by H G Lynch
“Reid, what the- Oh my God! What happened? Is she OK?” Sherry’s angry expression melted into concern and fear for her friend.
“She was really upset about something before I found her. She fell asleep before I could get her back here. I didn’t want to wake her,” he explained shortly, as Sherry moved back to let him in. He placed Ember on her bed and folded the duvet over her carefully. She was breathing softly and evenly, but every so often her expression would crumple like she was having a nightmare. He hated to see that, but he was sure she’d be alright with Sherry now. He turned to bid Sherry goodnight but her face showed guilt and still fear and it bothered him for some reason.
“What’s up?” he asked almost casually, but his brow was furrowed.
“I, um… it’s just… I was so angry at her earlier. I felt like she betrayed me for you. But now I feel really bad for that.” The green-eyed girl frowned and took a deep breath. Slowly, he realised she hadn’t taken her eyes off Ember as she spoke; she was avoiding looking at him.
“Why were you-” he started to ask why she’d been angry at Ember, but as Sherry’s eyes flickered to him, he understood. Click. “Ricky told you.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. His eyes returned to the sleeping girl on the bed, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Yeah. He told me. You’re one too, right? That’s why Ember started getting that strange look in her eye whenever she saw you. Like you were some sort of amazing creature she couldn’t comprehend. I get it now. And I understand why she didn’t tell me. She didn’t want to put me in danger.” Sherry looked at Ember, too, warmth and gratitude and friendship in her eyes.
Reid was starting to feel a connection to Sherry; they both cared for Ember a lot, in different ways. But he was stuck on what Sherry had said about the way Ember looked at him, like he was amazing. He had noticed it but he hadn’t really believed it, mainly because that was the sort of thing he didn’t believe he really saw until someone confirmed it to him. He always thought he was imagining it, mistaking lust for deeper emotions. Not that he’d ever felt like this about anyone before - but for his Ember to look at him that way… He smiled and had the overwhelming urge to wrap his arms around the sleeping girl.
Sherry was looking at him as if she knew what he was thinking, and she smiled gently. “She really does care about you, you know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so…” Sherry trailed off, shaking her head lightly. Reid just nodded, but he was still smiling to himself. He dropped a kiss on Ember’s head and left, nodding goodnight to Sherry as he went. He’d find out tomorrow what had upset his little demon so much.
Ember
Ember woke up the next morning with a headache and sore eyes. Her pillow was damp and her hair was a mess. Sighing, Ember hauled herself out of bed, not even glancing at the empty bed on the other side of the room. She swept up some clean clothes and headed straight for the shower, hoping the warm water and steam would relax her, and help her think.
Once she’d washed her hair and scrubbed her skin raw with her favourite shower gel, she folded herself on the shower floor and let a few more tears escape. They were invisible in the spray of scalding water pulsing from the showerhead, but she felt them run on her cheeks. Slowly, she realised she needed to think; she couldn’t just sit here and cry all day.
What was her biggest worry? She’d figure that out first. Well, her mother was an issue, but not hugely important, just annoying. She’d be gone in a week, and how much damage could she really do in that amount of time? Not much surely. The crow-killer was also an issue but she’d promised to give up that fight, no matter how much it still pissed her off. Vampirism and vampires being real? Well, huge deal, yes, but a problem… nah. She’d been dealing with it so far, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t suspected vampires and witches existed before anyway. She kind of liked that they were real. Although she wasn’t sure how Sherry would see it once she calmed down.
Ember sighed as she thought of her best friend. She was sure what Sherry had said yesterday had simply been heat-of-the-moment insults. She hadn’t meant them… had she? It still hurt. But it wasn’t the insults that really hurt Ember; it had been the cold, hateful look in Sherry’s eyes. Could she really have meant what she’d said? Ember had never seen Sherry so vicious, so dark, so angry - at least not with her. That was definitely her biggest problem right now. She could handle her mother, she could handle Reid and his vampirism, she could even handle the crow thing - with some effort - but she couldn’t handle not having her best friend. The only person in the world Ember really trusted with all her heart. But she didn’t know how to fix it. And at the same time as being hurt, she was really, really angry. She wanted to lash out at Sherry, explain it all to her with expletives thrown in, wanted to hurt her back. But she wouldn’t do that. Even if Sherry hated her now, Ember wouldn’t hate Sherry. She’d ignore her until she calmed down, but she was going to hang on to her pride. She wouldn’t talk to Sherry until she apologised. No matter what the situation, or who the person she was dealing with was, Ember wouldn’t be doormat.
Feeling a little strength come to her with her decision, Ember stepped out of the shower and got ready to face what was sure to be a long, painful day.
It was evening, and Ember felt awful. She didn’t want to be here. Girls in pretty dresses and guys in suits and smart shirts wandered around, some dancing to the slow music playing from the massive speakers at one end of the hall. The ceiling was strung with orange and gold streamers, and posters of autumnal scenes, such as a bronzing forest and a bright pumpkin patch, adorned the walls. Ember groaned internally.
The excitement over how nice she looked in her pretty new dress had worn off quickly after only a few minutes at the dance. Now, she was sitting alone at a table in the corner of the room, feeling lonely but trying not to attract attention. She wanted to be alone and mope. She didn’t even know why she’d come to the stupid dance anyway. It had seemed like a good idea in the fleeting moment she’d stuck her pride before her feelings.
It didn’t take long before Ember spotted her mother, mingling with a few other parents who’d come to visit this week. The woman wore a classy, knee-length black dress that looked good on her. Always fashionable, her mother. Ember ducked lower in her seat, not wanting to endure the awing and cooing she’d no doubt receive if her mother saw her here, and wearing a pretty dress no less. It would be humiliation city, and Ember wasn’t sure she could muster a smile at all right now.
Luckily, her mother didn’t seem to be looking for her, obviously not suspecting her daughter would come to the dance. Not so luckily, Ember noticed who Mrs Jennings was now talking to; Sherry and Ricky. Something in Ember stung at seeing her best friend, so beautiful and happy in a gorgeous dress with her gorgeous boyfriend. Ember suddenly desperately wanted to run away. Run anywhere, away from the dance, away from her now-broken friendship. But as she turned to do just that, Ember caught a glimpse of a more than welcome sight. Lurking in the shadows against the far wall, looking every bit the dangerous, gorgeous bad boy he was, Reid was lounging casually. A thankful smile spread delicately across her lips as he met her gaze with glowing blue eyes and made a discreet beckoning gesture. She obeyed gladly, something in her chest fluttering at the way he acted so mysterious, and scuttled swiftly past scantily clad girls strung onto tipsy guys, to the other side of the room.
As soon as she reached him, Ember threw her arms around Reid, surprising him and herself. Normally, he was the one eager to show affection. But Ember needed him right now, and welcomed his warm arms wrapping around her tentatively.
He murmured into her hair. “You look stunning.” Ember sighed a breath of relief. Reid pushed her back so he could look at her properly and she could see the thoughts forming behind his eyes. “If I didn’t know you any better, I’d think you were an angel.” He smiled sweetly at her and pulled her back against his chest. She stood in his arms contently, not caring about the whispers and giggles or any of her other problems, just for a little whil
e.
Reid
She really did look like an angel, dressed in sapphire silk, her skin creamy and radiant against the deep colour. Her hair flowed in soft, caramel waves around her face and shoulders, and her eyes were wide and entrancing. The dress hugged her petite figure perfectly, and showed off her sexy legs. But she was still upset about something.
Reid didn’t ask what it was that had upset her last night, because, as curious as he was, he didn’t want to upset her more. He couldn’t stand to see her cry again, especially not when she looked so lovely tonight. So he just held her, protecting her from everything else by simply wrapping his arms round her and letting her forget the world. And he knew that was what she was doing, forgetting everything else; He could tell by the way her breathing softened and she relaxed against him. He’d deal with punishing whoever had hurt her at a later date. For now, he was happy just to have her in his arms.
Carol
Carol was surprised to hear that Ember had come to the dance. She hadn’t seen her daughter here yet and it was very unlike Ember, but Sherry had said she’d seen her come in. Carol turned her attention to searching for her daughter. And soon spotted her, feeling both anger and awe flare up inside her.
Her daughter looked gorgeous tonight, in a stunning blue dress, and she looked perfectly content in the arms of Reid Ashton. Carol still didn’t like that boy, but he seemed to really make Ember happy. She just hoped he cared about her as much as she did for him. Mrs Jennings watched her daughter for a moment and saw Reid whisper something in her ear, making her blush and giggle. Carol grimaced, only imagining what kind of dirty comment he would have made to make Ember blush that way. She was going to let it drop - for now - though, until she caught the tail end of whispers behind her.
It was a group of girls, dressed in skimpy pink and black dresses, and plastered in make-up, but upon hearing her daughter’s name, Carol tuned into their conversation,
“…heard she gave him a blow job in the Boys’ Locker Room the other night. I can’t believe her nerve. And she called Kara a slut!” The girls burst into whispered giggles, and Carol felt rage seize her. Not only were these girls talking trash about her sweet, smart, innocent daughter, Carol wasn’t entirely convinced that what they said was a lie. It was that boy’s fault. He was corrupting Ember, ruining her innocence and destroying the clean reputation her daughter once held.
Furiously, Carol headed toward her daughter across the hall.
Ember
“Uh-oh. This can’t be good.” Ember caught sight of her mother steaming toward them, fury written across her face. “Uh, hi mum. You look nice,” Ember said pathetically, smiling weakly as the angry woman stalked up to them.
“Ember, you’re coming with me. I don’t want you around this boy anymore,” her mother snapped, grabbing her arm. Ember yanked it away and pressed herself closer to Reid. Not tonight, she begged silently, Please not tonight mum. “Ember! He’s a bad influence. I can see it already. He’s corrupting you, just using you like he has every other girl.” Her mother was livid, but Ember wasn’t going anywhere, even if the tears building in her eyes spilled over.
“Too late for that. He’s already screwed her in just about every place in the building.” A harsh whisper and laugh came from a passing girl. Kara. Fury welled up in Ember and she glared at the ugly, red-headed troll with unconcealed contempt.
“Shut the hell up Kara. I’m not the one who gave Randy Olsen a blow job behind the dumpster at TipTap two nights ago,” Ember spat, not caring that her mother was right next to her, already fuming. Kara gave her a sneering look and walked away, her heels clapping against the polished floor.
“Ember! What do you think you’re doing? You can’t talk to people that way!” Mrs Jennings’ mouth was wide in shock at her daughter’s unruly outburst.
“I’m freaking surviving, is what I’m doing!” Ember hissed, turning cold, fiery eyes on her mother, “I’ve been putting up with so much crap lately. Stuff like that, the rumours, and a hell of a lot of other crap, and the last thing I need is you trying to take away the only person I have left!” Ember gripped Reid’s arm hard, vaguely wondered if she was hurting him. She dismissed the thought; he was a vampire. He could stand a few claw marks.
“You have Sherry! Your best friend! She’s-” her mother started to argue but Ember felt tears spill down her cheeks and lashed out viciously.
“No, I don’t have Sherry! You should’ve heard what she said to me yesterday! It was almost worse than what some of the bitches around here have been saying! She hates me, and don’t ask me why because I’m not telling you. I don’t want to talk about it. But Reid is the only person I have right now, and whether or not you think he’s corrupting me, I don’t give a damn! I’ll do what I want, and what I want to do right now is get the hell out of here.” And with that, Ember whirled and stormed out, dragging Reid with her. Thankfully, he didn’t resist. She was pretty sure she couldn’t have budged him if he had, and her exit would’ve been much less dramatic that way.
Absently, Ember was aware she was crying, but at the same time she was too enraged to control it. She wanted to punch and kick at something, and scream and shout. Her mother was such a cow sometimes! Did she really have to try to control everything Ember did? You’d have thought she’d learned a long time ago that the more she pushed Ember to do something, the more Ember would push back and do the opposite. It was just how Ember operated, and always had.
“Ember.” Reid’s voice made her slow but she didn’t stop walking, despite the fact she wasn’t sure where she was going. But when Reid halted, she did too. He stopped dead in the hallway and twisted his arm so that he was the one gripping her instead. He looked down at her, and she glared up at him. “Ember.” Reid didn’t seem to know what to say, but his blue eyes held every unspoken word. It made her cry more, seeing the love and worry and sympathy for her in his glittering eyes.
Reid stood for a moment and then swept her up into his arms, carrying her while she sobbed silently into his chest. She knew she never should’ve gone to the dance.
Reid
Eventually, they reached her room, and Reid laid Ember out on her bed, settling beside her and stroking her hair tenderly. He’d wanted to know what had upset her so much, and now he knew, and he had no idea how to deal with it. He’d promised to hurt the person who’d done this to her, but she wouldn’t want him to hurt Sherry, he knew. And Ricky would kill him if he tried. Plus, he didn’t usually hurt girls - unless they were witches trying to kill him and his friends.
Of course, he knew why Sherry would’ve yelled at Ember: Ricky had opened his damned mouth, and Sherry had ended up feeling betrayed by Ember. He just knew that that was why it had happened, even if he wasn’t sure of specific details. Like what exactly Sherry had said to Ember. It didn’t matter really. All he could do was comfort Ember and help her get through this until Sherry realised she’d made a mistake. And as for Mrs. Jennings… well, what he would do about her was unclear, but he had some unpleasant ideas that he was sure Ember wouldn’t agree to, no matter how mad she was at her mother.
Reid knew there would be another vamp meeting either tonight or tomorrow, depending on how long it took Ricky to get up the guts to tell Brandon he’d let Sherry in on the secret.
Sure enough, three hours later, Reid was sitting on Ember’s bedroom floor, watching her sleep, when Ricky poked his head in the door. He looked sheepish, as if he was sorry for intruding. Reid thought he had a lot more to be sorry for than that.
“Hey, Reid. There’s going to be a meeting in a half hour,” Ricky was whispering, having spotted the sleeping girl on the bed. He paused, chewing his lip, and then added, “I told Sherry-”
“Yeah. I know,” Reid’s tone was dark and clipped, and Ricky looked taken aback for a moment. He was dressed in a tux, his top button undone and his tie loose. He must’ve just gone right to Brandon after the dance - otherwise Brandon and Perry had been at the dance too and Reid just hadn’t seen them.
Probable.
“What are you doing here anyway? Ember’s sleeping.” Ricky needlessly pointed out like Reid was so stupid he couldn’t work that out for himself.
“I’m making sure she’s OK after what happened tonight. And after what happened between her and Sherry, I guess, too. You should’ve told Brandon right after you let Sherry know. And you shouldn’t have let the girl go running off either!” Reid was still whispering but it was more like a hiss, his eyes cold as ice as he glared at the youngest of the vampire boys.
“Reid, what’re you on about?” Ricky tried to glare back but just looked upset. Reid didn’t often get really mad at Kee, but the brunette boy’s idiocy and gentle nature had ended up getting Ember hurt.
“Apparently, yesterday after you told Sherry, your girlfriend ran off to scream at Ember. I don’t know what exactly she said, but Ember was in tears, thirty feet up a tree when I found her. She was crying again tonight because her mother yelled at her for being with me, and because she saw Sherry. She was ready to run out of there after seeing you two, until she saw me. Then her mother screwed that up!” Reid had risen and was advancing on his friend, ready to push him out the door and continue the argument outside where he wouldn’t wake Ember.
Ricky looked hurt - and surprised. Reid knew why he was surprised: Reid was seriously defending an upset girl against his own best friend. It had never happened before, but that was because he hadn’t known Ember before. He’d never cared about a girl this way before. When she cried, it hurt him too, somehow. But he hadn’t lost his bad boy edge, or his reputation, and he knew it. Ricky knew it too, knew Reid could kick his butt halfway to China. Ricky backed out the door as Reid advanced, the younger boy holding up his hands as if in surrender - or protection. He’d need it if Sherry and Ember couldn’t reconcile soon.