One

My sister stood ahead of me, arms crossed in her front. The flat eyes and curled lip was enough to signal her disapproval.

"Blair, if you're gonna be late, you could call. At least give me a heads up." She spat out, her lips pursed.

"Am I late? It's only-," I paused to glance at my phone, ''9:25.''

"You were supposed to be here for 7.'' She said, frustration evident in her voice.

I pursed my lips. I could have sworn otherwise, but I'd been wrong before. Without anymore hesitation, I pulled up the schedule on my phone and saw 9:30 written under Friday. Immediate relief came over me.

"Rose, you put me on the schedule for 9:30, see?" I turned the phone toward her, thinking I had proved my point.

"Jesse said you were going to come in early for him since he couldn't open. I got here at 8 and the doors were still locked.''

"I don't even have his number...he pulled one over on you. He never asked me that.'' I gritted my teeth.

Jesse was a hard worker whenever he came in, but with university and his family issues, he had a hard time making it to work. I was pretty sure he didn't drive either, so getting to work on time was a challenge.

"...that's it, I'm giving him a call. That's what I get for hiring a kid. Wash your hands and clock in, I'm gonna step out a second. " She wasted no time in pulling out her phone and walking out the door.

I quickly tied my apron and washed my hands, scanning my clock in card and getting to work. Rose came in soon after and began to help push out orders quickly. She didn't mention Jesse again for the rest of the day.

Rose finished her shift, rather irritated, around two. I was the only one on shift for the rest of the day, though we closed at four, so it wasn't that taxing. Most of the day had gone smoothly.

Until a familiar face walked in. I first noticed the dark blonde hair and then realized he was coming to the counter.

"Rose isn't here?" Jesse asked. I turned my eyes just past him to see a woman coming through the door.

"No, you ordering something?" I asked, returning my eyes to him. He scoffed.

"She fired me, Blair. I had an exam today, I mean, what was I supposed to do?" He pushed out his words angrily, insinuating it was my fault.

"You could have actually asked me to cover you, Jesse... You know I would have," I responded, glancing at the customers waiting.

There are too many people looking right now. Please, please don't start this right now.

A woman was tapping her foot behind him, and a man had joined behind her. He had his back turned to the counter.

"I didn't even get a warning! She never asked me to work harder, or anything."

"Jesse, please. Not right now." I darted my eyes to the customer nearby. He turned to see her, but turned back to me unfazed. I, however, was growing uncomfortable with the red haired woman behind him. Her arms were crossed now, her eyebrows lifted as if she were trying to get my attention. She was fussing under her breath.

"You gotta talk to her for me! I spent too much of my loans and if I don't save now I'll have to take out more next semester to stay in the dorms. Please."

I felt a twinge of guilt.

Okay, okay. Just please go.

"Look, I'll see what I can do, okay? But you've gotta promise to do better, otherwise my word is useless."

His eyes were a little hopeful as he nodded before walking out quickly. The red haired woman stepped up and sighed as if she were exhausted.

"I just want a cup of hot water."

I actively tried not to make a face.

Fussing and making faces only to ask for a free cup of hot water... okay.

I smiled and got her a cup of water. She tipped me a quarter in the jar and walked off without saying anything. I sighed as quietly as possible as the next customer came forward.

"Can I get an iced americano please?"

His deep voice made me all the frustration disappear. I saw his face and almost dropped the cup in my hand.

His hair was dark and slightly messy, his shoulders broad and covered by an untucked, white button down. He was tall and thin, making me feel tiny in his presence.

"Oh, sure. That'll be five fifty."

He paid quickly, shooting me a bright, seemingly disingenuous, smile. I tried my best not to just stare at him. His skin was pale, and his eyes were so unique. His eyes gleamed a vibrant pale blue. I'd never seen anyone with eyes like that before.

I made his drink in front of him, watching my hands to avoid eye contact. I felt like I would melt if I looked up.

"So that kid, was he your brother?" He questioned.

I managed to give him my attention and smile, but averted my eyes once I caught his.

"No, he just works here. Well, worked here." I said shyly, returning to his drink. I put it on top of the counter for him. The guilt returned momentarily as I thought about Jesse.

"I just thought, because of the hair." He smiled again, warmly this time.

"I guess our hair is kind of similar." I tried to return the warmth.

"Thank you for the drink." He then put a twenty in the tip jar, continuing to keep his eyes on me. I almost broke free of this trance-like state due to the disbelief.

"Ah, no I can't take that." I pulled the twenty back out and handed it to him.

"Oh, you can't break a twenty?" He said, opening his wallet again. He put the twenty in and started counting fives.

"No, no, that's fine! I only meant... I haven't done much. Please. You might end up needing it." I said, awkwardly laughing.

He paused for a moment before shoving way too many fives in the tip jar.

"I come here a lot, so it's no problem. Where's Rose today?"

I struggled to find my words.

"Uh, um, she left a while ago. Her shift ended at two." I grabbed a rag and began to wipe the counter.

He and I were the only ones in the cafe now, and the air around him just kept tugging at me. I needed to distract myself so I didn't just stare.

"She told me she had a sister. Nice to meet you. I'm Ian. I went to college with Rose." he said. I saw him reach out his hand but I was afraid to touch him.

"My hands are dirty." I said, smiling as I pointed to the rag.

"But it's nice to meet you. I'm Blair."

I returned to cleaning as he retracted his hand.

"Do you work tomorrow?" He asked. His question caught me off guard.

"Uh, yes. Yeah, I work every weekend now." I looked at him again but only for a second. He was so attractive that I thought my head would start spinning if I stared at him for too long.

"Okay, I'll see you then. Nice meeting you again. And thanks for the coffee." He walked out as he was talking.

I cleaned the cafe absentmindedly, my head being unable to clear his face. I wondered if he was into my sister. She had a knack for attracting handsome men.

Despite his appearance, he definitely made me uncomfortable. Something was just a bit eerie about him, something off. But if Rose knew him, I was sure he couldn't really be that weird.

I locked the doors and walked out at the end of my shift, pulling my apron off and throwing it over my shoulder. My ears caught a shrill shriek from my right, my heart stopping along with my feet.

Am I really going to go see what that is?

I mean, what if someone is hurt or in danger? Should I call the police?

I cautiously approached the alley beside the cafe, chest tight and limbs nearly locked. I silently turned my head towards the sound, keeping my body at the corner.

I stalled as I tried to rationalize just walking away, but I knew the guilt would eat me up inside had I just left. So I peeked.

A sinking, electric, paralyzing feeling washed over my entire body. My legs almost buckled, my hands coming up to grip the apron hanging over my shoulder. My knuckles were white, my palms beginning to sweat as I recognized the man from before.

What the hell is...?

He was holding a woman against the building wall, gripping her tightly by her throat. Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes as she struggled for air. His face was buried in her neck, blood pouring out of it relentlessly like a ruby river.

I could see his teeth digging into her, his face scrunched as if in pain.

I gasped involuntarily and he pulled away, releasing her from his grasp. She tumbled to the ground, her knees cracking as they hit the concrete. As she lied there, she choked and panted, holding her bleeding neck with shock in her eyes.

Ian turned to me, his glowing eyes locking with mine. His brows were creased in anger, blood smudged across his face, dripping down his chin. He bore his eyes into me, even down into my soul.

My body moved on its own, turning and running as quickly as I could. My feet pounded against the pavement as I darted across the railroad tracks, dropping my apron. I reached my car, leaping in and locking the door.

What the hell was that?