"She's in good hands, Mike," he hears Luke whisper. Michel lets the covers drop, and he could hear Luke's smile as he said, "The number one rule, eh, Mike?"
Michel grins. Despite knowing that today Luke would know Michel recruited Kerry to pry about Emmalee, he knew Luke was going to start to open up to Kerry.
That girl was just too damn trustable.
And once he heard the engine speed away, with Luke as the driver of course, Michel felt safe in knowing that Kerry would be okay. He needed to tell Kerry something important, though by nature, he never trusted anyone, except Luke, and even then, it was not completely. He needed to tell her a deep, dark secret, something that must be revealed before he is to make her his. He had not derailed himself from his goal. He wanted that woman as his; only his.
But he would have to worry about that later. He needed his sleep. Michel thought back to the time when Luke would get mad when he made Luke get ready to sleep early.
"Trying to get some beauty sleep Mike?" Luke would ask.
Michel didn't mind the sarcasm. He actually enjoyed it. "Yes," he would say. "I'm meeting several ladies tonight, and I need to be in top shape."
"Just smile, and they'll think you're in top shape from the get-go."
"I don't do anything halfway."
Luke opened his mouth as though to say something, but he seemed to think better of it, and closed his mouth.
Michel, despite being alone, laughed quietly. He always had a memorable time with his best friend/brother. They would joke, sass, and diss each other, but all for the sake of a good laugh, or a low blow on each other's pride.
With Kerry, he had a memorable time of emotion, desire, excitement, and courage.
His last thought was that what he would have to reveal to her soon might end such future times.
He woke up just as the sun was close to finally settle, he could still feel the sun, and he could still feel the innate fear of knowing that if one of his covers fell, he would die painfully, not even the decency of dying quickly would be available.
He stayed under the covers of his bed, as though he were a child afraid of the boogieman coming out. After four or five minutes, he gets up, freshens up, and drives to his Victorian house. He had three reasons to go there now: his home, Luke, and most importantly, Kerry.
He began to think about what Kerry and Luke talked about. Did they talk about Miss Emmalee? Or maybe about each other, trying to fill in silence with getting to know each other? Or maybe Luke was trying to intimidate her throughout the whole rise? Or, maybe, Kerry was scared half witless at the way Luke sped.
And she thought I drove horribly.
He didn't go to his Victorian house afterall. He knew everyone there knew he wasn't planning on making regular visits, and he wasn't planning on showing everyone how much Kerry interested him; especially not that John fellow.
He went, instead, to the park again, this time near his house, so that once Kerry stepped out of it, she would spot him. She would be hyperaware of her surroundings anyways.
Although he kept his eyes on the kids on the playground, and was aware he was getting a few stares, he waited for Kerry, and maybe Luke, to join him.
"Where is she?" he asked, when he heard Luke appear.
"Nelle," Luke said, slightly annoyed, or maybe slightly frustrated, "Insisted that they get ready for their double date, and that I should go too," he said in an airy but sarcastic voice, his southern accent in full swing.
Michel laughed the first honest laugh in a while. They received a few more stares, but it's been hundreds of years both of these two "gentlemen" have gotten to get used to the ogling.
"And what are you? A fifth wheel?" Michel asked Luke, talking to him like he did in the old days (and yes, they were old days).
"'Fortunately,' Jenna, a 'roomie' of mine, is available today. This is your fault Mike. Now I can show the world I'm still eighteen," he said, full of sarcasm, but with a little hint of truth in it.
"Why do you always bring up the age thing? It's not my fault Mast—Brine decided to get thirsty the very day before you were to 'turn nineteen, to become a man, by that day's standards,'" Michel said, half teasing, half placatingly.
"Yea, well, why couldn't you have given me three of four days of your lifespan?" Luke muttered. If he was away from an opportunity of violence or mockery, he acted childish.
"I give you three days of my lifespan," Michel said, knowing that it woudn't be enough. He probably already "gave" Luke five times his lifespan by now, but he wasn't about to say that.
Michel heard steps coming towards them, but he wasn't about to look behind him to see who it was—those steps weren't Kerry's.
"Oh, Nelle's boyfriend didn't even know about the double date until she told me about this Jenna girl, and how she wants me to be comfortable, and not feel like a literal fifth wheel," Luke muttered under his breath.
Michel sighed. Now he can understand why Kerry went for the perm that one time after her mother left. Her friend Nelle was very commandeering. No wonder why Kerry had no real problem (that would impede on her) listening to him. Of course, he was actually dangerous—still am—since he is the vampire who ruled Brockport, even if he wasn't there per se.
"Mind if I join you guys?" they heard Nelle's boyfriend say.
"Go right on ahead," Luke said, showing that Southern hospitality.
"Certainly," Michel said, saying it more in a classy way than anything. He would always be French, never a New Yorker.
Of course, I had an identity when I was human; Luke didn't, Michel thought.
"Thanks," Nelle's boyfriend said. "I didn't get the chance to meet you yesterday, when Nelle invited others to our date," he said, not necessarily bitingly, but showing obvious frustration at his girlfriend's whim. "My name's Alex."
"Anthony," Michel said. Yea, Anthony, with my middle name as Ethan, he thought somewhat bitterly. Despite wanting that girl as his companion of the night, he was still a rather selfish man, thinking about survival, with no suspicion whatsoever.
"Nice to meet you Anthony," Alex said amiably. "I apologize for Nelle; she always goes on whims, not bothering to ask the person. She always assumes they have the time of day," he said, annoyed, but with some tenderness behind those words.
Luke smiled, about to capitalize on such a "weakness." And if Luke did that, he would start to capitalize on Michel's interest in Kerry, and he didn't want anyone knowing the extent of his interest in her. He felt he would ultimately share it. And, he admitted, he is a very selfish creature.
He wanted Kerry. Yes, he did.
All to himself, with no one, no one in the playing field, not even in the stands.
Michel feigned a chuckle of understanding. He would try to get along with Kerry's roommates, except for one. He would deal with this John fellow later. "It's alright. I wanted to catch up with Kerry anyways," he said, the only thing to be true that would come out of his mouth—for now, "and I never got to meet any of her friends. I would like to get to know them."
"You'll," Alex said, slowly, trying to think of a way to explain it, "Find Nelle…amusing, to say the least, and annoying, to say most extremely."
"Wouldn't she be hurt that you are saying such things?" Luke asked, smiling (sinisterly), though his smile did not show any intention of saying anything, just teasing.
Alex smiled in return, not really phased by Luke's smile. Brave kid, Michel thought. "No, she knows I love her all the more for it."
"That's great," Luke said, his eyes somewhat squinted with seriousness. Right away, Michel could tell Luke was getting warmed up to the boy, but something was holding him back.
Could it be that?
"Thanks," he said quietly. Fifteen minutes later, all three girls came out, looking amazing.
Alex's hand snaked around Nelle's waist. Michel was a little more subtle with an amused smile, and Luke smiled nicely, his smiling missing his sinister component, so for Kerry, the smile appeared a little false, though Michel knew better.
Luke would always be his Southern gentleman self.
"We're walking to the theatres guys! That way we can all know each other," Nelle said excitedly.
"Alright," Jenna said shyly. She liked Luke, Michel could tell.
They walked to the movies slowly, just cruising the town, and arrived twenty minutes later.
"Did you waste all your money again Luke?" Michel teased, looking at him as Luke shoved his hands into the depths of his jeans' pockets.
"No, I did not," Luke huffed, triumphantly pulling out a fifty. He paid for himself and Jenna, buying her snacks and a drink.
"Are you going to get anything?" Kerry asked Michel, curious to see how he would portray himself as a human.
He grinned, and said nothing.
"A Coke and popcorn for her," he said, and looked up at the menu, trying to see if there was anything he wanted, "and a juice for me," he said.
"Juice, always juice," Kerry whispered. "Why is that, I wonder?"
He got real close to her, ignoring her quickening heartbeat. "It's organic," he said, managing to say something dumb into something so marvelous.
He paid and carried the food to see a slasher movie with Kerry. He manipulated the order of the seating so that the order would be: Alex, Nelle, Jenna, Luke, himself, and lastly, Kerry. Something didn't feel right.
Ten minutes into the movie, Michel—as well as Luke and Alex—could guess the ending, so they turned to their dates.
Luke didn't establish himself as a ladies' man back in Charlestown, but he definitely knew how to woo. Extremely well. His caliber could almost be with that of Michel's.
Jenna didn't know what was going to happen to her tonight, if Luke decided to go back to the house than to visit Anna, and see if they could get rid of the last vampire hunters—which brought Michel back to the situation at hand.
"Kerry," he whispered, after a deep kiss.
"Hmm?" she asked, her eyes on his lips, silently telling him to tell her what he wanted to later.
"What does Alex do for a living?" he asked her quietly.
"I don't know. Work at the student union most likely. Why?"
"I think he's a vampire hunter," he let the sentence hang in the air, letting her realize what his next sentence would be forced to be.
"No, he can't," Kerry said, denial in her voice, though her facial features told him differently. "You're not going to hurt him are you?"
Michel didn't say anything. He couldn't. He was too selfish to risk losing her, especially not because of a vampire hunter. He sighed; he had to tell her, though maybe not as bluntly. "I guess you have some thinking to do. If you change your mind with helping me get rid of the rest of Brockport's vampire hunters, I understand."
Kerry looked shocked. She didn't know what to do. How could the events turn out this way? Despite her shock, she managed to nod, but something brought her back. "Are you leaving?" she asked, her voice worried.
He looked at her, but didn't say anything. He wrapped an arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. For now, he would stay with her.
This might be his last moment with her…ever.
I REALLY like the feedback for this story! Just ONE away from 40, but it's okay! The love you guys sent me was MORE than enough.
MythStar Black Dragon: THANK YOU for being there for me since day one. It means a lot to me.
Isabella Marie Cullen: I'm glad you like my story! I hope it doesn't disappoint you later on! I took what you said into consideration, and even blended with what Angelkrow666 said, though in a VERY twisted way. He shall have his secret, I promise you!
Angelkrow666: I definitely took your advise, and added some hardship into their relationship. Who will she chose? Friends? Or Vampires? Although we all know I'm too Libra for my own good, I'll try to make it as real as possible :)
Restless Dreaming Spirit: Again, I am SO very happy you are back to reading my story. As you can see, I chickened out in the quote, but! I shall post it on here for the next time. I REALLY hope you still like Michel's character. I was a bit worried I might deviate from how you liked him. Ahh, yes, his fingers brushing her neck makes me think sexy haha.
courtingu: I am VERY glad you like my story, and yes, Michel is a Ladies' Man. Though now, one of them caught his attention. I'm glad you also catch my humor...not many people do :(
Tell me what you think my lovely readers! It made me HAPPY BEYOND BELIEF seeing your reaction to the last chapter. I worked so hard trying to get back into the mindset of back then, and even now, it changed a little, but hopefully, you guys still enjoy my story! Review!