Chapter 6

Pov Pete

I sat there staring into his eyes, not believing that I really heard what was said. Why did I never fucking notice? Do….do I like him enough? Would it ever work? He could end up hating me. This could ruin everything. Is he serious? No, he can't be. A grin spread across my face as I decided to be cruel, "No."

The blank expression slipped from his face momentarily to one of shock before returning to his earlier composure. "What did you just say? You have got to be kidding me." He knocked over his cane with a loud thud, but made no move to pick it up and continued to stare at me.

"I said 'no.' Why should I say yes? Give me a reason to," I said, toying with him.

Michael made no attempt to hide his panicked expression now. Michael flicked his earring back and forth like he did when he was nervous. "Why? Why would you say no?"

I laughed without meaning to, "Why would I not say no? Goths are not supposed to be happy; love is for conformists. Didn't you once say "love didn't work for my parents so why would it work for me?" Aren't you going back on your own beliefs now?"

Michael's face grew stern, "You know you don't mean that. Even Goths deserve to be loved, even if it is conformist. And I was like eight, there's no way I think that now that I've grown up and realized love is something you must work for. It doesn't come easily, but when it's right in front of you, you must seek it out. No, it doesn't work out all the time, but when it does its magical; and no not all people will find someone who truly loves them, but that should never stop you from trying." Michael leaned into me slowly as he spoke not realizing he was doing it, he tapped the fingers of his free hand on the table. Michael was in full panic mode: he hated not getting what he wanted, and I felt terrible for causing him to be like this. I... I can't continue to play myself like a fool… I love Michael I love him more than I ever realized, but do I really want to be his? Does he only want me because he's possessive? He's always…always been like that.

I sighed at his words, "Michael, you know I really do love you, but what does putting a new title on our relationship do? It puts more pressure on you and sooner or later you break and you'll never be the same around me again." I reached out and stopped the incessant drumming of his fingers, and looked deep into his sad ever-green eyes.

Michael's frown deepened as I spoke. "No, no, no, Pete, that's not what would happen. I promise I'll try my hardest to make it last for as long as possible, but you must try too. And if, unfortunately, it doesn't work, then I promise I'll be no different than I am now." Michael's words made me cringe as thoughts flooded my mind. There's no way he could know that… but where would not trying get me? …stuck in a relationship defined by what it lacks, confined by sexual frustration...

"You don't know that Michael. You shouldn't promise things that you don't know."

"Pete, you shouldn't let what could happen stop you from trying; it's only a possibility."

I didn't like it. I didn't like how Michael was so sure of himself, but I decided to give in. "Fine, I'll go out with you, but it's not official until you prove to me that you don't just want me because you're possessive and until you can prove you won't break your promise. You'll be sorry if you do."

Michael's face lit up in a real smile; I hadn't seen him smile in a very long time. "Are you sure you don't want to go back on that? Last time to run away… And what do you mean possessive?" he said, not really meaning it; he'd never actually let me get away. By saying yes, I essentially chained myself to him with an iron lock.

I looked at the empty coffee cup in front of me, sugar crusted to the bottom. I felt, I felt... I don't even know how I felt. I breathed in heavily, "Michael I know you, don't play dumb. You know what you are. Now let's get out of here, I'm getting a bad vibe from something."

Michael stretched and reached down to pick up his cane. "Yeah, we have to meet Henrietta at the graveyard anyway."

We paid for our coffee and slowly made our way to Michael's car. Michael got in and put the key into the ignition while I was finally able to buckle myself for the first time in forever.

As we arrived at the graveyard, I saw something so fucking unsavory I knew instantly the repercussions: on the farthest side of the graveyard were Mike Murkowski and the douchey vampires. As we exited the car, Mike must have seen us because he slowly sauntered his way in our direction. Michael stopped walking and leaned on his cane as Mike got slowly closer.

"Good evening Michael, Pete. It is I, the dark lord vampire, per se, and I have a question to ask you, per se," Mike stated, looking at us with a devilish grin as he took a photo from his back pocket. I felt my heart drop a fucking mile a minute.

"What's that?" I asked.

Mike's smile grew sadistic as his douchey vampire fangs began to show. "Well, that's quite the question, isn't it? You see, I ran into this splendid little girl at the mall yesterday and she knew my name without me ever even saying it… So I was wondering if you knew who she was, per se. I even managed to get a few pictures of her. . ."

At those words my sunken heart was fucking stabbed. I swallowed hard and pretended not to know what he was talking about, "Why the hell do you think we would know her?" I asked.

"Well I just happened to see her hanging around Michael and them, so I thought you would know her… because he most certainly does," Mike said as he pointed his chin at Michael.

Michael tapped his cane against his foot. "So it appears to you that I would know that person, but I can't tell you who it is unless you show me the fucking picture." At Michael's words Mike showed him a picture of me dressed as a girl. "Well that's easy enough, that's one of Pete's cousins. She came to visit for a few days. I, Henrietta, and Firkle met her at the mall and since guys like you kept hitting on her we told her to stick with us." Michael turned and walked away, feeling like the conversation was over.

Mike's grin turned to a scowl at those words until he turned to me. "Well if your cousin and friends were at the mall, where were you, little Pete?"

I coughed, "I was running an errand for her. She took something of mine and I wanted it back," I said simply, telling half the truth.

"Stop lying! I know this is you! And if I could find a way to prove it then I would have you. You know, next time you slip up I'll catch you."

I laughed, "I don't know what you are talking about; that's so clearly not me. She probably knew your name from looking through my yearbook and listening to me complain about you so much. Please get over yourself; you're not Sherlock Holmes or anything." I turned and left Mike standing there, obviously dumb struck.

Making our way over to Henrietta and Firkle, Michael looked down at me with a grin and grabbed my waist pulling me closer to him. I noticed the wide-ass grins on their faces and knew exactly what they were about. Henrietta walked over and put her arm around my shoulders. "So you finally gave into Michael's charm?" she mocked.

I scoffed, "No, obviously he is threatening me."

Firkle burst out in laughter, "No, that is so not what's going on here. You have obviously been lusting after him for months, even if you, yourself, have not noticed it."

I cringed at his words and finally decided to give up on my pride. "Whatever you guys say..." At my words Michael dropped his cane, came over, and swept me off my feet so that my legs were wrapped around his waist. He held me to him as I tried to push out of his arms, but his fucking grip couldn't be broken. Then his lips were crushed against mine, moving and wanting me to return the act. I refused; I wasn't going to give into his demands. But then his tongue slipped along my bottom lip just before he sucked it into his fucking mouth and I couldn't refuse him anymore. I closed my eyes and gave into Michael, kissing him back with just as much passion and thoroughly enjoyed myself. He tasted of coffee and cigarettes, dark and delicious, it was addicting. I didn't want to enjoy it so much, never wanted to kiss him in front of Henrietta and Firkle, but here I was, unable to pull away. I was actually pulling myself closer to him as he held me tightly in his arms, refusing to ever fucking let me go.

Henrietta coughed, causing me to realize exactly what we were doing. I blushed and buried my head in Michael's chest. Firkle looked at me with a sly smile. "So you guys going back to Michael's room next?" he joked.

Michael placed me down slowly, his knee no longer being able to hold himself and me - it could barely hold him alone sometimes. I bent down to get Michael's cane for him, and I stood back up to the most annoying people ever approaching us. Once again Mike came over attempting to… to do whatever the hell it is he's always trying to do. "So I was thinking about what you said, per se, and you know what? I figured it out. I know just how to prove this is you. I saw this nice blond boy with her at one point and I know just who he is: Alex Rogers. And you know, I bet he'll be just elated to know you're a boy, per se. Oh wait, did I say prove its you? Well that's not important because this…. this will ruin you. I bet you'll regret picking Michael over me then."

At those words Mike left. Michel turned to me and sighed. "Don't worry about it, I'll think of what to do. And he could be bluffing. We'll deal with it later."

The scowl on my face lifted a little "Whatever you say." He… He's not bluffing there's no way he'd be bluffing. What if Michael cant think of something what if mike moves firs.

Henrietta walked over and would have given mike a piece of her mind like she gives to everyone else even in less dire situations, but then he gave her this look I'll never be able to describe. Firkle stood there in silence his phone a paper wait in his hand just waiting and watching, becoming completely serious.

And as ignorance finally fades

A shadow drapes the moon,

An omen of tragedy

Sung from the youngs' hearts:

Despite the stars finally aligning

Something must ruin perfection

Someone must tear apart the fated,

Someone who believes their importance shapes the stars.

But the world will continue to move

And the shadow shall fade.