Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, Alphabloodwolf, Lsb123, Alexsandra, Lauren j, BellaNessieCullen, Justandsimplyme and Skys the limit 7507
I settled into an old faux leather armchair, the plastic cold against my legs as the detectives sat opposite me. Detective Howard Johnson regarded me with sharp blue eyes while the bigger, bulkier Detective Skip Johnson flicked through a notebook until he came to a fresh page.
"Now, if you'd just like to tell us what happened on Saturday, tenth of October." Detective Skip asked as he clicked the top of his pen.
I took a deep breath and began.
"Malcolm and I had been on a date the previous evening, a nice quiet night out at the cinema followed by a McDonalds. Nothing fancy, but it was nice to remain sober for once. Therefore I agreed that I would meet with him at nine the next morning. He was five minuets late due to an oversight on his part, he had not realised the student garage didn't open until nine and he wished to venture further afield, all the way to San Jose in fact. He had heard there was an open day at the Earthquakes stadium and wished to explore it. I would have thought it something more suited for taking his friends such as Gobbo or Trick, but I tried not to show my disappointment, despite the fact he had earlier accused me of having an eating disorder! At the stadium I sat in the stand while he queued to have a photo signed. One of the players, Jericho something or other, he came to speak with me. I believe Malcolm may have been jealous, or perhaps it was the fact that one of his idols had deemed me worthy enough to speak to. Whatever his reason he asked me to be his girlfriend. I had at that point decided I only wished to be friends, but I would give him one chance to prove we could be good together. Fool that I was I agreed to go to the party with him. I even suggested he seduce me, by which I meant to woo me with chocolates and flowers and a date or two before I would even kiss him. Not ply me with drink and who knows what else before attempting to force himself upon me."
"He tried to rape you?" Detective Howard asked with clear doubt.
"He thought me in no fit state to refuse and touched me in an intimate place without permission with intentions to go further despite the fact I told him I had no interest in such deeds. What would you call it Detective Howard Johnson?" I demanded.
"You were giving him the come on." Detective Howard growled.
"Am I to believe that to woo a girl in Florida young men add sedatives to their drinks?" I said, my voice was a sharp whip of disapproval, was it not the job of a detective to investigate without any preconceived ideas? It was wrong for people close to the missing person to be leading the investigation, if Malcolm were truly missing and hadn't merely absconded somewhere for a bit of fun.
Howard regarded me with annoyance and did not answer my question, but Detective Skip was clearly a lot smarter than his partner and would not allow his personal interest in the case to colour his questions. He thought he could lead me into some confession by being on my side.
"I understand. Mal thought he could take what he wanted but you weren't ready to give. I'm sure you're a good girl." He said, his voice soft and lulling, ready to lead me into a false sense of security, but I knew vampires who were much more adept at making one feel at ease when they should not be and I would not fall for the detective's tactics.
I would answer with the truth, and nothing more.
"A very good girl." I said firmly. "I am still a virgin and have greater expectations for my first time than a drunken fumble in a college dorm room."
"Yeah. So you asked him to stop and he did." Skip said, sounding almost hopeful.
"No. He continued, stating that it was what I wanted, I knew differently and so I stopped him." I stated since this was something I had already stated to the Riverside police officer and it would seem strange now if I did not mention it.
"How?" Howard demanded.
"It was always clear that I would be small so my aunt thought it best to teach me a little self defence. I managed to fight him off and then I escaped the room." I explained.
"A little thing like you against a big guy like him?" Howard asked incredulously.
"Then you agree we are unevenly matched." I stated. "Would you not feel intimidated if you were as small as I when faced with Malcolm?"
"Why do you call him Malcolm?" Skip cut in.
"It's how I differentiate between him and my good friend Mal. I was rendered senseless by a blue cocktail on the first night, one that affected several other girls, and I was given shelter by someone who signed their letter as Mal. I thought it was Malcolm since I knew no other Mal. If I had known of Mal Rogers I never would have given Malcolm a second glance." I said firmly.
"Right. Ok. So around what time did you leave Mal's room that Saturday?" Skip said, returning to the questions on his page.
"Around eleven. I cannot be more specific than that." I stated.
"Ok. Thanks for helping us Miss Simmers, we'll be in touch." Howard said as he and Skip rose to their feet.
"Very well Detectives. And it's Summers, not Simmers." I corrected.
"Right. We'll be in touch Miss Summers." Howard said dismissively.
I nodded and the detectives rose to their feet before leaving. Mal waited a minuet, straining his ears to listen to the footfalls of the detectives on the stairs as they descended. He was sitting in the corner nearest the stairs, he had taken up position there when he'd entered and found me in conversation with the detectives. He crossed the common room once he was sure they were gone and sat next to me.
"Are you ok bach?" He asked, placing his arm around me.
"Yes." I said with a sigh as I rested my head against his shoulder.
"You know they got nothing on you, they're just grasping at straws." He stated as he kissed my forehead and rubbed my arm in comfort.
"I know. Besides this is a missing person inquiry, anyone would swear Malcolm had been murdered." I said, feeling angry that the detectives had ruined my day.
"He'll turn up sooner or later then you can sue those jerks for harassment." Mal said firmly.
"Not yet." I said sadly. "One official interview does not a harassment case make."
"I think it's stupid the local police letting them waltz in here like this." Mal growled and it was clear his mind was going through the same questions as mine had; therefore I had the answers ready.
"I think the local police have decided Malcolm is a runaway. Johnson and Johnson are family friends, that's why they flew all the way from Florida." I explained.
"No wonder they wouldn't believe you about his behaviour." Mal said angrily.
I nodded.
"Well, when I see him next I'll give him a ear full. Not only does he try to force my friend into things she's not ready for, his parents got the bill on her case cause he's gone off somewhere. Probably living it up in Vegas."
"Probably." I agreed. "Do you think we can leave this subject now? I wish to forget about Malcolm and talk of something else."
"Ok." Mal agreed. "Like what?"
I pondered for a moment as Mal's phone bleeped in his pocket. He took it out and then made an exasperated sound of uncertainty.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I think this one is for you." He said, handing the phone to me. "I recognise your brother's number from when you text him before."
I took the phone from him and my hands were shaking as I hit the button to view. I quickly deleted the message and placed the phone back in his hand.
"Bad news?" He asked.
I nodded my head as a whole whirl of emotion hit me. I felt an unbelievable sense of disappointment that the day had finally arrived and due to my own folly I had not been there to witness. To top it off I am questioned about the whereabouts of a boy I would rather not see again in my life. This day was turning into a nightmare and I wished to forget it.
"Would you be opposed to a bottle of wine or two?" I asked.
"You got early lectures tomorrow." Mal stated.
"I will rise for them, but tonight I want to forget." I said firmly.
"Forget what?" He asked.
"That this day ever existed." I replied darkly.
"I'm not gonna let you drink." Mal said firmly.
"You are not my keeper." I snapped.
"No. I'm a friend who's concerned by the fact that at every little upset you hit the bottle. Drinking won't solve your problems Liza. I'll do anything you want, something fun that will take your mind off your problems, but I'm not gonna sit here and watch you drink yourself into oblivion." He said in the most serious tones I had ever heard him use and it was undeniable that he only had my best interest at heart.
"Fine. Then what do you suggest?" I asked with a sigh for I could think of nothing.
Mal regarded me for a moment before he grinned.
"Why don't we go get one of our cars, drive to the nearest national park and go for a run? Just open it right out and not worry cause no human will see us." He said with a grin.
"That could be sufficient." I conceded.
"It will be." Mal said firmly as he took my hand and we both stood.
"I will have to retrieve my keys." I stated.
"Your keys?"
"We're going for a brief run on public roads, my little Audi will be more efficient. Besides, she's been cooped up since September, I should allow her a run." I stated.
"Ok." Mal said.
He came with me to my room while I retrieved my keys, then we made our way to the garage. It was around five by the time we arrived and I realised that I'd have to leave her in a public lot for the night. It would be worth it to run in freedom.
I showed my student ID to the attendant, who indicated for Mal and I to enter the garage. When I came to the Audi I felt somewhat emotional, it felt as if I were meeting with a friend after a long absence. In a sense I suppose this was the case.
Mal chuckled at my greeting and almost mentioned something, but clamped his mouth shut.
"You were about to mention how Mother loves cars too." I stated.
"Yeah." Mal said.
"Perhaps another day you can regale me with the tales you know of Mother and her love for cars." I said with a sad smile.
"But not today?" He clarified.
"No. Today I wish to forget." I stated as I opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat, while Mal got into the passenger seat. "This is a change." I said with a true smile before I pulled out of my spot and navigated the garage.
"Yeah. It's nice to sit back and relax and let someone else do the driving for once." He observed.
"If you ever feel tired on our excursions I'll be more than happy to drive the jeep." I stated.
"Nope. Only I drive Jenny." He said.
"Jenny?" I questioned. "You named your jeep Jenny?"
"Not really." He said with a chuckle.
I rolled my eyes but laughed never the less.
Mal's suggestion had been a good one, and I enjoyed running the forest all evening. It took my mind off my interrogation by the Floridian detectives, and especially the news from home. Through my own childish behaviour I had missed my chance and was loath to show my face again. At least until I had given them sufficient time to be angry with me. One thing was certain I could not return for Thanksgiving. Christmas perhaps, but not Thanksgiving, it would be too soon.
Although a small ray of hope shone through that reconciliation might be possible. When we were walking up the stairs of our building Mal's phone bleeped and he handed it to me again. I scanned the message and handed the phone back.
"This one is for you." I stated wondering if I felt angry that Tony had decided to check on me through my friend.
Mal read the message and frowned.
"What do you want me to say?" He asked as we stepped into the common room.
Tony only wished to know that I was well and I could not be annoyed over that. He had no other course for I had stopped all contact. I had no need to fear him talking to Mal; at least he would know what was happening her in Riverside.
"Whatever you think best. Tony has every right to know what is going on here. Be truthful." I stated.
"How truthful?" Mal asked carefully.
"Answer it as if I were not angry with those at home." I stated.
Mal nodded.
"See you in the morning?" He asked.
"I will see you on the bus." I promised as I went on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Now answer Tony before he worries more."
We parted and if truth be told I felt somewhat relieved that Tony would ask after me. I was not completely lost after all. There was definitely hope of reconciliation, but there were things I had to put right in my mind. Things that would take more than a week to settle, and that was why I would have to wait until Christmas to return, once my mind was in order.
Mal was a little disappointed that I had changed my mind about returning home sooner. I suggested there were things we could do around Riverside and he had a few ideas of what he would like to do. I had my own and I was sure we could arrange our extended weekend into something fun indeed.
However I had not counted on the fact that other friends might have ideas, or that they would not be returning home for Thanksgiving either. I learnt on the Tuesday that Dove was staying put for Thanksgiving for her mother was shooting a film abroad. Dermot would also be staying because he didn't want to take the long commute back to New York for the weekend.
I did suspect Dove would suggest something the four of us could do when she discovered that Mal and I would remain at college too. She had this strange notion that Mal and I were together as a couple. I had been expecting her to suggest a trip to the cinema, or perhaps we drive into LA for shopping on Black Friday. Something that would have suited the personality I had attributed to Dove, but would never have occurred to me in a million years that Dove would make the suggestion she did on Wednesday afternoon.
"Hey Liza." She said as she looked up from the magazine she was flicking through as she lay on her stomach on her bed. "I was thinking that since you and Mal are staying for Thanksgiving, just like me and Dermot, maybe we could all go hiking together over the extended weekend."
"Where would we go hiking?" I asked, caught unawares.
"Well don't you and Mal go somewhere once a month?" She asked as she sat up on her bed. "Didn't you say he had a cabin and you got to see a bear?"
"Yes. However this is somewhat short notice and I really cannot answer either way. I would have to ask Mal if this would be appropriate. It is his cabin after all." I replied.
"I'm sure he'd share it with us." She stated with a smile. "We're all friends right?"
"Yes, but it is his place of solitude." I said carefully.
"But he takes you there." Dove pointed out and I had to think on my feet for a viable answer.
"I am small and hardly take up any room at all." I joked.
Dove pouted at me and I sighed.
"I will ask, but I won't promise." I stated.
"Ok." Dove said giving me a hopeful look.
"I will ask." I repeated.
"Make sure you do." Dove said, reaching across the gap and tapping my arm. "It'll be great for the four of us to do something together. Like a double date."
"Yes." I agreed dryly. "Apart from the fact that Mal and I are not dating."
"Well you can have platonic dates." Dove said with a shrug.
"That is true, but calling it a double date with a couple who are not platonic implies otherwise." I stated.
"Would it really be so bad if you did date?" Dove asked, giving me a careful look that I could not quite fathom.
"Mal and I are good friends and we have no intention of making things complicated by bringing lust into the equation." I said firmly, it was a lie I had become good at telling myself since Halloween and that dream of passion which had repeated at least once a week since.
Dove gave me a calculating look, and then she grinned.
"So it's something you've discussed." She stated.
"No." I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Oh my god! You got to tell me!" She gasped, pulling me so that I had to sit next to her on her bed.
"There is nothing to tell." I said firmly.
"Liza, I can tell when you're hiding something." She said. "Your formality increases to a point where one wonders if you belong to this century."
I rolled my eyes.
"And you roll your eyes as if I'm being unduly bothersome. Now come on, you got to share this with me. I tell you everything." She stated.
"Even when I beg you not to." I countered.
"Yeah, but come on. This is what girls do."
I sighed.
"Very well. On Halloween I may have had one too many, Mal did too, and we kissed. However, he did not want to take advantage of me when I was unable to make an informed decision." I stated, thinking this safe enough to admit to.
"Really? Lot's of people do things when they're drunk." Dove said, looking a little disappointed that Mal and I had not lost control.
"He knows how much I crave order and value my self control." I explained. "He wished not for me to do something that night only to regret it the next day. He would rather not hinder our friendship in that way."
"Hmmm." Dove looked thoughtful. "And did he say anything else?"
"No." I said. "And he has not mentioned it since."
"Do you want him to?" She asked in kind tones, she was not prying for gossip's sake; she was being a friend so I had to answer truthfully.
"No!" I gasped. "For we would have to discuss it and that brings us close to a chasm that may kill our friendship and leave nothing but misery in its wake."
"Right. I guess I've never had that kind of friendship with a guy. One where I just want to be friends. There's always been some underlying sexual desire." She mused.
"Perhaps there is a desire there, but I would rather ignore it for the sake of being his friend than to entertain it and lose his friendship." I said sadly.
"You're a braver girl than me." Dove stated.
I shook my head.
"You are the brave one, willing to risk your heart to find its true desire. I could never be so forward, I worry how it will hurt if he was to break my heart." I stated.
"But you gotta take risks now and again." Dove countered.
"When I take risks bad things happen." I replied, drifting too close to the truth.
"Such as?" Dove prompted.
"It matters not. I rather have his friendship only than not have him at all."
Dove patted my shoulder and gave me a sad smile.
"I should go now." I said, thinking it the perfect juncture to escape. "Mal's last lecture will finish in half an hour, that will give me enough time to get to the college and I will butter him up with a coffee before I ask him if he would be willing for us to intrude on his Thanksgiving."
"Thank you." Dove said as she hugged me.
I extricated myself from the hug and gathered up my purse before leaving the building. I considered my options, I could catch the bus that would leave shortly to take people to their evening lessons, but I decided instead to take a stroll through the bustling streets. It was a festive atmosphere as students took this opportunity to spend a last minuet or two with their friends, or to buy something Riverside specific to take home for the first time since college began.
I weaved through them, greeting those who greeted me, until I came to the coffee shop nearest the college. I went in and bought two lattes and two giant cookies. The clerk was kind enough to provide me with a cardboard carrier for the cups and a paper bag for the cookies. I left a nice tip for her in deference to the season and in thanks for her kindness.
I made my way to the college and sat on a bench near the entrance and waited for Mal to emerge. He did not notice me at first, but then I stood and he saw me and smiled.
"Haya Liza, what are you doing here?"
"I thought you might like a nice cup of coffee and a cookie after your last lecture." I stated, "A perfect accompaniment to a stroll in the early evening air."
"Oh aye. You trying to butter me up for something?" He asked as he took a coffee and a cookie from me.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" I asked, in mock offence.
"Well I was joking, but now I think that maybe you are actually trying to butter me up." He stated as we began to walk toward the town in order to make our way back to our building.
"I am." I admitted.
"Ok." Mal said, taking a bite of the cookie and a gulp of the coffee. "I'm gonna enjoy these before I find out the condition your gonna lay at my feet."
"You have the right to say no for as far as I am concerned it is imposing upon your privacy." I stated, allowing him to know that I was against this if her was.
"What is?"
"Dove knows that neither of us are going home for Thanksgiving." I stated.
"How did she find out?" He asked.
"Oh, you know Dove. She has ways of knowing. The fact that I was yet to pack seemed a big indicator to her." I said with a nervous chuckle.
"We should have packed up and headed to the cabin." Mal stated.
"Funnily enough that is what she suggested we do." I said with a laugh.
"Now you lost me." Mal said, stopping and I stopped too and looked up to his face.
"Dove thinks it would be ever so much fun if the four of us take to your cabin for a weekend away." I said brightly, hoping to instil a little enthusiasm into the suggestion.
"The four of us being?" Mal prompted, although I suspect he already had a fairly good idea.
"Dove, Dermot, you and I." I stated.
"Oh joy! Three days stuck in the middle of nowhere with a loved up couple wanting to put my bed to a use I haven't even had chance to yet." Mal said, wrinkling his nose.
"I'm sure they won't be that bad." I stated. "Besides, you can consign them to the sofa."
"Where they will still get down and dirty. Plus we'd have to share the bed and Dove already thinks we're having sex. And then we wouldn't be able to use the privy all night because we'd be afraid to go through the room in case they are at it. Then they'll complain about the limited water, the lack of good heat. The fact they have to use a privy. They won't like to go hiking, but then we'll convince them and we'll instil in them a sense of adventure. They'll know the wonders that are out there to explore and we can have a proper big cook out, maybe you can show us your prowess of campfire cooking, and then we can play games. Or just all watch a film together and hopefully they'll be so worn out they'll go straight to sleep and then we can settle down to discuss how things differ with mortals there while you sleep on the sofa and I nick a lend of your air bed. If you don't mind that is, but I really am too tall to get comfortable on the sofa. So when do you wanna leave? Tonight or tomorrow morning?"
"You are agreeing to this?" I asked in wonderment.
"Yeah." He said, nodding his head.
"But you sounded as if you were going to refuse at first." I stated.
"Yeah, well I had to get you back didn't I?" He said as he grinned and tapped my nose with his finger.
"Get me back for what?" I asked with a frown.
He shook his head sadly.
"Come now Liza, did you really think you had to bribe me?" He demanded.
I opened my mouth to reply, closed it a moment while I looked guiltily at his feet, before I looked back up at his face.
"Well it doesn't hurt to sweeten the deal." I said with a smile.
Mal chuckled as he pulled me to him, his arm coming to rest loosely on my shoulder as we continued to walk. I placed my arm about his waist since it was more comfortable as we continued on our way.
"But seriously Liza, if you need to ask me something just ask. It makes me feel like you think I'm a right moany bastard if you think you have to bribe me to do a favour for you." He stated.
"I am sorry to have offended you." I said meekly.
"Yeah. Well don't do it again. Just come ask me…" He paused for a moment. "What I want then I can set the terms of the bribe myself." He added with a chuckle.
"Very funny Mal." I said dryly. "Are you saying my bribe was not of an adequate nature?"
"Coffee and a cookie in exchange for giving up my sanctuary this weekend?" He mused. "Not even close."
"Then what would you ask for?" I asked.
"I'm pulling your leg Liza." He said.
"I know Mal. And I was pulling your leg right back." I sniggered.
"Well what would you have done if I had named a term?" He asked, and his voice took on a playful edge that sent a sudden thrill through me.
"It would depend on what those terms were." I stated trying to quash the sudden rush of feeling.
"Oh, and what would you refuse?" He asked, his voice still playful.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" I said verging on the edge of seductive.
I coughed and pulled away from Mal to walk beside him, but made sure there was no contact. I had been skirting the precipice this time without the help of any intoxicating substances. It took away any safety buffers for it left Mal with no excuses not to reciprocate fully. He would have to tell the truth and I knew I would not handle rejection at the moment.
"Maybe you could make the cookies next time." He said quickly, trying to cover the moment. "These are nice, but I think yours would be so much better."
"They would." I agreed.
"Awww, I sort of wish I had an oven up at the cabin now." He observed.
"I will make you some at Tregarran." I promised.
"Oh, so you are planning to go home at some point?" He asked.
"Yes." I said.
"I hope that's not going to be followed by a 'maybe in a few years once my family have moved on.' Because you know that's a little low." He stated.
"Yes. And I do intend to go home when they are still there. Would Christmas be fine? Or is it a bit cliché?" I mused.
"Clichés get that way for a reason." Mal said sagely. "And I hope you mean it this time. You're not gonna get my hopes up of tasting your great cooking only to change your mind at the last minuet again?"
I laughed.
"That is why you wish to go to Tregarran?" I demanded in cheerful tones.
"Course it is." Mal said sincerely.
"Now who's bribing who?" I asked with a smile.
"Ok then, how about a deal. I haven't set in stone agreed to it and your friends don't know yet so I still have the right to pull it off the table." He began.
"Oh dear." I sighed, knowing what he was going to say.
"You know how much I enjoy the solace of my little cabin." He stated.
"I do." I replied.
"And how much of a burden it'll be to have humans there in the one place I can just be myself?"
"Yes."
"Then if I agree to have your friends up at my cabin for Thanksgiving, then you have to go home for Christmas. No ifs, buts or excuses. You will go home for Christmas and if you don't, I think I'll feel very disappointed in you and I might start to see that your parents have a point." He said sadly.
I stopped, looking at him in shock.
"You would abandon me?" I asked.
"No. But only so I can keep an eye on you. I'll become your keeper not your friend." He said and he was serious.
I felt a lurch in my stomach at his threat; he would no longer be my friend!
"You really want me to go home that much?" I asked.
"Liza, you have something that thanks to the Volturi a lot of us dhampir don't, you have a father. Not only that you have something most dhampir don't because our father's weren't quick enough, you have a mother. Then you have something that is probably unique amongst dhampir, other than those whose fathers like to 'experiment', you have a brother. How many dhampir can claim that?"
"I have everything you don't." I translated.
"Yes. And you'll miss them when they're gone. Think how you would have felt if it was Tony in danger back in October? Think how you would have felt if he had died before you had chance to make up with him?"
My heart ceased to beat for a moment at the very thought of Tony no longer being there. Mal was right, what would I have done?
"I will go home for Christmas." I promised, and I meant it. "But I require your help Mal. Please tell me how ridiculous I am being whenever I freak out about those at home. Please give me this speech to remind me how lucky I am and how careless I will be to throw it all away."
"As long as you promise not to get stroppy and say I don't understand you." Mal said, holding out his hand.
"Thank you my friend." I said as I shook it.
"Then we got a deal Liza. I'll let Dove and Dermot come up to the cabin this weekend and you'll take me home for Christmas and cook me one of these great meals you keep rabbiting on about." He said with a firm nod of his head.
"Thank you." I said and hugged him. "Now to tell Dove and Dermot."
"Yeah. And you still didn't say whether you want to leave tonight or tomorrow." He pointed out.
"Shall we say tonight?" I suggested with a grin. "Put them on the hop as Dove did to us?"
"That would be funny, but I'd need to go get the jeep from the student garage."
"It is open until ten tonight to accommodate those who have evening lessons who may wish to return home."
"Well that's good to know." Mal agreed. "Then we'll leave tonight."
"Tonight?" Dove exclaimed when I told her.
"If you wish to spend any decent time up in the cabin then we will have to leave tonight." I stated. "If not then we cannot go."
"Oh. Ok. I'll go tell Dermot." Dove muttered.
"And then you must pack. We leave at eight." I informed her.
I had packed promptly and went ahead with Mal in order to retrieve his jeep from the garage. It was the busiest I had ever seen it since the day I had arrived. It was half empty, but still bustling as Mal and I climbed the stairs to the third floor where his jeep was parked. We packed our belongings into the back of the jeep.
"You know we'll have to stop for supplies on the way." He stated.
"Yes, and since this was Dove's suggestion then they can each pay their share." I replied.
"Right. Well I hope she's not a big packer or we're not gonna have much room to fit anything else in."
"I will make her leave behind all non-essentials." I stated.
"I hope you can." Mal observed.
I had to laugh as I buckled up and Mal pulled off, how would I convince Dove that her entire shoe collection was a non-essential out in the wilderness. However Dove proved that she knew something of roughing it and the bag she brought was small. So was Dermot's, although Dove did confide in me that she had to convince him that he wouldn't need half the things he'd meant to bring. Dermot was not an out door's man.
It was well and truly dark as we set off, it had been for hours. I had no fear of the dark, at least when I was safely ensconced in a car. Yes a vampire could out run one if they were determined, but there would be no merit in it for them.
We drove into the night and it was around ten when we reached the Walmart. Dove and Dermot had grown quiet in the back, no doubt lulled by Mal's smooth driving. They seemed somewhat groggy as we walked across the parking lot to the store, but the bright lights and incessant music soon roused them.
They had no qualms about splitting the bill and we had enough supplies to last us the three days. I was rather excited by the prospect of staying at the cabin for three days, was this not something I had considered suggesting myself. If this worked out then it would be easier to suggest we stay on until Sunday in a fortnight. After all it would be one less day than we would experience now.
It was nearing twelve by the time we pulled up outside the cabin.
"You three stay here while I attach the gas and electricity." Mal stated.
"I'll come help you." I said firmly. "Besides, they are asleep."
Mal looked into the back seat where both Dove and Dermot were asleep resting against either window.
"Then we'll make this quick and we can rouse them enough to get them to bed." Mal said in a quick whisper and I found myself wishing once more for telepathy as I nodded my head.
We left the jeep and Mal pressed a flashlight into my hand. I took it and we made our way around the back of the cabin. Without a word I shone the light upon the box that held the gas tank and the fuel for the generator. Mal took out a gas tank and attached it to the taps of the cabin.
He worked quickly, knowing exactly what to do through practice. First the gas, then the generator, and finally the water. We then checked on the privy, not that there was need to since we had covered it sufficiently before leaving on our last trip. We then returned to the jeep and I roused Dove.
"What?" She asked irritably.
"We have arrived at the cabin. You need to wake in order to enter. Besides, there are things you should know before you settle for the night." I informed her.
"We're here?" Dove asked, opening her eyes and peering around. "When did we get here?"
"About ten minuets ago. But we had to attach the gas and start the generator." I explained.
"Oh, right."
"Come now, we must take our belongings to the cabin. Would you be so kind as to rouse Dermot?"
"Yeah."
Once Dermot and Dove were both awake and standing outside the jeep to retrieve their bags, Mal explained to them about the privy and the limit on the water. They nodded, but I was sure we'd have to explain everything once more to them in the morning.
Mal showed them to the bedroom while I inflated the mattress for him in the sitting room. He shut the door as he came back out and I placed the inflated mattress on the floor. I quickly made up a bed for him with some spare sheets and blankets.
"I could have done that." He said.
"But would you have done it properly?" I asked.
"Well not to your idea of properly." He replied with a laugh as I tucked in the last corner and sat on the sofa.
"Are you hungry?" He asked me, as he unpacked the food that would need storing in the refrigerator.
"I am somewhat hungry." I stated. "However, I think sleep is a much more pressing demand at the moment."
Mal yawned.
"Yeah, I think I know what you mean." He said as he finished putting away the food.
I stifled my own yawn as I rose to my feet and began changing for bed. Mal paused for a moment. Then to my surprise he changed too. There was no attempt to cover up either since he was not actually revealing anything he wouldn't at the beach. I did take a secret glance from the corner of my eye as he changed his t-shirt, his chest was every bit as toned as it had been in my dream. I quickly suppressed the thought when I found myself longing to reach out and stroke his chest before it was covered in his pyjama top.
I reflected instead on the fact that he could change in front of me now, that his shyness was dissipating. It made me feel elated that he was growing comfortable in my presence as we both lay down to sleep.
I settled on my side looking out into the dark room. I was aware of Mal settling to sleep so close to me, his breath deep and steady. It lulled me into sleep and as I drifted my arm draped over the side and I felt the brush of Mal's pyjamas. There was the sound of slight movement and Mal touched my fingers in the darkness, and the feeling was electric. Especially when his fingers closed around mine and he held my hand in place. I didn't think about the fact that my arm was in the cold, or the fact that it would be numb by morning. I enjoyed the warmth of Mal's hand and the comfort of his presence as I drifted fully to sleep.
When I awoke in the morning Mal still held my hand, but even before I opened my eyes I felt that it was more level. My first thought was that I had slipped down onto the mattress with him in my sleep, and I would have to move before Dove and Dermot emerged.
I opened my eyes and found that Mal was indeed level with me, but I was still on the sofa, while he slept on nothing. This was even more urgent to rectify before the humans saw.
"Malachite." I hissed, pulling my hand from his as I sat up.
Mal's eyes snapped open and he dropped. He landed on the mattress and it took him a moment to scramble from beneath the covers.
"What?" He asked. "What's wrong?"
I listened carefully, Dove and Dermot were still asleep, both of them snoring. I grabbed hold of Mal's top and pulled him to me so that I could place my lips to his ear.
"You were levitating." I whispered and let him go.
"I was?" He asked, sitting back as he rubbed at the back of his head. "But I wasn't having a bad dream." He said.
"You looked happy." I said, recalling a detail that hadn't registered immediately in my panic. "What did you dream of?"
"I dreamt that…" He began, but broke off when he caught my eye. "It was just a feeling of contentment." He said. "Of having people I trust in my safe place."
Mal was lying, or at least skirting the truth. I had my suspicion what the dream was about, but how to confirm it? How to approach the subject without inadvertently getting my hopes up? What if the dream was of someone else and that was why he covered himself, to avoid upsetting me? No, that could not be, for I was sure my presence and our contact had sparked the dream.
I placed my hand to his cheek and looked into his worried eyes.
"Please tell me." I asked solemnly.
I was close to Mal, his eyes dominating my world. He was startled for a moment, but I could sense that he was starting to soften to the idea. He would tell me his dream…
There was a thump on the boards from the bedroom and lumbering footsteps toward the door. Mal and I broke apart and I sat back against the sofa feeling disgruntled that the moment was lost as Dove stepped into the room.
"Is there a toilet in this place?" She asked, her eyes still unfocused, her hair a mass about her head.
"I will show you." I said, rising from my nest of blankets and climbing the back of the sofa so I would not have to brush past Mal. "Although you may need shoes."
"It's outside?" Dove demanded, seeming more awake now.
"We're in the middle of the woods Dove, one can hardly expect proper plumbing." I stated, trying not to glance at Mal who was looking annoyed at the interruption.
"But there's a shower." Dove pointed out.
"Fed by a spring and there is a filter to clean soap and other contaminants from the water before it is channelled into a stream down hill. However one cannot do such a thing with sewage." I stated.
"So it's just a hole in the floor?" She asked.
"I'm afraid so."
"Great! Then I guess you'd better show me." She said, accepting the inevitable.
I led Dove out to the privy and waited for her to finish before I used the facility myself. In truth I wished to be away from Mal now the moment was lost. I had been caught in the moment and that had bolstered my confidence. With time to think I thought of all the adverse effects of inquiring after Mal's dream.
When I emerged I found that Dove had wedged her compact onto a beam on the side of the privy and was using it to tidy her hair and apply some make up. I gave her a questioning look.
"Not all of us can pull off the just out of bed look." She stated. "You have the right type of hair for it, and your skin is flawless. Bitch." She teased, and I laughed.
"I thank my father for giving me his Italian hair and my mother for her flawless Quileute skin." I said as if I were giving an acceptance speech.
"Like I said, you have a good gene pool." She stated, then her face lit up. "Oh my god. I'm just imagining what yours and Mal's kids would be like." She mused.
"Mal and I are not an item." I said firmly.
"Shame." She said. "Cause they're really cute."
"Then perhaps we should copulate and make your dreams reality." I said sarcastically before heading back to the cabin.
Dermot was emerging looking a little lost. I pushed in past him, grabbed my bag and stormed to the bedroom.
"I'm going to shower." I said to Mal and slammed the door.
There was no lock of course, Mal had never intended on sharing this cabin with others and had seen no need for one. I wedged a chair beneath the handle before I turned on the shower. It was warm and I scrubbed myself clean. I had to remind myself after a while that other people may wish to use the shower and the water supply was limited.
It took a great effort of will to drag myself from beneath the water and switch it off. I was shaking slightly as I dried myself and I realised that I was losing my grip. I took some deep calming breaths unwilling to give into the voice that begged me to wash further, to scrub this cabin clean. I had no need of my old retreat.
I forced myself to wipe and pulled on my clean clothes before I emerged from the bedroom pulling on every ounce of composure until I felt my former-self settle upon me.
"The shower is free should anyone care to use it." I said lightly.
None of the others required it so I stated that I would go and check on the level in the water tank. It was on three, I had used more water than I thought. I pressed the button for the pump and heard the gurgle as the tank began to fill.
I sat in the grass with my back to the tank as I went over my thoughts from earlier. What had caused my sudden loss of control? Dove had been jesting, and perhaps digging to see if there was something more between Mal and I than the kiss I had admitted to, but she was only playing around. Then it came to me in a flash, when Dove had been busy visualising my children another child entered my mind.
The child I should be with but could not since I was stuck in college and the timing had been wrong. Why had Mother chosen the time I would not be there? We had years beforehand where I was at home and there would have been ample opportunity in the future, but Mother chose when I could not be there to help her for most of the time. Therefore I removed myself from the equation completely. As Dove joked about my future children I saw my… my sister and I felt the separation from her. I had never met the child, but I missed her. Did she miss me as I had Mother and Father? Was I hurting her as I had been hurt by that early absence in my life? Mother and Father had no choice over their absence that had hurt me so, but I was guilty, I had no reason to stay away this weekend.
I am a bad person. I don't even know her name.
It was with a trembling hand that I retrieved my phone from my pocket. I'd had to send off for a new handset and SIM on my contract for the other was too damaged to work. It had meant that I'd have a new number, and that had seemed a blessing at the time. Now I craved the company of home and I found myself entering a familiar number into the bar at the top of the SMS screen. Then I began to type.
Mother, please forgive me. I have been a brat. Happy Thanksgiving. Liza xxx
I sent the message and watched as the message went through. I waited for the delivery report and smiled sadly, wondering if Mother would hear it in the midst of the celebrations. A moment later I had a call pending. It was Mother.
I pushed the call button and brought the phone up to my ear.
"Hello Mother." I whispered.
"Liza. Oh god it's so good to hear your voice Lamb. I was worried that, that. Well never mind. You text, I'm just so…" Mother's voice broke.
"You thought I would not answer as I have done countless other times." I stated. "I am sorry for that."
"I'm glad you called, we're all missing you today." She stated.
"I merely wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and to tell you I will be home for Christmas." I stated.
"You will?" Mother asked, her voice tinged with disbelief, and that was understandable.
"Yes. I give you my solemn oath Mother, that I will be home for Christmas." I promised.
"You're gonna hang up now aren't you." Mother said sadly.
"I have to go." I stated, but I did not wish to hang up, I wanted to stay speaking to Mother for the rest of the day.
"Just promise me you'll stay in touch." Mother stated.
"I will text you every day." I promised. "Or every other if I am too busy."
"I just want to be certain you're alive." Mother said truthfully.
"Yes." I said sadly.
"And one more thing." Mother said in a rush as if she were expecting me to hang up. "Her name is Billie."
I paused for a moment, and then smiled.
"Billie?" I asked.
"Yep."
"Thank you Mother." I whispered. "I will see you at Christmas."
"You'd better be here or I'll come hunt you down." Mother growled playfully.
I chuckled.
"Yes Mother."
"Bye."
"Good bye." I hung up the phone and I felt better.
I knew my sister's name and I had spoke to Mother. I felt a lot better.
It was at this point that Mal chose to round the cabin and I looked up at him as I placed my phone back in my pocket.
"Here you are." He said. "I thought you'd wandered off into the woods and left me with the love birds."
I shook my head.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he crouched beside me and brushed a tear from my cheek.
"Nothing." I said. "I was merely having a moment, but I am better now."
Mal regarded me for a moment and decided now was not the time to pry. I needed cheering up not a confidant.
"Well good. I'm gonna need you at your most competent in there or they're gonna do your head in." He warned.
"We will get through this." I promised him as I squeezed his hand.
"I hope so." Mal said darkly.
The day went well. We could not cook a true Thanksgiving feast; instead we had turkey steaks cooked on a grill. I prepared some jacket potatoes and salad to go with the turkey steaks. I would have cooked those too, but Dermot seemed to think that men should be in charge of out door cooking. He stood over the grill with a beer in his hand as he chatted to Mal and I found myself chuckling more than once at them. It was as if we were attending a suburban garden party as opposed to an improvised Thanksgiving feast up in the mountains.
The evening was going well, there was alcohol of course but not too much. I was thoroughly enjoying our game of word association until Dove decided she had a better idea.
"Let's play spin-the-bottle." She announced jovially.
"But there are only four of us." I stated.
"And you and Dermot are together." Mal added.
"You've played spin the bottle before." Dove directed at me.
"At slumber parties when it amounted to truth or dare." I stated.
"So what's the difference now?" She asked with a shrug.
"Very well." I said with a sigh. "But nothing that is likely to end in a trip to the ER for we are quite some distance from the nearest hospital."
"Nothing too drastic." Dove promised.
"Then I guess I've got no choice." Mal stated giving me a look that suggested I could still back out.
"I think one round will do no harm." I stated, but Mal looked unconvinced.
He voiced no further concerns as we all sat down in a circle of four. Dove had a wine bottle to hand.
"Liza, you're the youngest, you get to spin first." She said, handing the bottle to me.
I took it, thinking it the right thing since it meant I could set the tone of the truths or dares. I placed the bottle on the floor between the four of us and I span it. It spun opposite to what my friends expected, but then again I am left-handed.
The bottle spun, then slowed and came to rest pointing at Dove. I was sure it had one more rotation left, but I thought little of it as I gave her a steady look.
"Dove, truth or dare?" I asked serenely as both a truth and a dare came to mind.
"This isn't that spin the bottle." Dove stated, "Now pucker up."
"You said it was truth or dare." I protested.
"No. You agreed that you'd played it before, just the truth or dare version." Dove said with a grin.
I gave Dove an unimpressed look for it was not a very good wordplay. She had not cleverly duped me; she had done it through my ignorance. That was annoying, but I knew I didn't have to comply.
"Just think of it as a dare." Dove said with a shrug. "Or we're actresses and this is a scene in a film."
"I could simply refuse." I stated, folding my arms.
"And break the sacred trust of the bottle?" Dove demanded.
I glared at her for a moment, then leaned forward and gave her a brief peck on the lips.
"That's it?" Dove asked.
"That is all I am willing to kiss someone I am not attracted to." I stated.
"Ok." Dove said with shrug. "Well it's my go now."
She spun the bottle and it landed on Dermot. They kissed and it was in that long drawn out way that made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I exchanged a look with Mal and he raised his eyebrows in exasperation. I shook my head as Dove and Dermot broke apart.
"Is it Dermot's turn now?" I asked.
"Yeah." Dove agreed and Dermot spun the bottle.
It landed on Dove, and Dermot and Dove kissed before Dove spun once more. It landed on Dermot, but this time I watched Mal instead of the bottle and I had my suspicions confirmed, he had stopped it with his power. I could not be one hundred percent certain, but I had seen him cast his telepathy before and that is what it seemed he had done. As Dove and Dermot kissed once more I determined it was time for this debacle to end.
"I have had enough of this high school nonsense." I snapped as I picked up the bottle. "Let us turn to something more intellectually stimulating while still being amusing at the same time."
I carried the bottle to the kitchen and placed it in the bin.
"What do you suggest?" Dove asked as I crossed to the section in the cabinet that held a few tattered board games.
"Cluedo." I said as I pulled it off the shelf and held the box for all to see.
"Cluedo?" Dove asked. "Is that some cheapy version of Clue?"
"Actually, it's the original version." Mal stated as he came to take the box from me. "It's what they call it everywhere else but here. I got relatives in Britain, they sent it to me one Christmas."
"Right. Well let's give it a whirl. I call Miss Scarlet." Dove said almost in one breath.
"Of course." I said as I placed the box onto the low table and sat down.
"Did you want to be Miss Scarlet?" Dove asked as she sat opposite. "You could be Mrs Peacock, cause you are like posh."
I regarded Dove for a moment and felt a contrariness take me.
"I will be Mrs White, she is a domestic after all and we all know how I enjoy cleaning." I said as I placed down the board.
I felt Mal give me a cautioning look, but I decided to ignore it. I was angry that he'd been controlling the bottle and I would talk to him about it later. I was annoyed with Dove too. Not that I had wished to play Miss Scarlet, but she had claimed it without the chance of discussion and that to me was rude.
"What would you like?" Mal asked Dermot.
"Perhaps you should be Colonel Mustard." I suggested. "After all he is often romantically linked to Miss Scarlet."
"Oh, you want to play in-character Cluedo." Mal observed.
"Yes." I said.
"In that case I'll be Reverend Green." Mal said with a nod of his head.
"Don't you mean Mr Green?" Dove asked.
"No." Mal said with a shake of his head.
Dove frowned.
"I'll be Colonel Mustard." Dermot said as he picked up the yellow piece in a way that suggested he was trying to mediate without being too imposing.
I set up the board in silence and Mal went to retrieve some wine and more beer while I did this. It was probably for the best, lighten the mood somewhat since a clear darkness had descended upon proceedings.
"We should have costumes!" Dove exclaimed.
"We have none with us." I pointed out.
"We can improvise." Dermot said. "Dove, you brought your red scarf didn't you?"
"Yeah." Dove agreed.
"And I'm sure you have an apron or something here." He directed at me.
I nodded.
"I've got a Bible and a strip of paper will make a good dog collar." Mal said, rising to his feet to fetch such things. "Oh, and I have this too." He said, disappearing into the bedroom and he came back with an old colonial hunter's helmet.
"Where did you get that?" I asked as he handed the helmet to Dermot.
"An old family heirloom." He said.
"Interesting." I observed as I stood myself to retrieve the apron from the kitchen. I decided I would ask Mal that question again at a later date for I was sure there was a story behind the helmet that could not be heard by mortal ears.
Dove went to get her red scarf whilst I tied on the apron and Mal made himself a dog collar. Finally we were ready and I fell into character as Mrs White as I picked up the dice and handed them to Dove.
"Now Miss, take a deep breath and begin." I said.
Miss Scarlet rolled the dice and moved. The game progressed and we fell into the merriment of it. This was much more rewarding than spin the bottle; that had been a mistake. We never should have entertained Dove with that idea. Cluedo on the other hand proved to cement our friendship and I was confident that the weekend would not end in tears.
It was around twelve when Dove and Dermot decided to go to bed. Mal wished to go straight to sleep, but I was not quite ready for bed. I took one of the thick woollen blankets and the remainder of the opened wine and went to sit out on the porch bench and listened to the stillness of the night. Far away a wolf howled, it sounded lonely and I felt it in that moment. Yes I was here with my friends, but they were no substitute for my family. I pictured what I would be doing now if I was back in Tregarran, and I realised I would be having as much fun if not more.
Mal sat beside me and said nothing as he poured himself some wine.
"What's wrong?" He asked after five minuets of silence.
"Would you laugh if I told you I was feeling home sick?" I asked.
"No. I'd believe you. We could go now if you wanted to." He stated.
"And leave Dove and Dermot stranded?" I asked in shock.
"Then we can go when we drop them off on Saturday."
"But lessons restart on Monday." I pointed out.
"Then we'll skip college." He said with a shrug.
"That would never do." I said with a laugh. "I must wait until Christmas now. Call it my punishment if you like."
Mal tutted but gave me a comforting hug regardless. I would have allowed it to continue, but then I recalled the game from earlier and I frowned.
"Why were you throwing the game?" I asked.
"I didn't throw the game." Mal said, "You won fair and square through deductive reasoning."
"Not Cluedo." I stated. "I am talking of you controlling the bottle."
"Oh, that." He said with a groan.
"Yes. That. Why did you do it?" I demanded.
"Because I didn't want to kiss you in front of Dove." He replied.
"Why?" I asked, feeling my anger rise, was embarrassed to do such a thing even when it was a game?
"I might not be telepathic, but I know when I'm being set up. Dove was setting us up, wanting us to kiss." He stated.
I suppose it was not nice to be manipulated, although I could see no reason why he didn't go along with it, would it truly be the end of the world?
"Why would she do that?" I asked instead of demanding if kissing me would be such a hardship.
"To see how we kiss. Probably thinks she can tell a lot from how people kiss and wanted to confirm her suspicions about us." He said sourly, and I decided that was reason enough not to kiss me if Dove had meant to scrutinise us.
"What a stupid theory." I said. "And what a sneaky underhand thing to do. I told her we are merely friends. Why will she not believe me?"
"Because with girls like Dove, they don't get that men and women can be just friends. She can't accept that we could share a room for the night and not have sex." He stated.
"Despite the fact we have separate beds?" I asked.
Mal shrugged.
"She is…" I trailed off with an angry growl unable to articulate the true extent of my annoyance. "Why does my love life matter to her anyway?"
"Because she sees herself as your best friend and thinks it's her territory." Mal stated.
"But you are my best friend." I stated. "It's you I spend most of my time with and share all of my anxiety with."
"Yeah, but she doesn't know there are stuff you can't share with her, and as for the time thing, she spends most of her spare time with Dermot." He replied.
"Thus placing you in boyfriend territory and she does not even consider you my best friend. Even if she would think of you as my best friend then it would be in that way of couples who declare themselves best friends." I realised.
"Yeah." Mal agreed.
I sighed and shook my head.
"This is so much like high school. Can I not share a friendship with a boy who is not my brother that is highly affectionate yet completely platonic?" I demanded of the world in general.
"You're a pretty girl so everyone expects you to act like one." Mal said carefully.
"Then I should be promiscuous and fickle? I should change boys as I change outfits? Is the idea of only one partner such a hard concept for people to grasp?" I raged.
"Some people won't understand how you could be content with only one partner." Mal said solemnly.
"Like you?" I asked, remembering he had admitted to sleeping with several women.
"I think that if you meet the right person first off then you're lucky." He said. "But we do have drives, and ours is more complex because of the duality of our nature. The lust of both a human and a vampire; driving you on to fulfil your needs. You're lucky bach you know that."
"Lucky? Why?"
"Because you have your Dear Boy." He said, looking off into the darkness of the trees. "You're saving yourself for him and then when you finally make love, well he'll be the one you'll want forever."
"Should I choose to change him." I muttered, for if truth be told I had never thought of eternity with Simon, merely that I should be with him.
"But if you don't then he'll grow old and die and you'll still be…" Mal began.
"Then perhaps, after a decent period of mourning, I may feel the urge to venture forth once more and seek out a new mate." I broke him off since I did not wish him to call me lonely.
"I guess there's nothing wrong with that." Mal said, although he seemed to be finding my comment hard to comprehend.
"You don't approve?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm glad you want him to stay human…" Mal trailed off.
"But?" I prompted.
"It's nothing." Mal said with a shrug. "I'm just feeling a little miffed that you have someone and I don't."
"Are you jealous Malachite?" I teased.
"Of course I am bach. You're gonna pluck up the courage one day and you can be with your boy, and where will old Mal be? Still floating about the edges of our world being manipulated by beautiful sirens, or else falling into the beds of human girls only having to leave them after a month or two not to forfeit their life with the truth."
"That's not right at all." I said sadly as I patted his cheek in a comforting manner.
We were silent for a moment, sipping our wine.
"Mal, have you ever met someone you thought might be the one?" I asked.
"I thought I had, but she was already taken." He said sadly.
I know not why my mind flashed to Mother in that instant, but it did and led me onto my next question.
"Was it one of the women you slept with?" I asked.
"No." Mal replied.
"Oh." I said and realised it must truly be Mother of whom he spoke and I decided to change the subject. "Do you know one of the worst things about growing up in north west Washington?" I asked.
"What?"
"It's rare you see the stars." I stated.
"You can't really see them here." Mal said, looking up at the overhang of the porch.
"Only because of the cover. Let us…" I paused and sniggered before dropping my voice to a whisper. "Let us climb to the roof to see them."
"But what if Dove or Dermot come out?" Mal asked.
"They probably won't spot us on the roof, and if they do we will merely say that we were giving them some privacy. The roof is not too high. It is feasible for even me if I were merely human to climb upon it." I stated.
"I suppose we could take some blankets and a few cushions up. It wouldn't look so bad then. A lot of people star gaze from their roof. And I've got a couple of pairs of good binoculars. You can use those to star watch." He conceded.
"Yes. Uncle Masen and Auntie Layla once gave me a crash course on astronomy."
"Then maybe you can teach me a little." Mal said with a grin.
"Then let us get what we need."
It was an extremely joyous experience sitting up on the roof with Mal as I tried to teach him the constellations. I had a sneaking suspicion that he knew them and was getting them wrong on purpose, and he made some up. They were most amusing indeed.
It was well into the next day by the time we climbed down and we knew we had but a few hours to sleep before Dove and Dermot would awaken and we would have to take them on a hike. I knew that I would need but four hours sleep to feel refreshed for such a task, but I was unsure if Mal would be. After all I had my theory on the sleeping habits of male dhampir vs. those of the female. It would be interesting to see if I was right. But hopefully not, Mal would be our navigator tomorrow it would not do for him to be overly tired and get us lost. As I drifted to sleep on the hard yet surprisingly comfortable sofa I found myself praying that Mal would be up to the task when it was time to awaken.
I was wrong to have doubted him and I felt rightfully ashamed.
The treck was wonderful; I was rather enjoying the trail at a slower pace. I think Mal was too. Dove proved to be a seasoned hiker and she explained how her mother had made her into an enthusiast for it was one way to get away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. Dermot was probably the one who complained most. He had never been on such a treck and it soon became clear that his good physique was through weight lifting as opposed to something that required endurance.
Dermot was exhausted by the time we reached the cabin and it was clear that an early night was in order. Dove joined him while Mal and I said we were going on one of the shorter trails to allow them some space.
"I hope they wash the sheets." Mal said mournfully once we were a good distance from the cabin.
"I will buy you some new ones." I said firmly.
"Thanks bach." He replied as he sunk to the forest floor. "So what do you want to do?"
"Nothing." I said, sitting down beside him. "I would like nothing more than to sit here in your presence."
Mal put his arm around me and I placed my head to his shoulder and out there in the woods we drifted to sleep. His presence was a comfortable warmth and I could feel his arms about me all night. I dreamt of him and would have given anything to make the dream a reality, although this dream was more innocent than the previous ones. They would not make me embarrassed to be in Mal's presence the next day.
Then I remembered Simon. Despite what I had said to Mal and his reassurance that I had every right to change my mind, I was feeling the doubt fill me. Was it right to go back on my word? I had indeed promised Simon I would find when I was ready, and I should. Yet I was more than ready to make love, so why had I not tracked him down?
I was conflicted as I awoke and stood without a word while Mal still slept. I sighed and slumped down against the tree trunk opposite him and watched him as he slept. If only I were telepathic so I could know his mind. If I knew for certain that he would reciprocate my feelings then I would gladly set Simon aside, but every time I had made an advance he had rebuffed me. His reasons were valid, but what if they were merely excuses to spare my feelings?
I would not expose myself in such a way. Not until I was certain.
Mal awoke with a snort.
"Shall we go back to the cabin?" I asked as he blinked the sleep from his eyes. "Dove and Dermot should awaken soon and we must do everything necessary before we leave."
"Yeah." He said and climbed to his feet.
I stood fluidly and we ran together toward the cabin.
Within two hours we were heading back to college. I think Dove and Dermot were happy to be heading back to toilets that flushed and water that seemed unlimited. I was happy to have a respite from the confusion surrounding Mal, until I realised it was Saturday and I would be staying with him this evening.
I drew away from those around me on the journey back in an attempt to meditate and put my mind in order before I was alone with Mal once more. We were friends, nothing more. He had made that clear and I would seek him for nothing else.
By the time we arrived at the college I was feeling much happier. My Saturday evening with Mal was as platonic as ever and by Sunday we had fallen back into routine. That afternoon everyone was arriving back from wherever they had gone for Thanksgiving and college commenced once more.
Another week flew by, a week where we were very busy since there were exams around the corner and there were papers to finish. Mal and I spent most of our time at the library working and studying. Although we were ahead of our work, there was always some polishing up to do. It showed that the end of the term was approaching as those who were usually partying were taking things a little more seriously than usual.
The week passed quietly and quickly and soon it was Sunday again. Mal and I were up early as usual, going to the laundrette to wash our clothing. We had finished there within an hour, but it was time enough for a commotion to grow about the bridge. The blue lights danced around the place, sparkling on the water and casting a ghostly strobe across the entire scene. There was a crowd too.
"What's happened?" I asked, as I espied Sophie looking on a little eagerly as Annis looked worried beside her.
"They found Malcolm's body." Sophie said, her voice had a slight edge to it, as if she wasn't sure whether to feel pleased about this turn of events.
Malcolm had treated her in a manner most foul, but was it right to take comfort in his death? I understood her mixture of feelings well, for I was experiencing the same.
"We don't know it's him for sure." Annis observed.
"Who else is it?" Sophie asked. "I got here before the crowds were thick and the police had time to cover the body. It is old. Whoever it is they've been dead a while and no one else has been missing that long."
"How do you know the corpse was old?" Annis demanded.
"Don't you watch Cal-files?" Sophie asked. "Practically every week they have a montage of a decomposing body with the numbers flying by of how long it's been."
"Although water can make bodies decompose quicker." Mal observed.
"Oh yeah." Sophie said with a frown. "Well whatever. I hope it's him."
"Sophie, how can you say that?" Annis asked aghast, she obviously didn't know what Malcolm had done.
"Because he drugged me and raped me." Sophie said in a steady voice that showed no hint of untruth. "And he tried to do the same to Liza too. That's why she didn't want to know him anymore."
"Oh my god Sophie! Why didn't you say?" Annis demanded.
"It was my business." Sophie said.
"But we could have had him thrown out of college. We would have stood by you." Annis responded firmly.
"I didn't want to have to go to court and talk about it. Not that I could remember any of it. It was only after he tried the same thing with Liza that I knew for definite it was him and I could report him then." Sophie explained.
"But if you'd confided in all of us I'm sure one of us would have remembered seeing you with him." Annis stated.
"I just didn't want to talk about it." Sophie said firmly.
Annis shook her head but said nothing more since the body was now being moved with care up to the coroner's van. I could no longer watch, the stench of death carried in the mild morning air and I turned from the scene to walk sedately back to the building with Mal close by me. We were silent until we reached his room.
"I don't think it's Malcolm." Mal stated. "Remember when you chucked your phones in? I could sense everything in that lake, and believe me that's not something I'd like to repeat. The thing I can be certain of is that there was no body."
I froze for a moment, wondering the sentiment of Mal's words. Was he trying to reassure me that Malcolm was still alive?
"I was just saying cause if it is Malcolm then you'd be a main suspect, along with Sophie." Mal said carefully.
"Why?" I asked, looking at him in shock.
"You both have very good motives for wanting him dead, and you might end up being the prime suspect." Mal said apologetically.
"How would that be?" I demanded.
"You were the last person to see him alive." He pointed out.
"That is assuming he's been dead all this while." I stated. "Besides, we have no certainty the person in the pond was murdered. Perhaps they drown."
"They would have been found before now if that was the case. Bodies tend to float unless they've been weighed down."
"If it is Malcolm and he was thrown in the pond and weighed down and has now surfaced there's nothing to say that he has been dead all this time." I stated. "I think perhaps we should think no more on this until we know for sure. There is no sense for needless worry."
There had been good cause to worry, the body was indeed that of Malcolm, and he had been dead for about two months. It was on record from the missing person case that I was the last person to see him alive…
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