Annette stared at herself in the mirror with a tiny spark of happiness in her eyes. It had been a fun weekend, apart from the dog episode on Saturday. She shook her head to get that day out of her head. When they had got back home, Olivia had not stopped babbling about 'darling Angus.' It had given Annette the opportunity to tease her continuously about the aptly named ginger Scot. She grinned to herself again. She did not really have anything positive to say or think about him. In fact, she was rather suspicious of him, not like he had done anything but there was just something about him she was not sure of. Maybe it was because she was very protective of Olivia. Same as Olivia was protective of Annette. Annette focused back on her light make up forcibly removing her thoughts from Olivia and Angus. There was nothing to be worried about yet. Olivia was still too shy to ring up Angus so Annette did not have to break every bone in his body yet, until he caused Olivia pain and she was waiting for that to happen. Not that she wanted Olivia to be hurt but if that was to occur then she was waiting. She smiled to herself at this.
Thirty minutes later she was behind the bar smiling and exchanging idle banter with Alex the other bar tender and David the manager. She ignored Melissa who ignored her in turn. Clearly no love lost there, Alex thought to himself wryly. Soon the bar started filling up and conversations gradually ceased as the focused on their customers. Annette suddenly felt eyes watching her and looked round quickly. The first time she scanned the room she did not notice anyone so she continued serving albeit cautiously.
Then she heard a very familiar voice which she had not heard in a week ask in a soft voice, 'Have you gone entirely crazy, woman?'
She looked up and stared into furiously blazing green eyes. And gulped.
***
Sebastian stared at Annette with what he hoped was controlled anger. From the expression on Annette's face, it was quite clear his anger was not as controlled as he wanted it to be. Not like he really cared at the moment. What had possessed her to put her arm in the face of an angry Rottweiler? He had nearly roared the mansion down when Angus had informed him of what had happened at the park. He had been unable to stop himself from grabbing Angus's throat in fury. How dare he lose control? What if Annette had been unable to heal so fast? He closed his eyes trying to stop himself thinking along that line. He had been tempted to go see Annette immediately he heard what happened but the twins had been able to calm him down and stop him from blowing Angus's barely laid out cover. He stared down at Annette while she looked up at him in fear and confusion.
'What have I done wrong now?' She asked.
He looked round about to open his mouth and noticed that they were the centre of attention. He shook his head slightly at this and said in what he hoped was a calm voice, 'Could we talk about this outside, please?'
'Well we can't. Not now anyway. I'm on a break in an hour so if you wanna wait till then?' She asked.
A slightly balding chubby man came up behind her and asked, 'Is there any problem here, Annette? This man bothering you?'
Annette shook her head quickly, 'No. No, don't worry about it, David. Just a guy I know. He's gonna order a drink now and wait till my break time, isn't he?' She directed this question to Sebastian who nodded curtly and replied, 'A Bud, alright then?'
She quickly served him his drink and he moved to a half-filled seating area and waited.
***
Annette took quiet, deep breaths trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. What the hell had just happened? David gave her a questioning look again and she nodded quickly, reassuring him that there was no problem. She ignored the concerned look from Alex and the malicious one from Melissa, concentrating on the next order.
Why was the vampire so angry at her? What had she done? Normally she would not be bothered by him, but the fact that she had not seen him in such a while and had been subconsciously pining for his attention; plus the shocking anger he had never directed towards her – she was definitely worried.
She rushed through her order, making a few mistakes in her hurry. She could not wait for her cigarette break to come so that she could address the issue with the vampire once and for all.
After a torturous hour of serving and thinking, it was time for her break. Annette grabbed her coat while throwing a quick look at the quiet vampire who had been nursing his one bottle for the whole hour. He stood up immediately in a fluid manner and followed her as she stepped out the back way.
'Okay, what have I done now? I don't see you for a week and I'm glad about that, then you come in here, guns blazing, trying to give me a heart attack.' She quickly went on the defensive as she lit her cigarette shakily.
He simply shook his head in a tired manner, 'Forgive me for that unnecessary outburst in there. I don't know what came over me. Accept my heartfelt apology.'
'What?' She looked at him incredulously. He had come in with so much anger and now, he did not want to tell her what it was all about? 'You better give me a reason for causing a scene in there. There's no way you can downplay what happened. You, the almighty level-headed vamp, lost your temper so obviously and now you want me to forget about it and 'accept your heartfelt apology'? Unh-unh, no way.'
