“Okay, well, let me go get dressed. Let’s go out and do something. I think it’s time I get my mind off things. I’m going to call in today and take that day off you’re insisting on,” I said, just as my phone buzzed in the other room. I took off in thatdirection slowly. I would never run to my phone to see who messaged me…
If I kept telling myself that, maybe it would come true someday. I sent another scowl in Poe’s direction as she tried stifling her laughter.
Vada:
I’m glad to hear you got some much needed rest. How’re you feeling?
Me:
Much better. Ready to take on the world.
How are you settling in?
Vada:
I’ve finally got my apartment set up how I wanted it. I’m hoping to get into the Pax today to chat with the Demon Faction, then I’m hoping to go do some exploring.
Me:
That’s great news. My friend Poe and I are planning on taking the day off to go out and do things around town. Would you like to join us? We can always drop you off at the Pax later.
I started pacing again, my heart battling with my sternum to break out of my chest. While my message wasn’t super forward or anything, it was still a huge step for me. I hoped she didn’tsee it that way. After all, I tended to offer the same to most beings when they first made their way to St. Louis.
Deciding to dress up a little bit, I headed to my bedroom. It absolutely wasn’t because Vada had texted me back to meet up. It was late March, so there was still a chill in the air, but the temperature was starting to warm up a bit from a brutal winter. Rummaging through my closet, I found a cute, lacy black bodysuit with a bra that showed a little underboob. It was a bit risqué for me since I wore mostly gym clothes nowadays, but if I was going to go all out, I may as well do it right. I paired that with skintight black leather pants, black Doc Martens, and a short gold necklace I’d had since the ‘80s.
I moved to the mirror in my closet, huffing at my unruly red locks, but ultimately decided to leave my hair down. It was probably about time I got it cut. It was hitting just about at my hips at this point, but I loved it and the freedom it represented about radically being myself. I’d worked fucking hard in therapy to get to this point, and it was about damn time I started practicing the skills I’d learned.
I put on some black eyeliner to complete the look, then grabbed my black leather motorcycle jacket. I was dressed in all black, but it was about the only thing in my closet anymore aside from that silly St. Paddy’s Day T-shirt I wore the other night.
Poe was in the living room in dark acid-washed jeans and a gray V-neck T-shirt with a plum blazer over it. She always dressed very business casual, but that was just her. Poe’s attention turned over to me as I entered the living room, eyes wide as she scanned my body.
“Yo, that looks great. Are we going out again? I can’t remember the last time I saw you dressed up,” she said.
I went a little red in the face and averted my gaze. “Ah, no. Itwas time to try bringing back the old Adaela again. It’s been a while since she’s made an appearance.”
Poe smiled as she walked toward the front door. “I’m digging this newfound confidence, girl. Where are we going?”
“I thought maybe we could hit up the Maplewood area. I’d like to stop by Hecate’s shop, then maybe we can get some lunch after?” I grabbed my bag off the hook next to the door as I opened it, and we walked out.
“Sounds like a plan. Is Vada coming?” Poe asked.
“Yes, she’s going to meet us there. Are you riding with me, or taking your own car? Where do you think we should go for lunch?” I responded, searching for my keys as we left.
“I’ll drive separately. You want to hit that brewery up over by Hecate’s shop?”
I grimaced as I huffed a laughed, then faked a gag. “No more booze for me for a bit, I’m afraid. There’s that cool little coffee shop down the street, though. They’ve got great sandwiches and should still be open when we finish up at Hellhounds.”
Vada was leaning against the wall of the building as I parked, and my heart skipped a beat. Her hair was down, and she was staring at her phone in her hand. She was in ripped dark jeans with a band T-shirt on and had a loose, dark gray cardigan over the shirt. For all intents and purposes, she appeared at ease, but something told me that she knew everything that was going on in her environment intimately. She didn’t need shadows to let her know what was around her, and I liked that about her. I wondered what had happened in her life to make her so aware.
I took a deep breath, then stepped out of my car. Poe was pulling into the parking lot as I made my way toward Vada. She placed her phone in her back pocket as I approached her, face passive, but I saw the heat in her eyes as she very obviously did a slow perusal of my body. I stifled a shiver and plastered on a smile, pretending as if I didn’t just catch that. I normally didn’t enjoy the sensation of someone blatantly checking me out since I preferred to not be the center of anyone’s attention. However, there was something about her that I didn’t mind so much.
“Hi, Vada. It’s nice to officially meet you when I’m not completely out of my mind,” I said, face heating a little.
“Hey. Same to you,” Vada smiled. “Thank you for inviting me to come along today. I’m interested to see what this new world has to offer.”
“It’s definitely still a work in progress,” I replied as Poe joined us. “Hey, bitch. Nice of you to finally show up.”
Poe laughed. “I was literally right behind you until I got stuck at the light.” She reached her hand out to Vada. “Hey, Vada, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Atropos, but most folks call me Poe nowadays.”
