"May I be excused?" I asked, hopeful that the answer would be a positive one.
"Of course, dear. Are you sure you don't want anything else?" Nora said.
"I'm positive. However, thank you for the delicious breakfast." I flashed her my crooked smile, gently sliding out of the dining room chair. I caught Jules eyeing me in my peripherals as I opened the door to my room. I gave him a slight nod of my head, hoping to send a message through to him to meet me in my room after he was done with breakfast.
I closed the door behind me as I entered the room and plopped down onto my bed, holding my head in my hands. Sure, I'd had urges to drink the blood that came seeping through raw meats, but never had the urge been so strong. Never had my senses sharpened in any way, nor had I ever been able to move so quickly, so freely. I shook my head from side to side, unable to think of any legitimate reasons that would explain the weird phenomenon that went on in the kitchen.
Just then, the door creaked open and the small, round face I knew too well peered around it.
"Wes?" asked Julius.
"Come in."
Jules crept into my room silently, shutting and locking the door behind him. I had a feeling he knew that I didn't want the other kids finding out about my strange craving. I just wouldn't know how to explain it.
"What… What was that?" he asked timidly. He was standing right in front of me. His hands shoved into the front pockets of his ducky pajamas.
"Honestly, Jules?" I shook my head, my auburn brown hair brushing across my porcelain face. "I don't know. I just… I just had to have that bacon, you understand?" I looked at him with pleading eyes. "You have to understand, Julius. I can't explain it any better than that. It's almost as if… Something took over me."
Julius's eyes widened considerably, and for a second, I could have sworn I saw fear in his eyes. Fear. Of me.
"No, no, no, no. Jules, don't be afraid. Please." I begged him. I got up from the bed and knelt down in front of him so I could be on eye level. I grabbed him by the shoulders, my firm hands having a solid grip. "Please." I repeated. "I'm the same Wesley, Julius. My appetites just changed, that's all. Please don't be afraid of me, Jules. You're the only true friend I have here. You understand me. You have to. You absolutely have to."
He still had the same scared expression, but as soon as he saw the pain behind my eyes at the thought of him leaving me, shunning me, his expression softened.
"I trust you." It was those three words that showed me he was one of the only people in this world that I could thoroughly trust. "It's just… weird."
"I know it is. It's peculiar for me, also. I don't understand this change. This feeling. I just know that I have it, and I have to do something about it. I've lived 17 years of my life, soon 18, without this, and now, this thing, this apatite, is taking over. I don't know what to do." I didn't know how to explain it any better. "I need you, Jules. I know I'm asking a lot from you, but I need you."
He nodded in understanding. "I'm here." he whispered. At that moment, I saw the maturity that had formed within him from becoming an orphan. He saw the realities in life, and I instantly felt sorry. Pain surged through me at the thought of him being forced to grow up so quickly. I stood up, forcing a weak smile.
"Enough of this. Would you, perhaps, like to go to the park today?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood. I ran a hand through my soft, auburn hair and trained my liquid green eyes on him.
"Sure." he replied, taking the bait. "I'm really in the mood for ice cream, too, if you don't mind." He grinned, his smile reaching his sky blue eyes.
"Well let's get going." I said. "Go change." Julius walked out of the room, and I quickly changed into something suitable for the park, pushing the morning's events to the back of m mind.