CHAP 5:

I pulled the stool out a little from the bench and manoeuvred myself onto the seat. Elijah was just finishing plating up. A piece of grilled fish, some veggies, and what looked like white sauce drizzled over the top adorned two plates. It looked and smelled great. He pushed them forwards, one stopped in front of me, the other next to me. Great. There' plenty of room on both sides of the bench, yet he's going to sit next to me. Mentally I rolled my eyes. Elijah handed me two sets of cutlery and walked down the U shaped hallway. Disappearing into one of the spare rooms. I sat awkwardly, wondering if I should just dig in. Or wait for him. Again, why am I remembering my manners? I decided on digging in. I placed his cutlery either side of his plate and Elijah was back before I started eating. He had a blanket in his arms.

"As promised." He smiled. And unfolded it before draping it over my shoulders. I grabbed the edges of it and drew it around me eagerly.

"Thank you."

"Thank you." He emphasised. And true enough. I hadn't objected to sitting next to him. Not out loud anyway.

"Would you like a drink? There's soft drink, water, juice in the fridge."

"Juice would be great thanks." I took note of where the glasses were kept as Elijah arranged a glass of juice for me.

The food was wonderful. The fish was crispy, tender, and moist. It was very well cooked. And the white sauce was delicious and a great addition to the rest of the plate, not that I was adverse to vegetables. I loved them in fact. I kept looking to the side at Elijah. He ate normally. Apart from his elegance. But normal was always a matter of perspective.

"Is everything all right?" He enquired. Catching me off guard.

"Pardon?"

"You keep looking at me."

"Uh. Yeah. I didn't know vampires ate human food. But then my vampire knowledge is a little sketchy. Meaning non-existent."

"Some don't eat human food at all. Others only occasionally. We're only ever really hungry for blood. And while human food doesn't give any nourishment. I still enjoy eating. Even after all this time, flavours and textures of food have their appeal.

"How old are you?" Not finding my question at all inappropriate.

"Well over one and a half thousand years." He replied simply. It was mind boggling. Compared to human life it seemed so vast. All the history he'd have lived through.

"You would have seen quite a lot then." I acknowledged.

"Quite." We finished our meal in silence.

Once finished I stood up to get another glass of juice. When I moved away from my chair. The blanket was pulled, and I saw Elijah had a hold of it. Begrudgingly I understood. I was moving away from him. He earned a glare from me anyway. When I opened the fridge I was met with piles and piles of blood bags. I looked them over. They were labelled as different types of blood, and marked with an unfamiliar hospital's emblem. I picked one up and looked it over more carefully. Elijah must steal or compel a hospital worker to give them to him. Which is still stealing. I put the bag back and continued organising my glass of juice. When I'd put the juice back in the fridge Elijah cleared his throat.

"Does it disgust you? The blood drinking?" I swore there was a hint of self consciousness in his question. As if wether I did or not mattered. I thought for a moment.

"Well, the first time I drank your blood. I was sickened by it. Not your blood itself. Because it's, well. Never mind." I didn't think I had the words to describe it. "Because of what blood is and does for the body, the idea of drinking it was disgusting. But when I drank more of yours when I woke. It wasn't a big deal. If it's the nature of vampires to drink blood." I shrugged. "that's just how it is. I'm not adverse to someone being who they are."

"You're very understanding. Not many would consider drinking blood as acceptable." He mused. I shrugged.

"I'm logical."

"That too." He smiled flirtatiously, cocking his head to the side. "So, what is my blood exactly?" He asked cheekily.

"It's blood. Nothing special, as far as blood goes. I'm sure." I deflected.

"Hmm." Elijah continued to stare. Surveying me.

"Thank you for lunch. You didn't need to make me anything. But it was very nice. You're a better cook than I."

"Well, when you've had as much time as I have. You manage to turn horrible inabilities around." He beamed.

I went back to the lounge to continue watching tv. I had nothing else to do. Elijah came over and sat next to me with the blanket. The shift in the lounge which made my body come into contact with his instantly made me jump up and move to the other end of the lounge. I could handle sitting next to him while we ate, because we weren't touching. Couches had unofficial connotations about them. Like making-out, and snuggling through a movie. Or at best, his arm behind me over the top of the lounge or across my shoulders. Nuh-uh. No. I would just avoid the whole scenario all together. To be fair I was still sitting near him. There was at least a generous metre between us.

"You'll have to do better than that in return for the blanket Elena."

"I'm not that far away from you."

"But you are also not close enough."

"Like I've said. I would rather freeze."

Soon the freezing air had me visibly shivering. Elijah looked like he was casually watching tv, but I knew he was watching me.

"I have a blanket over here." Elijah said, almost tauntingly.

"Good for you." I mumbled. My teeth chattering a little

"Come on Elena, you're cold. Just come over here."

"No."

"How about I meet you halfway? I'll come over there with my blanket, and you'll stay."

"How is the result of that scenario any different?"

"You don't have to make the effort?" I didn't answer or make any more comment. "Don't let your pride cause you to freeze. Or is it your fear of what you might feel?"

"It's not my pride, or fear. I just don't want to have to be so close to the person who abducted me."

"You know. Once you've made the initial effort, it won't be so difficult for you to come closer in the future." I ignored him and watched the tv.

Managing to shiver my way through a half hour program, I couldn't stand the cold any more. Looking over at Elijah. He'd leaned into the space where the back of the lounge met the arm rest. He looked like he was half asleep, and yet he appeared fresh. His head resting against the back of the lounge, eyes closed. Reluctantly I moved over and sat next to him. He opened his eyes and shifted to draw the blanket up over me. I took hold of it and pulled it up to cover as much of me as possible. I sat stock still in the irritatingly close proximity.

"Thank you Elena."

"I'm not here for you. I'm here for the blanket." I mumbled.