The next two weeks after that I didn’t have time to go say hello to Edeline; Eli just kept me too busy with training sessions. Something had gotten into him, and I couldn’t tell if it was the culmination of finding only dead end after dead end, or maybe he had found something new and it was horrible.

     I ducked his swing and tried to lash out a punch. He caught my hand and twisted my arm, wrenching me to the mat beneath us. I hit the mat with a muffled groan, rolling over and away to get up again. Eli simply shoved me down.

     “We’re done for the day” he said simply, holding out his hand, “You need to get some rest and heal those bruises,” Eli huffed a laugh, “They’re starting to build up more than the muscle.”

     I grabbed his hand with a tight smile and let out a groan as I pulled myself up. Every muscle in my body ached. I nodded to him, rubbing the back of my neck.

     On most days this would only be halfway done, but I was grateful for the change. I caught the water bottle Eli tossed to me as he shifted through his duffel. Catching it I gulped down the water. It wasn’t cold, but that didn’t matter to me.

     After showering away all the sweat in the locker rooms and changing into fresh clothes, I hefted the duffel over my shoulder and with a salute to Eli, I wandered out of the building.

     I considered what I would do with the rest of my day and checked my phone. I smiled. The bookstore was opening; the one Edeline ran. I quickened my pace despite my protesting muscles and made it fifteen minutes before one, the opening time.

     I lingered outside across the street watching the doorway trying to push myself to go up and knock. Wouldn’t it be awkward? I had kind of just left her there after she had agreed to let me help. Maybe she was thankful that I hadn’t showed up yet.

     Raking a hand through my hair I clutched duffle on my lap as I sat down on a bench. Perhaps I shouldn’t have come. Catching sight of motion in the doorway, I could barely make out Edeline seemingly tidying things up. Pushing in chairs and wiping down the window. I bit my lip as I watched, feeling a bit like a stalker.

     As soon as it opened I would approach her, I promised myself, nodding as I tried to set the challenge. A few people began to mill about and she finally opened the door, flipping the sign on the glass. As people walked in she greeted each person with a smile and a polite word.

     That could be me, I thought. She could be greeting me with the smile and kind word. I remember the line I had drawn myself in the sand but I couldn’t bring myself to stand up. I felt my cheeks redden in embarrassment and I stood to leave. I was brave enough to train to fight vampires but I couldn’t even be brave enough to face a girl I wanted to talk to.

     I walked home feeling a little dejected. The small bits of art I had hung on the walls of the small apartment cheered me up, though. I had been using those paychecks they had been giving me to decorate the small place. I had a few pieces from local artists, one a skyline, the others bright colored abstract pieces.

     Spending the rest of the time flicking through Netflix, I made myself a promise to visit the local library. I had to do something more at home than watch TV. The thought paused uncomfortably in mind my mind as I considered the bookstore as well. I flushed despite myself and tried to lose myself in the mindless binging.

     I woke up on my couch to the chime of my phone receiving a text. I checked the clock; it said nine in the morning. I panicked a moment before realizing this was already my day off.

     The text read from Eli, and with the amount of smiley emojis I knew this was the most excited he had been in a while.

-You’re being added as an understudy to my assignment!!! :D-

     I grinned. I was getting close to being a proper hunter, and an understudy was just a few steps away from that. Understudies were the ones that followed the hunting party from a distance, or observed the investigation from a distance.

-Really???- I asked, -But I thought I still had a lil to go bf I reached that?

     Technically understudies were only assigned as almost a final exam for apprentice hunters, a way for them to decide what part of the ‘underworld’ to specialize in.

-Pfft, u’ll be fine. I convinced Magister bc we don’t have that many other hunters to spare for me-      My smile widened, and I shoved myself out of bed, unable to lie still from the excitement.

     My fingers flew over the small keyboard as I tapped out a response.

-Should I meet u there now? I can be there in less than an hour-

     Eli’s response was quick, -Nah, take your day off, I don’t want u tired for the mission- I chuckled, what was I going to do with myself today?

     Eli wrote again, -I gtg, enjoy your day off lol- I shook my head, rolling my eyes as I tossed the phone onto the crumpled duvet on my bed. I bet Eli had never taken a day off in his life. That man was driven by a will of steel, and if there was something to do, he was on it.

     I snorted, where did he get the time to get laid so often? I’d been listening to the locker room talk after training, and Eli, apparently, had a reputation.

     Unintentionally my mind wandered to Edeline. Her laugh rang in my ears and a smile curled my lips. She had a lovely laugh. Threads of anxiety wound around my chest, tightening my lungs, but I took a breath, unwillingly to let anything ruin my day. I should go to her shop, say hi or something.

     I bit my lip as I walked to the bathroom, opening the door with a click. I glanced at myself in the mirror. Apparently from what my mom said, I looked like my dad, same chiseled face shape and straight yellow hair, but I had gotten her blue eyes.

     I ran a hand through my hair, pulling it back from my forehead in more or less a messy quiff. Good enough. I was presentable.

     Well, if I were to go to the bookstore, I was presentable. I shifted on my feet, staring down my reflection.