Zach wasn't one for labels. Virgin, bachelor, forever alone – he'd heard them all, but none of it mattered. He was pushing thirty, sure, but so what? Some guys just weren't lucky in love. Or so he thought.

Recently, his world had been turned upside down. At first, he'd blamed his racing heart on a fever, but as days turned into weeks, the palpitations persisted, especially when thoughts of a certain ancient bloodsucker invaded his mind. It was a new level of crazy, a level he hadn't even known existed.

Amidst this emotional turmoil, Zach had realised something else was off. His bank account was draining faster than a leaky faucet, and his writing gigs barely covered the rent. Hence the new job slinging coffee at the local joint – gotta keep the lights on somehow

"Here's your coffee," Zach slid the cup across the counter to the waiting customer.

"Thanks, Zach." The woman flashed a smile.

She was a regular. She looked to be in her early twenties with a cascade of blonde hair highlighted with subtle streaks of red. Every day since Zach started working here, she'd graced the coffee shop with her presence, her gaze lingering on him just a beat too long, a playful smile always gracing her lips.

"Looks like our barista needs a cup of coffee too," she remarked, her smile widening.

She was right. He'd barely slept three hours a night for the past few days. Usually, all-nighters were no problem, but this time it was different. Dark circles underlined his eyes, giving him a tired look. Not that it was terrible, but he couldn't deny the exhaustion.

Zach shrugged, rubbing a hand over his stubble. "Sleep's been overrated lately."

"But you really need them," she said, taking a sip of her latte. "Anyway," she continued, a playful lilt in her voice, "Do you have a lover?"

Zach's heart skipped a beat. Was this a personal question or just idle curiosity? "No," he mumbled, looking away.

"I could introduce you to someone, if you'd like," she offered, her smile widening.

"It's fine," Zach replied, his voice a little too sharp. "It's not like I'm desperate." He immediately regretted his words.

"I didn't mean to be rude," he added, looking at her with a sheepish grin. "Thank you, but no."

"It's okay," she reassured him with a smile. "I just have a friend who finds you attractive."

Zach's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Me?" he said, his voice thick with disbelief. He knew he wasn't exactly a heartthrob. If he was, he wouldn't have been single his entire life.

"Yeah," she confirmed. "They might be really sad if they heard you say that."

Zach couldn't help but smile back. Despite their limited interactions, he always found talking to her light and easy. She was pretty, too.

"So, does that mean you have someone on your mind?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, as if she could see right through him.

Zach flinched, the smile momentarily faltering. He quickly regained his composure, brushing aside the thoughts that threatened to resurface. It was embarrassing, really. He felt like a lovesick teenager, but he knew he didn't have a crush on that ancient vampire. Definitely not.

Her smile intensified, making the awkwardness palpable. Zach's cheeks flushed as he averted his gaze.

"But can you at least give me your number?" she asked, pulling out her phone. "Being friends isn't that bad, you know."

Zach hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I think that could work," Zach conceded, a small smile tugging at his lips. He took her phone and typed in his number, a sense of relief washing over him. Having another friend wouldn't hurt. After all, in the past four months, his only friend had been Eva. Now, he was suddenly surrounded by a whole host of vampires. Not that he was complaining, but a normal friend would be a welcome change.

"I'll let them know you're only interested in friendship," she said with a wink, standing up to leave.

"Thank you, and have a good day," Zach replied, returning her smile.

As she walked out the door, Zach let out a heavy sigh. Socialising was exhausting, leaving him feeling strangely empty. He sank onto a nearby chair, his eyes scanning the shop for any distraction.

He stood up, grabbed a broom from the corner, and began sweeping the floor, the repetitive motion a welcome distraction from his thoughts.

But the reprieve was short-lived and Zach still felt like he was walking on eggshells. He'd been like this for two weeks now, acting weird and refusing to confront his own feelings. He hadn't even spoken to Eva, his best friend, since that night. And Velor? He'd avoided him like the plague, even pretending not to be home when he had come to visit.

But it wasn't his fault. The world had been turned upside down, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew. He knew he couldn't keep running forever. For now, he would continue to sweep the floor, one stroke at a time, hoping that eventually, he would find the clarity he desperately needed.

His phone buzzed, a low vibration against the wooden countertop. He picked it up, hoping it wasn't Velor. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he saw the number. The screen displayed an unknown number. A message popped up:

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

‘Hey, I got your number from my friend.’

Yep, definitely one of her friends.

Zach typed a quick reply: 'Hello.'

And that was it. Neither of them continued the conversation. But he wasn't surprised. Adults had things to do, after all. He placed his phone back on the counter and focused on the tasks at hand, determined to finish his shift and go home.

The day finally ended. Zach cleaned up the shop, closed it, and reported to the owner. He clutched his apron in his hand as he walked toward the bus stop. His house was only a stop away, but after a long shift, he wasn't willing to walk.

While waiting for the bus, his phone buzzed again. It was the same unknown number from before.

‘Are you finished work yet?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, a hint of curiosity rising within him.

‘Ah, I was just waiting for you to get off work.’

Zach's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. This was unexpected.

‘Why?’ he asked, fingers tapping against the screen.

‘Just didn't want to bother you at work’

‘What is your name? So I can save your number. Mine is Zach.’

‘I know. Just save as Tav.’

‘That's a cool name,’ Zach typed, just as the bus arrived. He hopped on, continuing the conversation during the short ride.

It was just a casual chat, the kind of small talk people make on the phone. Favourite foods, music, how their day was going. But it was enough to brighten Zach's mood and distract him from the thoughts that usually plagued him.

Zach arrived home after the short bus ride and entered his house. His eyes immediately fell upon the scarf Velor had given him, a wave of warmth and longing washing over him. It was ridiculous, he knew, to feel such a strong connection to a mere object. But it was a tangible reminder of the bond he shared with Velor, a bond he was trying so hard to deny

Zach put everything down and headed to the shower. After cleaning up, he jumped into bed and tucked himself in tightly. He pulled out his phone, intending to continue the show he had been watching. Suddenly, an incoming call appeared on the screen. He hesitated for a moment, his finger hovering over the answer button. Before he could decide, his finger slipped, and the call connected.

Silence filled the air for a few seconds, Zach's heart pounding in his chest.

"How are you?"The voice, soft and gentle, broke the silence.

“Good…” Zach answered, his voice barely above a whisper. After a pause, he added, “How are you?”

“Good,” the voice replied, the word hanging in the air between them

"Velor, why are you calling all of a sudden?" Zach asked, his voice gaining a bit more strength.

"Can't I?" Velor countered, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

"No, I mean... you don't usually call," Zach clarified, pulling the blanket tighter around him.

"I just..." Velor paused, then sighed heavily. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

Zach's heart skipped a beat.

"I feel like you've been avoiding me lately," Velor continued, his voice low and honeyed. "Haven't you?"

Then Something snapped inside Zach. He could feel his face getting warmer and warmer. No, it's not like that, he told himself. It's just that the blanket is too thick; that's what's making him feel warm. So he kicked it off and tried to breathe

"No, I've just been busy lately," Zach replied, struggling to keep his voice even.

"Really?" Velor's scepticism was evident.

"Yes," Zach repeated, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. He wasn't ready to admit the truth, not even to himself.

"Then are you free this weekend?" The question caught Zach off guard, the last thing he expected to hear from Velor. What should he do? He wasn't ready to see Velor yet; just his voice was enough to turn Zach into a fumbling mess.

"Ah, about that..." Zach stammered, "I don't know." This reminded him of how Eva had kept avoiding trips to the mansion, and now he found himself doing the same thing.

"I thought so," Velor said. Zach could sense the smile in his voice.

"That's why I'm in front of your house right now," Velor added nonchalantly.

Zach jolted upright, his heart thundering as if trying to escape his chest. His face flushed with warmth. Damn, what excuse could he possibly use now?

"Are you serious?" Zach asked, his voice barely a whisper as he crept towards his bedroom door, peering out towards the front door.

"Why don't you open the door and find out?" Velor challenged, amusement evident in his tone.

Zach stared at the front door, nerves making his hands cold and clammy. It wasn't fear, not exactly, but his heart kept pounding so loudly he could hear each beat. Surely this racing pulse, this anticipation, didn't mean he was excited to see Velor... right?

The phone call remained connected as Zach approached the door. His hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitation gripping him. Then, Velor's soft chuckle through the phone spurred him into action.

With a deep breath, Zach turned the knob and pulled the door open.

And there he was. Velor hadn't been lying - he stood right there on Zach's doorstep. The streetlight cast a warm glow over him, making him look even more breathtaking than Zach remembered. His hair, red as a comforting hearth fire on a cold night, seemed to shimmer. The smile he offered Zach was as bright and warming as the sun itself.

Zach shook his head, trying to dispel these poetic thoughts. But when his eyes met Velor's, the world seemed to melt away around them. Everything else faded into insignificance, leaving only the two of them at this moment.

Zach's heart skipped a beat, and he found himself at a loss for words

“Hi”