"Why not?" Lily whined.
"I can't just run around turning people!"
"But I'm not people. I'm one person. Singular." Her eyes widened, begging me.
"One person can make all the difference in the world." I countered.
She stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.
"Making faces isn't going to change my mind," I glanced away indifferently.
"Alright Jace, what's my other option then? Death? No thanks."
I didn't laugh. This was serious. I didn't want to kill her. And I couldn't just take her as a familiar, someone who would satisfy my hunger. Even if the venom did alter her memory of tonight, it wouldn't help. I was sure Lily had her theories and discoveries documented somewhere. She would have the same knowledge as before, and when she couldn't remember what happened, it wouldn't be long before she put two and two together. If only…
"How good are you at acting?" I asked suddenly, startling Lily. Her eyes flashed.
"Didn't you think I was sleeping earlier?"
"Ah, good point. Well then, you would be able to go on pretending as though we never met tonight?"
"Definitely," she nodded, her hair shining in the moonlight. "I won't talk, wave, or even glance twice in your direction at school."
"Thank you. I know it seems a little extreme, but if Dean saw us having a longer than two word conversation, he'd know something was up."
"So maybe if we take it slow, eventually we could converse like normal human beings? Or -sorry- human being and Vampire?'
"Maybe," I shrugged, not wanting to make any promises. It was impossible for me to picture us walking down the halls together. Something that was all too easy for her to imagine, I realized.
I looked at Lily, who was deep in thought. Her eyes were unfocused and she was biting her lip distractedly. It was oddly alluring, the little habits she had. I'd noticed a few over the past weeks. The way she blew her hair impatiently out of her face when she was trying to concentrate. The way she twisted the ring on her finger when she was bored. Or the way she always opened her window at night, inviting someone -or something- inside. I knew it wasn't just these miniscule tendencies that drew me to her. It was something much bigger. Like a moth to a flame, a woman to shoes, or a raven attracted to lustrous objects. I felt pulled to her the moment I laid eyes on her, but had attempted to stifle my urges. I thought that if I choked back my feelings for long enough they would just disappear. But the last fortnight had brought round a fresh wave of desire. It would be much harder now that we had spoken to control myself. I just wanted to be near her. Maybe if we just accidentally got partnered together in a few classes, no one would notice, not even Dean.
She started to make her way home, still in her state of absorption, and I in mine. We continued in silence until we reached her house. "He-hem," I made a sad attempt at clearing my throat casually.
Lily looked round at me like she had only just discovered I was there.
"I can't go in through the door, it'll wake up my mom."
"Not a problem," I replied and swept her legs from under her, cradling her with my other arm. Her fingers entwined around my neck, and within two seconds we were back in her room. Placing her on her feet, as earlier, she stood and waited for me to leave. I made for the window and was halfway out when I rushed silently back across the room to kiss her swiftly on the cheek.
I was gone before she could even blink.