Oh hai!
I got another chapter for you guys and gals to make up for the lack of postage :)
I do have a question for you, but I best ask it now for a very good reason:
What's your favourite cartoon from your childhood?
My answer is in the chapter.
I hope you enjoy it. In fact, you better enjoy this one. Trust me, you might like this. ;)
Chapter Nine:
I wrapped a towel around me before exiting the shower. You never know, Eric or Darren could be in my room or something (most likely Eric) and I don't want to just wonder on through in my birthday suit. I decided, last minute, to do my hair and make-up in here in attempts to save time. I blow dried my hair straight and teased some of the top layers to a similar style to yesterday. My make-up was simple tonight, mascara, a light dusting of pink eye-shadow and gloss on my lips. I know the chances of me going out might be slim, but if he decides he would rather be somewhere (so I can't just suddenly kick him out) I don't want to have to say 'Give me a second to do my make-up'. I don't know… Makes me feel… Silly?
I picked up my discarded work clothes from the floor, checked my towel was wrapped securely round my body and walked out of the bathroom, scrunching some of my hair in the process. Normally, I would honestly just walk out, completely naked as the day I was born and I would only wear a towel wrapped round my hair, to stop the water dripping, but today…Yeah…No thank you. I'm going be a good girl.
"Do you always take that long in the bathroom?" Eric asked from my bed, he was reading one of the Buffy books and seemed marginally glad that I had finally finished. I noted that he was lying very comfortably in the centre of my bed. Does he do this everywhere? I don't know whether to feel angry or… Well… Annoyed. I knew to feel annoyed by the way he looked me up and down, a certain sparkle in his eyes and a small smirk tugging at his lips(Or should I feel angry about that look?).
I rolled my eyes at him, deciding to ignore the look and comment, as I went to my walk in closet, dumping my clothes in my wash basket in the process. Looking at my selection I pondered on how to dress tonight.
"Are we going to the bar?" I asked, a hand on my hip and the other holding the towel round me.
"Well, unless you wish to remain like this… but I don't see why we would..." He had muttered in my ear, fingers trailing my shoulder, centimetres from my skin. I spun round jumping back with a shriek. My lower back hit the sharp-ish edge of my draws. I panted a little, glaring. The hand gripping the towel was clenched so tightly, my knuckles were white and my lower back hurt…
"Don't. Do. That!" I shrieked before standing fully up and attempted to push him away. He just grinned so I pointed to the door. "I don't want to go to the bar, but I am not staying in a towel for your stupid amusement now out so I can dress!" I wouldn't be surprised if my face was as red as a cherry. This guy was so… crude it definitely made me seem like a freaking angel…wait…even if Darren was a bit of a prude, it made him seem innocent! That's a little better.
I 'hmpf'd' before pulling out the most simplistic and unattractive panties bra set of hot pink with white lace trimmings. I walked to the doors and closed them seeing that he was lounging on my bed once again reading a different book. This was the one of the books I made Darren read ages ago. Oh Dear. If Darren found the book to be an insult, what the heck would Eric think about it… I should get rid of them… Or at least hide them because the chances of me wanting to read them again are quite high…
I changed into my bra and panties and pulled out three quarter length black leggings, a mid-thigh denim skirt, a white round neck t-shirt with different shaped pink stars glittered across the chest and finally, black braces with pink stars.
I opened one of my cupboard doors, which had a mirror on, and scanned my appearance. This was one of those outfits I would wear when I wanted to look eighteen or younger (Normally younger though). It was childish enough and didn't show much skin at all. It also hid my cleavage. This made me like the outfit even more. It was tight enough to leave plenty for the imagination, and covered a lot of my body. I didn't wear sluttish clothing all the time… I just liked to wear clothes that made me feel good or look pretty. Besides… if you've got a good figure, I believe it should be flaunted (Though nothing beats baggy soft trousers and a loose top).
I walked out of my wardrobe in time to see Eric throw the book in my direction with a growl. I ducked in time to avoid it and looked round to pout. It wasn't much damaged. Makes me glad it's a hard back really. Poor thing has suffered enough abuse and not just from me bending the spine.
"I have never read such idiocy." I heard him growl before pulling himself off my bed and standing up. I stood straight and placed my hands on my hips.
"Yeah, I geddit! Insult to Vampires blah blah blah. Please don't damage my books. It's rare that I ever read anything." this distracted him and gave him a chance to look me up and down before a small pout appeared on his lips. I'm sure he was about to make a comment about the towel but I held a hand up and 'shush'd' him straight away before leaving him to head to the kitchen. My face was feeling quite hot and I really didn't want to put up with this, besides, I'm not normally this… well… embarrassed! I'm normally one to have a comeback yet I am here, hot in the face, 'shushing' him. Where has my cocky attitude gone?
I opened my cupboard and pulled out my chocolate and marshmallow pop tarts and slipped two in the toaster. Before you comment, I do live on these if I can. I also really don't feel like cooking (Even if they are microwavable meals).
"You're cupboard is full of these." Eric commented and I turned to see him holding a box of Cinnamon Roll Pop Tarts. I just grinned knowingly and shrugged.
"My favourite is the Chocolate and Marshmallow ones, the box says 'Smore' though." I got a plate out and placed it near the toaster. I turned back to find him pulling out another flavoured box and stare at it. I smirked before coughing, remembering my manners as a hostess.
"Would you like a True Blood?" I asked and he looked up briefly before nodding silently and returning to the boxes. I bit my tongue as I opened the fridge, "What type?"
"O positive." Huh, Darren likes O Positive too. I pulled it out, took off the lid and slipped it in the microwave. I leaned on the work top by the microwave and watched as he had two more boxes out, reading the ingredient listing.
"These are full of crap." his face was scrunched up in a frown as he placed them back. I grinned, refraining from laughing. Everyone I meet says the same thing, unless they too love pop-tarts. The sound of the toaster 'popping' caught my attention and I slid passed him to pulled out my delicious chocolate and marsh-mellow tarts.
"Haaa, hot hot hot!" I winced as I dropped them on the plate and blew on the tips of my fingers, I forgot to take them out with care… "Stupid Hayley." I was shaking my hand, jumping on the spot constantly going 'Ow ow ow ow' and froze when Eric took a hold of my hand and checked my fingers before frowning. They were only a little bit red. Not much harm done, not really. I flushed scarlet at my childishness from over reacting about something so small, "So I'm a bit of a wimp…" I muttered trying to snatch my hand back, but his grip tightened and he ran a cold hand over the tips lightly. I shivered, my eyes watching his fingers like a hawk, ready to pull away in case he does something I probably wouldn't like. The coldness of his fingers was cooling and his gentle touch was… well, shocking to say the least. I would never have thought of Eric to be… gentle. Does that sound bad? The fact that I have basically judged him before knowing him? Whelp, it's not like I want to be best friends with him anyway.
I bit the corner of my lip as I slowly looked up to stare into his icy blue ones. They seemed to be glazed over and staring at me intently. I licked my lips unconsciously and saw his eyes flicker downwards.
"Erm…" my voice was barely a whisper as I stuttered on what to say. His eyes flickered to stare into mine and I felt the hairs on my spine rise. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I thought of what to say.
The sound of the microwave beeping made me jump as I took my hand and slid past him to grab a towel and use it to take his True Blood out. I avoided looking at him as I forced the heat away from my cheeks. That was totally weird just now! What in the world! How did this happen and more importantly what just happened? I was just frozen to the spot and stuttering like an idiot! I'm not a stuttering fool! Ever.
I placed the towel next to the True Blood and turned to Eric with a small forced smile.
"There you go." I avoided his eyes this time. I didn't like the look I saw in them… Mainly because I didn't know what it was and I didn't like that fact. Mind you, I don't really understand looks in people's eyes… But that's not the point. That moment right there, yeah… don't like it.
I picked up a still warm 'smore' pop tart and took a small bite. I realised that I was staring rather intently at my food whilst I nibbled at it. I was being silly. Nothing happened just there, I am just being… asinine (I saw it on Sookie's word of the day calendar!) and tired from my shift. Saturday lunches are busy. Simple as, no need to get worked up over it; now think of a good distraction!
Grabbing my plate I jumped round to see him leaning on a work top, sipping at his True Blood and staring at me intently. Ignore it Hayley, he's probably trying to figure you out. When is he not?
"Well, I'm going to go watch TV. Unless you like… want to talk more?" I asked taking another bite of my… smore-y goodness. He nodded and stood straight. I should have worn heels. I just about reach mid-chest on this guy. At least with my heels last night, I didn't have to look up as much.
I grinned before making my way to the lounge, stopping by the fridge to grab a carton of apple juice, and sliding into the corner of the corner suite. I grabbed the remote and switched it on. It was on a cooking channel and I paused, frowning in confusion. Darren was watching the cookery shows again…
"I think he's trying to hint at something." I turned to see Eric sat at the other corner, arms resting on top of the pillows with one of his ankles resting over the opposite knee. Guy really knows how to make himself at home.
I blew a raspberry and shook my head before taking a bite of my pop tart. I changed the channel to my cartoons. Old School 'Tom and Jerry' was on. I grinned and curled my legs around me as I took another bite of my pop tarts. I heard quiet laughter and I ignored him, finishing my very healthy dinner.
I missed these old episodes of 'Tom and Jerry' and found myself laughing, giggling, chuckling (and… maybe even snorting a little bit) at them. It was all where they wouldn't talk at all, and Tom had this scream that you wouldn't really expect from a cat. Not to mention it was before all the T.V and media rules making it all 'child friendly' yet if you switch it over to the 'Disney' channel, it's just as messed up and evil when you compare it to these episodes of Tom and Jerry. The cat may have its odd scary moments because the art work is just that good, but at least it's not corrupting little girls' minds. I swear the old days were so much better.
When I had finished my pop tarts, I leaned forward to place the plate on the table and leaned back to get comfy. I switched the T.v onto mute and twisted round to face Eric, resting my hands in my lap.
"So, what did you want anyway?" I snuggled in between the pillows to see him chuckle and turn his body towards me.
"I wanted to learn more about you." he stated with a small smile and I tilted mine in confusion.
"Me?" he nodded, "not… my heritage?" he then shook it and my brows shot to my hair line. "Seriously?" I could tell my voice peaked there.
"Of course. I want to know why you are travelling with Darren, what sort of things you have done and how no other sheriff has even tried to find out about you." His long blonde hair fell slightly in his face as he replied in an amused tone.
"What makes you think you're the first?" I countered, biting my bottom lip, he just grinned.
"Because you have no idea what you're doing…" I scowled at this; making him chuckle and I crossed my arms and pulled my knees to my chest.
"Or you're just annoying," I finally muttered and the grin never left his face. I wrapped my arms around my knees and stared at him curiously for a minute before sighing and leaning back into the cushions, "If this has anything to do with my age, then the questions stop okay?" he frowned, obviously not enjoying being told what to do, before nodding, "First question then?" I grinned and grabbed my carton of apple juice, pushing the straw in and taking a sip.
"What sort of locations have you visited?" well that was a simple one…
"Travelled around England, of course, and erm… California, New York and then here," I paused, "And of course we stayed in different towns and stuff, but being careful to not be seen by people we met and… risking the whole noticing 'we're not aging' thing. It got a bit easier when the vampires revealed themselves." I smiled before sipping more of the apple juice. This was probably going to last me a couple more minutes before it was empty. Straws just seem to make me drink more…
"So you haven't really been travelling for that long." he stated and I nodded, refraining from saying that he knew this already. Twenty years must not be that long for a thousand year old vampire. Douche.
"I don't really like it. Moving to a new place each time, having to meet new people whilst knowing the time that I will eventually have to say good bye… The only constants in my life are Dare and my mother. Even though I haven't seen my mother in two to three years, I still know she will always be there, always be the same and always help me if I need it." I looked away at the plate on the table and hugged my knees tighter to my chest.
"Do you miss her?" I felt my face scrunch up, but a small smile remained as I thought about her.
"Of course I do, it's my Mother!" I licked my lips and shifted my position a little bit, "She's been there for me all my life. Saved it on numerous occasions too, risking her very existence."
"How has she risked it?"
"I've done plenty of things in my life and as you know, I have risked It." he chuckled at this and I smiled to him before averting my eyes back to the plate, "One time, a Vampire attempted to drain me, but I was able to get away. I used the last of my energy to… I guess teleport myself away after escaping him. I didn't get far though and I knew that other vampires would track my scent to me within minutes.
"My mother must have sensed it somehow, mother's intuition I guess, and she had appeared in front of me and saved my life. She took me to visit my father and I stayed there a while to recover," I looked back up to see he had sat up and was resting his elbows on his knees this time, watching me attentively, "I hated it up there. The only problem with being the hybrid is that you get poked about and their empathy doesn't affect you as much, yet your own empathy affects them all too well. The only thing that gave me my power back is water blessed by Angels, or holy water as some would call it," I rolled my eyes at that, "They didn't want to heal me."
"They poked you?" he had an arched brow in amusement and I cracked a smile.
"Theoretically okay?" his shoulders shook in a silent laughter, making me laugh a little before sighing, "But yeah, the last time I had any blessed water, was when I last saw my mother, which means if I use my abilities now, it weakens me, makes me feel sick and basically, the next day I have the humans equivalent to a hangover." I grinned when he laughed.
"Did you use your ability the other night much?" he was watching me intently, I bit the corner of my lip in thought.
"You mean when you strangled and bashed me against the wall?" I spoke with an innocent sarcastic tone before batting my eyelashes. He just grinned and nodded.
"You could say that, yes." He spoke amusedly, "I found it to be quite educational."
"Of course you would," I sighed shaking my head, "I did use my ability quite a bit and suffered for it too, thank you very much." He laughed quietly to himself and I pouted.
"Maybe you should have been honest with me from the start." he was still grinning and I laughed and nodded.
"I probably should have, but then, what about all the fun we've been having?" both his brows rose in question and I rolled my eyes, "Sarcasm."
"I should have guessed." He muttered loud enough for me to hear, or, at least I think it was loud enough for me to hear. I laughed and sat straight, crossing my legs. His confused gaze answered my un-asked question on whether it was loud enough for me to hear.
"Yeah, I just so happen to have slightly better hearing than humans, although not as great as you for instance." he then nodded, his hair falling in his face again. I wasn't keen on his long hair if I was honest, but I guess it was something of his human life he must have wanted to keep. I'm pretty sure his hair was a lot longer and scruffier back then. Thank you hair products of today!
"What other abilities do you have then?" he asked as he sat up a little bit, "We have discovered you can heal yourself, you can teleport, you can hear and smell better than our average human and you have some form of empathy." I nodded ticking those off with my fingers.
"I can heal others also by the way," I grinned adding a finger, "Let's see…" I tilted my head to the side in thought. I never really thought about my abilities, or… I never really made use of what other abilities I had… "I'm honestly… Not too sure…" he frowned, "I mean, I know there are more, limited because I'm alive and a human, but still, I have never used them or figured out more to them, well… Actually, there is one," He leaned forward. Oh the urge to take the micky right now was so bad! "It's the one I used against Dare," I resting my elbow on my knee and leaned forward cupping my chin, "It's obviously dangerous to you, but it's some form of UV light. It's like the sun for you," I scratched my head in thought, trying to explain it, "It's my only means if defense against vampires, but it sure takes a lot out of me."
"You don't use it very often." he stated and I shook my head vigorously.
"Heavens no! That time I used it on Dare was one of those rare occasions and I suffered from it, and not just because of the hangover," I licked my lips to dampen them, so much talking, "I never use that ability as it is because it's so lethal, but when I used it on Darren? I felt so guilty once the anger subsided." I shook my head and leaned back on the sofa, stretching my legs out in front of me. My hands rested in my lap.
"The vampire that attacked you; did you use that on him?" I shook my head, "Did you actually use your teleportation to escape his hold?" I bit my lip feeling caught out, shook my head and wrapped my arms around my waist, tightly. He had to b specific. I couldn't even lie because he somehow knows when I'm lying.
"I didn't use any of my abilities to escape his hold." I whispered. Trust it to be him to notice something like that…
"What did you do?" his voice was deep and serious. I swallowed a lump in my throat, licked my lips nervously and looked to the door in silent hope that Darren would pop in and save me from the tall, blonde and… scary when angry...
"I…" I squeezed my eyes shut, "I staked him."
"And how did you stake him, Ms. Butler?" I shivered visibly at his chilling voice. Oh wow, he's getting formal now. I guess saying 'by stabbing him in the heart' would not help at all… Oh how I miss witty comebacks right now…
"I-I used to carry a… silver stake with me all the time," I whispered. He growled almost silently and I winced, averting my head downwards, "I had to protect myself… I didn't understand my abilities as well as I do now. I was still young."
I opened my eyes and gasped, shrinking further into the pillows, my hands shooting to my sides. How in the world did he get this close to me without me realizing?
Eric had crawled over me, hands either side of me and Gosh he was so close to my face. I swallowed nervously. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. His fangs had extended and his ice blue eyes were practically a flame with an emotion, I was guessing anger, but there was something else there.
"This was in California. Wasn't it," he asked, more like stated, and I nodded, "Did you know you murdered a Sheriff?" my eyes widened in shock and I shook my head.
"That's why I was hunted…" I gasped and he slowly nodded.
"Do you have any weapons that are harmful with you, or in this house, right now?" I tried speaking again before quickly shaking my head, "Good."
He didn't move. If the sofa wasn't leather, I probably would be gripping the cushions very tightly. I gulped and tried to push myself further into the pillows. My breathing was deep and shallow whereas his was calm, almost nonexistent. The corner of his lips tugged upwards. I'm guessing it was some form of smirk, I couldn't tell since his mouth was open slightly because of his fangs.
This was almost as bad as the kitchen with the way he was looking at me. His eyes had soon glazed over in a similar way to before and I couldn't help but try and shrink away from him. He didn't seem as angry, but his fangs hadn't retracted yet. Why was I getting so nervous? I can just rescind his invitation whenever I want. Tell him he's not allowed back in unless he behaves himself… or respect me in some way and then be done with it. Or just rescind his invitation, pack some bags, leave a note for Dare and go home to Mummy… Actually… No. Something tells me she'll be all 'I told you so' on me like mothers tend to do…
The ends of his long blonde hair were tickling the sides of my face and I really wanted to push it out of the way. His long hair was annoying and, when he wasn't being all angry and about to literally bite my head off, it made him look a lot younger than I sure his physical age was (I'm guessing thirties? Late twenties? Lord knows how long they lived for in his human days…).
I licked my lips before trying to actually speak, but all I did was stutter out vowels. How is he making me lose my ability to speak like this?
My hand twitched as the need to push his hair from my face was becoming unbearable. I hesitated before lifting my hand. He seemed to tense, his eyes watching mine very carefully as I raised it to his face. I watched as his eyes then flickered from my hand to my eyes as it neared his face. He must think I was going to use my UV ability against him…
He relaxed, by a fraction, as I pushed his hair from my face and tucked it behind his ear. I slowly lowered my hand away and rested it on my shoulder, my eyes glued to his.
How long have we been like this? I'm surprised my heart hasn't failed on me yet. What was he doing? I was beginning to feel restless and if I could even speak, I would ask him to kindly remove himself from on top of me. Sadly, the most I could get out was 'Uh…erm…Cou…' with barely any noise! Even when I was with Darren I was never like this! I definitely was not cocky or confident at this very moment in time and you know what? I hated it. I'm a confident independent woman and I will not let a man control me. Wow… talk about those cheesy woman self-help books.
I licked my lips unconsciously before taking a breath. I was going to talk. I was. I didn't care if he was debating on draining me dry or not. I didn't like this very much. I was scared, nervous and… well… turned on! Totally unfair.
"Could you-" I had found my voice! It was just above a whisper though, but still! I had found my voice! YAY ME! "Well, maybe ge-"
I felt his cool lips press lightly onto my warm ones, effectively stopping me from finally talking. Fudge Cakes…