I love him. I love Benjamin Ateara. I didn't say it because I had to, I said it because I wanted to.
He looked so happy when I told him, I don't think I have ever seen someone look happier than he did that night. When we said goodbye he gave me a quick peck on the lips that gave me stomach flutter.
I love Benjamin Ateara. And he loves me.
Today after school I am going to his house before we go to the beach. It is Alexander's birthday. Alex didn't want to be celebrated at first, because of the vampire situation, but his mom had convinced him. Emily and Sam are proud of their oldest son and they should be. Not only is he protecting the tribe from dangerous vampires, he is mentoring the younger ones and handling all kinds of situations. Our alpha.
I haven't been to Benjamin's house in a while and I am a little nervous about meeting his parents. I know them quite well, when I was a little kid his mom Claire used to babysit me a lot, when mom had to be in law class or at work. But this was the first time I would meet them as Benjamin's imprint.
He locks up and we walk in. No one else is home yet. Benjamin is an only child and Quil and Claire are at work still.
We go into the kitchen where Claire have left a note, she wondered if we could start on the salad that we are bringing to the beach tonight. We start right away.
"Or can I trust you with a knife?" Benjamin says jokingly. I guess he had heard about my little incident at the bonfire. I roll my eyes and grabb the knife he was holding.
"Whoa, careful there, I don't want to be murdered at my own house". He laugh.
We have the tv on in the background and work on the salad. I think about how much I enjoy being with him. Being with Benjamin is as easy as breathing.
After a while Claire and Quil got home and we greeted them. They both gave me a warm hug.
"Thank you so much for starting on the salad, although I feel bad for putting our guest to work" Claire says. I assures her it is fine.
Benjamin and I go to his room, It has been a long time since I have been in here but it looks like I remembered it. He sits down on his bed and I plop down at his desk chair.
"You have a lot of books" I say and smile.
"Yeah I love to read. But I don't have that much time anymore" He says lightly. I feel a little bad, he was spending a lot of time with me recently.
"Well if you ditched me more often you would have more time to read" I joke.
"Like I would choose anything over spending time with you"
I blush, I haven't gotten used to him saying things like that.
Suddenly his dad calls on him, it seems like he needed help with the car.
"I'll be back in a minute" Benjamin says and goes down the stairs.
I went to the kitchen where Claire was.
"Hi, can I help you with something?". I ask kindly. She turns around.
"Oh no you have helped with the salad already! Come and sit, do you want something to drink?" I let her pour me a glass of juice.
"Quil and I wanted to invite you here earlier, but I figured that we needed to give the two of you some time. Everything is still so new". She says.
"Yeah, it's been a lot." I nod and looks down. She nods.
"Well I want you to know that you are always welcome here. You are a part of the family".
Before we get in the car Benjamin goes back to get one of his hoodies, he worried that I would get cold. Claire laughed but looked proudly at her son. When we arrive at the beach everyone was already there. Except for Aaron and Theo who are at patrol.
"Happy Birthday old man!" I say and hug Alex. He chuckles. We give Alex his gift.
We all enjoy the evening. We eat lots of food, Sam held a short speech that made Emily cry, some play football and the atmosphere is relaxed and happy. When it was time for cake Alex blew out the candles and we cheered for him. Benjamin holds his arm around me and I kiss him on the cheek. Benjamin had been right, after a while it gets chilly and I put his hoodie on. I sit with Emmeline, Jalen and Kasa and we are playing charades, we are all so competitive that I laugh so hard I can barely breathe.
My dad was one of the ones who played football and I guess he isn't as young as he thought anymore because he actually tripped and sprained his ankle. Mom and I had to keep from laughing. Dad, mom and Aiyana went home earlier, they know that I would get a ride home from someone else. It is a Friday, so I don't have school in the morning to worry about.
After I while the atmosphere changed, Alex called on Jalen and Benjamin.
"Something's happened" Em says to me and we stand up. I look over at Benjamin, he looks upset. All the adults had gathered where him, Alex and Jalen stood.
"She didn't come alone this time" Kasa says. I wonder what she was talking about.
"The vampire that got away, Aaron and Theo caught her scent but this time there were two of them" Kasa explains and looks worried.
Everything changes, Alex, Jalen and Emmeline run into the woods. The rest of us are quickly trying to pack our things and get out of here. Benjamin runs up to me and puts his hand around my arm
"Come on, you need to get home now!"
"I know, I'm on my way" I reply
"I need to go and help the others, you go with my mom and Dad"
"Yes but" I start
"No buts, can you just do what I say for once?" He snaps. I pull my hand out of his grip. He didn't have to snap at me. I understand that he is scared. He is about to say something, when I hear something that makes me freeze. A scream. Emmelines scream. Before I can even think I am running towards the sound.
"Josephine" I hear Benjamin scream and I expect to feel his arm around me but instead I feel something else. A sharp pain. And then everything turns black.