CHAPTER 10

I stood, my arms folded, David's black leather jacket pressed against my skin tightly, as I refused to move. They had been acting off all night. It was driving me absolutely insane and I knew David knew, but he didn't acknowledge it. He'd gone out of his way to be as nice as he could to me. Trying to show, what I characterized as, compassion, he constantly made sure that I was okay; that I was happy. We were doing everything I wanted to. They'd told me it was because they just felt like it. Like it was them accepting me. But this.

This was the last straw.

He was going too far, even for him. He knew he could push the limits; he knew he could, in all sense and purposes, be an ass and I wouldn't necessarily care because he cared. I knew he did, but honestly, something was wrong; I wasn't going to move until he told me.

"You told him, didn't you," I demanded, my accusation thrown at Alan who seemed to shrink back.

"What?" Marko questioned, his arm firmly around my friend protectively.

"Why else wouldn't he let me go to the comic book store?" I asked incredulously. "I mean, you don't want to go for whatever reason; so why can't I go by myself?"

"Because," David shrugged simply and I glared at him, shifting my weight to the other foot. He smirked, sending me a challenging stare, but there was something else there. Something that had never been there when we talked like this.

"What the hell is going on with all of you?" I yelled, not caring if people looked. Let them, ran through my mind. I wanted to know what had happened that made David think he could treat me like a small child.

Even more so than usual, that is.

"Keyna," Alan started but David turned to him, glowering frostily at him.

"Hey," I shouted, wanting to smack him. Where the hell did he come off treating my friend like this?

"Friend," David scoffed, his gaze directed at me now and I felt taken aback.

His eyes were hollow.

"Yes, David," I bit out, my own eyes narrowing. "My friend. Alan just so happens to be my friend."

"Maybe you should rethink your judgment," he growled and I looked to the side, my lips forming a thin line.

"Ya know what," I started, cold laughter stuck in my throat as our eyes connected once more, "maybe I should."

"Keyna," Alan started again stepping forward but I shook my head, shedding the black leather and throwing it at the blonde.

"Forget it, Alan," I muttered, stalking past David but he moved to grab me. Yanking my wrist away, I kept walking, forcing my vision to stay forward.

Finally, I found myself at Alan and Edgar's store.

"Sam?" I called, my voice weak and found him looking at me from behind the counter.

"Keyna?" he questioned slowly, standing as he buttoned his shirt. I stood, watching as he made his way closer but as he got to me, my legs gave out. He caught me, practically falling to the ground as he did so and I buried my face into his chest.

My eyes were dry though.

"What happened?" Edgar's deep voice filled my ears and I couldn't help squirming a little but twisted to look up at Sam. He looked worried and I let out a sigh, smiling slightly as I sat up but didn't have the energy to stand yet.

"Didn't get much sleep, I guess," I lied but both gave me looks of doubt. Something caught Edgar's eyes as he looked to the side and his form went rigid.

"What're you doing here?"

I turned to find Alan standing awkwardly in the doorway. His eyes flickered to me before steadying on his brother and I looked between the two. Alan's bruised chest flashed through my mind and I felt myself jump, my vision shifting between them again but this time confused.

"She ran off," he tried weakly but Edgar sent him an icy glare.

"Get out," he snarled and I found myself watching Alan, vaguely remembering him yelling at me about something.

"Edgar," Sam started but he was cut off with a growl and I stood, Sam too, making sure I wasn't going to fall again.

I couldn't take my eyes off Alan.

I felt like I should have been angry or upset or hurt, but I didn't know why. He gave me a sad look, turning to leave and my eyes switched back to Edgar. He didn't notice; he was too busy furiously burning holes in his brother's back.

I know nothing about you, Keyna. You don't tell me anything.

It was like a movie. Everything clicked; last night played in my head and I gasped. Looking back, my eyes connected with Alan's again but I whipped around, fixing a stare on his brother.

"Where the hell do you come off," I roared, stepping forward to shove him back. Edgar looked down at me, completely startled, but before he could even respond, my knuckles smashed into his chin.

"Keyna," Sam all but shrieked, yanking me back but I shook him off, pointing my finger at him.

"You touch him again, even accidently brush against him, and I'll rip your hair out," I promised, jabbing his chest with my finger for good measure. "You're slime, Edgar. You don't even deserve Sam."

"Keyna," Alan attempted to pull me to follow but Edgar sneered, giving me a once over.

"Don't come back here," he said in a threatening tone and I flipped him off, telling him just how much I wanted to go back there. Alan didn't let go until we were on the beach and even then, I had to throw his arm at him.

"Why didn't you tell me, Alan?" I yelled, inches away from his face but he merely stepped back, looking off to the side. "Alan-."

"Because," he sighed, folding his arms stubbornly. "It wasn't important."

"Your brother hit you, for no good reason, Alan," I barked, shoving him back, hard I might add. "It's pretty fucking important."

"Shut up, Keyna," he shouted, now leaning into my personal space. "You know nothing about it; stop acting like this."

"I have every fucking right, you asshole," I screamed and he jerked back at the pitch of my voice. "I may not know anything but you're still my friend, you idiot. Even if you don't tell me about a large portion of the night that I blacked out for. Where the hell do you come off not telling me something like that, huh? What the-?"

"Keyna," he cut me off sharply; it almost felt like a slap across the face. His features softened as he reached out, pulling me into his arms for a hug.

"Where the hell do you come off," I mumbled, feeling tears brim in my eyes.

"David didn't want to tell you," he told me softly, looking down at me before pushing my hair behind my ear.

"Why?" I croaked, tears spilling over. Why would he keep that from me?

"He was freaking out," he whispered, hugging me again. "You were up there for hours. I thought you'd just gone for a walk; I didn't even know it'd started raining until Paul came in, yelling that you were up there, drenched, and dragged me up. David was crouched next to you but you didn't even acknowledge him. He didn't know what to do, Keyna; he was scared that something was wrong with you and he didn't know how to deal with it."

"But, why didn't he tell me," I cried quietly; Alan stroked my hair.

"I don't think he knew how," he murmured. "He got worse when we brought you back inside. God, you screamed and his face paled even more."

"I didn't even know that was possible," I laughed weakly. "He's like a sheet."

"He is," Alan chuckled, squeezing me once more before pulling away. "He'll probably kill me for telling you."

"He's not going to touch you," I sniffed, clasping his hand gently in assurance. There was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes and he inhaled, but shook his head. "What?"

"He, cares about you," he stated, seeming hesitant as he said it. "A lot."

"I know," I mumbled but wrinkled my nose, tears threatening again. "But now I've messed everything up."

"Keyna, you honestly think he's just going to leave you alone."

"He seemed pretty angry," I moped pathetically but Alan rolled his eyes, draping his arm over my shoulder as we started back for the street. My eyes were fixed to the ground but as I looked up, to climb the stairs, I found Sam looking down at me.

He looked pretty irked.

"You've been fucking a vampyr," he demanded and I glanced at Alan, who's chest deflated a little, but I found myself staring back at Sam.

"You're screwing an asshole," I shrugged. "Both equally bad, just in different ways."

"Seriously," he growled, looking like he was going to shove me down the stairs.

"Sam," I cut him off before he make a comment and walked up a couple steps. "Look. Edgar kissed me. He ignored you, focused on me. Practically threw himself at me, for what? To make you jealous. To piss you off. He's a manipulative bastard and I've basically kept my mouth shut about him but you have absolutely no right to assume anything about David. David is a nice guy. He makes me feel amazing. It's the greatest I've felt since my parents were killed, alright? So if you do anything to screw it up, the last thing you'll see is my face staring down at you as your back smashes against the ocean. Got it?"

"You," he started but I narrowed my eyes, challengingly as I folded my arms. "You don't anything about him."

"Are you kidding?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "I know enough, Sam. You're my friend, can't you just be happy I'm happy."

"You just threatened me with murder," he reminded me coldly but I sighed.

"Do you know what it's like to lose a parent?" I inquired sharply; he seemed taken aback. "No, you don't. You don't know what it's like to walk in on them being eaten, do you? I know what I'm getting myself into, alright, Sam? I've accepted David because, well, I love him. I'm his mate."

He stayed silent for a second.

"Mate?"

"It's a vampyr thing," I waved it away before looking at him. "Can you just respect my decision?"

"I can't agree with it," he muttered but I shook my head.

"I'm not asking you to."

"I guess," he let out a long breath and I couldn't help smiling as I hugged him. "I can't speak for Edgar though."

"Edgar can burn for all I care," I growled, giving him an annoyed look. Sam's gaze shifted behind me, to Alan.

"I'm really sorry," he said and I heard Alan step up.

"He's my brother," Alan shrugged. "He feels like I've betrayed him."

"He'll come around."

"You and I both know he won't," Alan gave Sam a level look but also seemed to appreciate the effort.

"I should go," Sam gestured behind him, he gave me a long look before shaking his head. "Be careful."

"I'm always careful," I grinned but he rolled his eyes, waving as he walked away. I stood for a second, thinking about what had just happened. I'd stuck up for David, who I hadn't known for that long, and admitted that I loved him to someone out loud; maybe I was ready.

Maybe I did trust him enough to let him, turn me.

My nose wrinkled at the corniness of the phrase, but there wasn't any other way to put it. I loved David and I wanted to be with him. If letting that happen meant becoming a vampyr then I'd just have to deal. I just didn't know how to tell him I was ready. Looking back at Alan, about to inform him of my revelation, I found an observant stare directed at me.

"What?"

"Your parents were killed by vampyrs."

"They were," I nodded, my eyes staying on the ground as I shoved my hands in my pockets.

Maybe another time.

"God, you really must love David," he laughed gently and I smiled, looking up at him through my hair.

"Apparently."

A/N: Aw, aren't they cute =) David makes me happy. Even though he's pissy. Isn't Sam cool? Edgar's a jerk; sorry Edgar fans . . . I actually really like him in all honesty . . . Reviews are Love! =)