a fallen angel who turns vamp
why does he fall? love, fun, temptation, regrets from life,
should he start out as human? to angel to fallen to vamp?
wings turn from white to black and ugly... keeps them after the fall
ohhhh... self sacrifice is a great way to become an angel
sacrifices himself for a girl, leaving her behind on earth, can't stay away, breaks the rules by turning odds in her favor against god's rules
her current boyfriend is abusive...Drake causes him harm, which makes him fall
falls from heaven with no memory what so ever of his life on earth... sentenced to roam the earth as one of the most volatile creatures.. a blood thirsty vamp
ruthless and heartless at first... total animal...until he sees her at the night club
something, or someone softens him throughout the book
ends up being in the same town as the girl... sparking a flash of memory that takes a few chapters to remember
forced with the decision of saving his new found love from a fatal disease by turning her, or letting her die and go to heaven in peace
super human strength, can fly (but with his wings, not how most vamps), can turn invisible,
rides a kick ass ducati... black, of course
she (Amanda) works at a vet clinic, raised catholic, still has dad but found mom dead
freaks out when she finds out he is a fallen angel... religion has taught her that is the worst of the worst
current boyfriend turns out to be a demon's spawn... half human, half demon.. Hector... intend on keeping her for himself as his slave! (sex included) hmmm.... maybe a guardian angel in the mix that fights with Drake, too? (Mark) trying to keep him away from one of God's most loyal servants? maybe one of her co-workers...
she's scared of the dark.. can feel "something" in the night watching her every move
it's him trying to figure out why he is so drawn to her
"Where's my beer, woman?" She knew it was coming. The same way it did everyday when he came home from work. She had just finished taking of his boots and handing him the daily paper, but that was only the beginning of her night. The rest of the evening would be spent tending to his beck-and-call. "Coming, Hector!" she replied as she hustled toward the kitchen. As she crosses through the archway to the kitchen, she can't stop the thoughts from flooding her mind. "Has it been in the fridge long enough? I just picked it up on the way home from the clinic and it was warm in the store. Please God, let it be cold." As soon as her hand touches the neck of the bottle, she knows. "Shit! I knew I should have put a couple of them in the freezer!" She knows it's going to be one of those nights... the nights that seem to never end. Nothing she can do now except hope that time passes quickly. "God dammit, Amanda! Hurry up with that beer!" Grabbing the neck of the bottle and flipping the lid off at the speed of light, she rushes into the living room. All the while praying that her punishment will be swift.
It hadn't always been this way. When she first met Hector in college, he was a different man. Sure, he had always been the "bad boy" type, but that's what attracted her to him the most. That sexy devilish grin, his dark chocolate eyes when he smiled, and that gorgeous golden skin... one smile was all it took for her to feel the flush of heat between her legs and the flutter of her breathing. He smelled of danger and it drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
It wasn't until he got expelled from school that everything changed. Hector was forced to move off campus and Amanda couldn't stand the thought of not being by his side. A month later, they were living together in a run down apartment on the south side of town. Both out of school and neither of them working, their love was so new that nothing else mattered. They stayed holed up in their 2nd floor studio apartment for weeks. Laughing, cuddling, making love, and only eating when they felt it absolutely necessary. No job meant no money, and no money meant no food. They were truly living on what they thought was love.
But that was then, and this is now. Still stuck in their south side apartment, Hector an alcoholic, and Amanda a slave to his every whim, this was her life. She had thought about leaving many times. Getting out of their tiny apartment with the peeling paint on the walls and bars on the windows. Starting a new life where she could be free to do what makes her happy. But that was just a dream. How could she ever leave Hector and make it on her own? Her salary at the veterinary clinic wasn't enough to support her. Cleaning cages and feeding animals just doesn't pay enough. No, she was stuck here for the long haul. Trapped like a rat in a scientific laboratory. It was better just to do as Hector said and try to make her days a little easier. Besides, he had told her before that if she ever left him, he would hunt her down and kill her. The scariest part was that she believed he actually might do just that.
The sound of glass shattering against the wall sent shivers up her spine and turned her stomach. "Oh God, please not my face, please not my face" she repeated to herself as she heard his heavy footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Amanda frantically tried to calm herself and keep her focus on the dishes she was washing in the sink. If she broke one now, she would make everything worse than it already was. Pain shot up her back like lightning, doubling her over while so fast that she didn't have time to reach for the counter to prevent from falling. Her kidney felt like it was on fire and the tears streamed down her face in an instant. "Please not my face, please not my face." He kicked her in the stomach with such force that now she was gasping for breath.
"Warm beer? What the hell makes you think that you can get away with that? You know my beer needs to be ice cold! I guess you need more training!" Another kick to the stomach, then to the back, then to the thigh. Amanda curled herself into the smallest bundle possible and didn't move. If she tried to avoid the punishment, it would only get worse. She knew better... she had it coming. She laid on the cold linoleum floor for what seemed like an eternity. All the while praying that the darkness would close in quickly. At least then she wouldn't feel the pain racking her body. At least then she would be able to sleep the night away and tomorrow would come that much quicker.
"Mom!" Amanda raced into her mom's sweet embrace. "Oh mom... I miss you so much!" "I miss you too, Sis." Taking Amanda's face into her hands, her mother pulls back from the hug just enough to look into her eyes. "Why do you let him hurt you so? Why do you stay with that animal? You deserve so much better than that, Amanda." The tears roll down Amanda's face, dropping onto the flowing white sleeves of her mom's gown. "I could never leave him, Mom. He provides for me and I wouldn't be able to survive on my own." "You must be strong, Amanda. Life has so much to offer you! There is an entire world out there waiting for you to embrace it. Know that I am always with you, and draw on me for the extra strength you need. I will help you through." "But mom..." Amanda's gaze froze on her mother's face. Mom's beautiful face was turning pale, her lips had already become a light shade of blue, and the hands on Amanda's face started to feel like ice. "Oh mom...please don't go!" It was that damn dream again. "Mom!!!" "I love you, Sis!" her mother says as she slowly fades away.
Ever since Amanda had found her mother dead, the dreams wouldn't stop coming. Some nights they were pleasant, like tonight, but other nights... other nights she would wake sweaty and shaky. Climbing the stairs to her mother's bedroom in the house where she grew up, she would call for mom. She had made plans to spend the day with mom, so she must be here somewhere. Amanda turns the corner at the top of the stairs and sees her mother lying in her bed. Of course she was napping. She always went back to bed after dad left for work in the morning. She says "mom" again, trying to wake her from her nap. Her mother doesn't stir. The knots in her stomach start to tighten and fear washes over her like a heavy blanket. As she crosses the bedroom and nears the bed, the realization starts to sets in.
Mom's not sleeping. She looks like she's sleeping, but all of the color has left her face and her lips are that eerie shade of blue. She reaches for her mother's hand, still not ready to believe what she is seeing. Her skin is soft, but unnaturally cold. Her chest isn't moving and there's no air escaping from her mouth. Mom's gone and the truth sends Amanda falling to the floor and screaming. "Nooo!!!"
Over the past 10 years, Amanda has relived this awful day over and over in her dreams. Waking with a fresh break in her heart and wet cheeks from the tears every time.
Tonight's dream wasn't as bad, but it still left her shaky. Looking around, she realizes she's still on the kitchen floor where Hector had left her when he was done. How long he had kicked her, she doesn't know. The beautiful darkness had swallowed her up after the first few, thank God. As she struggles to sit up, she can feel it... that all too familiar knife in the side feeling that only broken ribs can give. "Freaking wonderful. At least my face doesn't hurt. I won't have to pile on the makeup like a tramp tomorrow at work, just pretend not to not feel that shooting pain every time I breathe. I can do that much. I've done it before." Steadying herself with the table leg, Amanda slowly raises herself up from the floor. No way is she going into the bedroom. The last thing she needs is to accidentally wake Hector from his slumber. She'll just lie on the couch until it's time to shower and get ready for work.
Blake could hear the alarm buzzing on the nightstand through the fog in his head. Without any thought, his hand automatically swept out and across the small stand, knocking the alarm, the lamp, and everything else onto the floor. "Shit. What a great way to start a morning" he says while fighting with his eyes to focus. The blood red numbers of the clock were now upside down on the floor by the cheap motel dresser. Sitting up just enough to see over the edge of his bed, he could just barely make out the time. 6:13 am. Knowing full well that if he didn't get up right then he would fall back asleep, Blake threw the covers back and reached for his sweats. "I hope it doesn't turn out to be one of those days" while pulling the sweat pants on.
Stepping out into the cold November air, Blake shivers as he zips up his coat. Another day of job hunting in a dead end town. Northern Michigan is all he has ever known, but now, at the age of 27, he longs for something better. Unfortunately, it takes money to travel, and Blake didn't have enough yet. He had been saving half of his paychecks from the temp agency for almost a year. The other half paying for the motel room and enough food to survive. Jobs were getting harder and harder to come by, and there were more and more people searching. It seemed like a never ending, uphill battle. "Only two hundred dollars more and I can get out of this God forsaken town." Pulling up his hood, Blake turns the corner and walks off in the direction of main street.
"Could you give me a ride to work today, Hector? It's really cold and snowing outside." She used the sweetest voice she could, secretly hoping that he might feel just a tad guilty about the beating he had put on her the night before.
"That never stopped you from walking before, Amanda. Besides, your ass could use a good walk." Hector never even looked up from his coffee anymore when he insulted her. It was like second nature to him now. Without saying another word, Amanda grabs her coat and heads out the door. The quicker she can get away from Hector, the better. Work had become her only escape from the daily abuse of her so called life. Closing the door behind her, she breathes a sigh of relief and tries to put a smile on her face as she starts the one mile walk to work.
Opening the door to the coffee shop, the smell of fresh ground beans and cinnamon rolls filled Blake's nostrils. The petite blond girl behind the counter looked up and noticed him before the door had even shut. "Good morning, Blake." she said with that school girl smile. "The usual for you this morning?" "Yes, Amanda. The usual would be great", Blake replied. It was obvious that Amanda had a horrible crush on Blake, but she was far too young for him. Rather than breaking her heart and smashing her fantasies, he just kept his mouth shut and spoke with respect. Never leading her on, but never letting her down, either. "Here ya go! One large coffee with sugar and a blueberry muffin to go" Amanda said through her pouty pink lips. "Thank you, Amanda." Blake replied. He threw down a five dollar bill and turned to leave.
Amanda didn't even see the man on the other side of the coffee shop door. In a hurry to get a warm coffee to enjoy on her walk to work, she opened the door hard enough to send Blake's coffee flying, spilling down the front of his shirt in the process. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Sir!" Grabbing a handful of napkins off the booth table next to her, Amanda reached toward Blake in an attempt to wipe the coffee from his shirt. Blake was mesmerized by this clumsy, yet beautiful woman. Her dark brown hair hung in loose curls down her back, with small wisps framing her oval face and the copper highlights dancing in the fluorescents of the coffee shop. Hazel eyes with just enough emerald green to make them shine were in perfect contrast to her smooth, fair skin, and those movie star lips... plain yet so inviting. The only makeup she wore was the jet black mascara that adorned her stunning long lashes, making those olive shaped eyes even more attractive. He couldn't help himself, he was staring. "Sir?" Amanda looked into his eyes hoping for some sign of forgiveness for the huge mess she had just made all over his button up chocolate brown shirt. "Don't stress over my shirt, Miss...." Blake let the last word hang for a moment, hoping that she would fill in the blank. He had to at least know her name.
"Amanda. Just call me Amanda" she said with a flush in her cheeks. Easily 6 foot 4 inches tall, Blake was breathtaking. He had blue eyes that glimmered like sunshine on the ocean, broad shoulders that could completely envelop her with ease, flawless golden skin, and feathered blond hair that was just long enough to hang into his eyes if it fell just right. It was all she could do to sputter out an apology. “I’m.. I’m so s-sorry.” Lowering her gaze to the floor, Amanda tried to regain her composure and cursed her clumsiness under her breath. “Please let me buy you another coffee, Sir. It’s the least I can do after making you wear yours.”
“That’s not necessary, Amanda. Besides, I was almost finished with it anyway” Blake lied through his teeth to the beauty standing before him. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel bad. Amanda couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Blake had her tongue tied and the butterflies were tickling her stomach. After an awkward minute of silence, she finally got enough courage to say one last thing. “I better go or I’ll be late for work,” and she went out the door just as fast as she had come in.
Blake watched the woman through the coffee shop window. The simplistic beauty that seemed to seep from her every pore had left him in awe. He couldn’t just let her walk away forever without asking her out. Without a second thought, Blake bulleted out the door and into the street.
Amanda was just crossing the road in front of Blake when he saw it. A full size Ford pickup truck had turned the corner and was heading straight for her. It wasn’t slowing down and she didn’t seem to notice the truck barreling up the street. A lump formed in the base of Blake’s throat and a shiver shot up his spine. Dropping his breakfast and moving as fast as his legs would carry him, Blake ran. Amanda looked up just in time to see the headlights twenty feet away and coming fast. Frozen in fear, she couldn’t move. She tried to scream, but no sound came. Death was coming and she couldn’t do anything to stop it. Landing on the icy sidewalk on the far side of the street, Amanda could hear the sound of tires sliding on snow and metal bending. People from every shop and store on the street were filing out into the cold to investigate. The driver of the truck had finally stopped and was kneeling over something in front of his truck.
As her focus starting coming back to her, Amanda could see the hair of the man lying in the street. Beautiful blonde hair that gave her goose bumps and a knot in her stomach came into her vision. It was Blake! Blake had shoved her out of the way of the truck and then been hit himself! Now he was just lying there, unresponsive, while the snow covering the road soaked up the blood that was pooling around him.
Amanda tried to pry herself off the sidewalk so that she could go to him, but her head was dizzy and the people around her kept telling her to “just lie down”. She could hear the scream of the ambulance siren as it careened into the area and stopped just short of the Ford. Two EMTs were grabbing their medical kits from the back of the ambulance and running in Blake’s direction. She strained her ears in an attempt to hear what they were saying, but she was too far away.
“Ma’am, my name is Mike and I’m an EMT. Are you ok?” He was kneeling over her in order to put the oxygen mask on her face. “I’m fine! Help him! Help Blake!” she cried. The look on Mike’s face said it all. The despair in his eyes when he looked back at her held the truth. There was no help for Blake. Amanda went limp. She lay motionless on the frigid concrete as Mike did his job. “You’re going to be just fine, ma’am. Do you have any family I can call to come pick you up?” he asked. Amanda’s look hardened as she responded. “No. I’ll walk, thank you.” Mike helped her to her feet with one quick pull of his hand, and then turned and headed back to the ambulance. Amanda stood in place for a moment, watching as Mike and his partner lifted Blake’s body into the back end of the vehicle. In a whisper, she said her last words to the man who had saved her life. “Thank you, Blake. Thank you, but it should have been me.” Amanda gathered her coat around her neck and turned in the direction of the clinic.
“Blake… Blake, wake up.” It was a female’s voice, but not Amanda’s. This voice was a little husky and more confident. “Blake! Time to wake up!” the woman was shaking his shoulder now. Blake’s eyes started to flutter. The light was blinding, even though Blake’s eyes were still closed. Opening his eyes, he could make out the figure of the woman leaning over him. She was of medium build, with dark curly hair, deep brown eyes, and she was…. glowing! Shaking his head, Blake thought “Wow. That truck must have really done a number on me.” He rubbed his eyes and looked again. She was still glowing.
“Are you a nurse? Where am I? How’s Amanda?” Blake spit all the questions out at once.
why does he fall? love, fun, temptation, regrets from life,
should he start out as human? to angel to fallen to vamp?
wings turn from white to black and ugly... keeps them after the fall
ohhhh... self sacrifice is a great way to become an angel
sacrifices himself for a girl, leaving her behind on earth, can't stay away, breaks the rules by turning odds in her favor against god's rules
her current boyfriend is abusive...Drake causes him harm, which makes him fall
falls from heaven with no memory what so ever of his life on earth... sentenced to roam the earth as one of the most volatile creatures.. a blood thirsty vamp
ruthless and heartless at first... total animal...until he sees her at the night club
something, or someone softens him throughout the book
ends up being in the same town as the girl... sparking a flash of memory that takes a few chapters to remember
forced with the decision of saving his new found love from a fatal disease by turning her, or letting her die and go to heaven in peace
super human strength, can fly (but with his wings, not how most vamps), can turn invisible,
rides a kick ass ducati... black, of course
she (Amanda) works at a vet clinic, raised catholic, still has dad but found mom dead
freaks out when she finds out he is a fallen angel... religion has taught her that is the worst of the worst
current boyfriend turns out to be a demon's spawn... half human, half demon.. Hector... intend on keeping her for himself as his slave! (sex included) hmmm.... maybe a guardian angel in the mix that fights with Drake, too? (Mark) trying to keep him away from one of God's most loyal servants? maybe one of her co-workers...
she's scared of the dark.. can feel "something" in the night watching her every move
it's him trying to figure out why he is so drawn to her
"Where's my beer, woman?" She knew it was coming. The same way it did everyday when he came home from work. She had just finished taking of his boots and handing him the daily paper, but that was only the beginning of her night. The rest of the evening would be spent tending to his beck-and-call. "Coming, Hector!" she replied as she hustled toward the kitchen. As she crosses through the archway to the kitchen, she can't stop the thoughts from flooding her mind. "Has it been in the fridge long enough? I just picked it up on the way home from the clinic and it was warm in the store. Please God, let it be cold." As soon as her hand touches the neck of the bottle, she knows. "Shit! I knew I should have put a couple of them in the freezer!" She knows it's going to be one of those nights... the nights that seem to never end. Nothing she can do now except hope that time passes quickly. "God dammit, Amanda! Hurry up with that beer!" Grabbing the neck of the bottle and flipping the lid off at the speed of light, she rushes into the living room. All the while praying that her punishment will be swift.
It hadn't always been this way. When she first met Hector in college, he was a different man. Sure, he had always been the "bad boy" type, but that's what attracted her to him the most. That sexy devilish grin, his dark chocolate eyes when he smiled, and that gorgeous golden skin... one smile was all it took for her to feel the flush of heat between her legs and the flutter of her breathing. He smelled of danger and it drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
It wasn't until he got expelled from school that everything changed. Hector was forced to move off campus and Amanda couldn't stand the thought of not being by his side. A month later, they were living together in a run down apartment on the south side of town. Both out of school and neither of them working, their love was so new that nothing else mattered. They stayed holed up in their 2nd floor studio apartment for weeks. Laughing, cuddling, making love, and only eating when they felt it absolutely necessary. No job meant no money, and no money meant no food. They were truly living on what they thought was love.
But that was then, and this is now. Still stuck in their south side apartment, Hector an alcoholic, and Amanda a slave to his every whim, this was her life. She had thought about leaving many times. Getting out of their tiny apartment with the peeling paint on the walls and bars on the windows. Starting a new life where she could be free to do what makes her happy. But that was just a dream. How could she ever leave Hector and make it on her own? Her salary at the veterinary clinic wasn't enough to support her. Cleaning cages and feeding animals just doesn't pay enough. No, she was stuck here for the long haul. Trapped like a rat in a scientific laboratory. It was better just to do as Hector said and try to make her days a little easier. Besides, he had told her before that if she ever left him, he would hunt her down and kill her. The scariest part was that she believed he actually might do just that.
The sound of glass shattering against the wall sent shivers up her spine and turned her stomach. "Oh God, please not my face, please not my face" she repeated to herself as she heard his heavy footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Amanda frantically tried to calm herself and keep her focus on the dishes she was washing in the sink. If she broke one now, she would make everything worse than it already was. Pain shot up her back like lightning, doubling her over while so fast that she didn't have time to reach for the counter to prevent from falling. Her kidney felt like it was on fire and the tears streamed down her face in an instant. "Please not my face, please not my face." He kicked her in the stomach with such force that now she was gasping for breath.
"Warm beer? What the hell makes you think that you can get away with that? You know my beer needs to be ice cold! I guess you need more training!" Another kick to the stomach, then to the back, then to the thigh. Amanda curled herself into the smallest bundle possible and didn't move. If she tried to avoid the punishment, it would only get worse. She knew better... she had it coming. She laid on the cold linoleum floor for what seemed like an eternity. All the while praying that the darkness would close in quickly. At least then she wouldn't feel the pain racking her body. At least then she would be able to sleep the night away and tomorrow would come that much quicker.
"Mom!" Amanda raced into her mom's sweet embrace. "Oh mom... I miss you so much!" "I miss you too, Sis." Taking Amanda's face into her hands, her mother pulls back from the hug just enough to look into her eyes. "Why do you let him hurt you so? Why do you stay with that animal? You deserve so much better than that, Amanda." The tears roll down Amanda's face, dropping onto the flowing white sleeves of her mom's gown. "I could never leave him, Mom. He provides for me and I wouldn't be able to survive on my own." "You must be strong, Amanda. Life has so much to offer you! There is an entire world out there waiting for you to embrace it. Know that I am always with you, and draw on me for the extra strength you need. I will help you through." "But mom..." Amanda's gaze froze on her mother's face. Mom's beautiful face was turning pale, her lips had already become a light shade of blue, and the hands on Amanda's face started to feel like ice. "Oh mom...please don't go!" It was that damn dream again. "Mom!!!" "I love you, Sis!" her mother says as she slowly fades away.
Ever since Amanda had found her mother dead, the dreams wouldn't stop coming. Some nights they were pleasant, like tonight, but other nights... other nights she would wake sweaty and shaky. Climbing the stairs to her mother's bedroom in the house where she grew up, she would call for mom. She had made plans to spend the day with mom, so she must be here somewhere. Amanda turns the corner at the top of the stairs and sees her mother lying in her bed. Of course she was napping. She always went back to bed after dad left for work in the morning. She says "mom" again, trying to wake her from her nap. Her mother doesn't stir. The knots in her stomach start to tighten and fear washes over her like a heavy blanket. As she crosses the bedroom and nears the bed, the realization starts to sets in.
Mom's not sleeping. She looks like she's sleeping, but all of the color has left her face and her lips are that eerie shade of blue. She reaches for her mother's hand, still not ready to believe what she is seeing. Her skin is soft, but unnaturally cold. Her chest isn't moving and there's no air escaping from her mouth. Mom's gone and the truth sends Amanda falling to the floor and screaming. "Nooo!!!"
Over the past 10 years, Amanda has relived this awful day over and over in her dreams. Waking with a fresh break in her heart and wet cheeks from the tears every time.
Tonight's dream wasn't as bad, but it still left her shaky. Looking around, she realizes she's still on the kitchen floor where Hector had left her when he was done. How long he had kicked her, she doesn't know. The beautiful darkness had swallowed her up after the first few, thank God. As she struggles to sit up, she can feel it... that all too familiar knife in the side feeling that only broken ribs can give. "Freaking wonderful. At least my face doesn't hurt. I won't have to pile on the makeup like a tramp tomorrow at work, just pretend not to not feel that shooting pain every time I breathe. I can do that much. I've done it before." Steadying herself with the table leg, Amanda slowly raises herself up from the floor. No way is she going into the bedroom. The last thing she needs is to accidentally wake Hector from his slumber. She'll just lie on the couch until it's time to shower and get ready for work.
Blake could hear the alarm buzzing on the nightstand through the fog in his head. Without any thought, his hand automatically swept out and across the small stand, knocking the alarm, the lamp, and everything else onto the floor. "Shit. What a great way to start a morning" he says while fighting with his eyes to focus. The blood red numbers of the clock were now upside down on the floor by the cheap motel dresser. Sitting up just enough to see over the edge of his bed, he could just barely make out the time. 6:13 am. Knowing full well that if he didn't get up right then he would fall back asleep, Blake threw the covers back and reached for his sweats. "I hope it doesn't turn out to be one of those days" while pulling the sweat pants on.
Stepping out into the cold November air, Blake shivers as he zips up his coat. Another day of job hunting in a dead end town. Northern Michigan is all he has ever known, but now, at the age of 27, he longs for something better. Unfortunately, it takes money to travel, and Blake didn't have enough yet. He had been saving half of his paychecks from the temp agency for almost a year. The other half paying for the motel room and enough food to survive. Jobs were getting harder and harder to come by, and there were more and more people searching. It seemed like a never ending, uphill battle. "Only two hundred dollars more and I can get out of this God forsaken town." Pulling up his hood, Blake turns the corner and walks off in the direction of main street.
"Could you give me a ride to work today, Hector? It's really cold and snowing outside." She used the sweetest voice she could, secretly hoping that he might feel just a tad guilty about the beating he had put on her the night before.
"That never stopped you from walking before, Amanda. Besides, your ass could use a good walk." Hector never even looked up from his coffee anymore when he insulted her. It was like second nature to him now. Without saying another word, Amanda grabs her coat and heads out the door. The quicker she can get away from Hector, the better. Work had become her only escape from the daily abuse of her so called life. Closing the door behind her, she breathes a sigh of relief and tries to put a smile on her face as she starts the one mile walk to work.
Opening the door to the coffee shop, the smell of fresh ground beans and cinnamon rolls filled Blake's nostrils. The petite blond girl behind the counter looked up and noticed him before the door had even shut. "Good morning, Blake." she said with that school girl smile. "The usual for you this morning?" "Yes, Amanda. The usual would be great", Blake replied. It was obvious that Amanda had a horrible crush on Blake, but she was far too young for him. Rather than breaking her heart and smashing her fantasies, he just kept his mouth shut and spoke with respect. Never leading her on, but never letting her down, either. "Here ya go! One large coffee with sugar and a blueberry muffin to go" Amanda said through her pouty pink lips. "Thank you, Amanda." Blake replied. He threw down a five dollar bill and turned to leave.
Amanda didn't even see the man on the other side of the coffee shop door. In a hurry to get a warm coffee to enjoy on her walk to work, she opened the door hard enough to send Blake's coffee flying, spilling down the front of his shirt in the process. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Sir!" Grabbing a handful of napkins off the booth table next to her, Amanda reached toward Blake in an attempt to wipe the coffee from his shirt. Blake was mesmerized by this clumsy, yet beautiful woman. Her dark brown hair hung in loose curls down her back, with small wisps framing her oval face and the copper highlights dancing in the fluorescents of the coffee shop. Hazel eyes with just enough emerald green to make them shine were in perfect contrast to her smooth, fair skin, and those movie star lips... plain yet so inviting. The only makeup she wore was the jet black mascara that adorned her stunning long lashes, making those olive shaped eyes even more attractive. He couldn't help himself, he was staring. "Sir?" Amanda looked into his eyes hoping for some sign of forgiveness for the huge mess she had just made all over his button up chocolate brown shirt. "Don't stress over my shirt, Miss...." Blake let the last word hang for a moment, hoping that she would fill in the blank. He had to at least know her name.
"Amanda. Just call me Amanda" she said with a flush in her cheeks. Easily 6 foot 4 inches tall, Blake was breathtaking. He had blue eyes that glimmered like sunshine on the ocean, broad shoulders that could completely envelop her with ease, flawless golden skin, and feathered blond hair that was just long enough to hang into his eyes if it fell just right. It was all she could do to sputter out an apology. “I’m.. I’m so s-sorry.” Lowering her gaze to the floor, Amanda tried to regain her composure and cursed her clumsiness under her breath. “Please let me buy you another coffee, Sir. It’s the least I can do after making you wear yours.”
“That’s not necessary, Amanda. Besides, I was almost finished with it anyway” Blake lied through his teeth to the beauty standing before him. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel bad. Amanda couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Blake had her tongue tied and the butterflies were tickling her stomach. After an awkward minute of silence, she finally got enough courage to say one last thing. “I better go or I’ll be late for work,” and she went out the door just as fast as she had come in.
Blake watched the woman through the coffee shop window. The simplistic beauty that seemed to seep from her every pore had left him in awe. He couldn’t just let her walk away forever without asking her out. Without a second thought, Blake bulleted out the door and into the street.
Amanda was just crossing the road in front of Blake when he saw it. A full size Ford pickup truck had turned the corner and was heading straight for her. It wasn’t slowing down and she didn’t seem to notice the truck barreling up the street. A lump formed in the base of Blake’s throat and a shiver shot up his spine. Dropping his breakfast and moving as fast as his legs would carry him, Blake ran. Amanda looked up just in time to see the headlights twenty feet away and coming fast. Frozen in fear, she couldn’t move. She tried to scream, but no sound came. Death was coming and she couldn’t do anything to stop it. Landing on the icy sidewalk on the far side of the street, Amanda could hear the sound of tires sliding on snow and metal bending. People from every shop and store on the street were filing out into the cold to investigate. The driver of the truck had finally stopped and was kneeling over something in front of his truck.
As her focus starting coming back to her, Amanda could see the hair of the man lying in the street. Beautiful blonde hair that gave her goose bumps and a knot in her stomach came into her vision. It was Blake! Blake had shoved her out of the way of the truck and then been hit himself! Now he was just lying there, unresponsive, while the snow covering the road soaked up the blood that was pooling around him.
Amanda tried to pry herself off the sidewalk so that she could go to him, but her head was dizzy and the people around her kept telling her to “just lie down”. She could hear the scream of the ambulance siren as it careened into the area and stopped just short of the Ford. Two EMTs were grabbing their medical kits from the back of the ambulance and running in Blake’s direction. She strained her ears in an attempt to hear what they were saying, but she was too far away.
“Ma’am, my name is Mike and I’m an EMT. Are you ok?” He was kneeling over her in order to put the oxygen mask on her face. “I’m fine! Help him! Help Blake!” she cried. The look on Mike’s face said it all. The despair in his eyes when he looked back at her held the truth. There was no help for Blake. Amanda went limp. She lay motionless on the frigid concrete as Mike did his job. “You’re going to be just fine, ma’am. Do you have any family I can call to come pick you up?” he asked. Amanda’s look hardened as she responded. “No. I’ll walk, thank you.” Mike helped her to her feet with one quick pull of his hand, and then turned and headed back to the ambulance. Amanda stood in place for a moment, watching as Mike and his partner lifted Blake’s body into the back end of the vehicle. In a whisper, she said her last words to the man who had saved her life. “Thank you, Blake. Thank you, but it should have been me.” Amanda gathered her coat around her neck and turned in the direction of the clinic.
“Blake… Blake, wake up.” It was a female’s voice, but not Amanda’s. This voice was a little husky and more confident. “Blake! Time to wake up!” the woman was shaking his shoulder now. Blake’s eyes started to flutter. The light was blinding, even though Blake’s eyes were still closed. Opening his eyes, he could make out the figure of the woman leaning over him. She was of medium build, with dark curly hair, deep brown eyes, and she was…. glowing! Shaking his head, Blake thought “Wow. That truck must have really done a number on me.” He rubbed his eyes and looked again. She was still glowing.
“Are you a nurse? Where am I? How’s Amanda?” Blake spit all the questions out at once.
