus. "I'm sorry." She said, remembering. "You gave me your name and I completely forgot to give you mine. I'm Ava." She thought for a quick moment, trying to decide how to ask her next question. "Does...does Hamish do this sort of thing often?" There was another question that bothered her. Hamish had known she needed help. So why hadn't he come himself? It sounded rude, even in her mind, so she pushed the thought away.

[hamish]

Hamish sat and watched as the girl and Caleb walked across the floor to the little table set in the back corner where Caleb usually sat alone. He smiled as Caleb deliberately offered her the seat that would place her directly in front of the camera.

He didn't often get involved in the goings on of the business or patrons, preferring to keep to himself, he was an avid watcher of the human race and the vampire visitors that came to Styx. He had seen proposals and break ups, love blossom and burn. Some days he felt as though he were watching a soap opera and everyone was an actor.

If anything, the one thing he learnt in his prolonged self-incarceration in this room, was how to lip read and he saw that the girl's name was Ava or was it Bava. He shook his head, Ava it must be, he knew her name and for some reason that made him smile. He knew not what he found so intriguing about this girl. She was young, almost looked too young to be here, she was beautiful but not in a way that was glaring or glamorous, a simplistic beauty like that of a country girl off the farm, used to fresh air and homegrown food and not that involving too much makeup, hair that was teased or tamed and all the sparkles and spangles that went with a modern girl's wardrobe.

He sighed, that was it, it was her innocence that made her so attractive. He wished he could just walk down the stairs and introduce himself, he thought about it, even stood and walked to the door. But as his hand reached out for the handle he jumped backwards as though seeing some evil creature lurking on the other side. He couldn't do it, he just couldn't, he could risk everyone, he couldn't risk her.

But how was he going to speak to her, to meet her. If she were to come up here he would have to leave, he couldn't risk that he would harm her, like he had all those in the past he had cared about. The only person he could trust himself around was Caleb, because he knew if he ever went beserk and attacked Caleb, that he would be killed within an instant by one of Caleb's sharp blades. But he couldn't risk a sweet girl like her, like Ava.

In the end he settled for another note:

Sweet Ava, I don't usually converse with others and this may seem unusual but rest assured that this is the only way I can speak to you, and the camera before you is the only way I can see you. I am content now you are safe, my dear, my friend Caleb will ensure that your every whim is catered for.

Please don't be embarrassed or concerned that your beautiful smile has captivated my very soul and the sadness in your eyes broke my own heart. Just one word and I will leave you alone but I wish to get to know you, if you so wish it. Such a sweet angel as yourself, should be adored, even from this distance I already do so.
Your not so secret admirer, Hamish

He sent the note to the office and with a grim smile and sat down to wait for her reaction.

[caleb]

Caleb could remember how it had been with his brother. Granted he was the nicer of the two most women had stepped over him to have at his brother. He didn't mind it. He enjoyed his own extra activities of swordplay and fighting. It wasn't that he was a cruel man but back then it was the fun things to do. You enjoyed the games. When he had been much younger he had been pretty bullied for being a pretty boy. He slowly had started doing the normal boy routine for that time and age and when he got older the boys started to taunt him into fights.

He fought rather well since most thought the rumors of his birth were true and hated him for it. Being a pretty boy was just an excuse really for them to beat on him. At that time his brother had handled them but then he grew and with it he got stronger. Now he was stronger still. He made it where he was not by being a straight fellow but by doing what was needed.

Caleb knew that the man would react as if he had been cursed at the threat. Everyone here knew not to double cross Caleb and as well they knew that he meant what he said. He didn't need to show what he could do. He just had to speak indifferently as if it didn't matter at all. He stared at the man in wait of what he would do. He let a smile come to his lips as people continued to stare at them. He gave a bow of his head to his customers and employees. They knew how dangerous he could be and it was perfectly acceptable here.

He looked at the woman through the corner of his eye. "Really? And what other words could you use to describe me? I thought I had been everything a gentleman is so they couldn't be insulting, could the description be?" He turned his head some to look at her more fully. "Chivalrous is an overused term, dear lady. Now intriguing is one that rarely is referred to with me."

He saw the sharp look she had given him at his words of someone after her fair haired beauty. He would have scoffed. Like he had ever stooped so low as to sell slaves. He kept what was his safe. But all he had done was roll his eyes. It was such a human gesture he knew but he wasn't beyond acting human now and then. It seemed to keep some of his patrons returning as well.

He saw Ava lift an eyebrow as the woman continued to try to seduce him into coming with her. But he had one woman he... He what? Shit. He was low to be wanting a woman he had made his prisoner. It was like some kind of pirate book or movie and he was keeping her. He made a few of comments of perhaps meeting with her later. But then she scurried off. "My apologies. It happens now and then." He lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug.

He mentioned the note to take away from the obvious stares and the woman. He was just as others but he owned this place. It was his place. Hamish you old charmer. He lifted a hand and plucked the bottle of champagne up. He acted as if he were looking it over before responding. "Well, what a way to introduce yourself." He let a slight grin come to his lips.

He set the bottle down on the table in front of her. "Would you like me to open it for you?" He offered waving a hand tossing the apology aside. "Ava? That's an unusual name. Not very heard really. Did you know it means like a bird in Greek?" But then he heard the question of if Hamish did this often. "No. And besides who is Hamish?" He leaned back in his chair perking an eyebrow. It wasn't that he was making her doubt Hamish but it was a way of keeping his friend well protected.

He tilted his head some and lifted the bottle once more. The question though had been asked after he had answered her question. Perhaps the chit could put two and two together and realize that he had answered her question but then made others doubt and no one really knew Hamish or even who Hamish was and is. It was a secret very few knew.

[nefret2011]

A small part of Ava's reminded her to tread carefully. He was a vampire of obvious importance, well known and feared by many. She was a human farm girl brand new to town with a number of acquaintances she could count on her fingers. She knew enough of the city to know she was the lesser of the two. The smart thing would be to stick to polite conversation, always letting him have the last word of course, until it was a reasonable time for her to make her leave. The smart thing, yes, but not exactly the one she wanted to do. Even while the sensible portion of her mind was telling her to let him have the last word, her mouth opened to speak. "Overused, but rarely enacted correctly." She said. "And I do not use it as lightly as others."

"It happens now and then." She doubted it was a rare thing. He wasn't unattractive, nor was he destitute. He had everything the trashier women wanted in a man. You might not be as important as the one whose bed you share, but at least you're in the bed to begin with. It was a sickening line of thought, but she wasn't so ignorant to think it never happened. Even in Farm the Elders would look the other way when girls came walking out of the wealthier families homes early in the morning. There really wasn't any birth control, so as far as they were concerned it was just another way to keep the race going.

She stared at the bottle of champagne with more than a little astonishment. Whoever this Hamish was, he liked making a good first impression. She nodded when Caleb asked to open it. There really wasn't another answer. She wanted to see Hamish. To speak with him face to face rather than notes and cameras. It was still disconcerting to know that someone was watching her when she had no way of seeing them.

"I know." She said when he referred to her name. "It's a family name. And an apt one, or so I'm told." Her father had been known to call her "my little bird" when he was feeling sentimental. Her mother used it as explanation for why she was so flighty. Just thinking about it almost made her homesick again, but she pushed the thought away. There were other things to focus on.

She frowned slightly when he asked who Hamish was, after answering her question. Why was this man so secretive? What was his secret? Was it really so bad that he had to hide himself away? It was hardly polite to ask, so the questions went unvoiced. "An admirer, apparently." She replied. If he wanted to play this game, so be it. "And a skilled one at that." She continued, glancing at the bottle. She sat in silence for a moment until someone, obviously of Caleb's employ, walked up with a slip of paper in his hand. He silently handed it to Ava, who kept her face carefully unsurprised. Although she doubted she fooled anyone.

This note was even sweeter than the first. He sounded as if he was in love with her. How was that possible? He'd only seen her through the cameras. She'd never spoken a word to him. Things seemed to be going very quickly. Again she wished she could see him face-to-face, if only to assure herself he was real. Beautiful smile? Sweet Angel? They were pretty endearments to be sure, but ones that could be made by anyone. Pretend he's real for now. She told herself. Enjoy the feeling, even if that's all you get. Having no romantic history, she wasn't about to push away the one person who loved her, even if she couldn't be sure they were real. "A very skilled admirer." She murmured, glancing over the note again. "Not at all secret, yet incredibly mysterious." She didn't know if she was talking to herself or Caleb. She was having a bit of trouble making sense of her own thoughts.