by J. P.
He opens his arms for me, and I walk into them. He holds me tight as he rocks me back and forth. “I love you,” he whispers.
“Don’t go,” I mumble into his chest.
He holds me tighter as he kisses the top of my head. After a few more seconds, he releases me.
“Luke,” I begin as I reach out for him.
“Bye, Nina.” He quickly grabs his suitcase before he practically runs down the steps.
“Luke!” I try again, but I hear the front door slam. He’s gone.
I drop my head in my hands as tears spill onto my cheeks. Defeat makes my shoulders sag, and sadness pierces my heart. I cannot believe that just happened. Never in a million years did I think Luke would leave.
My bedroom door opens at the end of the hallway, and Olivia steps out. She sees my face and furrows her brow.
“What’s wrong?” she asks as she quickly walks over to me.
“Luke—”
“Where is he?” Olivia asks quickly. “Did he leave?” I nod, and her jaw drops. “You were supposed to stop him! Where did he go? How long ago did he leave?”
“Just now. I—”
“How could you just let him walk out like that?” Olivia snaps.
“I tried talking to him—”
“You didn’t try hard enough. You gave up too easily.”
“Olivia—”
“C’mon, let’s go get him.” Olivia takes my hand and starts pulling me to the stairs.
“Olivia, he isn’t going to stay. He already made up his mind to leave.”
Olivia freezes and turns towards me. She opens her mouth and then shuts it as she starts shaking her head. “What am I supposed to do now?” she asks in a small voice.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m stuck here, and I’m all alone.”
I shake my head as I place a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not alone. My family is your family now. Everybody loves you. You can stay here for as long as you’d like.”
Tears shine in Olivia’s eyes before she blinks them away. “Really?”
“Of course,” I say before wrapping my arms around her.
She pulls back almost instantly. “I’m so sorry for how I was just acting. I was totally panicked. I didn’t mean any of it.”
“It’s okay,” I say with a wave of my hand.
“It’s not okay. I was being really mean. I just didn’t think he would leave you.”
“Me neither,” I admit.
“I give him two days.”
“Two days to survive?” I ask with my eyebrows raised.
“No,” she says with a laugh. “Two days until he’s back for you.”
“I don’t know about that. He’s pretty set on running away.”
“Luke only cares about one thing more than himself,” she says as she gestures to me with her chin. “He’ll be back.”
“Hey, Nina!” Sean says as he barrels up the stairs. “We’re leaving for the soccer game in five minutes.”
I almost forgot about the soccer game. The last thing I want to do right now is go watch my ex-boyfriend play soccer after Luke just left.
“What’s going on?” Sean asks Olivia and me after we don’t respond to him.
“Luke just bailed on us,” Olivia answers.
“Really?” Sean asks, his eyes wide. “I can’t really say I blame him. If someone came in here and threatened to either take me away or kill me, I might run away too.”
“Would you leave your totally awesome and hot girlfriend behind?” Olivia asks Sean as she elbows me in the ribs.
Sean looks and me and frowns. “I would want her to come with me, but since our little Nina is still here, I’m guessing you told him no.” I nod, and he holds his arms open for me. “It’s okay.”
“It’s just weird to think that he’s gone,” I admit.
“Well, don’t get too used to it. He’ll be back by tomorrow,” Sean says.
I pull away from him instantly and look at his face. “What are you talking about?”
“He’ll be back by tomorrow,” Sean says as he waves his hand in the air.
“That’s what I said!” Olivia chimes in.
“But—”
“I’m telling you,” he says as he looks into my eyes. “I would bet you a million dollars if I had a million dollars. Mason has a million in his account. I bet you Mason’s bank account.”
“I want in on this bet,” Olivia says with a laugh.
“You guys really think he’ll be back?” I ask.
“I just bet you a million dollars,” Sean says, making me smile. “Don’t stress about this. He’ll be back.”
“Olivia!” Paul calls from downstairs.
“I’ll see you guys downstairs,” Olivia says before she walks away.
“Alright, now back to business. You should go get ready for the game,” Sean says, giving me a gentle shove towards my room.
“I don’t really feel like—"
“Nina Elizabeth Blair.” Sean crosses his arms over his chest as he stares down at me.
A smile involuntarily slides onto my face. “My middle name is not Elizabeth.”
“Whatever.” He waves his hand. “We’re going to this soccer game, and we’re going to have fun.”
“But—”
“Go get ready, we’re leaving soon.”
“Sean—”
“And you should bundle up. It’s chilly outside.”
“I—”
“And now you only have three minutes to make yourself look like a snack,” he says as he glances at his watch.
I burst out laughing. “A snack?”
Sean grins, satisfied that he got me to laugh. “That’s right. Now go put on a cute outfit,” he says as he nods his head toward my room. “And I swear, if you come out in sweatpants, I’m going to send you back up. Everyone knows that if you look good, you feel good.”
“Sean—”
“Nina—”
“I was just going to say thank you,” I say with a grin as I hold my hands up.
“Oh.” He pauses. “Well, in that case, you’re welcome. I take cash or checks,” he says with a wink as I disappear into my room.
I pace around for a few seconds as I mull over what both Sean and Olivia said. They think that this isn’t permanent. I really hope it isn’t. I don’t regret staying here. I just wish Luke could be here too. He can be, he’s just being stubborn. I head for my closet as I try to push the matter from my mind.
I pull on a long-sleeved, black bodysuit and slip a maroon button up skirt on. I grab a pair of black booties and wrap a grey circle scarf around my neck.
“Nina!” Jake shouts from downstairs.
My heart squeezes as I hear his voice, and I smile to myself. Words cannot express how happy I am to be home with my family again. This feels right. This feels normal.
“Coming!” I shout as I make my way down the stairs.
Everyone in the house piles into two separate cars before we make our way to the school.
I try to think about something besides Luke, but he keeps popping into my mind. There’s no way he’s in trouble, right? Malum vampires think he’s their Prince so they wouldn’t harm him. Would Chrome?
“Are you constipated or something?” Jake asks me suddenly.
“No, why?” I ask.
“You’re making a weird face.”
“You’re making a weird face,” I fire back.
“Easy, tiger,” Jake says as he holds his hands up. “Just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Jake, leave her alone,” my dad says from the driver’s seat.
“I’m trying to be nice,” Jake says, exasperatedly. “Did someone upset you?” Jake asks after a few moments of silence. “I’ll beat them up if you want.”
“No, I’m okay.” I grin at him. “Thanks, though.”
“Anytime.” Jake grins back. Another few moments of silence. “Was it Sean?”
“Jake! She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Pa
ul scolds from the passenger’s side.
“Clearly, I can’t accept that,” Jake snaps at him before turning back to me. “C’mon, give me the details. Are you with Sean now?”
“Sean?” I ask as I crinkle my nose in disgust. “No, we’re just friends.”
“Then it was Tyler,” Jake guesses again.
“No.” I cringe, not wanting to talk about my relationship problems with my brother. “I don’t want to talk about this with you.”
“I’ve got it,” Jake shouts. “It’s Luke.” When I don’t correct him right away, he starts dancing in his seat. “I knew it! Okay, what did he do, and how hard should I wail on him?”
Paul starts laughing from the front seat. “Luke would knock you out in five seconds flat.”
“I’d like to see him try.” Jake cracks his knuckles.
“You’re not fighting anyone,” I say as I stare into his eyes, making sure he hears me. “Can we all just quietly meditate for the rest of the car ride?”
Silence fills the car and relief fills my chest as I lean my head back against the leather seat.
“I can beat up Luke if he did something,” my dad says.
“Dad,” I groan while Jake and Paul crack up.
“I’m just saying,” Dad says with a laugh.
“Wait,” Jake says suddenly. “I’m so confused. You and Luke?”
“Please,” Paul scoffs. “Those two were bound to happen eventually. Luke follows her around like a lost puppy.”
“And how do you feel about this, Dad? Your daughter dating Mr. Big Bad Malum,” Jake asks him.
“Who are you? Marcy?” I ask as I roll my eyes.
“I approve,” my dad says as he pulls into the school parking lot.
“You do?” Jake asks.
“Yes. I like Luke,” Dad says.
“Better than Tyler?” Jake presses.
“Jake,” Paul snaps but Jake ignores him.
“So, are you and Luke in a fight or something?” Jake asks as he leans in to hear my answer.
“I don’t know, Jake,” I say as I run my hand through my hair. “He left the house suddenly with a suitcase saying he wasn’t coming back. Sean and Olivia seem to think he’s bluffing, though.”
“Yeah, I would say he’ll be back,” Paul nods.
“Why is he acting like a toddler?” Jake snorts.
“If you think he acts like a toddler, you act like an infant,” Paul says with a laugh.
“Paul, you’re not funny, and we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about our poor baby sister who got her heart broken by Mr. Big Bad Malum,” Jake says as he goes to pinch my cheek, but I swat his hand away.
“Knock it off, Jake,” I say.
“Fine, I’ll leave it alone for now.” He holds his hands up. “But my offer still stands. I’ll beat him up for you if you need.”
“Thanks.”
It takes us five minutes to find a parking spot in the over-crowded lot. It seems like everybody came out for this game. Great.
We spot the rest of our crazy group at the edge of the lot, and they flag us down.
“You better win, Tyler,” Jake says as all eleven of us make our way to the stands.
“Jake, relax,” Dad reminds him.
“I’m just saying, we have a reputation we need to uphold,” Jake says with a shrug.
“Hey,” Olivia says as she walks over to me and loops her arm through mine. Sean and Mason walk up on my other side. I start laughing when I see Mason’s hat and sunglasses.
“Don’t you think people will get suspicious when they see you wearing sunglasses at night, Mason?” I ask him.
“That’s what I said!” Sean says as he swats Mason in the stomach with the back of his hand.
“If I lose the sunglasses, I might get recognized,” Mason insists as he pushes them up the bridge of his nose.
“Can’t take this guy anywhere,” Sean says with a laugh.
We all stop when we reach the bleachers as everyone wishes Tyler luck.
“Tyler, make me proud,” Jake says with a salute before Tyler runs to the field.
“Jake? Jake Blair?” Coach’s voice booms from the field as he holds his hand over his eyes, trying to see Jake. “Is that you?”
“Yes, sir, Coach.” Jake stands at attention as he waves his arm in the air, giving away his position.
“Get your ass over here and assist me!” Coach hollers.
Jake practically runs down the bleachers and takes his place next to the coach.
“He’s going to love that,” Paul says as he rolls his eyes.
“He’s probably going to get thrown out of the game,” I say as my dad starts laughing with me.
“Let’s sit over there,” Dad says as he points to a section of the bleachers. We make our way over, and I sit with my dad to my left and Olivia to my right with Paul next to her and Sean and Mason on his other side.
“I’m starving,” Paul complains, and I actually hear his stomach growl.
“You didn’t eat anything after school, did you?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“And I didn’t eat during lunch either.”
“You should go get a snack,” I say as I nod my head towards the snack stand.
“Here,” my dad says as he fishes a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket. “Go crazy.”
“Thanks,” Paul says with the largest grin I’ve ever seen.
“Can I tag along?” Olivia asks from my right.
“Why? So, you can get something to eat?” Paul asks
with a laugh.
I watch as Olivia’s face drops a little before she laughs along with him.
“I’ll be right back,” Paul says before he slips past Sean and Mason and takes off towards the snack stand.
“Wow,” Sean says after a second. “Paul is clueless,” he laughs.
“Shut up, Sean,” Olivia says as she rolls her eyes. She turns to me and frowns. “What the hell? What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing. You didn’t do anything wrong,” I assure her.
“So then why doesn’t he like me?”
“If I could butt in, Liv-Liv. Sometimes us guys are really clueless. You need to be more direct. Ask him out,” Sean says as he leans over.
“What did I tell you about stupid nicknames?” Olivia groans.
The announcer announces the start of the game as the crowd starts cheering for our team.
Sean opens his mouth to respond to Olivia when someone starts screaming at the front of the crowd.
“Go, Tyler!” Kaylee shrieks as she jumps up and down.
“Nina, who is that girl?” Sean asks.
“That’s the girl I almost beat up,” Olivia tells him.
“Really? That’s not even fair, Olivia. You could take her easily. You need to pick a more worthy opponent next time,” Sean tells her.
“Sean, don’t encourage her,” Mason says.
“Butt out, Mason.” Sean rolls his eyes before he turns back to Olivia and me. “Should we go say hi?” Sean asks as he wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
“No,” I answer immediately. “I want to avoid her at all costs.” I notice that Paul isn’t back yet, and I look around quickly, scanning the area for him.
“You’re no fun,” Sean tells me as I stand suddenly. “Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“The bathroom?” he shouts as I make my way further down the bleachers. “Don’t fall in.” Olivia, Mason, and a few other surrounding people start laughing.
“I’m going to check on Paul,” I tell them. “I’ll be right back.”
I know everything is probably okay, I’m just a little freaked out that I can’t spot him. I make my way down the bleachers and head for the snack stand. I furrow my brow when Paul isn’t there.
“Over here,” I hear, clear as a bell. Goosebumps spread on my arms as I place the voice immediately. “To your right.”
My eyes trail to the right where I see him.
/> “You look so happy to see me,” Will says with a smirk on his face.
I flinch, about to run to my dad, when he shakes his head.
“No, no, no. Don’t make a move, or else baby brother Paul will die.”
I hear my heart beating in my ears as my body goes cold.
“Come over here and cooperate. We don’t want tonight to end in a bloodbath.”
I frown as I try to think of a plan, but my mind is blank. All I can think about is Paul and if he’s okay. Finally, I bow my head and begin to make my way over to Will. I shiver when I hear his voice again.
“That’s my girl.”
32
I spot Will’s dark hair and make my way towards him, my legs shaking with every step. He leans against the fence and gives me a sinister smile.
“You made it,” he says as I reach him.
“Where’s Paul?” I ask through a clenched jaw.
“Right this way.” He holds his arm out, silently telling me to start walking underneath the bleachers.
Part of me feels like this is a trap, but what other choice do I have? I can’t let Paul die.
I slowly start walking, and Will keeps his hand on the small of my back, pushing me to go faster.
“Did you miss me?” he growls in my ear.
I ignore him as I start looking around for Paul.
“Your blood is too delicious to forget about, and now that I hear you have special healing abilities?” He laughs to himself as he takes the back of my bodysuit and pulls it, causing me to stop walking. “I’ll be invincible.”
“So, what? You’re going to keep me as your prisoner?” I ask him.
“Prisoner, half-conscious blood bank, either of those terms would be correct.” He walks around to face me and strokes my cheek. I jerk my head away from him, and he slaps me. I feel the impact, but no pain follows. “I didn’t account for my brothers to be here tonight.” He glances behind himself and smiles when a figure begins to approach us. “It’s a good thing I have some help.”
As the figure gets closer, my knees go weak, and I feel like I might pass out.
“Ethan?” I whisper, more to myself. My heart races as I take in the appearance of Ethan, with his dirty blonde, shoulder-length hair and piercing blue eyes.
Ethan gives me a wicked smirk as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Nina Blair, we meet again.”