Sorry this took a bit longer than normal.
Enjoy!

~Crews

"Well that wasn't awkward," Michael said over breakfast. We were both seated at the table, juice glasses in hand; mine orange, Michael's cranberry.

"Uh huh," I said, running my thumb around the brim of the glass.

In truth, last night was the most awkward experience I have ever had and probably ever will have. After the whole make out fiasco and my blatant refusal of him, I was surprised he even wanted to talk to me. Most guys would have been "not cool" and "peace out" never to be seen again. But here we are, sitting at the kitchen table, looking at each other kind of like it never happened. Except, of course, for his comment.

I studied his face as he looked down at his juice, lost in thought. He got lost in his own mind a lot sometimes. And his face was unreadable, no matter how hard I tried, I could not tell what he was thinking. Ever. This morning was especially blank and he didn't look well. He had huge, dark circles under his eyes and his skin had taken on a bluish tint. I was in bed with him all night and I know he did sleep because I sure as hell didn't. What was wrong with him?

"You're staring at me," he commented, not taking his eyes off the juice.

"Just at your ugly face," I replied automatically.

"Ouch," he said, looking at me.

"You asked for it." He sighed with a shrug.

"What do you want to do today?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject. I was glad because no doubt the topic would have changed to last night if he hadn't.

"I kind of want to go to the gym," I said before draining the glass. The only thing his house didn't have was a gym.

"Alright," he said, clearing the table and dropping the plates into the soapy water in the sink. "I'll drop you off."

"You don't want to come?" I teased, handing him my glass. He took it with a wry smile.

"Nope, I don't work out."

"Liar," I said, sitting back down as he washed the dishes. He looked at me with false innocence.

"Would I ever lie to you Charlotte?" he asked, exaggerating his false pain at being accused.

"No way you have those abs without working on them," I said, pulling my hair out of my face. "And don't call me Charlotte." Suddenly he was right in front of me, soap dripping from his fingers. How did he move so fast?

"I don't need to," he smiled, his eyes flashing.

"This has to do with your secret doesn't it?" I accused. He still hadn't told me.

He raised his eyebrows and turned away, taking the plate of half eaten bacon with him.

"You know," I said, changing the subject once more that morning. If he thought that was the end of the talk about his secret, he was horribly wrong. "We really need a dog." He turned to me, confusion on his face. "So we don't waste food," I elaborated, nodding toward the plate. "You cook so much then don't eat any. I can't eat everything."

"Maybe," he laughed. "Though dogs don't tend to like me. And he'd get really fat."

"You're probably right, but at least he'd be just my dog."

Michael shook his head. We fell into a comfortable silence as he finished up the dishes while I watched. All and all, after that awkward night, we had a pretty good morning.

"When do you want to go?" Michael asked, throwing the towel down on the counter. The dishes were done and I still hadn't moved. It had been my turn to get lost in my own head. Just memories, odd little jokes with friends, remembering my gym teacher with the toupé…

"What?" I asked, confused as I resurfaced in the real world.

"You wanted to go to the gym…"

"Right! Whenever you want to take me."

"Alright then, go get ready."

"Now?"

"Yes I want to take you now."

"You know, that sounded really dirty?"

"Charlie, get your mind out of the gutter and go change."

"Yes sir," I mock saluted on my way to my room. I really missed running and I was excited. Running always calmed me down and helped me think. This would be great.

The treadmill was just like the one at my old gym. I got on, attaching the pull cord to my sleeve and pushed the button.

I started out slow, listening to All Time Low as I watched the people around me exercising. It was a really nice gym with a work out room, a track that circled through the weight room and extended out over the courts, overlooking them. There was also a pool and I really wished I had brought my suit. Swimming laps would have been perfect. Maybe next time.

Thoughts of Michael soon surfaced and I found myself not being able to think of anything else as Dignity blasted in my ears. Michael was gorgeous, smart, funny, quick and could almost best me in witty comebacks. And that is no easy feat. I am the best. But his secret. I really wanted to know, because the bitch knows, but not me? What the hell?

Speak of the devil…

"Shit," I breathed, watching as Beatrice walked into the gym wearing short pink shorts with pale blue stripes down the sides and a pale blue tank top. Why the hell did she have to come?

"Oh, hi skank," she said, seeing me as she walked over to use the treadmill right next to me. Of course.

"Bitch."

"Ooh I'm so scared," she sneered, starting up the machine. "There's no Michael here to save your ass this time. Behave." Pretty On The Outside began to play. How ironic.

"I don't need Michael. I can beat your ass all by myself."

'If I tear you open wide, take a look inside are you pretty?

Can I get inside your mind, see what I can find are you pretty?

So just take off that disguise cause everyone knows that you're only pretty on the

outside'

God couldn't have chosen a more perfect song to play at this moment. Beatrice was sure as hell not pretty on the inside.

She flipped her hair to the side. Unlike me, she wasn't wearing it up. Did she not sweat or something? With the hair flip, two little punctures were revealed on her neck. They weren't big, but you could tell they were new.

"What's up with your neck?" I asked. I couldn't help it. Damn you curious nature!

"Like you don't know," she retorted, flipping her hair to cover the marks.

Ahhh. The secret.

"Fine, don't tell me," I retorted, turning my music up even louder. "Like I care." I pointedly stared straight ahead, knowing that if my hunch was correct, she wouldn't be able to keep it to herself. And boy was I right.

"Alright!" she snapped stopping her machine to stare over at me. "I hooked up with this guy, Kendall and oh my god he is fucking hot! He was a little rough though," she said, absentmindedly touching her neck. "It has never hurt that much before."

"He bit you?" I asked in disbelief. I stopped my machine to stare at her. "Why the hell would you let him bite you?"

"Same reason you let Michael bite you," she said, looking at me like I was the stupidest person in the world.
"I don't let him bite me."

"Then why the hell did he pick you?" she snarled, outraged. "I always let him."

"Maybe it's because you're easy?" Beatrice's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. "Gee, I guess our bonding time is over," I said, hopping off the machine. "How sad."

Beatrice's glare brought to mind the saying, 'if looks could kill.'

I changed my shoes and grabbed my bag, heading toward the door.

"Michael!" I called, coming through the front door. "You'll never guess who I saw at the gym. I'll give you a hint. It was the…" I stopped short, my jaw dropping. Seated on the couch were Michael and a short blonde. And they weren't talking about the weather.

"Whoa," I said turning my head. Michael raised his head from the girl's neck, eyes burning red.

"Charlie, it's not what you think," he said, wiping his lips on the sleeve of his shirt. The girl stared at me, eyes wide in surprise. "Kate," he said, turning to her. "I think you should leave."

"Bye Mike," she said getting up and moving toward the door. I stepped aside, watching her as she left, but not really seeing her.

This was his secret? That he had more than one girl at a time? Shit! I should have known.

"Charlie," Michael sighed, getting up and moving toward me. I turned, pushing through the door back to my room. I slammed it behind me.

"Charlie!" Michael's voice came through the wood. "Let me explain."

"Explain what?" I shouted back. "That you have loads of girls?"

"That's not it."

"That's what it looks like. And to think, I was kind of starting to tolerate you."

"That's not my secret."

"It isn't?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me again. Damn it!

"I'll tell you if you open the door."

I stood there, biting my lip in indecision. Should I? I really did want to know. "Hmm," I said aloud.

"Just open it."

"Fine," I said, opening the door a crack. He pushed it open farther till we were face to face. His eyes were blue again. He looked better than he had in a few days I realized, startled. He wasn't as pale. He was kind of, rosy.

"You said you'd tell me."

He looked me in the eyes and sighed.

"Charlie, I'm a vampire." I stared at him, eyes wide.

"Yeah right," I scoffed. "You know, if you had another girl…" I started.

"I'm not kidding," Michael said, his face intensely serious. "And even though we're pretend, I wouldn't do that to you." He smiled. "Besides, if I was doing some other chick, I wouldn't be trying so hard to get you to sleep with me."

"You know, for some reason I don't believe you," I said, brushing past him. I needed to get out of the house. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back around.

"About what? That I'm a vampire or that I wouldn't cheat on you?" He asked, looking down at me with wide eyes. I stared back.

"You know what? Both," I answered, pulling my arm from his grasp. It wouldn't come. I tugged and tugged but Michael wouldn't let go.

"Michael," I snapped, getting angry. It was one thing to cheat on our fake relationship and lie about it. It was another thing to physically restrain me. He released me.

"I'm not lying about either, Charlie. What can I do to prove it to you?"

"Hmm how bout you turn into a bat and fly away," I bit back sarcastically. "And concerning the cheating, I honestly don't care. We're fake. That's all there is to it. You can do whatever you want."

"God you're so infuriating!" he snapped. "Since the party, I thought, you know what? I can handle this. She's not so bad. I may even like her. But now that I've told you my secret, you call me a liar and a cheat? I don't think so.

"Another thing," he said, not taking a breath. "I don't cheat. I haven't cheated on anyone or anything since birth. And that was a long time ago." He paused.

"Prove to me you aren't lying," I said, taking advantage of his silence. He scrunched his forehead in thought.

"Alright," he said, taking my hand. I tried to pull away, but he glared at me and I let it go. He moved my hand to his chest, pressing it over his heart. Nothing.

"What the?" I asked, wonder coloring my tone. Could this be real?
"If you still don't believe me, I have more."

"Keep it coming I said," my eyes riveted to my hand on his chest. Maybe he would turn into a bat.

PLEASE REVIEW! push the button. you know you want to. :)