Chapter 6

Ignorance is Bliss

"Rave! How about getting us something to drink?" Luke's voiced boomed as he sat down with Billy, Shadow, and Valentine at the bar. Dammit. Can his timing be any better? I looked back over at Alexander and all amusement was gone from his face. He had seen Luke in my bed so it would be impossible to forget the face. I was silently praying they wouldn't break out in an immortal bar fight, so I just started making drinks. Passing Alexander and a menacingly smiling Jagger two Blood Baths, I avoided all eyes. Sebastian and Luke started doing their stupid little man-shake-ritual-thingy. And Billy stared at Alexander like he was a ghost. I gave Luke and Shadow margaritas, Valentine, his usual Bloody Mary, then Billy, a Jack Daniels and Coke.

"You two know each other?" Alexander asked Sebastian. Where the hell is Jason right now?

"Yeah, man, Luke's got his band playing here and I'm lead guitarist. You should definitely be here next time we play, it's sick, man." I tried to mind my own business by cleaning the counter, mixers, and glasses. But I still kept my ears open, just in case something came up in the exchange and I'd have to bolt. Vampire speed. "Here, let me introduce you since Raven's busy. Alexander, this is Luke, Raven's roommate that I mentioned earlier. Luke, this is Alexander, my best friend and Raven's husband. He was away on business for a while so he's back now." Bolt, Raven! You need to get the hell out of there! I looked up and noticed Luke and Billy staring at me and Scarlett and Jagger smirking at the situation. Sebastian is totally clueless because he's beaming like he brought two friends together and they were all gonna go play Halo next and eat Doritos. I was totally frozen in place and at a lost for words until Billy spoke up.

"Raven, I didn't know you and Alexander got married."

"Same here." Luke said.

I tried to say something so everyone would stop looking at me. "Then, that makes three of us." Alexander's shoulder slumped in disappointment. "I mean, Alexander and I are bound together for all eternity and we were dating before the ceremony. So I didn't think that it were considered a wedding too." I tried to explain.

"Then what did you think we were, Raven?" Alexander asked, almost a whisper to himself. He sound neutral, but if you knew Alexander, you'd hear the hurt in his voice.

I took a deep breath before I spoke because I took into consideration that Luke and Alexander were both listening and hurting. "I thought… I thought you'd be mine forever, and I'd be yours. I thought it was more than a marriage without divorce." I looked Alexander in the eye when I continued and said, "I thought we'd be together forever… and then you left. We weren't on good terms when you left and you avoided me for eight years so what was I supposed to think?"

"Does he… know?" Came Sebastian's curious voice.

I let out an exhausted breath. "Luke knows about my life, my relationship with Alexander, and the vampires in this town, so does Shadow." I confirmed.

"What a surprise to meet the famous Alexander that Raven's been raving about." Luke finally spoke up as he settled in his seat.

"Trust me, the surprise is in my favor." Alexander was less settle when he spoke. I would not be explaining this moment to the grandkids. My limbs were shaking and I was thankful to the bar that separated me from them.

"Dude! Why didn't you tell me you were in the know? I've been hiding my drinks behind the drum set during practice. Alex, bro, just wait until you get a load of Luke. He's one crazy dude, bro, and good company."

"So I've heard."

Sebastian played the instigator for us without knowing. His ignorance to the situation and heavy air around us was aggravating. I seriously wanted to grab hold of his long blonde dreadlocks and throw him to the other side of the club. Before any more info leaked in this lovely reunion I decided now was a good time to end it. "Dude, we should all hang out sometime." He said.

"Bar's closing." I said.

"You've heard of me?" Luke chimed.

"Raven speaks highly of you." Alexander stated. His eyes never left me. I could feel them on me, but I was too flustered to look at anyone.

"I thought she hasn't been able to get in touch with you…"

"She came to me tonight. Before she got here I suppose."

"Are you here for good? Or is it an in and out kind of thing?" Luke wondered. When Alexander broke his stare to glare over at Luke, I knew Luke went too far without the slightest idea of what he was insinuating.

"Why?" he asked. "Did you have anything planned?" When Alexander's voice was steady and his eyes were hard, I was feeling fear rise in me with an oncoming force of adrenaline urging me to get them out of here and far away from each other.

"Bar's closing." I repeated in a shaky voice.

Luke is smart, so it didn't take long for him to pick up on the words unsaid. I just wish he were that quick with knowing when to stop. He looked over at me and squinted his eyes as if to ask. I looked away and slightly nodded. Luke rose up to look at Alexander with the same look Alexander was giving him. They were on the same page. Both knew what the other knew, almost. Everyone else was in tuned to the tension between the two, except Sebastian who was finishing up his drink and kissing Scarlett's neck. Poor Scarlett was ready to fall out of her chair leaning over to get a view of the expected bar fight.

"THE BAR IS CLOSING!" I shouted, earning everyone's attention. "You guy's have to go so I can clean up. Luke, can you take Billy home, please?" I asked. Billy took the hint and got up to lead Luke out. Sebastian and Scarlett got up and said 'bye' to Alexander who stayed behind. I looked around to see that the Maxwell brothers and Shadow had already left. So it was just Alexander left. I grabbed their glasses when Alexander sat back down. I didn't mind, because it was just us. "I'm sorry about that." I whispered without looking up.

Alexander just raked his fingers through his hair and rested his forearms on the bar. "Did you mean it? What you said earlier. About us being more than married."

I studied him as he stared at nothing, deep in thought. "Yes. I meant it."

"Is he a vampire, too?" he questioned.

"No," I replied. "Why do you ask?"

Ignoring my question he asked, "Then did you miss your human life when you decided to hook up with one? Is that why you're with him? Or is it just him?"

Exasperated with this complicating night, I walked around the bar and sat on the stool next to him. "Alexander," I started, "I don't miss my human life. And if I did, it would have nothing to do with him. And as for him alone… we are only friends helping each other out. We were both lonely. He was new here, and I had… baggage." I tried to explain. "We agreed we weren't dating, no strings, no heartbreak, no drama. I'd even help him out with finding his own dates and giving advice." I wanted him to know that Luke wasn't a competition. "Luke knows where the line is drawn. He was just being defensive." I didn't want to defend Luke in front of Alexander because I didn't want to ruin this chance of him talking to me. But I didn't want him to see Luke in a bad light either. I was relieved when Alexander changed the subject.

"So how has Billy been? He looks different, and mad."

"Billy's been having a hard time too. He misses are parents… and Stormy. She won't speak to him either." He was tensing up again, and I mentally slapped myself so I tried to change the topic. "He's finishing college this year!" I announced hoping it would ease the tension.

"That's great! I should get caught up with him. And you? When did you graduate?" Wrong direction.

"Um, I didn't." I said obviously disappointed in myself. "I mean I wanted to go… well, I took a few courses and earned some credits, but I couldn't finish." I told him.

"Why not? I remember you were excited about going with Becky." There was a moment of silence before he continued. "Was it because of me?"

We looked into each other's eyes and I knew he would take on guilt if he thought he was responsible for decisions about school. I remembered how he spent so much time with me finishing up my senior year with high scores so we could get into a college together. "No." I lied, and then quickly added, "My family needed me so I couldn't enroll full-time. As time went by they ended up needing me more so I had to stop all together."

"When did your parents…" die. He didn't say it because it was still news to him.

"Four years ago. The same year Billy was starting college." Before he could ask me how, I went on, "There was an explosion." He flinched, but I went on. "They died instantly from the blast. We were out at a restaurant when mom remembered she had left the stove on. So we drove home. Billy, me, and…" dammit I can't mention that yet, "well, we went upstairs when we heard the blast and the fire came. Dad was with her in the kitchen and I smelled all the blood. So the rest of us went out the window just before the second floor started to cave in." I didn't cry as I spoke. Usually I would, but now I was feeling a little numb from it. Besides, I cried enough tonight.

Alexander got up and hugged me. "I'm sorry, Raven. I wish I could've been there for you." I felt him step back again. "Who else was there with you?" I glanced at him and thought about whether or not now was a good time to mention it. But Jagger was on cue and saved me the trouble.

"I'm closing up now. You guy's are welcome to stay if you'd like, but I'm out of spare coffins right now." Jagger is really slick, coming in and slipping out at exactly the right moment. I was grateful for it at times like now.

"No, it's okay," I told him. "Um… I'm heading out anyways to the store." I looked back at Alexander and we both walked out of the club and towards the parking lot.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a black Lamborghini with tinted windows. I closed my fingers around his as I admired his car. "Wow, look at you and the hot ride." I complimented. Alexander turned and leaned against the hood of his car and pulled me closer to stand in front of him. I was smiling at the gesture, but I knew better to think life was all friggin' dandy with us.

"Thanks, but you never answered me." As much as I didn't want to, I let go of his hands and step back. "Was it him?" he asked.

"No. I didn't meet him until two years ago." I informed him. I knew I'd have to tell him about them. But, I wanted to dodge the subject 'til I knew he was better prepared. "Maybe we should continue this another night. There's a lot that you've missed, and I want to make sure you're ready to hear about them. But right now," I stepped forward again and grabbed his hand, "I just want us to catch up on us. Why don't you tell me about your trip?" I suggested. Bad move…

"Why don't you stop changing the subject?" he countered. I looked to the side when my cell phone rang. Perfect! I said as I looked at the caller ID. Now or never, Raven!

"You really want to know who, Alexander?" I raised my voice. I wasn't going to get by hiding things from him. "This is who…" I shoved the phone in his face so he could see the number flashing, not that he'd know what it meant. He stared at the phone trying to figure out what he is suppose to see. Then, I pressed the speaker. "Hello," I said towards the cell.

"MOMMY!" came two little voices.