Droplets

“Where are we going?” Roxie asked as Walker drove in silence to the edge of their little town of Myrtle.

“Just a drive, mouse,” he answered, “Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Oh, I need to worry,” Roxie mocked, “I'm with you.”

“Well, that's true,” he teased, “I don't like your den, you don't like mine..”

“You hate me, Walker.”

“That is also true.”

“Why?”

“You're beneath me.”

Like she needed to feel more depressed. Sensing her demeanor change, Walker opened his mouth to say something funny, but decided against it. Let the help squirm.

“Your mother does a really job at cleaning the house,” Walker said, “But she sure as hell likes to leave when it's time to go.”

“Do you blame her?”

“What? Does she say we treat her poorly?”

“You do.”

“I don't.”

“OK, then your father and mother do.”

“That's probably true.”

“Mingling with the help tonight, Walker?”

“I like to piss my dad off once in a while.”

“Is that where you got the bruise?”

“I said don't fucking ask me questions, mouse.”

“Then don't kidnap me.”

“Fuck, I should tape your mouth shut.”

“You're probably into that kinky shit.”

“You aren't?”

Roxie didn't answer. The less he knew about her the better.

“You going to the ball?”

“Not now.”

“Oh, right....your cheating boyfriend,-”

“He was my ex anyway.”

“Your ex-cheating-boyfriend was going to take you.”

“Was is the key word,” Roxie said, “I have better things to do than go to a silly ball where my mate will be.”

“What if he's there?”

“Then he can choose someone else.”

“That's not how that works, rodent.”

“I don't care,” Roxie shrugged, “I'd rather watch water boil or paint dry or ice melt or,-”

“Stop. Shit, I get it.”

They drove to the edge of town and stopped to overlook the river's edge at Gilded Creek.

“Why are we here?” Roxie asked.

“It's as far as I am going to go with you.”

Roxie snorted, “Typical. I thought you were going to show me a good time.”

Walker licked his lips and turned to her, his silver eyes catching her gaze.

“No, I'm not having sex with you.”

“Why not?”

“Ew.”

“Am I ugly?”

“Inside, yes.”

“Oh, so I'm fucking gorgeous on the outside?”

“I didn't say that at all.”

“You're really deflating my ego.”

“I doubt it,” Roxie said as she watched a family of deer move across the river, “You're too full of yourself.”

“You'd like to be full of me.”

“Stop it, Walker,” Roxie turned to face him, “Three years in this shit town and you've been nothing but a thorn in my side and I guess I've just been too out of your league for you to even cared if I lived or died so now graduation is coming up and I can get the hell out of here.”

“Aww shucks.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“Take me home or let me walk,” Roxie demanded, “You're boring me.”

Walker chuckled, “You're a snarky little mouse.”

“Look over there,” Roxie said, pointing to the deer, “Aren't they majestic?”

Walker watched as her arm reached across him to motion towards the family of deer. Her scent caught him off guard and he felt his pulse quicken.

“What perfume are you wearing?”

“I don't wear perfume,” Roxie said, leaning back in the seat, “Why?”

“N-nothing,” Walker stumbled, “What do you do for fun?”

“Hide from you.”

“Seriously.”

“I don't know. I like to paint.”

“What like art and shit?”

“Yeah, like art and shit,” Roxie laughed, “Something like that.”

Walker pursed his lips together, “Do you ever paint portraits of people?”

“I have,” Roxie said, “Why?”

“Do you want to make some money?”

“Uh, I don't know..”

“Legit business deal,” Walker said, his voice serious, “I hate your guts, but guess what? If I can see your work, I want to commission a painting of my mom.”

“Why?”

“Don't ask questions.”

Roxie breathed in deeply and shook her head.

“No, you've pulled too many nasty jokes on me, Walker.”

“This isn't a joke,” he said, “I swear on that deer family.”

“Well, I don't know....”

“If I like your other work, I will pay you and make my dad give your mom a raise.”

“If this is some kind of twisted prank,-”

“Let me take you home and see your work.”

“I thought you couldn't mingle with the help?”

“I can't, but I like to break the rules every once in a while.”

Roxie agreed as long as Walker behaved himself. He said he couldn't make promises,but he'd try.

When they reached her home, Walker knew the neighborhood well. Low-income, working class vampires as far away from his prestigious side as they could get.

“This is actually a nice house,” Walker said when they pulled into to Roxie's driveway, “This is one of the older ones, right?”

“My coven is here tonight, Walker, and they don't care who your father is so if you don't want to leave here in a body bag, please behave.”

Walker smirked, “You're kinda hot when you think you can tell me what to do.”

“Let's go,” Roxie said, rolling her eyes and grabbing her bag from the car.

The coven was in the back of the house with her mother so Roxie made sure she was able to sneak in through the side entrance.

“They can sniff us out,” Walker whispered, his body close to Roxie's. He loomed over her, “Damn, how short are you?”

“I am not short, you are just too tall,” Roxie quipped, “They can't smell either one of us. Perks of having the ability to hide my scent and yours.”

Walker whirled her around and smiled.

“So, you wanted me to know you were hiding behind that tree then, little mouse. Is that it? It's OK to say you're a little turned on by the enemy.”

“I won't say it.....”

Roxie said, turning around and walking away.

“But I won't deny it, either.”