Chapter Twenty Five

Isn't it strange how sex can change your outlook on life? Today I was feeling very chipper. Corey had band things and stuff to do, so he left about an hour ago. He had commitments tonight, but we were going to have lunch tomorrow. Everything had just reverted back to how it had been with him. There were no vampire worries, no kidnappings, no mind reading and certainly no vision-having. It was the first time in months I had been comfortable, he made me feel like home. Seeing has I still hadn't found a job, or really looked for one, I had nothing to do until Rose came round after sun down. That was going to be a fun conversation.

Whistling for Oscar, I began my day. Since peace had started I had developed a daily routine of sorts. After coffee, I would run with the dog. Then a shower and breakfast, housework if I needed to, and then whatever. I had ultimate freedom to do whatever the fuck I wanted. Some days it was boring, but overall I was enjoying it. Having decided it was probably best, I was getting more involved with the investments Joe had set up. Truthfully, I didn't know much about it, but I was slowly learning through hearty internet research and phone calls. Not that I ever doubted Joe, but I was surprised with how well it was going. The money I had invested had almost tripled in just this small time. I was going to have to play it smart, though. I may be set for life, but that didn't mean I couldn't lose it.

Today was going to be spent on video calls to Joe and Laura. I hadn't seen or spoken to them much since they left, but recently that had changed. They didn't know about Rose or the trouble we had run into just after our move. Being my parents for all intents and purposes meant they would just worried or flip out. Ignorance is bliss. Joe was in love with my car and pleased to see I had taken security seriously now I was living alone. Laura just fretted over how I was eating and taking care of myself. It was during these conversations that I remembered I was only 22. I shouldn't feel like the world was on my shoulders or I had to live up to these high ideals, so I began to relax. Why shouldn't I go on tour for a couple weeks and be stupid and wild? Maybe when I got home and I could consider what my foster parents had said and look at getting into the property game as well.

I had been hard at the computer for hours when my phone ringing distracted me. It flashed Private Number so I let it go to voicemail, I'd check it later. Looking at the time it was already 5.15pm. Bloody hell – the internet, man. I called my boys in for some dinner and set to making my own. My brilliant plan was to make up something super healthy and balanced then send a picture of myself eating it to Laura to calm her woes. Actually, I'd been eating pretty well. All food groups were being included and paired with the running Oscar and I were doing everyday, I was completely healthy. After eating I bounded up the stairs to snuggle into some pajamas. Well, to remove my pants and bra and exchange my fitted top for a larger one. Tonight was dedicated entirely to my pets. We were going to bond over shitty TV and play silly little games all evening.

We were in the middle of a completely un-dignified game of chase when Rose turned up. It took her about 3 seconds to evaluate what was happening before she removed her shoes and joined in. Pongo retired first, so we moved on to fetch. We were throwing balls up and down the steps for Oscar for hours before he eventually left us, completely shattered. Rose was going to bring up the tour soon, so I did the best I could. I asked her to help me reorganize my closet.

"That was a complete disaster, Lily!" She had been deeply troubled my state of clothing affairs the moment she saw it. I currently had more clothes than ever before in my life and the upkeep was wearing me down. Moving all the organizational crap she had left her in her closet to my room, she had set to work. I now had a shoe rack on the left side of the door that was filled with more shoes than I knew I had. She had moved all my jeans and foldable pants and tops to the dresser, so now the closest could breathe. It was organized by item, going from jackets and coats, dresses to blouses, and finishing up with skirts and pants that couldn't be folded into a drawer.

My bedroom had changed since I originally moved in. Now the walls were adorned with artwork in varying shades of black and white. The comforter and pillows had been replaced with black and gray too, since the introduction of Oscar. I had replaced the furniture and now my dresser, vanity, and side tables were all gray-wash wood instead of dark. The lighter tones of everything else meant that when you walked in the room you were immediately drawn to the bed and artwork. It felt more grown up, like an adult bedroom. It also now matched the black and white en suite bathroom in the next door.

The whole house had been changing slowly as it went from being mine and Rosie's, to being just mine. The pink room Rose had occupied was now a light teal colour and on the bed was the white comforter set and cushions I had used. It made it feel bigger, more open. I had been afraid of what my friend would say, but she loved it. Because her maker was now King, she had never moved back in and had wanted her furniture. My old furniture was now placed in there and I had been surprised and pleased when I opened it to realize Rose was still keeping some of her stuff here. The spare room had been kept blue, but the open area of upstairs was now the same gray as the carpet. Down stairs hadn't changed much, but I had plans for it and the outside area around it.

Rose turned to me now, "That was a good one, Lils. But you aren't getting out of this conversation. You can't go on tour with Corey."

"I can do whatever the fuck I like, thanks Rosie."

"If you pulled your head out of fucking your ass, you'd realize that you don't just ask a casual fuck to follow you around the country. It means more to him that it does to you." Whoa, that's harsh. I would do anything for Corey. Maybe I had been taking the question a little too lightly, but that didn't mean I misread what he was saying. He was asking to try again, to see if maybe after some separation we could work together. After everything that had happened and feeling dispensable for weeks, I wanted it too. Rose may be my best friend, but she didn't have the right to come in to my house, guns blazing and still carrying Eric's torch, which is what this was.

"It means a whole fuckload more to me than you think, Rose. Corey has been nothing but perfect to me and you're thick as fucking pig shit if you think there is any chance Eric is going to swoop in and change that!" I was yelling at her. We didn't fight often, but when we did it was massive. Normally, we would avoid each other for a couple of days and then move on. I didn't know how this was going to go now she was a vampire.

"He cares about you Lily!"

"WELL THAT'S TOO FUCKING BAD THEN ISN'T IT! He's had every fucking chance to do something about it and guess what? He HASN'T!" Sucking in a gush of air, I was getting ready to continue, but Rose cut me to the quick. "I told Eric about Corey." She announced. That.. But.. Fuck. I remembered the phone call I ignored earlier, and was willing to bet it was Eric.

"Why would you do that?" I whispered. Tonight was going to be one extreme to the other, and I was wishing for strong arms. I didn't know whose, but I wanted them.

"Because he cares Lil." She got up and pressed a kiss to the top of my head, "Call him." And she whooshed out.

Well fuck. On a bright note, vampire-Rose took yelling much better than human-Rose ever had. As for everything else, now I was confused. Corey represented everything I was in Orange, while Eric carried everything I now was behind him. My head told me that Corey was safer. I would always be able to trust him and he would never do anything to hurt me or put me in danger. My gut was screaming that Eric was it. Corey was safer, but Eric was straight up safety. Except not once had Eric shown me anything to put my faith in. What kindness he had shared with me had been annihilated the night I walked in on him fucking that girl. Listening to my heart was not an option, it was unreliable and blind. If it let it, it would kill me. Both men were in there.

Rose had told me to call Eric, so I was. As the dial sounded, my stomach lept to my throat. "I was starting to think you wouldn't call me back, little one." God, his voice. Tears were brimming in my eyes and I felt like I might throw up dinner. If I stuck around, life would always be on the edge of falling into chaos. The people I had met quickly meant a lot to me, and in this case, too much.

"I want you to give up your claim." Closing my eyes, the tears streaked. It was still ridiculous that I felt this way.

"No."

"I'm leaving. Claim or no claim, I'm not yours. I never was."

He hung up. Just hung up! Part of me still hoped he would fight, but it was foolish. He had never fought before. Sinking to the floor I cried. Almost instantly Oscar was by my side, so I cuddled into him and soaked his fur, and when the tears finally stopped, I was covered in sloppy dog kisses. Giggling and wiping my face, I gathered some treats for my faithful companion and curled up on the couch with him. Pongo sat behind us with a watchful eye and a playful nudge of his head. These boys were all I needed, so long as Rose stuck around.

A persistent bang on the door woke me and it took me a second to recognize my surroundings. I was still curled up on the couch with Oscar tucked against my tummy and Pongo on my hip. The thumping at the door hadn't stopped, so I untangled myself. "Come on guys,". Who the fuck was knocking on my door in the middle of the night? And so rudely too! People just have no common decency anymore. Grumbling to myself the entire way, I glanced out the peep hole. No fucking way. Oh god, he's probably angry. Should I open it? Not if it's going to get me killed. But what does he want? Fucks sake. I threw the door open, but hung back by the handle. Getting too close seemed like a bad idea. "What do you want, Eric?"

He was dressed differently to any time I had seen him. A gray two-piece suit with a black shirt. He looked fucking amazing, and it was completely unfair. I wasn't even wearing pants. I had been right, his expression was not good. Anger was radiating from him and he looked like he was almost shaking.

"Did you fuck him?"

"That's not really -" I was thrown up against the wall of my house, Eric's body pressed against me so tightly it was nearly hard to breathe.

"Did you fuck him?" He emphasized the word 'fuck', and it sent shocks through my entire body. What fresh hell! Who did he think he was? No way could he rock up to my house at whatever time this was and demand this from me. It was my turn to seethe, and I was probably being entirely too reckless with it.

"Oh yeah, we fucked all night and it was fantastic!" I spat at him. His fangs shot out and a low hiss sounded from the back of his throat.

"You. Are. Mine."

"No I'm fucking not." He pressed his body even closer so my heart was beating against his chest. His hand fisted in my hair and tugged my head up to look at him. The tug acted as a trigger and the tears resumed their assault on my face. "I could've been yours, I wanted to be yours. But it's too late, Eric."

A pained expression crossed his face, before being replaced by determination. "Mine." And his lips crashed into mine.

A/N: Here it is, my friends. Let me know what you think? x