Tom had plans with Cal all Wednesday morning. But he was irritable and checking his watch often. They sat at their local café, at one of the small metal tables littering the side of the street. Tom was staring over at the library of red brick, with a clocktower at the top and an arched roof over the main entrance. He was watching one of the windows when a hand frantically swiped in front of his face.

"Hello," Cal said. "Anyone in that thick skull of yours?"

"Sorry," Tom mumbled sitting up straighter and focusing on his best friend. Cal's shoulder-length blond hair had dried wavy in the sun. His greyish eyes were squinting in the bright daylight. "What were you saying?"

Cal arched a brow. "What's up with you today?"

Tom glanced around before leaning over the table. "I'm meeting up with the soul stripper later to give him another book. It's just on my mind, that's all."

"Ah," Cal said, nodding. "Can I come?"

"No."

"Why?"

"He's cagey around me. He probably won't turn up if you're there."

"I'll hide then."

"No."

"Just to make sure you're safe?"

"No."

Cal sat back in his seat, crossing his arms. "Fine then. But please be careful. He might be calm and everything but they're still very unpredictable. If you say the wrong thing or-"

"I know, I know. I'm careful."

Cal then grinned. "So, do you know what he looks like? I've only ever seen him with his hood up."

"I do."

"And?"

Tom was amused, but he refused to smile. "He's good-looking."

"That's all you're gonna say?"

"Yes." Tom frowned. "What else should I say?"

"That he's hot? That he's got that bad guy appeal? That he's so irresistible or that-"

"Shut up."

"Oh come on Tom, you don't talk about who you fancy anymore. Ever since the mega twat Kimberley broke your heart, you've given up on love or something."

"It's been a year already, and it still hurts," he mumbled. Tom had first dated Kimberley when he was eighteen. For three years, he had been madly in love with her. He thought they would spend the rest of their lives together, but she cheated on him with one of his other best friends- Lewis. Cal had always been his number one best friend, though they used to be a trio. Cal had walked in on Lewis and Kimberley in bed together when Lewis had been late to meet him. Cal went straight to Tom to tell him what was going on.

Kimberley and Lewis left the village because the locals made it too awkward for them to stay. Tom had taken it hard, but working at the pub was a great distraction, and he soon stopped aching or pushing away the ones who had been there for him. And he started thinking about a future without her in it.

"I know, but you deserve to date again and have fun," Cal said. "Maybe I can set you up with one of Harper's friends."

Harper was Cal's girlfriend. They had been dating for almost half a year now, and they were well suited. Tom liked her because she respected their old friendship and didn't try to get between them. He didn't try to get between them either, accepting that Cal would spend a lot of time with her too. "No. I don't think I'm ready to date again."

Cal shook his head, stacking their coffee cups. "I hope they know how much they've hurt you. I hope karma comes back to bite them hard."

Tom didn't. He hoped they were happy together, otherwise what was the point of it all if they weren't? "I best go."

"To meet up with a hot demon."

"Cal seriously, shut up."

Cal laughed and hugged him goodbye. "I'll see you tonight, probably. I'll text you."

"Bye." Tom watched him leave before getting up to go to the library. He walked around the water fountain, eyeing the golden statue of a girl.

He searched multiple bookshelves before finding the history of Angels and Demons in Wileshire. To his relief, Haisley was busy with a book club. He signed the book out himself and journeyed to the top of the hill.

Other walkers passed by. They were heading down to the village, not liking the look of the dark clouds moving in from the east. Tom was early, so he sat on the grass and thought about the online learning leaflet that was still wedged in his jacket pocket at home. What would he study if he had the chance? He glanced down to the book. Would he study history? He liked history and how each event shaped the world in predictable or unpredictable ways. But did he like it enough to dedicate his life to it?

He sighed, and sprawled his legs out in front of him, crossing one over the other.

Looking at the world from above made him feel small. The world didn't revolve around him. He wouldn't ruin his parents' lives if he went off to live a life he wanted, but it still felt like he would upset them if he didn't want to follow the family tradition of owning and running the Glass Horns pub.

His sister didn't want it, and Tom didn't either. Maybe he'd have children who would want it. Still, that thought was too far in the future and by then, it might be too late for him to start studying and forming a career.

Just like last time, Ezra appeared in front of Tom, derailing his train of thought. He cast a dark shadow upon him like his very own storm cloud. "Hello," Tom greeted. "Here you go." He held out the book.

Ezra took it gratefully. "Thanks."

As he turned to leave, Tom said, "Wait! Stay a little. I'm just sitting here, and you can too . . . if you want some company." Tom wasn't sure why he had asked him to stay. Maybe he wanted to get to know more about his mysterious life. Helping a demon was odd enough, but enjoying their company was highly unusual. They could be cold, unsociable, detached, and ill-tempered. Ezra was certainly detached, shy, and blunt. But he was calm and so far, waveless in a rough sea.

"It's going to rain."

"Well, sit here until it does, and then you can do your little disappearing act, and I'll run back to the pub," he said with a smile. "Unless you're offering a lift?" Tom cringed at himself. Cal's words had made him feel a little flustered.

"No. Your insides will implode."

"Oh." Tom frowned. "Never mind then." Ezra didn't move, but when he asked, "Are you coming to the pub tonight?" He finally sat on the grass a few metres away.

"Maybe."

"Can I ask what happened when the angel came to get you the other day?"

"No."

"Okay." Tom twiddled his thumbs and pursed his lips. He had other questions, but he didn't want to interrogate him. Though he was afraid that silence would be too awkward, and Ezra would leave. "How old are you?"

"Old enough."

"In our years?"

"Twenty-one."

"So technically, I'm older than you by a year." Tom wondered if Ezra was smiling under his hood. He doubted it. Tom had questions about being a soul stripper. He didn't want to ask anything too personal, but the rumours about them getting the job because of heinous crimes was chewing away at him.

"Have you worked in the pub for a long time?" Ezra asked.

Tom was surprised. He had expected to do all the talking. "Um, full-time for four years. Part-time for two."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Sometimes it's fun, most of the time it's not."

"Have fights increased?"

"Yes, especially in the past two years."

"Why?"

Tom shrugged. "People like to provoke demons."

"Why?"

Tom shrugged again, and Ezra looked down at the book and opened it. He read for a while, and no more questions passed between them. Tom tried his best not to stare. Every time he looked out towards the horizon, his eyes would trail back in the demon's direction. Ezra was wearing dark blue jeans with muddy black boots. He wore his dark blue hoodie and a black denim jacket. Tom was attracted to him, but that was a harmless thought because all he wanted was to be friends. And attraction only went so far when a personality was kept in the dark. "Where were you before you came to Wileshire Village?" he asked.

Ezra looked up. Tom could only see his chin and the scar curling around it from his cheek. "On the west coast."

"Why are you back here?"

Erza dropped his gaze back to the book. He was silent for long enough that Tom assumed he wasn't going to answer, until he said, "I have important things to do. Thank you for helping me." He slapped the book closed and climbed to his feet. "The rain is coming. You should go home." With that said, he disappeared, and Tom felt a spot of rain on his cheek.

He smiled to himself and hurried back down the hill, trying not to slip as the rain thrashed all around him. He couldn't quite consider Ezrakhell a friend, but at least they were getting to know one another. Tom hoped that if he enjoyed his company, then he would visit the pub more. And if he visited the pub more, locals were less likely to fight demons if they were used to them.

Well, that's what he had hoped until he walked into the pub and narrowly missed a pint glass smashing next to his head.