Chapter 19

It had been almost a month since Alex's attack. Getting up seemed like an impossible task. I didn't fall asleep until 3:00 in the morning, I couldn't stop thinking about everything. I suppose I know how Alex was feeling now.

I haven't had a good night's sleep in what felt like forever. Not to mention, the image of the dead man was burned into my mind, I couldn't get it out of my mind no matter how much I tried.

Even when I did manage to fall asleep, nightmares filled my head. Visions of a man with a blacked-out face holding a knife plagued by dreams and reminded me that despite my hope, the chances of finding this killer were slim to none, just like Alastor had said. If they were ever going to, they would've found the killer by now, right? The figure in my head only brought the fear to light that he'd never be found and that I could be next. That anyone could be next.

Despite not wanting to, I decided to get up. I went to stretch, which led me to accidentally fall out of bed. I laid on the floor for a good minute before getting ready—a perfect start to my day. After getting dressed and fixing myself up, I headed downstairs.

"Good morning," I said as I walked into the kitchen where Alastor was.

"Ah, good morning." He said, turning his head.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked, walking over to him.

"Honestly? I slept great." He said.

"What about you, darling?" He asked as I sighed.

"I kept having nightmares about that man that we found, and the killer running loose..I barely got any rest." I said.

"I'm sorry..I'm sure they'll go away soon." He said.

"Hopefully."

"Well, you look nice today," I said with a smile, changing the subject.

"Thank you." He chuckled.

"Now, you on the other hand..you look like you just rolled out of bed, dear." He said.

"That's because I did," I said.

"Oh my, well, you might want to go tidy yourself up before you head to work, sweetheart." He said with a smirk.

"I did."

"You may want to do it again." He said as he pulled a piece of fuzz out of my hair.

"No time. I'm gonna be late, I'll be back later." I said after looking at the clock.

"Wait! Aren't you going to eat something?" He asked as I shook my head.

"No time," I said as I ran out the door and made my way to the Starbell diner.

(Alastor's POV)

I watch her as she bolted out of the door. I still had a good 15-20 minutes until it was time for me to head out as well. I sat down at the table and took my time reading the papers as I sipped my coffee. Midway through reading, the phone went off. I got up and answered.

"Hello, Alastor LeBlanc speaking."

"Alastor! It's Mimzy. You busy at the moment?"

"I suppose not, though, I do have to get going to work in a bit.."

"Well, what's going on?"

"Oh, nothin' much, hun. I just was wondering if you could stop over tonight, have a few drinks, and maybe dance. Been a while, and I'd love to see you~"

"Haha! That's a tempting offer..how about I see if I've got anything going on? If I'm free, I'll make sure to stop by."

"Sounds great, I hope to see you later. Bye, Al!"

"Goodbye, Mimzy."

I ended the call after saying goodbye. The more I thought about it, the more I considered actually visiting. Perhaps having a night out is exactly what's needed for both Y/n and me. Maybe it could take her mind off of everything that's been going on, maybe take her mind off of the nightmares she had last night. I decided to head out after finishing up. On my way to the station, I made sure to stop over at the diner first.

"Y/n?" I called as I walked in. After taking someone's order, she walked over.

"Al, what are you doing here? Don't you have to be at work?" She asked.

"I wanted to ask you something before I got there," I said as she raised a brow.

"Mimzy asked if I could come and visit her speakeasy tonight, I wanted to know if you'd like to go as well," I said.

"I'd like that." She said with a smile.

"Then it's settled! I'll see you later then, dear." I said before I left.

(Y/n's POV)

"So.."

"Who's that hot piece of ass?" Mary-Anne asked, my coworker and friend.

"Quit that!" I said with a small laugh.

"No, but seriously, I swear I recognize his voice." She said.

"His name is Alastor," I said as I went to the back to give their order.

"Wait, like the radio host?" She asked, following.

"You gotta be kidding me..and he just asked you out on a date!" She said.

"Not a date, just a hangout," I said.

"Well, how do you even know him?" She asked.

"We basically grew up together," I said.

"What? And you didn't tell me? Shame on you!" She said, dramatically as I snickered.

"I didn't think to bring it up," I said.

"You like him, don't you?" She asked as I froze.

"He's a friend," I said.

"I saw the way he looked at you." She whispered.

"What?"

"Anyways..tell me how the date goes!" She said, hurrying off.

After I got done work, I took the money I had with me and stopped at a few stores, I may have splurged just a little. I went out and bought a beautiful new red dress, some red earrings to match, and a new necklace. The dress alone was stunning, but I think the accessories added just the touch it needed. When I got back from shopping, it was about 6:45.

"Y/n?" He called as I walked inside.

"Yes, I'm back," I said.

"What's all that, dear?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"I'm going to take a shower-"

"Don't be too long, darling. We'll be leaving here around 9:00." He said.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"That's when Mimzy asked that I show up, she called me back a bit ago." He said.

"Just..you?" I asked.

"Oh..well, I suppose I did forget to mention you'd be coming as well. But I'm sure it'll be fine." He said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Mimzy likes you, you're friends, arent you? It'll be fine." He assured me.

"Well, I'll be ready in time. I promise." I said before heading upstairs.

When I got up to my room I took the dress and set it on the bed for when I got out of the shower and set the jewelry onto the dresser. After washing my hair and body, I sat there for a little, soaking in the water.

If Mimzy wanted me to go with, wouldn't she have said so? There must be a reason that she only asked for Al, right? I know they're close friends but she would usually ask me to tag along with these things, so why not this time?

Maybe I'm thinking too much into this.

With questions flooding my mind and my body dripping wet, I stepped out and dried off. Drying my hair and body, I slipped my dress on, then the jewelry. I did my hair and got all dolled up before heading downstairs.

"Darling, it's time to-Oh.." He stared for a moment as I stepped down the stairs.

"Good, you're ready. Come now, we wouldn't want to be late. After all, I told her I wouldn't be." He said, taking my hand and leading me outside.

"I"

Him

She just wants him there, not me.

"Let's go then," I said as we stepped out of the house.

When we got there, Mimzy was overjoyed..at the sight of him at least. She quickly swept him away.

"So, Alastor..you didn't tell me she'd be joining you, us," Mimzy said, walking away with him.

"Well I didn't think you'd mind, and she seemed like she needed some time away from the house, to get out and go somewhere that wasn't work or the store," Alastor said.

"I suppose it's not too much of a problem, she can hang out with Caleb while we chat." She said.

"Caleb?" He asked.

"Yes, he decided to come as well. He heard about it from a friend, I didn't really think to tell him. Were you the friend that informed him?" She asked.

"Dear god, no."

"But I don't really want him around-" He said as he began to turn his head.

"Don't worry about her, just worry about us!" He said, redirecting him.

~~~

After he got taken, I sat down at the bar.

"Why aren't you with Al?" Husk asked.

"He got stolen." I pouted.

"Stolen?"

"By Mimzy," I said.

"Why hello there. Aren't you a looker?" Someone said to me as they sat down.

"Excus-Oh, Caleb! I'm glad to see you're here." I said, giving him a hug.

"As am I." He said as I pulled away.

"Isn't Alastor usually glued to you? Where's he at?" He asked.

"Not here, not here with me, at least. He's with Mimzy right now." I said.

"It's not really much of a surprise, he's been a bit..distant, lately," I added.

"Really?"

"I'm sure it's just because of everything that's going on, it'll probably pass soon, I just have to wait," I said.

"Well, I would never be distant..or leave." He said with a smirk.

"Did you drink before I got here?" I joked.

"No, but we could drink together. Unless you've got current plans with..him?" He asked, looking over to Alastor; who was dancing with Mimzy.

"No, a drink sounds nice."

~~~

"Mimzy..I think maybe I should check on Y/n. She seems to be pounding back quite a few..." Alastor said as they danced.

"Oh come on, don't be like that. She's having fun with Caleb, let her drink, she'll be fine." Mimzy said as Alastor stopped.

"Mimzy, I brought her here for a reason, you know. I did want to spend time with her as well." He said.

"I know, I know. And you can in a little. Just hang out with me for a bit, okay? You literally live with her, spend some time with me for once."  She said. Though, annoyed, he obliged.

~~~

"I'll be back in a bit, alright?" Caleb said as I nodded.

"Yeah, okay. Don't be too long." I said as he walked away from the bar.

"You might wanna slow down with the drinks," Husk advised.

"I'll be fine-"

"I'm serious. Al's too busy with Mimzy right now, I don't know if he'll even be able to walk you home, and I'm definitely not." He said.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine, Husk. Don't you worry your pretty little head." I said as he rolled his eyes.

"Hey, doll. What's your name?" A man asked, sitting down beside me. A man I'd never seen before.

"Y/n, why?"

"Saw you sitting here, I was waiting til' that guy left so I could have you all to myself." He said, grabbing my hand and kissing it. I chuckled.

"Oh my, how long you must have been waiting," I said as he let go.

"So, what? Is he your boyfriend, are you courting?" He asked.

"No, no. He's a friend of mine, nothing more." I giggled.

"Well then, I'm in luck." He said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Al and Mimzy walk away.

"S-sorry, I just gotta check something real quick, alright?" I said before following them.

"Alastor, I'm just going to go out and say it.." Mimzy said. I followed them to the back room, I stood nearby. Watching and listening, I almost felt like a stalker.

"I love you, Al. I have for the longest time." She said, shocking me.

I mean, not the fact that she liked him, no. The fact that she'd said it to his face, it never seemed like she was going to, she always seemed a bit nervous when the topic was brought up before. I hated bringing it up because, well, I don't want her to have him.

I do, Me.

I want to have him

"Mimzy..I-"

She kissed him, they kissed.

A moment later he looked at me before I left, calling my name, telling me to stop and wait. But I didn't listen. I ran outside, fed up with him.

"Y/n, wait, please." He said as he caught up with me.

"Let me explain." He said as I looked at him.

"What is there to explain, Alastor? I saw it with my own eyes, the whole thing!" I said.

"I-I.."

"You know what, Al? I'm done, I'm so done." I said.

"Done with..?"

"You, with all of this, with all your shit!" I said, raising my voice.

"Darling-"

"I bought a new dress, earrings, and a necklace. All so I could look nice for you! And what did I get? Not a thing. And now I'm standing here feeling stupid because I was in there, trying to get you to notice me, while she was in there confessing her love to you!" I said as his smile began to fade.

"Well, darling, you didn't seem so focused on me while you were over there flirting with that man." He said.

"I just wanted to get some sort of reaction from you, to get you to notice me! That's why I got this dumb dress and this dumb jewelry. I don't even like whoever that guy is, I've never even seen him before."

"I'm sorry, to get me to notice you?" He asked.

"Yes, Al. To get you to notice me. I understand you might feel a bit scared with all the killings-"

"Scared? My dear, I think you're mistaken. I'm not scared of this killer." He said.

"Well, you've been distant. You've been distant, Alastor! I thought maybe it was because of the killer, because of what happened to Alex, but if it's not because of that..well..I don't know." I said.

"Distant?" He asked.

"Yes, distant. And today when you asked me to come along with you, I was ecstatic. So yes, I may have spent a bit of money in order to look nice, to maybe finally get your attention. Though, it seems Mimzy got it first." I said, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Sweetheart, I don't love Mimzy. Not like that-"

"Yeah, right. You kissed her!" I shouted.

"Dear, she kissed me." He said.

"And if you would've stayed, you would've seen that I pushed her right away and told her off. I don't love her." He said before sighing.

"Look..you're right. I have been a little..distant." He admitted, stepping closer to me as he brushed away a tear.

"And I'm sorry for that. Alex's attack may have had an effect on me."

"Moreover, I know I've been a little..preoccupied as well." He said.

"But not once did you ever leave my mind." He said, grabbing my hands, causing me to look him in the eyes.

"And you didn't need to do this, buy all this stuff, get all dolled up so that I'll notice you, so that you'd get my attention."

"You had it from the start."

He said as he leaned in closer. His lips mere inches from my own, I step back.

"Hey, what are you two doing out here? Come back in." Caleb said as he came out.

"We were just..talking. We'll be right in." I said, he nodded and walked back in, I went to follow him.

"Wait," Alastor said, taking hold of my hand again.

"Didn't you..isn't this what you wanted?" He asked, his forehead pressed to mine.

"I-I.. let's just talk about this later, okay?" I said as he agreed.

~~~

I sighed as my heels clicked on the floor.

"What a night," I said as we made it back inside, home sweet home.

"Yes, what a night." He said, moments later, he spun me around.

"So, what did you really mean by "Talk about it later"?" He asked.

"I-..I meant we could talk about it." I said, moving out of his arms, my face red.

"Dear, isn't clear how I feel about you?" He said.

"Besides, I have a pretty good idea about how you feel for me." He added.

"Al..what about Mimzy and Caleb?" I asked.

"What about them?" He asked.

"Who knows how they'll react, what they'll say.." I said.

"Who cares? I certainly don't." He said, walking forward.

"And you shouldn't either." He said, grabbing my chin, forcing me to look up.

"So..can we try this again?" He asked, a slight smile on my face, I nodded.

Then he kissed me.

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Hello to all! I hope you enjoyed this one! ♡＾▽＾♡

Word count: 2645