Chapter 20

"Morning, love."

I said, walking into the kitchen.

"Oh, uh..good morning." She said with a laugh that almost sounded nervous. I gave her a light kiss on the head as I walked past her to the other side of the table. She rubbed her head with a slight smile as I sat down.

"Anything good?" I asked, pointing to the papers in her hands.

"..Not really."

"No?" I asked as she got up.

"I gotta go." She said abruptly.

"You don't leave for another 10 minutes," I said.

"I have to go in early." She said before leaving.

She's acting weird

Could it have been something I did?

~~~

(Y/n's POV)

"You're never in early," Mary-Anne said as I stepped into the diner

"I know."

"Oh! How did the date with the cutie go?" She asked.

"It was..a lot."

"You guys make it to the bedroom?" She asked.

"All we did last night was kiss. I feel all fuzzy..It's new, I haven't been with anyone before." I said.

"Do you want to be with him?" She asked.

"I've wanted to for a while. I guess I'm just nervous," I said.

"That's normal. Have you talked to him yet?"

"Not really "

"Is that why you came in early? Are you avoiding him?" She asked, cutting me off.

"Maybe."

"After you're done here, you're talking to him, okay?"

"Okay, I will," I said.

"Now, if I were you, I would not be avoiding him." She said.

"Oh well, you're not me," I said, smugly.

"If only I were.." She said dramatically.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" I asked with a smile.

"Well, first of all, he's famous. And second, he's cute. I wouldn't mind being his gal." She joked.

"Mary!"

~~~

(Alastor's POV)

As I got back, there were flowers sitting at the front door. Confused, I picked them up. Along with them, there was a note attached.

I'm sorry for last night.

-Mimzy

"The hell?" I said to myself.

"What are those?" Y/n asked as I turned around.

"Oh, you're here. They're from uh..Mimzy."

"What's it say?" She asked, looking at the note as she read it. Her tone shifted.

"Oh." She said, blandly.

"Flowers as an apology?" She said as she stepped inside.

"It was a..nice gesture I suppose.." I said, carrying them with me.

"I guess so." She let out a breath as she turned around.

"Hey, Al, I actually wanted to-"

"Hold that thought," I said, setting down the flowers.

"I'm taking you out!" I said as she tilted her head.

"Out?"

"Yep, on a date!" I said.

"Oh.." She said, she seemed nervous.

"A date?"

"Mhm, tonight."

"T-tonight?" She asked.

"Is that an issue? I guess I can always reschedule for another night.." I said.

"I mean, we did just go out last night." She said.

"Well, I'd hardly call that a date. I barely even got to be around you because of Mimzy." I said.

"But anyway, I know a wonderful restaurant!" I said.

"So, are we going out tonight?" I asked.

"I guess we could-"

"Great!"

"Let's say we leave around..7:00?" I asked.

"Okay, seven." She said as she went upstairs.

Behind her, I followed, until we parted; I left and went into my room to get ready, I assumed she went into hers to do the same.

I was more than excited. It would be our first date. Of course, we aren't together, not yet.

But it was still a date.

Last night, well, that was supposed to be some sort of date, but Mimzy had ruined it. She stole me away from Y/n, made me dance with her for almost the entire night, and kissed me.

It wouldn't be the first time she's done that though. About a year of getting to know her, I was 21. I had taken her out to lunch for fun, and without warning, she kissed me. Perhaps she thought It'd be charming, that it might woo me. I can see why she did it now. It was always a bit obvious that she had feelings for me, but I thought they might have gone away since then. A part of me felt that how I act around Y/n might've also made her see that I don't feel the same way about her. Though, I guess it wasn't obvious enough to Mimzy, not until last night, anyway.

﹌﹌﹌

"Alastor, I'm just going to go out and say it.."

"I love you, Al. I have for the longest time."

"Mimzy.. I-"

Then she kissed me, and Y/n ran.

"Y/n!"

"Wait, please!"

"Alastor, don't worry about her-"

"I don't love you, I'm sorry. I thought I made that clear when I told you how I felt about Y/n."

"Oh, Al, I just thought that it was-"

"What? Just some silly crush?"

"Well, yes.."

"Alastor, I know you better than she does. How do you think she'll react if she finds out you're a killer?"

"She won't find out."

"She won't be okay with it. Quite the opposite."

"Mimzy, I love her. I've kept it hidden this entire time. She won't find out. I'm sorry, truly, but I don't feel the same for you."

"You should know this by now."

﹌﹌﹌

As I should have realized before, that interaction was bound to happen. I just wished that it hadn't happened last night. Though, it seemed to work in my favor with Y/n.

Of course, I kept things hidden occasionally, even from Mimzy. But the way I felt about Y/n was not one of them.

When she returned to the city, I didn't hesitate to talk to Mimzy about it. I told her many things. She was one of the few people I could talk to like that, especially regarding my killings. Husk was also aware of them, but he wasn't too easy to talk to when it came to that topic. But Y/n would be something I'd talk about once in a while. I've always spoken of her quite fondly. Perhaps Mimzy just wished that Y/n and I weren't, and never would be, more than friends.

Mimzy has, for the most part, always acted friendly toward Y/n. I mean, she gave Y/n a place to stay, a job-a temporary one, but still a job- and just overall friendship. Mimzy seemed to-at points- have mixed feeling about Y/n. But I figured it was because she hadn't really gotten to know her and that she was new. I should've taken notice of the look she'd give when I would talk about Y/n. Sure, it was subtle. But it was there. I just brushed it off as nothing to really worry about.

After last night, though, I wouldn't have expected flowers. Y/n seemed almost..jealous at the sight of them. If what I said to her last night was any indication, she has nothing to worry about when it comes to Mimzy. But the look she gave was rather strange. I don't see her jealous very often at all.

Instead of a suit like last night, I wore a red pinstripe vest over a button-up and black slacks. A little while later, there was a knock on my door.

"Are you ready?" She asked, standing in a red dress, similar to the one she had worn the night before.

"You manage to look stunning in everything," I said, quietly.

"What did you say?" She asked as I cleared my throat.

"Oh, nothing."

"But, yes, I'm ready. I take it that you are as well?" I asked.

"Mhm, is this alright or should I wear something else? " She asked, tugging at it.

"No, no, this is fine, dear," I assured her.

"Should we get going then?" She asked.

"A fine idea." I chuckled as I took her hand, it was somewhat shaky.

I thought she'd calm down after a few minutes but she didn't. She was nervous, that much was obvious.

"Something wrong, darling?" I asked as we walked.

"No, nothing's wrong." She said, her free hand picking at the skin of her fingers.

"You're clearly..troubled," I said.

As I tried to push her for answers, she remained silent. She stayed that way up until we sat down at the restaurant.

"It's..nice." She said quietly.

"Hm?" I asked.

"I suppose it is quite nice in here, isn't it?" I said, looking around.

"I meant, what you're doing."

"Al.. what's this for? We didn't need  to go out." She asked.

"Well, of course, we didn't need to. I wanted to take you out." I said.

"Is it a crime to want to treat my lovely lady to a nice meal?" I asked.

She went to speak but stopped as a waitress took our orders. After she left, though, she continued.

"Your lovely lady?" She asked.

"No, you're right, we aren't exactly courting yet," I said. She shifted in her seat as she looked away.

"What's wrong? This is what you want, is it not?" I asked.

"Have I  done something wrong?" I asked, leaning closer.

"Alastor, have you been with someone before?" She asked, catching me off guard.

"No..I haven't. Why do you ask?" I said, sitting up straight.

"You seem so calm." She said.

"You certainly weren't earlier," I added.

"What do you want us to be?" She asked, staring straight at me.

"What do you want us to be?" I asked her.

"Alastor, I like you, I really do." She blurted out before falling silent again.

"Darling, I do too. I haven't exactly kept it a secret." I chuckled.

"I think I'm just nervous." She said covering her face with her hands.

"We could..take things slow?" I suggested as she moved her hands away. She smiled and nodded her head.

"That would be nice."

A little while later, our food arrived. She ordered roast chicken with a side of salad. Me, pork chops along with salad as well. I didn't normally eat pork chops but I figured I'd order it anyway.

"Not too shabby for a first date, I hope?" I said as she giggled.

"No, this is fine." She said as she took a bite of her food.

~~~

By the time we left, it was around 8:45. Her hand in mine, we walked back.

I decided it would be best if I waited a little until asking to start courting her, seeing how she wanted to take things slow. It wasn't exactly my brightest idea to just rush right into things with her, as much as I wanted to. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but now that I think about it, that's probably what had her so nervous. I was too quick to bring up the topic of courting. I confessed to her last night about how I felt, kissed her, and then said how I wanted to date her. Besides, I still have to figure out this whole dating thing myself, so taking things slow seems like the best choice.

"I hope the food was to your liking," I said.

"It was great, but really, we didn't have to go out." She said.

"Nonsense. In fact, we should go out to eat more often." I said as I heard a quiet "Meow".

"Al, look." She said, pointing to a stray cat. She let go of my hand as she walked over to it and kneeled down.

"Darling, don't touch it," I said, following her.

"It's fine, see?" She said as the small cat nudged its head on her hand.

"Who knows what it has? It could bite." I said, standing behind her.

"Don't act so worried, it's not going to bite. Here, look." She said, pulling me down with her.

"Pet it." She said. Hesitantly, I moved my hand closer to it. Before I was able to touch the thing, the cat began to hiss. Taking back my hand, I stood back up, pulling Y/n up with me.

"See? Bad cat. Let's go before it bites one of us." She whined as I took her hand. She said her goodbyes as we walked.

~~~

"I suppose you'll want to be getting to bed?" I asked as we got back to the house.

"Today was fun, but yes, I'm getting tired." She said. She raised a brow as I grabbed her hand once again.

"Let me walk you to your room, we're headed the same way," I said as she smiled and followed me up the stairs.

"This is my stop." She said as we stood outside of her room. I raised her hand and kissed it, as I did, her face changed.

"What? I can't kiss your hand?" I asked as she smiled.

"No, it's not that.."

"Thank you for tonight." She said.

"Of course, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and the food," I said as she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight." She said before going into her room and shutting the door. I held my cheek as I walked to mine.

A good way to end the night.

At least, I thought that was the end of my night.

After hearing a shout, I woke up and shot out of my bed. Looking at the time, It was three in the morning. I rushed into Y/n's room.

"What's wrong?" I asked, opening the door. She looked up at me, blankets wrapped around her.

"Nightmares?" I asked. I walked over there as she nodded.

"Would you like to sleep in my room tonight?" I asked.

"Mhm." She said as I picked her up and took her back to mine. I rested her on one side of the bed as I laid on the other. Moments later, she was lying on my chest.

"Y/n?" I asked as she stared at me.

"Thank you"

"Of course," I said.

"Are you sure it's okay I sleep in here?" She asked.

"Yes, it's no problem," I said. She waited a few moments before speaking again.

"I'm sorry.."

"There's no need to say sorry-"

"For earlier, I mean. I was acting so weird. I haven't really done this before, I'm new to this." She said.

"So am I, and quite frankly, I'm a bit nervous too." I chuckled.

"I guess we'll just have to be nervous together then." She said.

"I suppose so," I said as she pulled me into a kiss.

"I thought we were taking things slow?" I said.

"This is slow, it's only a kiss." She giggled.

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Hello! This took a bit longer than I wanted it to, sorry for the wait. (' ᴗ｀)...

Word count: 2255