He quickly finished his last drink, intending to head for the sanctuary of his kitchen & his refrigerator, which held not only blood to satiate his hunger, but more liquor to dull the ache in his heart.

His feet decided they weren't going to cooperate, however, and the room tilting like it did wasn't helping either. He pitched forward, blindly grabbing at the person-shaped blob in front of him. It squeaked in shock, pulling back from him as soon as he'd regained his balance.

Tristan: "I am so sorry… the room just threw me over here. Didn't mean to invade your personal space like that."

The blonde girl in the extravagant dress just stared at him, mouth hanging open in disbelief. As she began to come into focus, Tristan couldn't help but laugh.

Tristan: "Oh shit! You have FANGS!"
Heather: "No way."
Tristan: "Um… but you do. They're not real, though. Huh."
Heather: "No freaking way! This is SO unreal!"

Tristan looked around nervously, suddenly unsure if she was speaking to him or someone behind him. The room started spinning violently again, so he stopped looking around and turned slowly back to her.

Tristan: "What is?"
Heather: "You're Tristan Payne!"

Tristan: "Erm… yeah. Have we met? I'm really sorry, I don't remem-"
Heather: "I'm a huge fan of yours! I can't believe this is really happening!"
Tristan: "Wow. I honestly have no idea what to say."

The girl threw her head back and laughed, a not quite innocent yet completely honest sound that echoed loudly in Tristan's head. He felt something primal stirring within him, something that was beginning to gnaw at him.

Heather: "Listen to me! I'm such a spaz! I just can't get over the fact that I managed to run into you here."

Tristan: "How so?"
Heather: "I'm out here visiting friends, and I leave tomorrow. I didn't expect… well, I was hoping to meet at least one of you guys… Meeting you, though! It's like… "

She trailed off, making a vague hand gesture in place of her words. Tristan stared at her, transfixed.

Tristan: "Yeah?"
Heather: "You're such a fiend!"

Tristan blinked, caught off guard. Did the whole world know he was a vampire now?

Tristan: "Excuse me?"
Heather: "I mean the way you play- you're such a fiend! It's incredible!"
Tristan: "Ahh… I see. Thanks?"
Heather: "Anytime! I just wish I had a camera or a pen or something! No one is going to believe this."

Tristan was no longer really hearing what the girl was saying; instead, Chris' words from earlier echoed in his head, mingling with inebriation, fury, and despair. It didn't seem to matter what decade it was, people were always the same from one generation to the next- cruel animals that delighted in bringing misery to one another. What had made him think that things would ever be different?

Heather: "Listen, I don't want to be obnoxious. I really should get going- I'm supposed to meet up with some people back at my friend's place and all… I'm really really glad I ran in to you, though."
Tristan: "Technically I ran into you."

The girl laughed again, the same unconsciously flirtatious laugh from before. Clearly she was nervous, but wasn't quite ready to have the moment end.

Heather: "I guess so!"
Tristan: "Why don't I at least walk you to your car to make up for it? I was just on my way out myself."
Heather: "Seriously?! I must be dreaming!"

Tristan: "Who knows… we all might be. Come on, we can use the back door and avoid having to fight our way through the freaks on the dance floor."

He smiled the most sincere smile he could manage, leading her toward the exit.