Tristan: “You’ve been practicing.”

Emily: “Little bit.”

Tristan: “I’m impressed.”

Emily: “I guess I’m a much faster study when I have individual instruction.”

Tristan: “I told you you could do it.”

Emily: “Only because of you.”

Tristan: “Nah.  I’m just the catalyst.  With you and Mary getting yourselves into so many ‘interesting’ situations, you’d have gotten to this point one way or another.”

Emily: “So how’d you get so good?”

Tristan: “I’m a very old vampire.  It’s sort of a given.”

Emily: “How cliché.”

Tristan: “Hey, it’s true!  You learn quite a lot when you have so much time on your hands.  As a matter of fact, I’m also have mad skills on the pottery wheel.”

Emily: “You’re making that up!”

Tristan: “I’m hurt that you haven’t noticed my collection of handmade, one of a kind vases.”

Emily shook her head and pushed herself up off the floor, brushing the dust off her knees as she stood.  She glanced at the clock and pulled out her ponytail so that her sweat-dampened hair could air dry on the way home, then grinned at Tristan.

Emily: “You know, I should find some way to market this.  Women have been trying since the beginning of time to find a work-out program that they’ll actually look forward to doing.”

Tristan: “They could never afford me.   And actually, I think this particular craze only just started in the 20^th century.  You see—“

Emily: “Yeah, yeah.  You’ve had lots of time to read the history books, too.   But I can’t really afford you, either… at least not yet.  Hopefully this new job prospect will pan out.”

Tristan: “Ringing people up at the grocer’s or even completely unemployed, you’re the richest person I know, Emily Laine.”

Emily: “You’re being awfully charming tonight.”
Tristan: “Charming enough for you to stay for dinner?  And maybe dessert?”

Emily laughed and picked up her purse.

Emily: “Sorry, I promised Mary a girl’s night in.  We’ve barely seen each other the last few weeks, and have decided not to let a couple of silly boys get in the way of our friendship.”

Tristan: “How did I go from brilliant, charming vampire to silly boy so fast?”

Emily: “Probably about the same time that Mary entered the conversation.”

Tristan: “How’s it going with her and the doctor, anyway?”

Emily: “Good, as far as I can tell.  Assuming he’s not drugging her, that is.”
Tristan: “Why do you say that?”
Emily: “Have you ever seen Mary so mellow and laid back?  She hasn’t even been out looking for trouble since Bellie’s.”
Tristan: “Good point.”

Emily: “Though I think that may come to an abrupt end soon.”

Tristan: “Why is that?”

Emily: “I’m not sure yet.  But she said something about running for mayor.”

Tristan: “Against Stone?”

Emily: “Yes.  And as impossible as it would be for her to win, at least she’ll be doing something which will hopefully keep her from breaking our one and only television set.  This morning she almost threw the toaster through it.”

Tristan: “She’s never heard of a remote?”
Emily: “Actually it’s broken, but even if it wasn’t… well, you know Mary.  She’s incapable of letting anything go.”

Tristan: “I know all too well.  But what about you?”

Emily: “I’m okay.  I don’t watch much TV these days, so really I only catch his smarmy-ass face when Mary’s watching, and she’s usually the one holding the heavy object.  Also, I’m actually capable of walking out of the room.”

Tristan: “I don’t know how you do it.”
Emily: “Do what?”

Tristan: “Not let Stone get to you.”

Emily: “He was a part of my life, a very big mistake.  He used me, abused me, and I’m pretty sure he’s pure evil.  But no, I’m not going to let him define who I am.  This is my life, and I’ve been given a second chance.  That’s all that matters.  He can’t do any more damage unless I let him, which I won’t.”

Tristan: “You make it sound so simple, but it’s not.  Do you even realize how strong you are?”

Emily: “Of course I do, I took you out tonight, didn’t I?”

Emily smiled and winked, then took a step and closed the distance between them.