by Unknown
“Thank you,” I smiled shyly. “But…”
“What’s wrong?” I fidgeted as he studied me. I didn’t want to burden him with our relationship issues, but he was a part of them temporarily. “Did you two have a roe?”
I was shocked at his accurate guess. “Something like that. Get in and I’ll explain on the way.”
“Sure. Nice wheels. I may have to borrow them sometime,” he winked as he slid into the passenger seat. I started the car and drove towards the exit gate.
“Uh… We’ll see. How long are you planning to stay?”
“Not sure. I bought a one-way.”
“Well at least I know you’re not a flight risk,” I replied handing the ticket and cash to the exit attendant.
“No, just a runner,” he smirked. “So tell me about this roe.”
I detailed the entire fiasco from start to finish. Craig’s an excellent listener; he didn’t interrupt me even once. “So now I’m hoping your appearance will straighten him out. It’s been torture without him,” I concluded.
“No worries love. My mate’ll take you back. He can be a macker head but it’s a misunderstanding, a criss-cross. He’ll take you back or I’ll take you,” he said.
“No offense but I only want Kellan. I love him.”
“None taken. Let’s slap this slapper!” he exclaimed as we pulled into Kellan’s driveway.
“Ok, I definitely didn’t understand that phrase.”
“It’s rubbish. Just banter to hype us.”
“Oh, ok,” I chuckled nervously.
Two seconds later I was standing frozen at Kellan’s front door. I wanted to beat it down and run into his arms, but alas, I just stood there staring at the blue door of his two story traditional home and did nothing.
“Excuse me love,” Craig said as he moved past me and opened the door.
“Hello matey!” he yelled. “I know you’re here. Get your tiddles down here and greet me.”
That snapped me out of my standoff with the door. “Tiddles?” I asked, scrunching my forehead in confusion as I stepped in. I closed the door and said a silent prayer.
“I’m random,” he shrugged.
I blinked and Kellan was standing in front of us. “What are you doing here?” he asked, eyes glaring at me.
“Isn’t it obvious mate? I’m your girl’s secret lover, the one you left her to slap jacks with,” Craig answered on my behalf giving Kellan a friendly shoulder tap at the end.
“Seriously?” he pressed.
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you. You already have everything you want materially so I had to be creative. Craig is the result of that,” I quickly explained sheepishly. “Are you still mad at me?”
“No, of course not. Wow. I feel so stupid,” he sighed. “I should have trusted you. I’m sorry.”
“That’s it mate? You’ve just wronged this stunner and you’re not even gonna kiss her? I’d be all over that one. I tried her in the car but she shot me,” Craig detailed pretending to take a bullet to his heart.
“Good. I’d hate to have to kill my best man,” Kellan laughed as he pulled me in for a hug. He gently brushed his lips to mine.
“God I missed you so much,” I cried burying my face in his chest.
“Now this is a Kodak moment,” Craig mocked.
“Cool it Blair ‘cause you’re next,” Kellan announced.
“About time. I’ve only been waiting for a proper greeting that last five minutes,” he grumbled with sarcasm.
“Damn I’ve missed you,” Kellan stated, releasing me to one-arm hug Craig.
“I’m touched mate,” he fake sobbed. “I was lost without my Ellan.”
We all settled on the sofa as if this was our routine hang out habit. “So where are you two taking me tonight?” Craig asked as he lifted his feet onto the coffee table.
“Actually I was planning to leave. I wanted to give you two time to catch up,” I offered.
“Woah! Gorgeous and not a clinger? Don’t let this one slip mate.”
“I was stupid before. Trust me, I don’t plan to let her go,” Kellan acknowledged kissing my head. I leaned into his arms and enjoyed the moment. I didn’t want it to end.
After an hour of silently listening to Kellan and Craig catch up, of which half the time I was clueless due to unfamiliar names, locations and Craig’s semi-Aussie, semi-created lingo, I dismissed myself. Both of them hugged me good-bye and Kellan promised to call me later. Turns out Craig’s visit was perfect timing since Kellan’s parents, Beth and Al, were away for the night.
Everything worked out; Kellan was happy to see Craig again. By the time I left their session, he was practically glowing. He was in his element and, I thought, thankful for a little piece of home. As for me, all I could feel was relief and elation. Kellan and I had been restored which was sure to improve all the other aspects of my life.
Chapter 4
I got in my car and pulled away back onto the road. I grabbed my cell phone and called the only person I could, Mel.
“Hey Lex, you okay? You totally freaked me today!” she answered.
“I’m okay; better. I picked up Craig. You’re gonna die when you meet him.”
“Ooh! Dish!”
“How about a mid-week java run? I can spill all the nitty griddy in person.”
“Sounds delish. My mom is at practice with Kyle though.”
“Um, hello? I drive now…”
“Oh yeah. Well get your little butt over here!”
“Aw, I love you! You called my butt little.”
“And it’s going to be red if you don’t pick me up soon.”
“Enticing but so unnecessary. I’m in your driveway,” I replied feeling smug.
“Oh. Well I’ll be down in a sec,” she stumbled; I could tell I’d caught her off guard.
“I’m counting,” I taunted before closing my phone.
I heard her sloshing through the house cleaning last minute before finally setting the alarm. A few seconds later she was outside heading towards my car. The moment she opened the passenger door she blurted, “Okay. I’m here. Now I need details. What happened with you and Kellan? And I need an inch by inch of Craig.”
“First, buckle up. You’re riding with an immortal but you’re not one. Next breathe. And last, settle in for delivery,” I smiled as I backed out of her driveway.
“Yea, yea. Get to the good stuff,” she pushed anxiously fidgeting in her seat.
“Well, me and Kellan are good. When I first got there with Craig he was defensive and asked why I was even there. That’s when Craig jumped in and cracked a joke that he was my secret lover. A minute more of explanation by me and Craig and I was in Kellan’s arms again.”
“Did he apologize? I will lay the smack down if he didn’t,” she jumped in defensively.
“You can chill. He apologized, though I would pay money to watch you ring around the rosey with him.”
“Ha. Ha. At least you know I’ve got your back.”
“Always, and vice versa.”
“Enough mush. Get to Craig,” she commanded, squeezing her hands together in excitement.
“Four words: hottie with a body. You will swoon. He is so perfect for you!”
“Details Lex!” she cried in desperation as if I’d left her with the main character teetering on death.
“He’s 5’11”, golden blonde hair with a bit of brown and platinum blended; it’s long enough to slick back but short enough to look clean. He’s got a light tan, guess Seattle killed most of it. Um, he looks like he just stepped off the Aussie plane. He’s got a slim but muscular body; think Kelly Slater minus five pounds. He has blue eyes, a model’s nose, and soft lips with a bit of a pout. Basically he’s perfect for you,” I detailed finishing just as we arrived at Barnes and Noble.
“O.M.G. Lex. I will give up Starbucks for a year and even sacrifice my solitary pair of black Louboutin pumps for one look at him! I’m so hyperventilating! He sounds so… so… yummy!” she declared, exaspera
ted by the mental image alone.
“Oh. Did I mention he has an accent?” I asked as we stepped out of the car.
Mel sat back down in the passenger seat and closed her door. “Take me to him,” she demanded.
“What?” I laughed, leaning in to peer at her. I heard her clearly thanks to my vampments – that’s what I’d decided to call my vampeen enhancements a.k.a. my heightened senses and new fit physique.
“Lex. You just swirled cookie dough in front of a diabetic. So wrong! I can’t wait till whenever to meet this hunk! I need closure… now!” she said buckling up her seat belt to prove her point.
“I don’t even know if they’re home,” I replied, settling back into the driver’s seat to avoid possible eavesdroppers.
“Dial. Here,” she pushed her cell phone into my hand.
“Mel. Seriously? This is Kellan’s friend not Johnny Depp.”
“Who sounds like a god dipped in Godiva chocolate and is waiting for me to lick it off! Let’s go sister!”
“Woah! I’ve never seen you so worked up before. Let me call Kellan,” I chuckled silently returning her phone in favor of my own. I flipped it open and dialed Kellan at super speed.
“Are you okay?” he answered quickly, a bit of panic through his calm tone.
“I’m okay. Where are you?”
“Home. Do you need me?”
“No. Yes. Mel has an Aussie fever if you catch my drift.”
“Ah. Well, come over. I miss you anyways.”
“You do?”
“Always. Even when I’m acting like a jerk,” he confessed.
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few.”
I turned to Mel, “You’re in -”
“Drive!” she interrupted.
“Bossy!”
“I’m a woman on a mission!” she cracked a devious smile.
“Don’t smother him please.”
“Of course I won’t,” she winked. She pulled down the visor and began primping herself. She took a moment to observe her attire. “Ugh. I probably should have worn something cuter. Should I stop and change?”
“No. You look great. Your legs are a mile long in that mini and the stockings hide your pale skin, though he’s a you know so he might like that. And your shirt creates the illusion of boobs. I don’t think he cares about shoes though the boots are cute,” I catalogued every detail to avoid further checking on her part.
“What about my hair? Should I leave it down or put it up? Make up? I should touch up,” she began fussing with her hair holding it up then letting it fall straight.
“We’re just around the corner so you need to hurry. But I say hair down, a bit of blush and you’re done.”
“You’re right. And slow down! I need more time,” she pleaded.
“One minute you’re rushing me, the next you’re begging me to slow down. Make up your mind,” I smirked. Mel tended to hype herself up when she panicked or was in boy mode. While it’s entertaining she can flip flop on a lot. I’d found it’s best to go on cruise control.
I took a look at Mel. She had applied fresh powder foundation, blush, and mascara and had moved on to fluffing her hair.
“You ready?” I asked turning onto Kellan’s road.
“So ready!” she beamed. “I’m beyond ready to go Down Under.”
“Ok, that was so lame.”
“Can they hear me yet?” she whispered.
I observed my surroundings and quickly picked up Craig’s voice. “Yes.”
Mel bugged her eyes and performed a silent squeal as we pulled up to Kellan’s. The sun was beginning to set though the time was only 6:15pm. By the time we reached the door it was already open. I walked in ahead of Mel to introduce her.
“Welcome back love. Did you miss me that much?” Craig shot out immediately.
“Always,” I winked. “Craig this is Mel, my best friend. Mel, Craig,” I stated throwing in the appropriate hand gestures.
Mel stood frozen in the door, eyes glued on Craig. He took advantage of the moment and was at her side in half a second, though it was appropriately timed for a human to see. “Well hello gorgeous,” he smiled, kissing the back of her left hand gently.
Mel giggled like a school girl, “Hi.”
I’d never seen her like this with anyone. It’s as if she’s mesmerized, in a trance of some sort all because of Craig.
“Lexi. My apologies love but I’m afraid you’ve been replaced,” Craig said escorting Mel towards the living room. “So tell me about yourself gorgeous,” he prompted Mel.
“What do you want to know?” she asked taking all of him in.
“The whole box,” he beamed.
“Okay. On that note, Kellan and I are going to go upstairs and drown you two out,” I announced.
“Sure love. You two have fun,” Craig called but he was too absorbed in Mel; they were lost in each other.
Two seconds later I was in Kellan’s room with him and being pulled onto his bed. “Wow. This is really cool,” I commented looking around at every corner and detail.
His walls and ceiling were a dark navy blue, maybe even midnight blue. Intricately and accurately painted on his ceiling were the stars and constellations woven amongst the moon and a faint mars.
Off to the far right corner were two guitars, one acoustic and a red electric, both on their proper stands. Beside it on the wall was his dresser, black, with an LCD TV set on top. The only other items in his room was a low bookshelf beside his bed acting as a nightstand and black out drapes over the room’s one double window facing the backyard. I noticed one thing missing though. “Where is the light?”
“I don’t need one and just prefer not to have one.”
“Oh, okay. Makes sense,” I rolled over and looked at his bedding – a dark blue comforter with black trees and bare branches sprouting up from along the bottom matched with two red pillows. His headboard was simply the same barren forest painted in black upon the wall behind his bed. It was all simplistic; sleek, fashionable in a dark yet cozy way and the epitome of Kellan. “So why do you have a bed if you don’t sleep?”
“I don’t sleep much. Maybe an hour or two a week,” he replied running his fingers through my hair.
“I guess I learned something new today,” I smiled wrapping my arms around him to snuggle into him. I sighed, “I missed this; us. I know it was only a day but it felt like forever. And school was a nightmare without you…”
“I’m so sorry. I was pigheaded and impulsive,” he replied.
“And then some,” I added.
He chuckled, “Ok, you’re right.” He swiftly flipped so I was under him. “Do I get to make up for it?”
“Depends. What do you have in mind?”
“This,” he stated as he pressed his lips to mine. Every part of me tingled as we quickly melted together emotionally. Our lips clung together in an open and close rhythm. His hands slid under my shirt and heaved me toward him at the arch of my back. My hands ventured the same, slowly drifting up to entwine behind his neck, locking and pulling him towards me.
Passion flowed like a current through us until we passed the final threshold mending as one emotionally, mentally and now spiritually. I ciphered every thought he’d populated in his mind. I felt the disappointment and heart ache he’d bared these last twenty four hours.
“I’m so sorry,” he spoke mentally.
“Stop apologizing. I forgive you.”
“But I don’t forgive myself, not after the replay of thoughts I saw over your day. I will be there to hold your hand and claim you tomorrow and every day after. I promise Alexa, I will never desert you.”
“I’m surprised you went looking for Mike. Do you really think he’s a threat?” I internally prompted as his hands moved to gently cup my face.
“I’m not sure but I promised your parents I’d protect you.”
“I am a vampeen you know…” I chuckled in my mind.
“And I’m a vampire who doesn’t want to lose the love of his forever.�
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“I concur,” I acknowledged mentally, running my hands back down to his back. I could feel his muscle tone as he held himself up off of me. Despite my strength, he’s always careful and gentle with me. I pulled back to gaze into his eyes feeling the energy field snap apart between us. He leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Should we go check on Mel and Craig?” I prompted.
In that moment I heard Mel burst into laughter as Craig continued, “And my mate actually touched the critter, the stupid munger. The thing clamped his nip, right? So he goes screaming like a doll with buggers in his pants for a good ten kilos. His face burned red and the whole place fell over in rears over this bitty thing. I should have taped it; it would have been great dirt mail on ‘em.”
“Hmm… Sounds like I’m a great match maker,” I smirked.
“We’ll see. Craig is open like this with everyone,” Kellan stated kissing my forehead as he rolled to his side.
“You are a good matcher Lexi. Don’t let my mate bust your chops. I love my gift,” Craig said from downstairs.
I was pleased. Kellan and I definitely reconnected and spawned a new spark in Mel and Craig. If Mel was immortal, we could have made an awesome fantastic four. They did hit it off though; we were there until her mom called at eleven. They’d already made plans for tonight as Kellan had generously leant his car to his ‘best mate.’
Driving up into the school lot with Kellan, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. “Do you feel that? I feel like something is off, like something bad is going to happen. I haven’t had this feeling in a long time…”
He gently tapped my thigh. “Don’t worry babe. Everything is fine. I would know if it wasn’t. You’re probably just nervous because of yesterday. But don’t be; I’m here today.”
“You’re probably right,” I sighed though the feeling didn’t subside with his comfort. We got out of the car simultaneously. He grabbed my hand the moment we began walking to first period.
Kellan kept his promise. The moment the bell rang he was at the door to walk with me from first to second and now to lunch.
“I’m feeling like a salad today,” Mel announced as we plopped down in our usual spots.
“You feel like a salad or you feel like eating a salad?” I chuckled.