EPOV
I tapped my latte with my index finger, staring at my perfectly painted black nails.
Turning my wrist over, I looked at my watch. 2:04. Oliver was late.
I looked up at the coffee shop, filled with students. Some knew horrible truth about the town, and some didn't. I envied those who didn't. They would just bustle along through college, and move on to do great things in great places. Those who knew could never leave. I hated that.
I looked down at my watch again. 2:06. I looked up again, and nearly threw my coffee in the air with surprise as I saw Oliver sitting across from me.
'Don't do that, you jerk!' I yelled. 'God.'
'Sorry.' He lied. I rolled my eyes. 'What did you want to talk about?' He asked, suddenly looking very serious.
'Right, yeah. About yesterday. No one can ever know and it can never happen again, understand? Michael would-'
'Michael.' Oliver interrupted. 'You broke up with Michael, correct?'
I nodded. 'Yes, we broke up, about an hour before… What happened yesterday. Don't you think that's a little disrespectful?'
'He broke up with you. Not the other way around. So why do you care?' He asked with a confused look on his face.
'Because I know that he did it because he loves me, and I love him too.' I snapped, angry tears forming in my eyes.
'How…' He trailed off. 'Why did he break up with you again?' He frowned.
'He was afraid of hurting me. You know, the whole…' I mimed biting someone's neck, and then slid my finger across my throat.
'Oh. Well, yes, obviously, we've been warning him about this.' Something changed in his eyes. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
'What.' I asked. 'What are you thinking?'
'That I can fix this.' He said. 'Not that I care, but… You have all serviced the town greatly in the last year or so, and I feel like giving something back.'
'Whatever.' I said, waving a dismissive hand. 'How? How can you fix it?' I asked, filled with hope.
'Ever wandered what it would be like to be a vampire?'
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
CPOV
My eyes fluttered open, and I groaned with pain as I rolled over on the couch. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on. Unless I was with Shane… Then it was fine. I smiled at the thought.
Someone cleared their throat behind the couch, and I yelped as I fell onto the floor.
Michael buckled over with laughter, and I jumped up and over the sofa to punch his arm. He laughed harder.
'It's not funny!' I yelled. Michael tried to protest, but he was laughing too hard to say anything. 'Well you seem better than yesterday. What'd you do, eat a truck load of happy pills?' I asked, walking past him and into the kitchen to get some coffee.
I heard the door swing shut as I poured the black liquid into a cup, and Michael leant on the kitchen surface next to me.
'No, I don't know. I just feel… Better. I feel bad, though. She's probably miserable and here I am laughing my head off.' He sighed, and we both sat down at the table.
'Where is she, by the way? Has she come home?' I asked. He nodded, looking sadder again. Damn.
'She came home last night and left a couple of hours ago. She looked… Broken.' He said, staring down at the table.
'Hours ago? What time is it?' I asked, rubbed my eyes and took a sip of coffee.
'Twenty past two. You over slept.' I frowned, feeling like I had forgotten something.
Shane.
'Where's Shane?' I asked, eyes wide.
'Work. He stayed in your room sleeping for most of yesterday, but today he left just after Eve. He's been so tired lately…' I played with the ring on my finger, and nodded.
'When did life get so complicated?' I sighed.
'I don't know. Maybe when you moved in?' He joked, and I glared at him. He raised his hands in defence, smiling. I smiled back.
He put his hands back on the table, and I reached out and held one.
'You ok?' I asked, quietly.
'I think so.' He replied, squeezing my hand. I flinched, and he pulled back his hand and stood up immediately. 'Sorry, sorry. I don't quite know my strength yet.' He apologised, and started to walk away.
'It's ok, I'm fine!' I said, abandoning my coffee to follow him into the living room.
'No, it's not ok! This is why I broke up with Eve, none of you are going to be ok if I keep this up!' He picked up a chair and slammed it back down onto the floor, smashing it into pieces. 'I hate what I've become, I hate this!' He screamed, and crouched down, hugging his knees.
I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around him.
'Hey, Michael, come on. If we're still alive by now, we're fine. Don't do this to yourself.' I pulled away slightly, holding his arms. 'Look at me.' He didn't move. 'Michael, look at me!' I said, louder this time.
He raised his head, and the pain in his eyes touched me somewhere deep inside. I wanted to make it go away.
I don't know why I thought it was a good idea, and I don't think I ever will, but something deep inside me told me it would fix everything. Make his hurting go away; make an unhappy man smile again.
I kissed him. And he kissed me. It was sweet, and gentle and yet strong and passionate at the same time, and I could taste the despair on his lips.
Something inside me screamed a name, but I couldn't hear it over the love and happiness that I was feeling.
The voice got louder, and I started to make out vague sounds.
Michael tilted forwards off his feet and on to his knees, and held my face his hands.
The voice got louder, and I could almost hear it.
I ran my hands through Michaels gorgeous blonde hair.
Shane.
Oh god.
'I'm engaged!' I yelled suddenly, and scrambled back 'Oh god, oh god, oh god…' I repeated holding my head in my hands. I couldn't look at him.
'You… Shane. God, you…' Michael stammered, struggling to find words.
Then, before I knew what was happening, I was spinning in the air, face to face with Michael.
'That's so great!' He cheered, putting me down to punch the air.
'That is so not what I was expecting, but ok…' I braced myself against the wall, dizziness taking over me.
'Are you kidding? You guys are getting engaged! That's just…' He sighed happily and sat on the arm of the couch.
'Wow. Talk about mood swings.' I said, slowly walking away.
'I won't tell him.' He said as I opened the door.
'I know. Me either.' I said, pausing slightly before closing the door behind me and disappearing into the rest of the house.
MPOV
I couldn't control how I felt that day. Emotions came in waves, and I turned into a completely different person each time.
I needed my guitar.
CPOV
I heard Michael playing his guitar from Shane's room, where I lay on the bed, reminding myself of everything I loved about him. His need to protect people, his messy hair, his smell, his smile… Everything.
What was I thinking, kissing Michael?
It was a mistake. And it would never, ever happen again.
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EPOV
'Eve. Say something.' Oliver sounded uncertain and shaken. Much like I was.
Me? Become a vampire?
I would live forever. With Michael.
But I'd be drinking blood. I'd become everything I'd hated my whole life. Shane would hate me for it…
But he got over Michael. He could do the same for me, right?
I wouldn't have to worry about going out at night. Or breathing.
I'd be young and beautiful forever. Forever's a long time.
Which did I want to be?
Cat or mouse? Spider or fly? Fox or hare?
'Eve?' I snapped back into the real world.
'I need to talk to some people first. I'll get back to you… I have your number, it's all good.' I got up and started to leave, blabbing all sorts of crap to stop him saying anything. 'So yeah I'll just call you some time, I mean, this isn't the sort of choice you can make over coffee. So, yeah, bye!' I waved as I slipped out of the door.
Cat or mouse? Spider or fly? Fox or hare?
