9
My eyes flew open, and I stared into the eyes of Blaise, Luke, and several doctors. Blinking at the bright lights, I looked at my surroundings. A steady beep sounded. An IV ran into my arm.
"Why am I in a hospital?" I asked faintly, looking around. That's when I noticed the scratches on Luke's face, with bandages over some. Looking down, I saw a bandage wrapped around my arm, and as I sucked in a breath, there was a bit of pain.
"You wrecked my car, didn't you?" I said, glaring at Blaise. He looked a bit embarrassed.
"I had my reasons." He turned to the doctors. "Can you give us all a moment? We'll tell you if something goes wrong."
The doctors nodded and left. Blaise and Luke sat down in chairs next to me.
"Luke," I murmured in a shocked voice. "He totalled my car. MY CAR!"
"The important thing is, you're alive," Luke tried to assure me, though he obviously knew it wasn't working.
"And technically, it was a truck," Blaise told me. I simply glared.
"Why did you wreck my car?"
"You were sleeping, obviously," Blaise began. "And I could sense something was wrong. You kept saying 'the heartbeat' in your sleep, and I thought it was nothing. Until yours stopped."
I stared, then turned my head to Luke. "He's kidding, right?" I said shakily. "I'd be dead if my heart stopped."
"Not neccesarily," Luke admitted, eyes downcast, as if it was a terrible shame to be saying Blaise was right. For him, it probably was.
"So, your heart stopped," Blaise continued like it was no big deal. "And Luke couldn't tell, of course, so, to save your life,"-he gave me a glare at this-"I let go of the wheel and tried to use my powers to wake you."
"This led to us tumbling off the road-" Luke added.
"And into a tree." Blaise finished, looking satisfied. "Oh, and ultimately 'totalling' your truck."
"Of course," Luke snapped. "You got some cuts and a bruised rib-"
"Flesh wounds," Blaise snapped. "The point is, even though your car is... well, ruined, and you got some minor injuries, you're alive because I used the vampire Awakening."
"But my car..." I groaned, leaning back on my pillow and closing my eyes. "You killed my car."
"Dude," Luke chuckled. "You just lost some major points there."
"And so did you, for pure stupidity," I grumbled. My dream was still fresh in my mind, so this put me in an even worse mood.
Blaise, meanwhile, looked like for once he had lost his calm nature. This confused me, since I wouldn't think he'd be upset about the car.
"Look," I sighed. "If you help me pay the down payment for a new one-"
"What?"
"That's why you're so fidgety, right? Since you wrecked the car and all."
I sounded really retarded right then, I'll admit it. 'Fidgety'? Flighty was a better word. His eyes avoided mine at any cost, moving to anything in the room, his face was even turned away from me. I grabbed a mirror one of the nurses had placed on my nightstand. No, I had a few bruises, but I wasn't hideous.
"No..." Blaise said quietly, looking away. "That's not it." He paused. "At least, I think that's not it."
Whoa. This was the first time I'd heard Blaise sound confused.
"How long was I out?" I wondered aloud.
"Two days, actually." Luke supplied. "The doctors say you can be discharged tomorrow." Now his eyes flickered back to Blaise, more suspicious than ever.
Blaise's eyes finally went to me, and they simply ran over my entire body for a long moment, making me hold back a blush, before he finally asked one shocking question:
"Are you all right?"
Why was Blaise suddenly acting so... un-Blaise-ish? I nodded my head quickly, then looked away.
"We'd better leave," Blaise finally told Luke. "Hope you feel well soon, Eve," He added, then winced at my widened eyes.
I could hear arguing outside the door. For some reason, Luke's voice was the one raised and Blaise's was calm and quiet. I could hear my name mentioned a lot.
Finally, the door opened. Blaise walked calmly in, Luke not at his heels, for once. He looked tired, and still nervous. Slowly, he closed the door.
I sat up in bed. "What is it, Blaise? You're acting weird."
He stared at me for a moment before simply asking:
"What am I going to do with you, Eve?"
After a few seconds of silence, I said, trying to make sarcasm cover up confusion and shakiness, "You could start by never touching a car again."
"I wasn't trying to wreck you!" Blaise exclaimed. "I was trying to save you!" He ran a hand through his hair. "That's part of what worries me."
This shocked me a bit. He still hated me so much that he would be willing to let me die? Just like that? I mean, we've never been bestest friends forever, but I thought Blaise was warming up to me.
As hard as it was to admit, I was definitely getting used to him. Even liking him a bit.
"Oh." My voice was quiet, and I looked away. "Sorry about that, then."
"No." Blaise suddenly grabbed my hand. "That's not what I said, not what I meant."
I didn't answer. My eyes were riveted on my small hand clasped in his much larger one. Blaise's gaze went to the same thing, and he let go so quick, the motion was barely detectable.
"What I meant was..." Blaise began, than stood. "I shouldn't even be saying this."
"Huh?" Now I was REALLY confused. "I don't get it. Where are you going, what were you talking about?"
He shot a glance at me, and continued to walk out the door. I had no choice but to use the 'don't-push-the-teenage-girl-or-she'll-go-mental voice.
"Blaise."
He halted.
"Good boy," I continued. "Now, come back and tell me what you were going to tell me before your alternate personality set in."
Nodding, he sat down again, then stood again, but didn't walk off this time.
"You do realize that my life is now separated into two different parts," Blaise pointed out. "Pre-Eve, and After-Eve."
"I don't understand," I said.
"You have changed my life completely," He said. "I now am going on a... whatever you call it to avenge your sister's death, which... considering my past... shouldn't even be happening."
"I still don't get it," I smiled. "What are you talking about?"
"When your heart stopped in the car," Blaise murmured, leaning towards me. "Something happened."
"What?" I asked softly, hearing the beeps on the monitor speeding a bit.
"I was worried," Blaise sighed. "But not like I usually worry about a person."
I could feel my heartbeat start to go really fast. It was kind of creeping me out, to be honest. "Blaise?" I asked carefully. "What are you talking about?"
"At first," Blaise began. "You were just an incredibly annoying mortal. Actually, I have to say... though I told you your blood wouldn't appeal to me, I am positive-" Blaise halted.
My hand flew to my throat, but a feeling of guilt immediatly covered me. Why was worried? "Blaise, I'M sorry-"
"Don't be," He laughed. "I can't imagine how much I must have scared you in that moment. May I continue?"
I nodded. "Please do."
"All right. As I got to know you, I realized something... your whole original personality was a lie. You're still young and inexperienced." Suddenly, Blaise was winding some strands of my hair around his fingers. "Perhaps that's why you appeal to me so much."
"W-why?" I stammered, eyes on his face, and trying to stay calm. "You've been around for years... I'll never be as sophisticated as you, knowing practically everything!" This all came out in a rush, and my face was bright red when I finished. I sounded like some Jesse McCartney fangirl. Ew.
Blaise simply smiled, reminding me of his undead status, seeing the sharp incisors... "Eve," He grinned. "I'm not as wise as you think I am. You see, I may know things about history that no one else does. World War One? You don't need to look in some history books. I was in it. However... I haven't been in contact with humans in years. All I know... vampires. I listen to the ones above me, and do what they say. The ones below me are in constant fear. Eventually, emotions just... fade."
"What are you..." My voice trailed off for a moment, and my breath caught as he released my hair and moved down to tracing my jaw, traveling down to my throat with his cold fingers. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Blaise began, then looked like he was wondering whether he should be saying whatever he was about to say at all. Wordlessly, he leaned down close to me so that his face was inches from mine, his lips so close to mine. Gently, he tilted my head up a bit.
"I'm saying that my affections for you are getting a bit out of hand, Eve."
Slowly, without my wanting to-ok, maybe a bit out of my wanting to-my hands touched Blaise's face, until one was on each side.
"I still don't understand," I whispered. " I'm only human. You need to make this more clear to me."
Blaise's eyes darkened. "Do I have to?"
And he kissed me.
xxx
Your predictions are...?