Glowing in the Dark

Letting out a sarcastic laugh, Roland shook his head. “Well, damn, you’ve got me all figured out then, huh?” 

“Not really. You can’t please everyone–too many people out there.” 

“I said what I said,” Roland let out plainly, followed by a shrug of his shoulders. 

“That is what I was told.” Phillip grinned. “What a pleasant coincidence.” 

“well i’m from chicago so this isn’t the biggest town i’ve been in but i guess it’s big enough,” she replied. “ain’t it? come on. it’s this way,” she replied, walking in the direction of the hotel. “i’m evangeline by the way.”

“Yes. That is what I said, isn’t it?” He let out cockily, mirroring her stance, his arms crossed and all. 

“you know it’s probably not the best idea to go around calling supernaturals its in a town that’s packed full of them,” she told him.

Roland couldn’t help but roll his eyes at this information. “Of course, should expect nothing less but that. Those things are beyond full of themselves–it’s almost laughable.” 

evangeline raised her eyebrows. “oh? is that right?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“And it’s a big town.” The vampire laughed under his breath while he straightened up. “Mind showing me where exactly it is?” 

“is it? i had no idea,” she replied sarcastically with a chuckle. “i guess i could that. happens to be on my way.”

Roland couldn’t help but smile, the smallest of chuckles passing his lip. “Confident, nice. I respect that,” he paused to look around. “So, does anyone know who decided to put up this explosive barrier?” 

she tilted her head. “that i am. and you should,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “nope. not a clue. though i have a feeling the big players around town would have already kicked it’s butt if they did.”

“Alright. Could you point me and my friend here in the direction of a hotel?” 

“there’s one in town.”

“So… you’re saying I’m stuck here?” Roland asked, nodding slowly before taking a brief pause. “You know, I can’t decide whether I want to laugh or hit you. But hey, I guess we all have our ways of coping.” 

“that would be the nature of the exploding barrier surrounding the town,” she replied. “yeah hit me and see what happens.”

“Oh, sweetheart, it’ll take a lot more than that to get a read on me.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! No shit this place is weird, it’s like Under The Dome with explosives, but horror movie characters? It’s getting worse.” And that wasn’t something she could easily shrug off. She had to live here. “Okay, so she either wants to kill me, or she’s in love with me. That’s two very drastic sides of the scale and I’m not entirely sure which would be worse.”

“i’d honestly probably see that movie. but yeah someone’s just being dramatic with that one. and i’m not sure a drama king or queen with that much power is really something i’m comfy cozy with,” she said knowingly. if they could do that easily, what else were they capable of? “well you know what they say. there’s a fine line between love and hate. but no neither of those seem pretty comforting.”

“It’s probably better at this point to at least know. I promise, it’s a lot easier to defend yourself if you’re expecting it.” Not that she was ever expecting Freddie Kreuger. “Tell me about it. Now I’m lead to believe that she’s either plotting my demise and therefore trying to lower my guard, or she thinks my life is going to shit and pities me enough to finally remember.”

“i mean i’m no stranger to weird and crazy. but i was not expecting horror movie characters. thought i guess it’s a once in a lifetime experience to kick chucky in the face,” she replied with a shrug. “you should definitely watch her. maybe she just didn’t wanna remember in case you died or something.”

“Trust me, it can definitely get crazier.” The worst part? Claire was speaking from experience. “I’d say it’s been a good six years, at least. I tried a couple random things in the beginning, but this-” She gestured with her coffee. “Has been my go-to for at least six years.”

“well that’s comforting,” she huffed slightly. and the worst part was that she was stuck. she couldn’t leave. “wow. yeah that’s kind of ridiculous not to know a regular order by now. not that i’ve ever worked in a coffee shop.”

“You would? You might be the only person in here who would. The day drinkers are usually the worst tippers.” Alexandria quickly scribbled a couple vines and petals onto the jar. “Does this look like a tulip to you?”

“sure. i mean why not?” she chuckled, watching the girl scribble some doodles on the jar. “well....it looks kinda like a flower but i don’t know about specifically a tulip,” she said not unkindly. 

“Are we all going to ignore the fact that this town is getting crazier and crazier? Because I’m pretty sure Freddie Krueger tried to break into my home a couple nights ago and the coffee girl finally just remembered the order that I get every day.”

“does it really get crazier than freddie and jason and chucky running amok around the town? but the coffee is just a crying shame. how long have you been here ordering the same thing?”

“Do you think we’d get more tips if we decorated the tip jar–maybe with flowers or something? People are always more willing to donate if you brighten their day a little.”

“well i mean i’d definitely leave a tip decorated with flowers. who doesn’t like flower tip jars?” she asked playfully.