Chapter 2：Time will tell

Over the next several days Vale and Marie talk over the phone. She starts to notice he only texts or calls after sundown, but doesn't think to hard on it. She quite enjoys their chats. Gen has called her finally and asked a million and one questions about "tall, dark and handsome".

"He's great we have been talking over the phone a lot" Marie smiles as she thinks about his deep voice.

"What!" Gen shrieks as Marie pulls the phone away from her ear. "You gave him your number!? I cant believe it! You have never had a male contact that is not business related." She is practically screaming the whole time.

Marie hears Gens husband in the background and listens as Gen tells him about her giving her number out. "It's not a big deal" Marie sighs. she imagines Gen jumping on the bed and her husband shaking his head. "We just talk."

"Are you guys going to meet? Have a date?"

"I'm not sure where this is going Gen. Its fine to take things slow you know. I have plenty of time to settle down." Gen operates on full throttle most of the time and Marie not sure if she can calm her down this time. "Look I have to get ready for work. Can we catch up later?"

"Of course love! Don't keep me out of the loop with tall, dark and handsome!" Gen giggles like a school girl. "What was his name again?"

"You better be careful, your husband is going to get jealous." Marie chuckles quietly. "His name is Vale."

"Well a mysterious name too! Love you girl don't forget to call me while gazing into lover boys eyes!"

"Love you too sis." All Marie can do is smile as she hangs up.

Marie gets showered and dressed for work. She works part time as a cocktail waitress at a gentleman's club, but doesn't mind the work. She has to make ends meet so the extra job covers what her day job doesn't. She puts on the black heals that are part of her uniform and brings her long hair into a ponytail. Marie looks in the mirror to make sure it looks good and puts her jacket on. As she opens her door she bumps into someone and drops her keys.

"Sorry!" Marie gasps as she drops down to pick them up.

"It alright" Marie looks up and sees the face that goes with that familiar voice. vale is standing in front of her with a bouquet of flowers. "Are you going somewhere?" He looks at the dark tights and heals.

"How embarrassing. I'm off to work right now." She looks at the flowers and blushes a little. "Are those for me?"

"Yes!" Vale hands the flowers to her. Marie takes the flowers in to put them in a vase and notices Vale doesn't follow "May I come in?" He asks from the doorway.

"Of course, please come in." Marie thinks it odd he waited for an invitation, maybe he was raised a certain way.

"You have a lovely place." Vale looks around "lots of windows." He smiles to himself

"Yes. I enjoy the fresh air, and being on a higher floor away from the fire escape I can keep them cracked most of the time." Marie doesn't notice his mischievous smile as she is distracted by the flowers.

"Where do you work?" Vale asked in a cheerful way as he comes to the kitchen where Marie is putting water in a vase.

"Oh, its a small place. I serve drinks and food." Marie blushes a bit. He must be thinking the worst with the way she is dressed.

"Oh. Can I drive you than. I was hoping to spend some time with you." Vale speaks sweetly.

"Well, it's a gentleman's club, if that doesn't make you uncomfortable." Marie places the flowers in the water and puts the vase in the living room.

"Not at all" he smiles sweetly

"Ok." Marie locks up her apartment and follows Vale to his car.

When they arrive at her job Marie thanks Vale and heads into work. She doesn't notice when he walks in half an hour later and sits in a private booth. He didn't tell her he was a member and wants to keep it to himself. Vale was on the hunt again, and it felt good.

All through her shift Marie felt as if she were being watched. It was the strangest feeling to look and see people immersed in the show but feel as if you are being watched. The men could be a little rude once they got a couple drinks into them but over all they were just there to have a good time. She sweetly rejected phone numbers and refused dates all night. She just couldn't shake that feeling!

Vale watched Marie as she worked as was pleased that none of the men here had her attention. It made her so much easier to watch. He was amused that she seemed to feel his eyes on her as she kept looking around and then returning back to serving the drinks and food to the tables. She was so beautiful and he couldn't help himself as he smiled and imagined that she would be like once he caught her. He wondered if she knew she was the pray he was stalking. He just wanted her to be his and only his. He smiled as she finished her shift and walked out in her coat.

When Marie stepped out into the cool air she didn't feel like she was being watched anymore. She started to walk home slowly enjoying the cool air, when she felt the hair raise on the back of her neck. She looked around to see if someone was around but she couldn't find anyone, yet the feeling of being watched put her on edge. Marie started to walk faster as her heart started to race. She took deep breaths to try and steady herself but was not succeeding in any way. Her heart was racing as she walked more briskly. Marie had never felt this frightened when she was walking home and couldn't find any logical reason for it. Why was her heart racing as if she were being hunted? When she got to her apartment door she was in such a panic she couldn't get a grip on her keys. Marie finally was able to open her door after dropping her keys several times, rushed in and swiftly locked the door behind her. She sat on the floor leaning with her back against the door and tried her hardest to hold back the tears burning in the corners of her eyes as she took deep breaths. What was wrong with her? What had made her so panicked?

Vale felt a little bad watching her through her window, trying to hold back her tears. He just wanted to see how she would react under the stress of being prey. He was actually surprised how well she kept it together. She never ran, didn't scream or go into a building that was not hers. She made it home, she must be very strong willed. He smiled to himself as he started for home, for the sun is the only thing that can keep her from him now.

Marie finally collected herself and stood up, checking that she did in fact lock the door. "What in the world got into me?" She whispered to her self as she rubbed her eyes. Heading to the shower she heard her phone ding and she went to look at who was texting her. It was Vale. She leaned against the doorframe to her kitchen as she read his text. Then went and sat on her couch to talk to him for a bit.

Vale: Hope you got home safely.

Marie: Yes I did, thank you.

Vale: Anything interesting happen at work?

Marie: The usual. Sorry we couldn't hang out.

Vale: No worries. What days do you work?

Marie: It depends. I only work part time so it is different days.

Vale: Sorry for just showing up. I didn't know you had a night job.

Marie: Don't worry about it. I was happy to see you. Thank you for the flowers!

Vale: No problem. Are you free tomorrow night?

Marie: My next day off is the day after tomorrow.

Vale: It's a date?

Marie: Sure thing! My place?

Vale: Perfect! 7?

Vale: I'll see you then.

Marie: Yes! I have to get to bed, but I will text you tomorrow.

Vale: Sounds good. Good night.

Marie: Good night

Maries earlier panic was replaced with butterflies as she smiled at her screen. She went to shower and when she lay in her bed she was fast asleep in no time.

Vale sat smiling at his screen as he texted with Marie. She didn't even bring up what had happened. He wasn't sure if he should continue to get close to her, but he simply couldn't help himself. Something about her just made the darkness that was always knocking stop for a while and he could imagine a life where he wakes without that nagging voice of despair and loneliness.