Part timer I would understand but for how long? I had never noticed him. I had come to Danny's everyday of the week if I could and suddenly this guy works at the gallery and the cafe? I hated coincidences, they made it seem like something wasn't meant to happen, but they are. He was...let's put the word in.
His voice is a contradiction—smooth yet unsettling, like velvet wrapped around steel. There's a softness in the way he speaks, an almost androgynous lilt that makes it hard to place, but the weight behind his words is undeniable. His tone is never rushed, always measured, as if every syllable has been deliberately chosen before leaving his lips. It's deep, but not in the booming, dominant way one would expect. Instead, it's hauntingly fluid, carrying the elegance of something too perfect to be real. He seemed unreal.
There's an eerie hollowness to it, like someone who speaks because they have to, not because they want to. No warmth, no true emotion,just an echo of what should be there. When he whispers, it's like cold breath against the skin, unnervingly close yet intangible. His words hold an almost hypnotic cadence, a lullaby from someone who does not dream. And when he laughs, if he ever does,it's brief, empty, the kind of sound that sends a shiver down the spine because it doesn't quite reach his dead eyes.
Whoever the hell you are Quincy, I really didn't like you already. Your aura wasn't giving it and it for sure wasn't making me less uneasy. You sat down opposite me and I could see it. The way your eyes didn't shift away from me and your posture it was like you were around someone you already knew. But I don't know you, hell you could have disappeared in the background where you seem to have enjoyed lurking.
"I explained to you last time about the stalker I seemed to have." You gesture for me to continue so I'll continue but at least seem interested. "I don't want the police involved but I want it to stop."
"Contradicting, V." What the hell did you mean now, mister know it all. As good as your voice sounded to my ears those weren't the words to back up how much I like it.
"Contradicting how?"
"If you knew anything about a stalker you'd know this, which seems like you have a stranger stalker. Luckily for you, stranger stalkers seem to be less dangerous than domestic ones. Contradicting because you want it to end but you won't tell the people who can help you." There it was that tone. Like you're proud of the fact that I'm seriously getting freaked out or do you enjoy seeing teenage girls suffer you bastard?
"Are you here to judge my intellect or help?"
"V, if I don't judge you intellectually how do you expect me to help you. Because all I'd ask is what did this so called stalker do to have you so shaken?"
"He is documenting my life, Quincy. Anyone would a sense of privacy would want it intact." You were staring. Why? What have I said so shocking that you had to stare at me like that and did the side of your mouth just tilt up?
"Some people have a thing for having a stranger watching them."
"What are you implying? That I secretly enjoying this?"
"Venice, the type of ink this guy or woman, let's not forget about the ladies, is something called invisible ink." Did I just get ignored? "This ink has several ways of being activated and the most common are water and fire activation as you did. All I'll tell you is....I find it fascinating that someone can even make up such fine details in this drawing with such ink."
That was besides my worried you could use sand for all I care, but why me? I can't ask you that. You were just asked to help me find his drawing patterns the rest was up to me really.
"I do have a question for you V, are you scared or curious?" I couldn't answer that. I don't know what exactly I was feeling to tell you for sure I was sure what it was.
"A bit of both."
"Then you're so called stalker isn't doing what they're supposed to do." Huh? That's an interesting statement coming from a guy I had never met. Supposed to do? What are they supposed to do exactly? If I didn't know any better I'd say that you had a whole ste to step guide about how to do that. Worse thing is that you seemed too nonchalant to plague someone's life like that.
"How about we meet at 8 at your place?"
"How do you know where exactly I live?"
"Aren't neighbours supposed to know where we each live?" That was strike three? My neighbour? I mean I never go out to chat them up or anything but what the hell? We were neighbours? Really now. I was going to chap you up more but my phone buzzed from between us it was Jace. What could he be calling me for on a weekend.
"Go, I'll wait." I smile again, I could just leave and have you wait the whole day. I picked up the phone feeling exhausted, this guy exhausted me, but the sex was good. That was the only thing keeping me in this bubble.
"Jace what's up?"
"Hey, we agreed tonight. You were going to go for the bonfire with Felicity and Jenn?" Oh hell no. It was today? Fuck. I really was not in the mood. Which brainless idiot moved it to this weekend?! I just had to agree if the girls were coming then I couldn't miss it. I didn't have a dress for that thing. It was an amazing beautiful even but still like, it was rich kids bullshit us ordinary folk are drugged into.
"I'll be there. You'll pick me up or I'll meet you there?"
"What kind of a guy would I be to let my date drive there on my own? I'll pick you up by eight." Great I was never going to get anywhere with this case, but at least I didn't have to be around Mr self absorbed. I walked back inside and you were on your phone looking up when I came in.
"You look displeased."
"Sorry we can't do tonight. I have a school event and I promised to go." In short I'd rather be anywhere but here listening to you judge my choices in life.
"Alright. We can discuss for another day. But the longer you drag this on the bolder they always become so the choice is yours Venice." He gets up and leaves after that. Fuck you.