Preston Forest Shopping Center
The Preston Forest Shopping Center is large and classy. The entrance is open and spacious, a rectangular fountain surrounded by potted trees leading up the middle of the mall, with pathways on either side for shoppers. One can easily see both floors from here and the lighting is amazing - beside the typical electric bulbs, the roof is comprised of glass allowing the sunlight to filter in.
Shops and businesses spread out here both east and west as well as to the back of the mall. Hidden away in the back corner one can find the escalator to the second story, as well as washrooms and a bank of payphones.
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Coming into dinner time in the city. Those wandering the upscale mall are now separated into two categories; either they are on their way out of the mall to go home and have dinner or they're going to partake of some of the dining services that are available and continue shopping. Most of those in the latter category seem to be teens and young adults that have finally gotten their freedom in the form of a vehicle. Given to them by mom and dad, of course.
Another draw on the shopping center's population is the fact that it is warming into spring, and most of the denizens of the city prefer an out-of-doors nightlife. For the most part, of course.
One of those who would actually prefer to be outside, but allowances have to be made— he's preparing for an outdoor … outing, is Brett Coleman, high school teacher extraordinaire. He's not accosted by any of his students here. They are on the lower rungs of the population and would probably be stopped at the doors before they even entered. In hand, a paper bag with dark brown, 'thirsty' towels folded carefully within. He whistles a tune as blue eyes look on the signs of the different stores as he looks to try to get his bearings within the large mall.
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It's been hot, lately. Even in the evenings there's a certain closeness to the air that it's nice to escape now and again. Beats the hell out of outdoor exercise. And the first crop of evening mosquitos. Steve limps his way in, keeping his big aviator sunglasses on even when he's well out of the natural sunlight. Hey, artifical lighting can be just as glaring.
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Lips move silently as Brett checks the different shop signs, determining the best route to where it is he wants to go next. He wants to resist the urge to visit the Deli; at least until his shopping is done.
A couple steps are taken, at least the distance of a couple of shops before he turns his head around to look over his shoulder, and go a different direction. A step in the direction where he looks is taken, and he pauses in his tracks as his eyes move back down.
Brows raise, and Brett finds himself staring when he doesn't mean to. Looking away, his gaze is forced back to a somewhat familiar (but how? Why?) figure before he takes a step in the direction where he was travelling anyway— the same direction that the older man is tracking from.
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A child's notice is all it takes to set in motion the ruining of Steve's day. A child of eight or nine tugs on his mother's shirt and points in Steve's direction, which his mother quickly takes steps to correct, pushing the child's arm down and murmuring in his ear as she guides him in the other direction. But the kid still looks curiously over his shoulder. When Steve notices, his expression falls, lips nearly disappearing. He leans on his cane and heads toward a menswear store.
~~
This is the second time in so many days that Brett finds himself playing the 'Is that him? Nah, couldn't be.. but it looks like him!' game. First, with Dr. Reynolds, and now? What was his name?
Captain Sunshine.
Brett grew up watching the guy. When he was pulled off the air, the rumours few around school that the guy had been bitten and turned into a vampire in revenge. That was the story after the Revelation. Before? Word was that he didn't fare too much better than PeeWee Herman.
Brett's parents weren't all that keen on the guy's series; being 'monsters' and all, and discouraged the boys from watching it. Brett, on the other hand, found the show amusing and a good diversion from all the nature shows.
The reaction from the little boy almost seals the deal for him in the recognition department, and he shifts his path just by a few steps.
"I hate to ask—"
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Steve's sunglasses aren't dark enough to hide a certain note of dread in his expression, but he bobs his head in acknowledgement. "No, it's cool," he murmurs, "Just keep it down." He doesn't really break stride, but he doesn't shake Brett off, either, hobbling on the same course toward the upscale store. "Whoever you think I am, I'm probably him."
~~
Brett's own expression almost explodes into pleasure. Dr. Reynolds, well, that was blast from the past of familial responsbility (with a lady-friend tossed into the mix). This? This was all him.
"I'd heard.." Not good things as his fate. Lowering his voice as requested, he continues, "…that you'd pissed off the vampires so bad that after the Revelation, they'd gotten to you." On the friend/foe meter, Brett was all 'friend'. A positive audience, as it were.
"I had no idea you'd moved to Dallas."
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"Yeah, I just got out of rehab," Steve answers. A moment later, his eyes widen as he realizes that he just made one of those remarks that tabloids just love to take out of context. "Physical. Physical rehab. For…the leg. Not, uh…the other kind." He walks into the store, giving a short laugh in spite of himself. "The worst vampires ever did to me is egg my car."
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Brett speeds up a little to keep up with the limping man. As if realizing that perhaps he might possibly be coming off as a "fan", and not in a good way, he slows a little. "Re— ah.." The leg, and his obvious limp. "Even if it was the other— " wouldn't matter.
Following him into the store, if only for a couple of steps, Brett pauses before he gets too far in. "Well… it's good to know you're alive and kicking. So to speak." The question now, before excusing himself and letting the man shop in peace is—
"I.. uh.. couldn't get your autograph, could I?"
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Steve takes his sunglasses off, letting them dangle from his shirt pocket. He looks at Brett thoughtfully for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, okay," he agrees. "You got a pen? And paper?" He looks over his shoulder and then scratches his jaw.
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Brett puts his paperbag down and pats himself, finding a pen in his back pocket. Reaching into his wallet, he finds a slip of paper, a receipt that he hasn't yet thrown away after reconciling his accounts, and hands the two over. "I appreciate it." He doesn't even think about having it signed specifically to him. This is just.. cool. "Cor won't believe me. He used to go on about what he thought they'd done to you… just to annoy me. Not to be mean or anything."
Grinning, he shakes his head, "I couldn't imagine the— no, wait. I could picture one vampire egging your place. Ronnie."
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Steve squints at the receipt, taking it with the pen. He doesn't seem to know what to write on. In the end, he cups the slip of paper in the palm of his hand. "So, uh, what's your name?" he asks. He's no stranger to making out autographs. "Um…do you want me to write my name, or, uh… …the other thing?"
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"Brett," is given in response to the first question. As for the second, he considers before, "Steven Hawk. I mean, sure you were great as the Captain," which, for him, is an understatement, "but you did one or two other things." A true fan.
After this, Brett needs to get back to shopping and let the poor man get back to doing what he came here to do; which doesn't include being hounded for autographs.
~~
