A Love Story Starts With A Missing Wallet (Jade)

When I got home Dad was already asleep in bed.

I sighed as I dropped my purse on the counter and plopped myself on the couch. Before I could settle in there was a knock at the door. I inward groan as I stretched my limbs to get back up, reluctantly I opened the door.

I came face to face with a guy that looked a familiar.

"Hi." I greeted in a confused tone.

"Hi you might not remember me, I'm Liam, we met at the hospital when you bumped into me."

While his voice was hard to place, his voice brought me back to hours ago when I bumped into him an spilled my purse contents everywhere.

"Oh right, is there something I can help you with?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned against the doorframe.

"I came to give you this, you left in such a hurry."

He pulled out my brown leather wallet and extended it to me. I gaped.

"You left before I could hand it to you."

I took it and set it on the table near the door.

"Thank you so much."

"I looked at your ID to find your address. I didn't stalk you or anything."

I laughed and nodded.

"Don't worry I don't think your a psycho or anything."

"Good, I'm glad. So if you don't think I'm mental, what do you think?"

Liam stretched his long arm and rested it on the door frame, he leaned in with a sly smile. We are only were inched apart. Holy shit. Was he flirting with me? Should I flirt back? Was I reading the situation right?

Natural instincts took over and I gave him a seductive smile and readjusted myself on the doorframe so that I was almost laying on it. Liam's face was just centimeters away.

"Well I think it was kind of you to track me down, it was noble of you not to steal anything and I think your brave and a bit cocky to ask me about your first impression," I answered.

Liam gave me a bold smile.

"I like you, Jade, you have a fascinating mind, and very interesting wallet."

I clicked my tongue and noted he took the liberty to look at my whole ID.

"What's so interesting about my wallet!"

"Well for starters you keep your phone number in it."

"It's a new number!"

"Secondly, you keep little notes to yourself."

"I forget things! They go in my purse but they get stuck in my wallet! It's hardly weird."

"And thirdly, you have a gum wrapper in your coins, with a joke on it. "

"My Dad did that."

We both laughed.

"So your not going to deny looking through my stuff?"

"Nope, I'm an open book, no secrets, no lies, I'm just Liam."

I bit back a laugh.

"Well just Liam, thank you for returning my wallet. I hope I see you around."

"Oh, you will."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Will I now?"

"Yup tomorrow night, dinner. I'll send you a text when I'm on my way."

With that, he gave a wink and turned and walked down the hall.

"How do you even know if I want to go?" I called after him.

He turned around and flashed me a smirk.

"You do! In fact, you can't wait!

"How are you going to text me? I didn't give you my number!"

"It was in your wallet!"

I gapped at him. Cocky, handsome, bastard!

I shut the door loud enough for him to hear.

I leaned on it as I chewed on my thumbnail, smiling.

-*-

The next morning - after an anxious night sleep- I got up and got ready for my dance lesson. Today was my first day teaching and I really didn't want to mess it up. As I got ready my stomach knotted its self up.

I was ten minutes early. Luckily the previous teacher had left a binder full of notes. I flipped through them and caught myself up. Recital was in a few weeks, so the song and dance for the girls were locked down and started. They were almost stage-ready.

They were dancing to Ruth B's 'Lost Boy', a nice slow song perfect for the little girls.

I found a cd the teacher left behind. I put it into the computer and saw that it was the dance, perfect. I projected it onto the screen and followed along.

I was a nice routine, it all flowed together nicley and was easy.

I jumped when I heard gaps and small voiced behind me. The girls were all at the door waiting for me to start their lesson.

I shut off the video and turned to the girls smiling.

"Hi girls, come on in. Let's get started.

-*-

After two hours of a mini class and then a five-hour shift at the cafe, I was beat. I kept envisioning myself in bed and then got sad when I realized that I wasn't there yet.

I through my purse and house keys on the counter and jumped into my bed. After almost no sleep last night and a long day, I was positive I could sleep for a day straight. I was very happy snuggled in my soft blanket and I didn't even care that I was still in my work clothes.

I was half asleep when my phone chirped. I groaned and I patted around my mattress for my phone. Once I found it I read the new message and froze.

Be there in a half-hour for dinner, got the perfect place for dinner. - Liam

I somehow had forgotten about him, about our date - wait no this was not a dream- I never actually said was going out with him. Did I even want to go? He's so full of himself and invasive. I mean sure he was good looking, had such a sexy smile, and from what I could see of his muscles - hmmm- I wonder is his muscles are that big then how big is his - NO! - I would not think about him. Because I was not going out with him.

Yet somehow as I was mentally arguing with myself, my body was started to get ready without me. Instead of my work clothes, I was now in jeans and a gray top.

I gave into my subconscious and finished getting ready. I slipped into some black flats and put on a full face of makeup. I took my hair out from its bun, so now it laid down my back in soft curls. That all took twenty - five minutes so that left me five to freak out. My stomach was jumpy and my hands were all sweaty.

Dad was still at work and would probably get home before me, I sent him a text to let him know I wouldn't be home.

Hey going out tonight, be home before eleven. Love you!

There was a knock at the door and my mind went crazy.

When he knocked again, I shook myself out of it and went to open the door. I bit my lip as I opened the door. Liam was dressed in jeans and a navy blue button-up, which was tucked into his jeans. His hair was combed to that his puffy hair was hanging over his eyes.

"Told you, you couldn't wait for tonight." Liam smiled.

I squinted my eyes and shook my head at him.

"Come on, I made reservations."

I grabbed a jacket and my purse. I locked the door on the way out.

"And where are these reservations?" I asked as I shrugged on my jacket.

"Somewhere special, highly rated."

"Okay, you know you're not really helping you creepy factor right?"

"Creepy? How am I being creepy?" He asked laughing.

I smiled and shook my head.

"Well you randomly told me were going out tonight, and now you won't tell me where we're going. Ergo, creepy."

"It's not creepy, it's a surprise."

My mood fell as the sense of Deja Vu from the conversation I had with Caleb a few days ago, just before...

Liam hailed down a cab and he held the door open for me, like a gentleman.

My mood was now a bit sour. The recent memories flooded my mind and I couldn't help but feel down.

Liam gave my hand a squeeze.

"Are you okay?" he asked sincerely.

I bit at my lips.

"It's nothing." I lied not wanting to spoil his mood too.

"Now I know somethings wrong, please, talk to me."

For a guy I knew for all of five minutes, I felt like I could trust him. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. He seemed like the type of guy that liked to be talked too. Not the kind that barely listened and hoped at the end he be rewarded with sex.

"The other day, when I was at the hospital, I was visiting my friend. I was just thinking about him that's all. His in a coma and I don't know if he's going to wake up."

Liam gave me a supportive smile.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He'll wake up."

I wrapped my arms around myself.

"That's the thing, I'm not sure I want him to wake up."

"Why not?" He asked now confused.

"He's different now. I found out something about of him, this totally different side of him and... and I don't think I can go back to our old friendship."

The taxi pulled over and Liam paid him. We exited back onto the street.

"Follow me. Please continue."

I smiled glad I finally had someone to talk too about this.

"The night he went onto his coma, I saw this side of him. This dark, animalistic monster side of him. He looked like he enjoyed the look on my face when I saw him. I'm kind of glad Hale put him down. Not that I would tell her that."

"And who's Hale?" Liam asked.

"My sister."

"Oh, I didn't know you hade siblings. Your apartment looked a lot smaller than that."

"Oh, she doesn't live with me, she's my half-sister. I have two half-sisters and a half brother. I'm also adopted. I guess you don't know everything stalker." I teased.

Liam cracked a smile.

I was talking so much I hadn't realized that we were now in an apartment complex.

"Where exactly are we having dinner?" I asked.

"My house," Liam answered simply and opened the door.

"Hey Mom we're here!" He called.

I was having dinner with his family? Gods could I pick them. How completely weird was this?

"Our reservation at the restaurant fell through, I improvised."

I nodded and peered through the apartment.

I saw a women in a v - neck and blue jeans, her dark hair was knotted up in a bun as she milled around the kitchen. When she moved I had a view of the oven, where a spoon was stirring itself in a pot.

Magic.

"Jade?" Liam asked placing a warm hand on the small of my back.

I blinked and looked up at his tall frame.

"Your- your-" my hand waved at the pot.

"Yeah?" Liam answered confused. "And so are you. Are you okay?"

I looked at him big eyed.

"How did-"

Liam looped a finger around the chain of my necklace.

"Oh," I bite at my lip as my heart calmed down.

"Jade, are you sure your okay? Your acting like you've never met anther witch before."

I gave a sheepish smile.

"I haven't really. I just found out I was a witch a few days ago."

It was Liam's turn to look surprised.

"You just found out your a witch? What family do you belong to?"

"I don't think I'm supposed to tell you that." I answered in a small voice.

Liam quirked an eyebrow. Before either one of us could say anything else, Liam's mom called from inside.

"For Gods sake are you going to invite the girl in?"

Liam's next question was trapped in his mouth as he shut it and smiled, he moved his arm to let me in.

I went in and approached his mom.

A purple teardrop crystal hung from her neck.

A small girl was sitting on the floor playing with some matchbox cars.

She looked up at me with her wide hazel eyes.

"Your the girl from the photo!" She gasped. "Liam kept starring at you all dayyy!"

"Olive!" Liam hissed. I stifled a giggle.

"Hello Jade, I'm Kristy. It's very nice to met you."

I shook her hand and smiled.

"Please sit, dinners ready."

Dinner was lovely. Kristy loved asking me questions and telling me all about her family. The food was fantastic, I was so full I didn't think I would be able to have dessert.

I was having a great time. Which was surprising considering this was my first time going out with Liam, and we were with his family. Though it wasn't that weird, it actually felt quite normal.

My phone chirped from my pocket, it was my Dad.

Hey kiddo, it's Pete from the Tavern. You should come get your Dad, he had to much to drink.

I shut off my phone frowning. Liam nudged me, catching my attention.

"You all right?" He asked taking a bite of pie.

"Yeah I'm sorry I have to go." I stood up and turned to Kristy. "Thank you so much for dinner it was very nice to met you,"

I collected my things and Kristy smiled at me.

"Your welcome dear, our door is always open,"

Liam met me at the door.

"Hey what's going on?"

I sighed and bite at my thumbnail.

"My dad is trashed at a bar. I have to go get him. I'm sorry I was really having a great time."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, no. It's fine really. I'll see you soon?"

Liam leaned down, coming very close. My body froze.

"Yeah, I'll text you," he said and kissed my cheek and went back inside. My stomach flipped.

~*~

Last call was long past, the tavern was almost empty expect Pete who was drying glasses behind the bar. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hey, " I greeted.

"Hey Kiddo."

"So where is he?"

Almost on cue my dad stumbled out of the bathroom.

"Jade! Your here!"

"Yeah Dad, I'm here," I sighed, rubbing my temple.

"Why are you here? You better not be here to drink because that's ba-" he's sentence was cut short when he stumbled over a chair leg.

"Well here's his phone, and keys," Pete handed them to me. I smiled.

"Thanks."

He gave me a tight lipped smile and nodded.

"Come on Dad," I took his hand.

"Home." I answered opening the door and dragging him out.

"Thanks Pete!" I called over my shoulder.