I was awoken by a loud slam from the front door and, in a moment of panic, swept all of my papers and work under my bed which I had been leaning against while I'd been doing my research the night before. There was stomping…stomping and a slam…Ashley did not have a good night. As a sister, it was my obligation to go down and investigate.
I found her in her room, throwing off her sweats and ranting under her breath. Something about a stupid vampire…some skank…I cleared my throat to get her attention before she gave away more than she would probably want me to hear. She looked up with a start, mascara streaks decorating her face. "Oh, hey, did I wake you? I'm sorry…" she said as she tried to wipe away the evidence that something was wrong. "What's the matter?" I said, happy that I was awake enough to form coherent sentences. She sighed and shook her head, leading me to believe she wasn't going to tell me, but after a moment, "Just…I kind of have a thing for my boss and I caught him with one of the other dan—trainers and when I blew up he just…the way he looked at me…like I was nothing….I thought he liked me from the way he looked at me and flirted…" she contained a sob and slipped on a t-shirt. I moved from my spot leaning against the door frame and hugged her tightly, "The worst part is that, in my blow up, I quit. I really need that job Lace…but, I don't want to have to go grovel…" a loud sob erupted from her, startling me for a moment. "When do you go in next?" I asked pulling back to go grab her a tissue. "Tonight…ugh I don't know what to do!" she yelled as she accepted the tissue I brought with a small thanks. I looked at the ground as I thought about her predicament. "Maybe he didn't take it seriously?" I suggested, though it sounded more like a question. She shook her head and sniffed. I was about to offer another suggestion when a knocking at the door alerted us that someone was here.
"Can you answer that?" she mouthed to me as she ran to her bathroom to clean herself up. I sighed and trudged my way to the front door, grinding my teeth as whoever it was knocked again…and louder. I opened the door, leaving the screen door closed and came face to face with a six foot something, blonde haired blue eyed gorgeous vampire. "Yes?" he gave me a once over, suddenly making me wish I slept in pants as opposed to some old Nike athletic shorts and a tank. "May I come in?" his voice almost sent a shudder up my spine, it was so…alluring. "No." His eyebrows raised for a millisecond in shock and he opened his mouth to speak, "What is your business here?" I cut him off. I had good reason to be paranoid of who I let into this house, especially with Ashley here and in such a state. "I'm here to see Ashley." He said and started to lean closer to my eye level staring deeply into mine. "Stop that. I'll go get her." I said, enjoying that I'd made his eyebrows raise twice in one minute of conversation. I closed the door behind me, and locked it, just to be safe, before walking at a normal pace to check on my sister. "There's a gorgeous vampire calling on you." I said with a yawn. Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, "Did you invite him in?" I gave her a look, "Am I stupid?" she rolled her eyes and fidgeted with the end of her shirt. "What did he want?" I shrugged and she looked at me like I was the most useless thing on this earth. "I'll go see?" I asked after a moment of staring, and exited once I received a nod of approval.
Upon opening the door, I found the vampire looking much more annoyed than when I left him. "I don't like to be kept waiting." He said lowly, "That makes two of us, so answer my question quickly, what is your business with my sister?" His jaw clenched for a second, I was annoying him further. He held up a white envelope, "Her pay for last week, and she and I need to discuss how she will address me in the future if she has a problem." I felt a bit of relieved now that I knew who this gentleman was, "Ah Mr. Northman it's nice to meet you." I said offering a smile before turning back to face my sister who was hiding in the hallway to her room, she looked just as relieved and nodded for me to invite him in. "I'm not going to invite him in, you come speak with him and do as you like." I said, not trying to hide the fact that she had been listening. "Do you have a problem with vampires little girl?" that voice made my insides feel funny. I turned to him and shook my head, "Not at all, but you are her guest, not mine, thus it seems appropriate that she invite you in." I said stepping back as Ash walked up. "I'm going to make some toast then I'll be out of your way." I said as I walked past her and to the kitchen.
Unfortunately, we were out of bread…thankfully there is a Wal-Mart just down the road. So I walked upstairs and slipped on a sweatshirt and some sneakers while grabbing my wallet and keys before heading back downstairs to find Mr. Northman had been invited in after all. I walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the grocery list off the fridge before heading to the door, but not before I caught the attention of Ashley. "Where on Earth are you going?" she asked just as I had reached the rug in front of the door. I turned on my heel, "Grocery shopping." She gave me a look, "At three thirty in the morning?" I nodded, "Wal-Mart is always open and we don't need produce." She shook her head, "Why do you need groceries at this time?" the vampire seemed bored and slightly irritated at being interrupted, "We need bread." She stared at me, "For toast." Still staring, "And sandwiches." She shook her head, "Can't that wait till daylight?" My turn to shake my head, "I'll be right back Ash." I said before turning and leaving.
Now, I know, that sounds really bad leaving her with a vampire who she'd just been screaming at who said they needed to discuss her behavior. But my sister is a grown woman who frequently deals with this man and could easily get him to leave by revoking his invitation…plus the sexual tension was ridiculous. Once at Wal-Mart, I found my bread and the other assorted items on the list and was in the checkout line before I knew it. I wondered if the vampire would still be there when I got back…but brushed it off not really caring.
Turns out, he was. When I walked into the house I walked in on him…feeding on my sister…awkward. He didn't even stop when I walked in, just gave me this look as he continued. "That better be consensual." I said narrowing my eyes at him. She gave me a thumbs up so I carried on, feeling his eyes on me until I was out of sight. Though I still heard my sister moan at a point while I was making my toast and cringed.
She walked in a moment later with a dreamy smile on her face. Wow. She hugged me and told me to have a good day, "Wait, is he gone?" she nodded, with a slight pout I might add. "Revoke his invitation." She gave me a look, again. "Do it." A sigh before she finally said the magic words that would help me sleep easy tomorrow night. "Have a good sleep." I said flashing her a smile before she walked off, exhausted from work and being drained…guh.