I learn that Aimee is from Manhattan, She's the youngest of three children. She's just gotten engaged to her long-term boyfriend, Alex, who she's been with since the ninth grade. She and Alex were crowned prom king and queen at their senior prom. She gets on with her older brother but not her sister. She's met various vampires and has no problem with them. She's met Chloe and doesn't like her. Immediately after she says this, I know that she's someone I want as my friend.
We walk back to our building together and for the first time since I started here I feel…happy. Properly happy. Because I finally have a friend here, someone who's on my side.
"I'm having a party tonight. For my birthday." Aimee says as we climb the stairs towards our floor. "You wanna come?"
"Me? Really? You don't have to invite me, I don't think that many people would be happy to see me there."
"I want to invite you. You should bring your friend, too."
"Godric?" I can't help but laugh. "Yeah, I'm sure that would go down well."
"You need to stand up to them, the people who have turned against you because of the whole vampire thing. If you show up with your vampire friend, it'll show them that you don't care what they think, that you're not scared of them. It'll make them back off a lot more quickly than they would otherwise."
"I'm not sure that parties are really Godric's thing." I say sceptically. I can't imagine him at any kind of party, never mind a college party.
"Well, ask him anyway. Even if you just show up for a minute or two, it'll show the bullies that they aren't getting to you."
"Ok, I guess." I say dubiously and Aimee smiles.
"Great! I hope to see you both tonight!" She gives me a parting grin before disappearing into her room.
It's not until I'm turning the handle of my own room that I become apprehensive. I'd forgotten all about Chloe and what happened last night, but I can't avoid her forever. I open the door and step inside to find Chloe lay on her bed. She jumps up the moment she sees me and squeals.
"Thalia!" She exclaims. "Where have you been? I was so worried!"
Wait. What? Am I missing something?
"I stayed at Godric's." I say stiffly.
Her eyes widen and I brace myself for the harsh comments that are sure to start tumbling from her lips, but they never come.
"I'm so sorry, Thalia." She says, her expression becoming immediately solemn. "I've been absolutely awful to you. When you didn't come home last night, I realised I'd gone too far. I have jealousy issues an-"
"Hold up. Jealousy issues? What are you jealous of?"
She looks down at the ground for a few moments before looking back up at me. She looks embarrassed. Why?
"I'm jealous of you. I'm jealous of you because," she takes a deep breath, "I have a crush on your vampire. On Godric."
What? There's no way this can be true, can it? Chloe has a crush on Godric? No way.
"You don't even know him." I point out coldly.
"I know, I know. But he's just so pretty!"
Is she fucking serious right now?
"Oh, right." I'm kind of pissed right now. She decided to turn everyone against me because she has a crush on Godric? Who's the fangbanger now? I think angrily. Right now, I'm the one who's jealous. I'm seven shades of green with envy because I like Godric, but how can I ever compete with Chloe? She's tall, blonde and beautiful. She's the kind of girl all the guys want.
But Godric isn't a normal guy, I remind myself. Godric has no interest in girls like Chloe. Hell, he may have no interest in girls like me, either. I don't know what he's into. He could be into guys for all I know.
"..and I knew that you guys were together an-" Chloe's saying.
"What? No. No, me and Godric aren't together." I cut across her, though I wish I could tell her otherwise.
"You aren't?" Her whole face lights up. "Could you put in a good word for me?"
"What? No! Of course I couldn't! If you want to get in with Godric, you'll have to do it yourself."
"Oh, of course. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
No, you shouldn't have, I think to myself as I grit my teeth to prevent myself from saying it out loud.
So, in a surprising turn of events, Chloe has a crush on Godric. I did not see that one coming.
I mean, she could be lying I suppose, but I don't see why she would lie about this. What does she have to gain from it?
The sun has been down a little over ten minutes when my cell goes off. I glance at the display and see that it's Godric. My stomach does an excited somersault because I'm pathetic like that.
"Hey," I answer, pressing the phone to my ear.
"Hello," He says, quietly as ever. "Are you doing anything tonight?"
"Not exactly…" I begin. How do I even begin to ask a vampire if he wants to go to a college party?
"Not exactly?"
I sigh. "Ok, this girl invited me to a party and she said I should bring you because it would show everyone that I don't care what they think and I told her that I didn't really think parties were your thing but she said that I should ask you anyway and that even if we only showed up for like a minute or two it would make a difference with the idiots that have turned against me and I wouldn't be asking you at all but she's like my only friend here and that's kind of a big deal but I get that a college party isn't really your thing so I'll just go alone and say that I asked you but you were busy doing, I don't know, vampire stuff." I'm talking so fast that I barely have time to draw breath, never mind allow Godric a word in edgeways. I'm about to start talking again, to apologise for getting him invited to a college party when he cuts across me.
"Thalia?"
"Yes?"
"I'd like to go with you."
"You would? Why?"
"Because it's important to you."
"Well, I wouldn't say it's important bu-"
"I'll see you in an hour."
He hangs up and I'm left staring at my cell in disbelief. I'm going to a party. With Godric. There's two things I never thought I'd say in the same sentence.
Unfortunately, Chloe is also going to be at this party. In fact, she's already there. She left a half hour ago in a very tight red dress. I frown. I'm willing to bet everything I own that she'll make a pass at Godric the first chance she gets, if the whole her having a crush on him is at all true.
There's a knock at my door and I immediately feel nervous. Not because I'm going to a party full of people who hate me, though. Oh no. The way I feel about that pales in comparison to the way I feel about seeing Godric. Yeah, I'm one of those girls, apparently.
I grab my cell and shove it into a small clutch bag I bought years ago for my father's marriage to my step-mom. I take a deep breath and pull the door open to reveal Godric. Oh, he looks so good. Chloe's right, he's so pretty. No, pretty isn't the right word. He's amazingly good looking.
I hear a sharp intake of breath when his gaze lands on me and I instantly feel self-conscious.
"You look…"
"Hideous?" I thought I looked ok when I looked in the mirror but maybe I seriously misjudged.
"I was going to say beautiful."
Oh. I can't help the stupid grin that forces it's way onto my face as I blush. "Thank you." I say quietly, fixing my gaze on the floor in the hopes that my hair will shield the flush of colour.
"Shall we?" He holds his hand out to me.
I step out of my room and take his hand - it's so cold - before I lock the door behind me. He gives me a small smile, which I return shyly, and we make our way towards the common room, where the party is behind held. I look down at our intertwined fingers. Oh, they are going to love this.