Erin
The first thing Erin did when she woke up was trot into Cassandra's room, and like the previous day, she forgot her friend wasn't in there. She stopped at the threshold and stared into the room, bed still made and clothes strewn about haphazardly. To this day Erin would never understand why Cass made her bed every morning, but leave her room an absolute mess. Something about, doing something early in the morning made her feel better? Erin thought that getting up and going to the bathroom was doing just enough. Plus, she didn't see how Cass made her bed without tripping over the multiple articles of clothing laying around. Erin wasn't a bed maker, but she certainly was a picker-upper. She started picking up her friend's clothes, throwing the dirty ones into a pile, and folding the clean ones neatly into her suitcase. She didn't know when she would see Cass again, but she knew she was going to need clothes. Especially with her new..appetite. Erin knew she was stalling, knew she was just trying to make up excuses to not pack her own bags to head out. Because instead of the 2 girls going back home together, Erin was going back alone. She didn't know what she was going to tell Danny, not that he really needed an explanation, but still.
She didn't know if she could leave without saying goodbye, but she didn't feel she fit in anymore. Before, they were both human. Then Cass met Marko, and now Cass wasn't entirely human. And while Erin had this unspoken connection with Dwayne she wasn't sure he actually wanted her with them, or he just said it to be polite. Plus, she was sure she would have to be turned and she didn't know if that's what she wanted. Sure, she wanted to still be around Cass, and Dwayne. But she liked the sun, and not living in a cave.
Erin almost regretted suggesting the 2 girls to vacation here, but she knew somehow Cass and Marko would find each other, they were destined afterall. Erin couldn't help but feel bad though, Cass had almost died and had been on an emotional roller coaster, all for her to gain some sleep and immortality. She didn't think that was exactly a fair trade. Erin shook her head before her thoughts went deeper than she wanted them too and finished picking up Cass' room. Then set out to clean her things out of the bathroom. Once she was finished and everything was packed neatly into the girls suitcase, she set out to do the very same thing with her things. She took more time with her things, stalling again without realizing it. She had just finished up the last of her packing when a loud knock echoed throughout the house. Erin jumped violently, lost in thought over folding the shirt in her hands perfectly. She looked out her window and noticed in was evening. She didn't know how it was possible, but she spent an entire 6 hours cleaning and packing.
A knock sounded again and Erin sighed before lifting herself up, the bones in her knees cracking against the sudden weight. Erin did a slight stretch before thumping down the stairs. A knock sounded again "Jesus, I'm coming" she yelled, untwisting the lock and swinging open the front door. Only to be immediately plowed into and butt down on the floor. She groaned in both pain and annoyance, spitting out a lock of dark hair.
"You could have just hello!" Erin grumbled, squeezing her friend.
"Hello!" Cass chirped, finally getting up and helping the blonde to her feet.
"Why'd you have to knock me down?" Erin questioned, rubbing her sore bottom.
"Sorry, an accident. I don't know my own strength yet." the girl shrugged and gave her a shy smile.
"Yeah yeah. Warn a girl next time. I'll put a cushion down or something!" Erin glared
"Sorry! Just excited to see you I guess. It sucks only spending time with men" Cass spit the word men out and she heard a bike roar before the sound took off. Erin raised an eyebrow and gave Cass a look, "was Paul" Cass said simply, shooting up the stairs to her room. However, she froze once she got there.
"I've been robbed!" Cass cried from the stairs, Erin frowned jogging up the stairs to where Cass was standing.
"Robbed?" Erin questioned
"Yes all of my stuff went poof!" Cass exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger towards her room when all of her belongings were no longer sitting.
"Oh!" Erin huffed, "I packed your things" Erin reassured the girl
Cass swirled around with a questioning look "why would you do that?"
"Because I knew you were going to need your things" Erin shrugged if off. Absolutely not telling her I was planning on leaving without saying goodbye, only leaving a note. Cass gasped and glanced up in shock at Erin. Cass' bottom lip quivered slightly.
"You were going to leave without saying goodbye?" Cass whispered
"What! How? You can't do that!" Erin fumed, pointing a finger at Cass.
"You can't leave without saying goodbye!" Cass yelled, pointing a finger back at her.
"And why not?" Erin crossed her arms
"Because you're my best friend!" Cass cried "And Dwayne would be devastated!" she added in. Erin froze.
"No he would not be" Erin shook her head
"Yes he would be!" Cass argued
"How do you know that? Did you read his mind?" she questioned
"Well no. But I don't need too" cass smiled smugly.
"You're annoying. Go shower!" Erin groaned, going to her friends suitcase to pull out her bathroom supplies, shoving them and then her into the bathroom.
"Fine, but only because I stink. But don't think this conversation is over, not by a long shot buddy!" Cass promised, shutting the door after her threat. Erin groaned and went downstairs to make spaghetti. Could Cass even eat spaghetti, could the others? Should she make enough for all of them? A family dinner before she left?
Erin trotted back up the stairs and to the bathroom, opening the door. Her mouth opened "Yes I can eat spaghetti, and yes the others can. They'll be here soon!" Cass sang, laughing at the jumbled thoughts running through Erin's mind.
"I hate you!" Erin griped, flushing the toilet for no reason so the water would run cold, slamming the door after doing so.
"Hey that was rude!" Cass accused, though the girl started singing again immediately after. At least she hadn't lost her teasing attitude Erin thought and then once again started making dinner. A lot of dinner. Once showered and cleaned up, Cass joined Erin down stairs and started to help.
"Oh my God!" Cass shrieked unexpectedly, causing Erin to let a slight scream.
"What! What is it? Kill it with fire!" Erin shrieked back, looking all over for the cruel object that made Cass scream.
"Kill what? With what fire?" Cass shot back, eyes darting around to look for the threat.
"The insect!" Erin retorted, looking at Cass like she was crazy.
"Gah what insect!" Cass jumped back, suddenly alert.
"What do you mean what insect? The one you screamed about!" Erin yelled
"Oh!" Cass slumped her shoulders and began laughing "I didn't see an insect!" Cass started laughing again.
"Then why the fuck did you scream!?" Erin bit out furiously
"Can I not have garlic now?" Cass questioned with a pout
"Are you… are you serious!?" Erin screamed
"What? It's a serious question. You know I always eat 3 pieces of garlic toast with my spaghetti!" Cass spoke in a duh tone.
Erin's mouth flopped open, staring incredulously at the girl before resuming her cooking. Not bothering to answer the others girls question.
"Yes!" Cass fist pumped the air and shot a triumph grin at Erin who jumped slightly at the sudden noise.
"What now?" Erin grumbled
"Garlic doesn't affect us and I can eat as much as I like!" Cass nodded and set out to make the toast.
"And pray tell how you figured that out?" Erin questioned
"I asked Marko" Cass shrugged and popped the toast down into the toaster. Erin whirled around to look for said boy.
"Wait a minute, how? I didn't hear you ask him, where is he?" Erin's eyes darted around, half expecting the curly haired boy to jump out from nowhere. Cass just tapped her head as if that was answer enough and began putting butter on the toast.
"That's fucking weird don't do that around me" Erin groaned frustrated
"And you aren't weird?" Cass countered
"Not the point" Erin argued
"But it is true" Cass laughed
"Shut up" Erin grumbled, only to start laughing when Cass did too. It was then that 4 loud knocks, one after the other sounded through their laughter.
"Shit!" Erin yelped, staring wide eyed at Cass who also looked shocked.
"Why didn't you warn me?" Erin accused
"You told me not to do that anymore. Plus, I didn't know" Cass shrugged happily and answered the door with a smile, letting the boys in.
Erin's eyes were immediately drawn to Dwayne who left his leather jacket at home and decided on a black tight fitting t-shirt.
Holy hell.
Dwayne smirked at her and she had never wanted to die more.
"Do you like the shirt?" Dwayne flexed a small bit and Erin's eyes zeroed in on the movement.
"It's tight" Erin shrugged and spun around, missing the surprised look that crossed over Dwayne's face.
"Hahah, I told you man!" Paul laughed, thumping his brother on the back.
"Shut up" Dwayne growled, coming up behind Erin unexpectedly and whispering in her ear "do you really not like the shirt?" he breathed into her ear and her knees wobbled.
"Uhhmmm" she drawed, not meeting his eyes. She felt him smirk against her shoulder, a soft kiss being laid there before he turned and left.
"Cass!" Erin squealed, and immediately the girl got up from the couch and joined Erin at the counter.
"Did he?" Cass started "Yeah" Erin finished
"Aha! Told you he would be mad if you left today without saying anything!" Cass smirked in satisfaction before freezing. The whole room went quiet, said for Erin's harsh intake of breath.
"Haha, oops. I'll finish the toast. How many do you boys want?" Cass questioned, shooting a nervous smile to Erin who merely gave her a sideways glance. Not daring to move.
"Erin" Dwayne growled and Erin winced.
"Cass, keep an eye on this.. I have to…. pee" Erin finished before bolting up the stairs.
She heard Dwayne follow after her and she groaned
"Erin!" Dwayne called again, stopping her in her tracks. He came by and grabbed her elbow, leading her into her room and shut the door.
"Hey what's up?" Erin smiled brightly, or tried to.
"Don't what's up me. What was Cass talking about?" Dwayne got straight to the point.
"Oh just Cass being Cass" she shrugged it off. Or I really was planning on leaving and I just wasn't going to tell you guys, she thought.
"Don't lie to me" Dwayne growled, and Erin was once again reminded that her thoughts weren't safe. And she hated it.
"Fine I was going to leave" she huffed
"Why?"
"Because it's time for me to go home" she reasoned
"You don't want to stay?" he questioned in a small voice and Erin wanted to kick herself for making him sound so unlike himself.
"I...I don't know" she sighed
"Can I help you?" he asked as he looked down at her.
"How could you help me?"
He didn't answer with words, he simply kissed her. A bruising kiss that Erin felt down to her bones, she locked her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer and he groaned at the contact.
"I want you to stay" he breathed and dove in for another kiss, leaving Erin breathless and dizzy.
"You do?" she found herself asking
"Yes, you're mine" he reasoned and kissed her again, bringing her into his arms and hugging her tight.
"Mine" he echoed again.
Cass
"So what did you kill with fire?" David questioned with a raised eyebrow "and what does that even mean? Do you have a blowtorch that I don't know about?" his face became even more confused and Cass laughed at it.
"Erin thought there was an insect and the only safe and logical way to kill one is through fire" Cass justified
"Yeah, your definition of 'safe' and 'logical' are stunningly different from mine" David shook his head with a what the hell look.
"Not if it's a big hairy spider like the one on your shoulder!" Cass screamed and pointed, flailing her arms and backing up.
"WHAT!" David shouted, immediately shouldering out of his coat and stomping on it. Marko and Paul came rushing in wide-eyed and looking the tiniest bit scared.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Marko demanded, watching his leader rapidly jump up and down on his coat with wide eyes.
"Big stupid ugly spider!" David growled, continuing his assault, and then stomping once more for good measure.
"Spider? Where?" Paul backed up, eyes searching for the creature. Marko backed up a little too, staring at David like he was a spider.
"No way that little fucker survived that!" David smirked triumphantly and Cass let out a snort of laughter. Before doubling over and laughing more, tears streaming down her face.
"Need fire David?" Cass questioned through another fit of laughter. David's eyes widened, and then they narrowed.
"You little shit!" David accused
"So is the spider dead?" Paul peeked out from behind Marko, Marko who hadn't noticed Paul shielding himself by using his body jumped and shuffled away from the scene.
"I'm going to kill you!" David threatened as he then started chasing Cass around the kitchen and living room, Marko bolting out of the way at the last second before Cass could plow into him, only to be knocked into by David who tried to cut her off.
"Hey! Seriously is it dead?" Paul cried, shooting a glare at David's jacket that was still on the floor.
"I don't think there ever was a spider, Paul" Marko grumbled
"What no spider? Why? CASSANDRA!" Paul screamed and then joined in the chasing of her. It was then that the Erin and Dwayne came rushing downstairs, taking in the scene with wide eyes.
"Dwayne!" Cass shouted, shooting to the stairs and hiding behind the statue. "They're trying to kill me!" she accused, peeking out at the 2 boys who were shooting daggers at her.
"Why?" he questioned
"Because of a spider!" Cass cried
"Where?" Dwayne jumped, pulling Erin into him and stepping backwards, making Cass take another step back.
"There isn't one!" David yelled, frustrated.
"Oh good!" Erin beamed and then her face fell "The spaghetti!" she shrieked causing everyone with great hearing to wince as she bounded down the stairs towards the large pot. "Cass I told you to keep an eye on it!" Erin yelled
"I was running for my life!" she justified
"Ok wait.. What?" Dwayne asked confused before looking at Marko, who seemed to be the only sensible one at the moment. Marko only smirked and then Dwayne started hysterically laughing.
"You… hahha you stomped!" Dwayne let out "your coat!" Dwayne laughed again and then both he and Cassandra were laughing.
"I hate you all!" David seethed going over to his jacket and snatching the article of clothing up.
"Hey!" Paul protested "I joined you in chasing her" he pouted
"Yes my only trust worthy companion" David sniffed and then went to the living room. Paul following behind him, Dwayne grinned and gave Cass a high five. She smiled and then went down to help Erin. Passing Marko and giving him a small smile he only rolled his eyes but gave her a smile back.
"What just happened?" Erin questioned when Cass made her way over.
"David said we weren't logical or safe when we said we wanted to kill an insect with fire, so I told him he had a big hair spider on his shoulder, and then he stomped on his coat" Cass shrugged and Erin immediately began laughing, giving a fist bump to Cass.
"Set the plates" Erin ordered, mixing the sauce with the noodles.
"Sure thing boss" Cass saluted her and began setting down the plates, and then the knives and forks. Then she went around and placed 3 pieces of garlic toast each on the plates, before going to the cabinet and grabbing cups.
"What do you guys want to drink?" she questioned before sighing "not that Paul" she grumbled when he thought of blood. Erin coughed and shot a dirty look to Paul who definitely knew what he said.
"Not that either Marko" her cheeks flamed when he said her, and he definitely wasn't thinking about blood. Paul gave Marko a glare and the younger boy only smirked back at him.
"Come eat boys!" Erin called, placing the pot down in the middle of the table. They all immediately got up and found their seats. David was at the head per usual, Dwayne to his right with Erin next to him, Cass sat at the other end, Marko to her left and then Paul to the left of David. Not looking happy he wasn't sitting next to Cass.
Marko swiped a thumb over Cass' knuckles, effectively catching her attention. She met his eyes and he whispered into her mind 'you and me tomorrow night. Date night' he smiled and her heart thumped before nodding and serving herself a helping of spaghetti.
"So Erin. Were you planning on leaving us?" David asked and Erin tensed.
"Yes I was" she answered honestly
"Why"
"Because I was going to go home"
"This isn't your home?" David questioned
"I don't know, is it?"
"Yes" Dwayne answered for everyone, "yes" Cass answered as well. Pretty soon everyone was nodding along with them.
"I didn't know that" Erin whispered
"Well now you do" David smiled and began eating again.
Dwayne
He didn't know how he was able to convince Erin to stay, or maybe it wasn't just his influence but the others as well. He knew that Cass had a large part in it, and he would always be grateful for his new little sister. She brought both joy to him and his brothers lives, as well as being the perfect mate for Marko, but she also brought him Erin. And that, that was something to thank whatever God looked down on him.
He squeezed her hand and she shot him a smile, not knowing what his thoughts were.
'Do you think she is your mate?' David questioned in his mind
'I think so yeah' Dwayne answered
'You think so?' David questioned
'I mean there are a lot of signs that she is, but she hasn't had dreams I don't think' he said confused
'She doesn't have to have dreams. In fact it's not that uncommon for some mates to not have dreams' he reasoned
'So then yes she is my mate' Dwayne assured him
'Good' David smiled 'are you going to tell her?'
'I will. But I don't know how yet' he frowned
'Something tells me Cass knows, so I would say something before she explodes and tells Erin' David suggested
'How do you think she knows?'
'Cass is very intuitive. Plus I think she understands that you aren't normally….how do I say this' David mulled over his words
'Friendly' Dwayne offered
'No. Feely' David finished
'Feely?' Dwayne frowned and shot his leader an odd look
'Yes feely. You don't talk much and you don't normally give people the time of day, but you do with Erin' David clarified
'So friendly'
'Whatever' David grumbled and shut off his mind link.
Dwayne huffed out a laugh and Erin sent him a questioning look, "nothing you need to worry about right now" he whispered into her ear and gave her cheek a light peck.
"Hey we should should make every Sunday night family night!" Cass suggested
"Every night is family night" Paul frowned
"Not family dinner night!" Cass argued
"Yes it is" Paul frowned again
Dwayne groaned at the 2, he couldn't live like this. Paul was bad enough on his own, but now adding Cass to the mix was worse.
"Hey!" Paul protested and Cass looked at him
"What?" she questioned
"Dwayne's talking crap on us!" Paul accused
Oh hell.
"What?" Cass glared at him. Dwayne scrubbed a hand down his face. This was what he meant.
"Anyways. Not what I meant Paul. I mean like everyone sits at a table and uses utensils. Erin joins in. Ya know family dinner night" Cass beamed and Marko smiled at her "I agree" Marko nodded and her smiled turned to him.
"I don't see why not" David shrugged and Paul nodded happily.
"As long as you make this spaghetti Erin" and Erin quickly agreed, along with everyone else.
He sat looking around the table at his family, both old members and new. Feeling more content than he ever had, and that was because of the girl sitting next to him. He wouldn't change her or his family for the world, and he knew without a doubt he would die to protect each and every one of them.
"So was there ever a spider?" Paul questioned.