The next night (RP with deas_kids)

[didanexperiment]

The night after his date with DeAnna Terrence found himself staring at the phone in his living room. He did promise that he would call her the next night but after the awkward way the night ended, he was doubting whether or not he should call or give DeAnna more time to think about everything that had happened.

Of course, not calling her as he had promised might not go over well either.

Should I call her? I promised I would, but maybe...maybe she just said I could because she didn't want to hurt my feelings right away. But if I don't call her as promised, maybe that'll make her even more upset with me. Terrence thought to himself.

He took in a breath and exhaled. I can at least call and see how she's doing. And maybe just leave it at that unless she brings up the date. Besides, maybe I'll just her voice mail anyways. I can just leave a message saying I was just calling to say hi or something, right?

Terrence picked up the phone and stared at it for a couple of seconds before slowly dialing DeAnna's number.

Comments

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnn had thought allot about her coffee date (http://didanexperiment.livejournal.com/4818.html?thread=40402#t40402) with Terrance as she had promised him, and the truth was insane. Yet as crazy as it was nothing altered the fact that Terrance was an upstanding guy and DeAnna had enjoyed his company. She was curious as to where it might lead, if anywhere. He seemed to understand her vocational duties having friends in the FBI. He was open and accepting and just as importantly settled. He was an independent person regardless of his relationships and DeAnna had a difficult time finding that virtue in the men her own age, that was one of several reasons why she tended to date older men.

When her cell phone rang and DeAnna looked at the caller I.D. she couldn’t help but smile. Terrance was keeping true to his word.

“Hi, Terrance. I guess my tough, CIA woman exterior didn’t scare you off after all.” She teased lightly. “I’m glad you called.”

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

Terrence was a bit surprised when DeAnna picked up the phone and his voice reflected his shock. "Oh! H-hi DeAnna." He then awkwardly admitted out loud, "I...thought maybe I might have scared you off a bit, a-actually. But I'm glad I got a hold of you."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"As strange as your being a Vampire is? It takes more than fangs and whatever all comes with the teeth to scare me off. I'm a Kosik, and you're going to learn that they're a tough-ass breed all their own." Her smile shown through to her tone. "I'll let you know if I'm freaked out. I promise." The vow was true and DeAnna pushed some brunette hair behind her left ear, the cell phone at her right.

"Have you given anymore thought to our 24 date?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

Terrence gave a little chuckle. "Yeah, I am sorta learning that about your family. I promise though I'm not going to freak you out on purpose but if there's anything that bothers you, just me know."

He then thought before answering her question. "I have, actually. I guess, uh...if you still wanted to come here, I really can only have drinks so the dinner part would be out, I'm afraid. But I still could get the beer and stuff. And then maybe we could watch a couple episodes?"

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"Don't worry, Terrance. I'm very vocal." She couldn't help but laugh a little. "That sounded sexual didn't it? I'm sorry. I just meant that, I'll tell you at the first sign of discomfort. No worries there."

DeAnna fidgeted with a tube of lipstick she had been contemplating before Terrance's call. "I do still want to get together. And your place is as good as mine. In fact, due to your, 'condition' it might be preferable. What if I get hooked on the show and demand you play more episodes? It could be sunrise in no time and I don't want to put you in any danger. Yes, get the beer and I'll take care of my own food. Oh, and do you have a soft-ish blanket? If you don't, I'll bring mine. It's part of the whole, 'cuddling' thing I do when watching T.V."

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

"No, no...I knew what you were getting at," Terrence replied, sounding a bit amused.

"My place is on the dark side. I have thick black curtains over my living room windows and a painting over the window in my room. Makes it awfully dark, but...hey. I'm not sleeping in a coffin or anything. People ask that one all the time," he rambled. "Anyway...I do have a blue fleece blanket in my living room. I, uh...well, I'm always cold so...just to warn ya for the cuddling thing."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"Dark is fine. And the fleece blanki sounds great." DeAnna paused for a moment and toyed with the lipstick container in her hand. It was a darker shade and she was contemplating whether to go lip gloss or lipstick on their date. She chuckled a little. "I guess being the 'undead' you kinda sorta have to expect that. Hummm, I wonder if heat lamps would help?" DeAnna teased.

She tilted her head to one side waiting for his reaction. "So, since we're still on for Friday night, what time should I be at your place, expectations in hand?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

Terrence chuckled, "Sadly, heat lamps wouldn't help all that much really. Maybe for a few minutes." He chuckled again. "I know you were joking but you actually got me to ponder that."

Terrence shook his head. "Anyway...maybe seven or eight? Or if you're working, we can meet up later."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"Well that's an encouraging thought. I like to challenge people to think." She exhaled, the sound happy and light. "Seven it is. I'm very punctual so, if I'm going to be late, I'll call. I'll see you then. And Terrance? Don't worry so much about the Vampire thing. I've talked to Holly, I've thought about what you said, how you are, and I know myself. I meant it when I said I would question you if I felt uncomfortable or afraid. I just don't want you to hide who you are from me, just because in your past experience it's made other people squeamish. Okay?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

"All right, seven it is." He paused before replying to what DeAnna said about not having to hide what he was. "Thanks DeAnna. I appreciate it. Still, uh...I...probably wouldn't wanna look in my fridge if I were you," he admitted.

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna's nose crinkled. "No. Don't worry. I won't be like a mother hen and take that liberty. Thanks for the warning though. I guess, I'll just have to ask you to get me a beer when I want one huh?" She chuckled at the thought. "You can be my man-slave for the night. Just where beers concerned though. I wouldn't take advantage of you like that." Her tone was full of mirth and DeAnna allowed the lipstick to fall from her fingertips onto the table surface. She wondered if Terrance's hearing could pick the sound up.

"I'll see you then. And take care of yourself in the mean time. I'm looking forward to our date."

Upon issuing farewells the call severed and looked at her phone. Terrance was a good man.

~~~~~
The days passed quickly and Friday arrived and DeAnna showered upon returning home from work. She ate a quick dinner, brushed her teeth, touched up her make up, and put on a comfortable pair of jeans, a light, heather gray, pull over hoodie, socks, tennis shoes, and grabbed a shoulder bag she had packed with a few necessities. She dropped her wallet and cell phone inside the bag and grabbed her keys and leather jacket, heading out of her home into the evening. She made it to Terrance's place on time and took a deep breath before knocking on his door.

Show time...

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

"That's fine. I don't mind getting up to get the beers. If that's being a man-slave...then, I guess I'm a man-slave." Terrence then chuckled. He could hear the lipstick fall, but didn't mention it. Once DeAnna said goodbye he said he'd see her on Friday.

***

Upon hearing a knock at his apartment door, he was a bit surprised. But, then again, if it was DeAnna, she probably did follow someone inside. When he looked out through the peek hole and saw DeAnna at the door, he smiled. As he opened the door he said, "Hi DeAnna. C'mon in."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"Hey." DeAnna entered and hugged Terrance, granting him a kiss on the cheek. His skin was cool, cold like he had warned her previously, but now she knew the truth. It wasn't a disease, it was being the undead. She smirked and wiped her lip prints off of his cheek with a thumb. "Sorry. 'Rose Blossom' looks good on you."

Her eyes flickered around the entry way, and the main chamber she could see. Typical bachelor place, but it was clean enough. She shrugged pulling her bag off of her shoulder. "Where can I put my jacket and bag?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

Terrence hugged DeAnna back but was a bit pleasantly surprised by the kiss. He gave a sheepish smile as she wiped the lipstick mark off his cheek. "Yeah? I didn't think it would be my color," he joked.

Terrence then offered to take DeAnna's coat and bag. He glanced at the coat rack on the wall by the door and moved one of his jackets on top of another, leaving an empty peg. Then he placed her jacket and bag on the peg.

"Do you want anything to drink just yet or should we maybe start up the DVD?"

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna thanked Terrance for his chivalry and then joked in monosyllable response, "Da, beer. Beer is g-ooood." DeAnna placed her hands on her lower back, fingers fanned hooked in the back pockets of her jeans. She waited a discrete distance from the refrigerator, not wishing to glimpse the contents.

"So, what decorator did you use?" She teased moving into the living area, running her hand along a chair and glancing around. She noted that the blue, fleece blanket Terrance had admitted to having was out in plain site. Her smile broadened at this discovery, her gaze resting on it for several seconds. "And would Jack Bauer be proud?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

He opened the refrigerator slightly, just enough to grab the beer inside without exposing the full contents of it. Even if DeAnna had glanced over, the vials of blood inside wouldn't be immediately visible as they were pushed all the way to the back.

Terrence grabs a beer for his guest and himself and motioned over to the blue couch in the middle of the room. It was facing a flat screen HD television, about 40 inches in screen size. The TV was on top of a black stand which had three shelves built into the middle of it. The first shelf had the DVD player, the second held the cable box and the third held part of his DVD collection.

"I uh...didn't use a decorator. And, I have no idea if that would make Jack Bauer proud since he's hardly in any sort of living space, except in part of season one," he replied with a goofy grin.

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

"Well then," DeAnna smirked taking a beer from him, and clicking the bottle neck against the beer in his hand in way of a toast. "To Jack maybe some day getting to put his feet up on the coffee table and drink a cold one." She took a sip of her beer, her eyes not leaving Terrance's as she did so. "Nicely chilled." She praised happily. "I like it."

DeAnna glanced at the couch. "Is there any particular place you claim as your own on this thing? Or do you really not care where I park my butt?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

"To Jack," Terrence replied with a smile and his clinked his bottle with DeAnna's.

He then shook his head and held his free hand out, motioning towards the couch. "Oh, I'm not particular. Pick any space you'd like."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna grinned at him then toed off her sneakers. She pushed them deftly beneath the coffee table, and out of the way with a foot. She moved to the couch and sat, almost dead center. Her left leg was curled beneath her, her right foot perched on the edge of the cushion. She smiled at Terrance, as if daring him to say something about how she had ensured he would be sitting close to her, by taking her half out of the middle. It was his move now and she tilted her head to one side, a curtain of raven hair falling beside her bent leg.

"Put on Jack then have a seat."

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

Terrence watched DeAnna situate herself right in the middle of the couch. He gave a bit of a surprised look, thinking DeAnna may take one end of the couch instead. He didn't say anything out loud then, but he did put the first disc of the Season 1 box set into the DVD player. He then grabbed the remote off the coffee table and hit the Play button. After placing the remote back on the table, he reached behind DeAnna, took the blanket off the top of the couch and handed it to her before taking a seat on the couch to her right. Terrence gave her a little smile as he sat down.

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna's return smile was much broader than his own. She held her beer towards Terrance in silent plea for him to hold it for a few seconds. Once her hands were free she took the blanket he had placed on her, unwrapped it and situated it about her frame. She then took her beer back, her body leaning against his, her head well placed in the vicinity of his chest.

Her goal was to maneuver so he would be forced to place his arm about her. And DeAnna was skilled in getting what she wanted. She took a sip of beer and then looked at Terrance, her long, dark lashes revealing the light of her gaze. "You know, I'm not afraid of you biting me, so I would hope that you're not concerned that I would bite you."

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

What a difference an evening makes! Terrence thought to himself as DeAnna was now resting her head on his chest. He really hadn't expected her to be this affectionate yet, given the awkward note the night before had ended on.

But he wasn't bothered by her getting so close. He actually enjoyed it - especially since it had a couple of years since someone would get this close to him.

Terrence gently put his arm around DeAnna and gave a soft chuckle. "No, I'm not worried about that...and grateful you aren't worried either."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna raised her head and looked at Terrance as the DVD cued up to the menu. "Well, I spent quite a long time thinking about everything you said the other night. Thinking about what it would mean to my own life, as well as any life you and I could possibly have together- and I realized that I had two choices. Either I could cut ties and never look back at what could of, or might have been? Or I could just embrace the experience and see where it led." She smirked at Terrance, her gaze shinning with the truth. "Obviously I decided you were worth getting to know. And besides, if you ever turned on me and tried to kill me, I'd fucking stake you so fast you'd be dust, or whatever before you could blink."

DeAnna pat Terrance on the chest with her free hand. "Hence, the cuddling." She lay her head back down and took a sip of her beer, her dark gaze resting on the television screen. "You can relax now, Terrance. I've been looking forward to tonight and I think you're interested in me too so, let's just enjoy one another, okay?"

[didanexperiment.livejournal.com]

"You're the first not to choose option one - the never looking back one, I mean," Terrence admitted out loud.

He did noticeably flinch when DeAnna mentioned she would stake him had he ever try to harm her. "I...have heard I turn to dust. I, uh, wouldn't want to find out though."

But he did relax when DeAnna said he should. In fact Terrence gave her a little squeeze with the arm that was around her. "That sounds perfect."

[deas-kids.livejournal.com]

DeAnna enjoyed the fact that he embraced her. She liked it and she pushed closer to his side. "I know you won't attack me, Terrance. I trust you, and I trust my sister's intuition as if it were my own, in this case. I just think it's best if you and I have all our cards on the table going in. That way, it's not a mystery as to what our expectations are, and where we stand as individuals." DeAnna paused and pressed her head to Terrence's chest.

"And just so you know? I'm not fantasizing it's Kiefer Sutherland's chest I'm cuddling up to. I'm quite happy with it being yours." She meant it, and she was relaxed, the beer having nothing to do with her contentment. It was good to be held, to cuddle and watch television with someone so genuine as Terrance was. He could have lied to her, he could have kept up the facade of having a disease. He could have waited until she was completely hooked and then spring the truth on her. But he hadn't. Terrance was honest, and good and DeAnna enjoyed his company. She loved how he made her laugh, and was a gentleman. However she couldn't help wondering if he had any dirty thoughts about her.

The thought made her smile and take another sip of beer.