The Grease Trap

When Damon turned back to Shea, his expression was apologetic. "It was the only polite way to handle it." He was unsure if he had made her uncomfortable or not.

At her question, he shook his head. "No, I cannot do anything of that sort."

" What can you do? " She didn't want to see nosey, but hell let's face it she was born curious. Damon was a patient guy to allow Shea her indulgence, as well as kind. She got the feeling he was very reserved and that this was new to him also.
Shea kinda enjoyed being the one to open him a little.

"My five senses are very acute, much more than you can imagine. I can sense how a person is feeling. Emotions seem to come off in waves." Damon was patient in explaining. He had known curious women before.

" Oh " Was all Shea managed to get out. This made Shea more curious to what emotions Damon was sensing from her.

"I can tell what you are feeling. However, it is not always clear why a person feels the way they do. Conflicting emotions."

When the waitress returned with their orders, she did not so much as glance at Damon again.

" Ohh yay food. " Shea immediately dug in before her stomach spoke once again.
" Creep by the way, that you sense that. Bet it comes in handy though. Like if someone is lying, can you feel it? "

Damon watched her eat. "The heart rate usually gives a lie away."

Shea let out a geeky laugh when she realized how stupid she sounded at such a common fact. A glance at the clock, and impatient staff told Shea it was closing time. She pulled out her wallet and the waitress read the sign as she retrieved the check.

"Let me." It was simply in his nature to pay when he was with a woman; Damon was old fashioned. When the check was brought over, he gave the waitress enough cash to cover the bill. The change could be kept. Despite the waitress being obnoxious, he did not wish for her to come back with the change, so the small tip was worth it.

" Oh well thank you. " Shea was suddenly shy again. Almost as if this was a date, she didn't know where to take it from here.
" That was very kind of you Damon, you are a very great guy. Regardless of your....other features."

Damon could sense that his gesture made her shy. He felt he should elaborate. "It was proper manners for most of my life to pay when with a lady, even if you have just met."

" I would love to hear about that if you ever have the time? "
Shea looked outside and noted the darkness which fell. The thought of this night ending put a cloud above Shea.

"My life or what life was like?" Damon was unsure which she meant.

" Oh your life of course! I bet it was wonderful to be back than. Although I love modern day plumbing! "
Shea began walking towards the door, the diner staff anxious to close and go home for the night.

"There are several modern day advances that make life easier." Damon opened the door for her.

" Very true. " Shea smiled when he opened the door for her. " Where to next? " She asked excitedly.

"Anywhere that catches your fancy." Damon smiled small, waiting for her decision.

Shea thought for a moment and glanced at the dark sky.
" Would you care for a walk? " Shea was in the mood to feel the night wind on her skin and the moonlight beaming on her.

"A walk sounds nice." Damon waited for her to walk first.

Shea began to head towards the park which was only a few blocks from the diner. Few cars drove by an indicator that it was getting pretty late. A silence had once again fallen over the pair and Shea decided to break it.
Shea was curious. She knew beyond a doubt that he was a trusting person as well as no threat to her but she felt compelled to know more.
" Does you 'kind' really sleep in coffins? Do you hide in the daylight? Can you eat garlic? Oh can silver bullets kill you, oh wait that's werewolves. OH! are they real too? "
She felt like a child asking the boogeyman all sorts of questions. It was great for her to feel not depressed for once.

Damon smiled at all of her questions. "We are just as different from each other as humans are. Think of it as races of vampires. Not much bothers me. Only fire and losing my head. There are some that must hide from the sun and silver. I have never met any who sleep in coffins. However, they do exist." He paused, thinking about what to say. "They are. There is more in the world than you can imagine."

Shea giggled at his comments. " Weellll Mr. Damon I do believe you forgot a few things. Your kind and have a sense of humor!"

As she lightened her mood up some Shea crossed the street only she miss stepped the curb and for the second time this evening took a stumble.

" Oh my! "

Damon chuckled at her comments. When she stumbled, he carefully caught her. Once she was standing up right, he let go. All of this within a couple of seconds.

"You remind me of my sister. Both so accident prone." He meant it in a good way, not a criticism."

Shea nervously laughed at her clumsy stumble. When she was standing upright again within a heart beat, Shea barely had a moment to breathe.

" Wow, you are amazing. " And Shea meant it in more than one way. " You don't talk about your family much do you? " Shea felt like her question was like standing on thin ice. Perhaps his family was all dead....
" I mean you don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable talki-ng to me a-nd wha-t-t not. " She stuttered out.

"They have been gone for a long time. I do not have any family members alive anymore." Some family trees to end. Not all continue. "It is not you. It is a tender subject."