I woke up opening my eyes slowly. I automatically looked to Charlie's chair, and saw Mathews instead. He was asleep. Not the cute kind either, his body was slushed forward, head back mouth wide open. I sat up silently and watched him with a smile. It was kind of refreshing to see a vampire having a weakness. I made noises, and he stood up fast looking around for the danger, making me laugh.
"I'm so sorry Ma'am. I thought you were asleep."
I purposely looked out the window with a smirk. "It's day time."
"Right." He said embarrassed. "Do you want breakfast, coffee, or hot chocolate?"
"Hot chocolate." I said sadly. He nodded, and walked out. I walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, then fixed my hair. I stayed on my pjs. I walked down the kitchen just as he was pouring the hot chocolate in a cup.
He walked towards me and handed it to me. I took it and walked to the table sitting down. "Need anything else?"
"If I choose you, will you keep serving me?" He smiled, and sat opposite to me.
"If you choose me, and we get married. You'll be a vampire already."
"No food at all?"
"We don't eat it, unless we want to keep pretence." I nodded blowing on the cup. "What are you looking in a guy?" I eye him thru the cup.
"I honestly don't have a stereotype." I lie.
"Why are you working as a bodyguard?"
He stared at me for a long moment. "I wanted to meet you, seem like a nice way to do it." I smiled and drank from the hot chocolate. It was good, but it wasn't Charlie's good. I finished the cup and was about to clean it, when Mathew's took it from my hands, and washed it himself. "Do you want blood?"
"No.. I'm going upstairs to-" He finished with vampire speed and followed me. I picked my clothes and went to the bathroom and changed. When I walked out Mathew's was by the door watching it like a hawk.
"What do you want to do today?"
"I actually would like to go horseback riding." He looked nervous about the idea, but nodded.
"Can we ride the horse together?" I frowned at him.
"Why?" I asked a little annoyed.
"Your dad said if a single hair get's hurt, he'll hurt me 10 times worse." I laughed.
"Ok."
Matthew was actually nice, and a gentleman. But then again so was Peter, when I first met him, and he kept it while we dated... His love for me changed him... What if I let Mathew fall for me, and he change too?
"What are you thinking Ma'am?" I looked up to notice Mathews watching me. I was sitting by the lake, Mathew's was leaning against a tree.
"This vampire life-" He stood up walked towards me, and sat next to me.
"What about it?"
"This arranged marriage-"
"Is not arranged, you get to choose-"
"From a list of rich snobs." He chuckle.
"Is... THAT what I am-"
"Why are you even working? Don't you have like a factory or something that is making you rich?"
"Your parent's offered me the job, as a way of spending time with you. I actually have a cleaning business." Suddenly his eyes glazed, as if he was thinking about something or someone...
"Isn't this cheating?"
"Sort of-"
"Did you pay to get pick for the job?" He pursed his lips debating something.
"No... I am really good friends with Charlie, he sort of put on a good word for me." I stared at him with honest interest.
"Really?" He nodded.
"Why would Charlie put on a good word for you to be my bodyguard?"
"He knows me. He says I might be good for you." I smiled at that. That was actually something Charlie would say.
On that first week Matthew actually kept me well entertained. He was sweet, charming, the quite opposite of Charlie and Peter. I like him a lot, but as a friend. Mathew made it to my friend zone.
I was at the table eating lunch I made, blood free. Matthews was in front of the table watching me, while he drank his smoothie.
"Do you want your smoothie?" I nodded. He made it, while I finished my lunch. Once he was done, with the smoothie he took my plates and gave me the smoothie. He started cleaning the plates. Once done, he leaned at the counter and stared at me for a second.
"Do you want to go shopping? Or just go out?"
"Can I?"
"Yes, I have clearance to take you out..."
And like that he took me to a nearby mall. I had my family's credit card. I started shopping and having fun, just like I use to. I forgot about all my problems and for that day. I was a normal teenage girl. I even bought Matthews some stuff. We sat at the cafeteria and drank smoothies.
"Thank You." I said as he was driving us back to the house. "This week has been amazing. I actually forgot who I was."
"I'm glad. I was told, when Charlie come back, you are going back to classes." He parked the car as my face fell. He open the door for me, and stared at me. "Hey... Don't be sad... I swear this to you. If you choose me, and we get married, you dont feel something for me... I"ll wait... I'll even sleep in a different bedroom." I stared at him really moved.
"Really?"
He nodded. "Really."
"Thank You." I whispered.
One night I was asleep, and was woken up by a conversation. I just open an eye, Matthew's back was to me.
"I...know...and I am sorry... I was offered to come spend some time with her." It took a lot of effort to kept still without panicking. Was he planning to kidnap me? "I thought we would have more time too.." Silence. "The best thing for us to do right now... Is forget about each other... You should find someone your own class and marry him." His voice broke. Matthew was in love with another girl... "I love you too, I don't want you to get hurt, so please... Don't call me again." I closed my eyes fast as he hung up on the poor girl...
I felt him walked back to the chair and sit down... He cried softly... I wanted to talk to him... But wanted to do it out of the house...
Morning came, I was already up. I sat down and stared at Mathew's who looked at me with a serious face. If he was human, his eyes would be puffy from the crying, yet he looked normal, on the outside. I could see pain in his eyes-
"Morning Ma'am." I smiled sympathetically at him. I need to changed this stupid law... It was ruining life's all over. "Want hot chocolate?"
"Yes. Please." I took the opportunity to change clothes once he walked out. Brushed my teeth and fixed my hair. By the time I walked down there was hot chocolate on the table, once he saw me get down he sat down. Opposite to me, and drank his smoothie. "Can we go for a walk?"
"You don't have to ask Ma'am." I smiled and walked out, he followed me. I skipped the lake and went deeper into the woods. I leaned against a tree. He leaned against another one in front of me. I wanted to talk to him about the girl, but I knew better, he would shut down, and be scare... After all... All he knew about me so far was that I was royal...
"You been guarding me for almost a week... You are also a challenger." He nodded. "How come you haven't made a move?"
"A move?"
"Yes, try to kiss me, or get more personal with me?" He got nervous fast. I stared at him, hiding a smile.
"I want to keep it professional-"
"That won't help you win... I'm pretty sure, if you were supplanted, your competition would have made a move by now..." I honestly didn't mind. I kind of like the way he was... But I needed him to confess. "Don't you want to win?" I saw the answer in his face. No.
"Of course I do." He lie.
"You have a plan that consist of you keeping it professional to keep me intrigue?"
He sigh. "No." He said honestly.
"What's wrong?" He purse his lips. He was too scare to talk. He wasn't going to talk. I need him to open up, the only way I could think was making choose. Being loyal to the girl, or keep the pretence and kiss me, while breaking the girl trust. I stood up and walked towards him slowly, and put a hand on his cheek. He didn't push it away, but he stayed still.
I leaned towards him to kiss him... Please don't kiss me back, don't kiss me back, Don't- When our lips were about to touch, he pushed me back really, really careful.
"Ok... I." I step back and stared at him expectantly. "I have feelings for another girl." He wince not wanting to look me in the face.
"That's the reason, why you been understanding about me not wanting you? You don't want to be with me in that way either?" I bit my lips hiding my smile.
"I am so... sorry. I broke it off with her already... I just need time-" I smiled.
"Have you talk to Charlie about me?" HE looked up and stared at me nervously. Of course he has...
"Yes." I bit my lips nervously.
"Did... He said anything about having feelings for me?"
"You know?" I smiled. Was that a yes?
"It is mutual." I whispered, and I saw Matthew let out a relieved sigh.
"So.. You're in love with him too?" I nodded. "I am sorry... I lie, and tricked you. Charlie said, that you be the best bet to not having to have sex or show feelings at all." I smiled... Charlie wanted me to think, he was pushing me away. While helping his friend in the process.
"Your ok, in my book. Don't worry. Can you fight?"
"Yes. Ma'am I will be top ten." He said really sure. I sat on the tree, he sat opposite to me.
"We can continue to be friends after we are married.. I'm planning into changing that stupid law." He gave me a thankful smile.
"You know... When you tricked me and made me think, you wanted to kiss me... All I was thinking was... About Charlie."I laughed amused. It was refreshing to talk to someone about Charlie. Other than Charlie.
"You said, this poor bastard is in love forever. And this girl is already moving on?"
"More or less." He said sarcastically.
"Wouldn't he deserved it? After all, is all he keeps telling me to move on... When he asked for another bodyguard he seem to be hoping I do move on-" He stood up and stared at me.
"Look, Charlie is not the kind of guy to show his feelings. He can be an asshole, but he doesn't deserve to watch you make googly eyes at someone while he's guarding you..." He gulped. "Your parents love, and adore Charlie, but you better believe that if they find you kissing him. He would be put to death. Just for the mere crime of loving you." I pursed my lips. "When I fell in love with my girl... She was human still, and was working as a housekeeper in one of my hotels... I never ever gave her a kiss until her parents turned her into a vampire." I frown suddenly getting nervous.
"Why?"
"A vampire's feeling are stronger than a human's. When we feel..." He ruffled is hair. He didn't know how to explain. "Ok, let's say Charlie agree, to have a secret romance, until your force to get married. Once a vampire let go of the control and let his feelings rule in order to kiss you... When things get heated, before sex... He'll want your blood-"
"Really?"
"He might bite you, and although he could heal you... Your parent's will now."
"Really?"
"He might bite you, and although he could heal you... Your parent's will know."
"How?"
"Smell. Once a vampire breaks the skin, the human's blood mixes with our saliva, and it stays in the system." And finally I understood Charlie's point. He though the temptation, would be too great...
Once I made Matthew open up, we truly became friends. He'll by the end of the first week, he was so comfortable with me, he started calling me Belle."
The second week, went by surprisingly fast. We hung out as friends, yet he kept the professional pose. In all my life, I was always a loner, and I found myself with two good friends.
"Tell me something." I ran towards him from the lake, and lay next to him looking up. He was sitting down, and move a little bit to look down at me with a smile.
"I'll try." He said sarcastically.
"Did I bump Charlie out of your number one best friend?" He arched an eyebrow at me, but he was amused.
"I been friends with Charlie for centuries. You and me, only been friends for two weeks."
"All the more humiliating for him. Don't you think?" He laughed.
"Your second." He said honestly.
"Are you just saying that because I'm your boss?" He sigh with fake resignation.
"You caught me. I need the money." He said sarcastically.
"You are fire." We both laughed at the same time.
"WEll damn. Yes! You're my best friend." I pretended I was going to say something else, and I pushed him off. He stumbled caught off guard, and I stood up and took off running. He use his vampire speed like he always did and beat me up to the kitchen. Once I catched up. I punch him in the shoulder hard. He didn't even move.
"THAT'S cheating! You're a vampire!"
"Well let me up the dose of vampire blood. And it might get to be a fair race. You might actually be able to hurt me, when you punch me."
"Fine. Then make me a smoothie." I said in a bossy tone, he turned his whole body and put his arms around his chest staring at me with an eyebrow raised.
"Excuse me?" I put on a cute pout, and walked seductively towards him. I put both my hands on his chest and gave him my most powerful puppy dog eyes.
"Please, could you cherries on top, make me a smoothie." He lowered himself until we were face to face. He put on a taunting face as if he were about to kiss me. Then groaned, throwing his head back. I step back, with a winning smile.
"Much, much better-" Then we heard the chuckle, and the laugh. We straightened up, and turned towards the sound. Both my parents were at the dining room, drinking their smoothies. They were deadly quiet, and this was exactly the reason, we played games like this, for scenes just like this one.
I blushed. "Mom... Dad..."
"Oh... Honey... That was the cutest thing ever." My mom said excited for me... If only she knew. Matthew was just a really really good friend..
"Yes, and Matthews has you drinking the smoothie, and even made it into a game." My dad said looking at him with pure proud. I glared.
"We actually need to go out for a few hours, and we were not comfortable with the idea until now... Are you guys going out today?" Matthew stared at me.
"No... I was thinking into riding my horse, and competing with Mathews, see if he can beat me with the horse."
"Oh, I can. You're just not going to find out." I glared at him, grabbed the smoothie he made me and sat down with a fake frown.
"Party pooper." I murmure.
"That's why I'm here." He sat next to me.
By the time my parent's left, I was done with my smoothie, Matthew turned the chair to face him, and pulled it, until I was sitting down in front of him. He looked nervous though, all the playfulness from earlier, gone. I frown at him warily.
"Yes?"
"Is the first time your parent's leave us alone in the house in two weeks." We been alone, since my parent's were always working, but they never left the house until now. I fought really hard not to smile, I knew what he wanted. He broke it off with the girl, and must of changed his mind or at least say sorry.
"Ah, you finally surrendered to my charms." He arched an eyebrow at me. "You want to skip the honeymoon, and have sex?"
"Oh, my dear child... You could never handle it. You really need to wait until the honeymoon, WHEN you're a vampire." He said really sarcastically, we both knew we would never get there, we both couldn't...
"Try me." I tried to sound as sarcastically as him, but failed miserably. And to prove his point he walked towards me seductively and I stood up slowly so we were face to face. This is a game that started for the sake of our parents, but we became very competitive that it just came naturally, he kept leaning towards me. I pursed my lips. Damn it! I'm losing! I was about to laugh, when someone clear their throat. We separated and robotically turned to the voice.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." Charlie! I almost ran to him, and hugged him, but his angry face was preventing me from it. Matthew gulped and turned towards me.
"Could I?"
"Yes, go ahead." He smiled, and ran to the bedroom. To talk to his girl. Charlie walked straight to the living room. I followed him nervously. "Welcome back.."
"You didn't seem like you miss me that much." Is he jealous. I was about to tell him how much I missed hi, but then I remember, he left on his own free will.
"Not that much." I lie.
"So you and Matthews... If he gets the top ten... Are you choosing him?"
"Yes." That was the truth. He would help me a lot, since we both were in love with different people.
"Congrats."
"Thank you."
"I could of taken a longer vacation."
"Yes, you could have. Matthew had it covered." Charlie turned his face away from me fast, but I saw the pain in his eyes, before he hid it. And I couldnt' keep lying.
"Charlie." I whispered, getting closer to him. He turned slowly, with the mask back in place.
"You know, what Matthew asked me?"
"What?" He said grudgingly.
"Permission to talk to his girl, since my parents are not home-"
"You know about the other girl?" I nodded.
"And all the things you just told me?"
"Matthew and I have an arrangement. At least until I can change some laws." Hope sprang in Charlie's eyes.
"And the lovey lovey face I walked in?" I laughed.
"We were doing a staring contest."
"It looked like more-"
"It was supposed to. We started flirting for my parents sake, and it became something natural." I got in front of Charlie and took his hands, pulling him to me. He let me.
"Matthew overheard them talking about bringing another contendant. And we had to step up our game." Charlie sigh relieve. I took the opportunity and pulled him to him. Hugging him. He hugged me back, then pulled back, just as Mathew came back.
"Anything interesting while I was gone?" Mathew was about to give him a report no doubt, when I beat him to the punch.
"I'm about to bump you off number one best friend." Charlie stared at me in disbelieve.
"I been friends with Matthews for centuries." He said as if that would be enough.
"More points to me. I am that charming."
"She has a point Charlie-" Charlie glared playfully at Matthews. He raised his hands in surrender. I didn't say she was right though. Your still number one-
"For now." I murmured, and we all laughed.
So now we were the three Amigos. Although between me and Charlie there was sexual tension, especially since we already shared a kiss. Whenever my parents left the house for work, Matthew would go and talk to his girl, leaving me and Charlie alone, we would talk... I would get too comfortable, and tried to kiss him.. And we would end up arguing. Matthew would come in, and put us both in time out.
Today was one of those days. Matthew retired right after my parents left. I was sitting with Charlie by the lake. I told him my idea about breaking the law of divorce, and social standards he got scared and worried, and like always we ended up arguing.
"I am tire of waiting. Why Can't I do this." I grabbed him by the neck, with one hand, with the other one I put it on his waist and pulled him to me, and kissed him. He gasp, I took that as an opportunity to claim his mouth. Charlie groaned and put his arms around me, pulling us closer. I felt when he let go of his fear, and put his hands under my shirt with one hand, he tilted my head back and kissed my neck...
That's when I heard the growled. We stepped back and turned to the growled, that's when my dad went for Charlie's throat...