Love at first bite

Chapter 24:

Charlie was awake when Karla woke up. Things were different around the house that was what Karla knew. Karla couldn't put her finger on what was so different but she knew that she probably had changed in the time that her family was gone too. Karla didn't want things to be different but since March things have slowly becoming different. Charlie was humming when Karla came into the upstairs kitchen that they usually shared.
"You okay? You're being happier than normal." Karla stated.
"Sorry. Still wish i was in France but i definitely missed you and everything here. Do you want to have a sister day?" Charlie asked.
"Not if you're going to be talking about France. I'm already feeling guilty that i didn't get to experience it with you but you definitely don't have to rub it in that i didn't get to go with you." Karla replied.
"That's why i want to do a trip. Give us something that we can experience together before i have to go away. Who knows when I'm going to be home." Charlie stated.
Karla could think of two times that Charlie would be home before the end of the year. Thanksgiving and christmas. The two holidays that they always spent together but if Charlie didn't know if she would be home for those two holidays then Karla knew that there was a chance that John and his family wouldn't mind being over. Karla also knew that it was going to be a very different year but she didn't think that it would be this different.
"Well if you aren't going to be here for thanksgiving and christmas just let someone know. I think Johns family will be more than happy to host us. But also know that you will be hurting your parents if you don't come home." Karla stated.
"As of right now I'm planning that. I'm not the one obsessed with a boy." Charlie stated.
"But you were. And where did that leave you? Oh right. Heartbroken with me picking up the pieces." Karla hissed.
"I was trying to protect you. I didn't want you to go threw what i went threw." Charlie stated.
"Well that's something I'm going to have to learn Charlie. You did a great job at protecting me that i think you lost sight of yourself. I want you to be happy. I want you to find yourself without having to worry about me for once. I know you will still worry about me but i don't want it to take up so much of your time that you forget what is really important. You." Karla stated.
"Do you really mean that? That I've lost sight of myself?" Charlie asked.
"I've noticed it the last few years. More so after what happened. I don't think you fully healed after what happened because you threw yourself into making sure i was okay. This is your time to focus on yourself Charlie. I want you to focus on yourself." Karla replied.
That's when Karla came to a new realization. That she didn't want to go to France because she didn't want Charlie to worry about her. It was the first time that Karla wanted Charlie to let go. Plus Karla knew that she would be okay. She still had her human friends of Genevieve and Mary along with her new friends who just happened to be vampires. Karla didn't think that she would be okay this time last year before going into her Junior Year of high school. But after everything that went down the last few months she knew that she would be just fine. She didn't know if Charlie was going to be just fine though being in a different town for college.
"I'm still going to worry about you. Do you want to come up with a plan for when I'm not here?" Charlie asked.
"Sure. You can text me in between your classes and ill make sure to get back to you when i can. Plus we can have either a weekly or a biweekly video call on saturday. Just to catch up. But if plans change we let the other know. I know college is going to be a new experience for you and i don't know if I'm ready for you to leave." Karla replied.
"I know I'm not ready to leave. I should probably start thinking about what I'm going to pack and what i want to keep here." Charlie stated.
"If you need help i can always call Pandora. Think she would love to help you." Karla stated.
Charlie smiled before going to her room. Karla knew that even though things were going to be different she couldn't wait to hear all about her sisters adventures at college. Maybe Charlie will write about her adventures and it will be a big best seller. But knowing Charlie as well as she did, that will most likely not going to happen. Karla knew that Charlie wasn't much of a writer and even if Charlie was going to do any writing she definitely wasn't going to share it with anyone. She only writes for essays and Karla has a hard time getting Charlie to let her read those. Karla knew alot about Charlie and maybe she didn't want anyone to read what she wrote. So she wasn't going to push it. Karla was happy that Charlie was going to go to college and have adventures but she didn't want to leave the one of the only people she trusted with her life as a part of her past. Especially when she became a vampire. The date was still wasn't set but the timeline sure was set. Karla was looking at roughly two years left as a human. Meaning that she will be older than John by at least a year.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Someone asked.
"How things are going to be different without Charlie around. But think going to college will be good for her. Think that she will definitely find herself there. More than she ever could here." Karla replied.
"So this has nothing about becoming a vampire?" The person asked.
Karla's blood ran cold as she looked up. She saw John as she sighed in relief. She took John outside as they started to walk around the courtyard of the park. John knew that there was something more bothering Karla but sometimes you just need to walk in silence to know that you are not alone. It had helped John and Valentina when they both had to do alot of thinking. So it only seemed fair that John would do it for Karla. This will be the first of many that would happen between the couple. There will be more in the eternity that they will spend together. Something that even John hadn't grabbed the concept of yet. That he had found his mate and formally introduced her to the royals of the vampire world.
"I guess i am worried about that too. But i was thinking that it wouldn't be so bad as the date got closer. I know that we haven't decided on a date but i don't know. I guess everything that i know i will be giving up is getting to me. Is it weird?" Karla asked.
"Perfectly normal. Think besides Rune, no one really knew what they were giving up till it was gone. I know it has hard for me knowing that they had to accept my death. I'm still not fully over my youngest brothers death. We were the closest out of all my brothers. Things have definitely gotten better the more of us joined the clan but it still doesn't hurt the pain that we all went threw in our life." John stated.
"How old are you?" Karla asked.
"Physically. 17. Reality. 260. I was one of the youngest that fought in the American Revolution. So i lied about my age. My parents were really wishing that the 13 colonies still followed the kings rule but they always taught me and my brothers to fight for what we believed in. I was the only brother who didn't want to be under the kings rule so when rumors of a war where starting to make their way to Albany i knew what i had to do. My parents always left their door open for me for when i needed a home and even if i survived the war they would welcome me with open arms. I just wish that they knew that i was alive and that i was taken care of. But even back then if you suspected of being a vampire it honestly meant bad news." John stated.
"But people today just thinks that vampires are myths." Karla stated.
"Things have changed in the last 300 years. And I'm thankful that now you're not going to know what it was like back then." John stated.
Karla was almost worried as to what John meant. Yea the time was different but so was everything else. Things are different now than they were when John was first born. She was glad that she didn't have to worry about anyone suspecting that she was a vampire when she became one. But she knew that things would be different in the next 300 years when she's 317.
"You know that my family isn't going to let anything happen to you or your family. I think Pandora likes you more than she likes to admit." John stated.
"I like her too. Think Charlie likes her for her fashion sense." Karla spoke.
"You're going to be fine once she goes to college." John stated.
"I know I'm going to be fine. But now it's her I'm worried about. She had to worry about me pretty much her entire life now I'm realizing how much I'm going to actually miss her. It's kinda going to give me a glimpse into the future when she is no longer alive." Karla stated mumbling the last part.
John brought Karla into his chest. He knew exactly what it was she was going threw. This is why he had a hard time wanting her to become like him. A monster. A vampire. But they both made the decision to have her chose what she wanted when they realized they couldn't live without the other. He didn't want her to live with the guilt of human causes taking her sister. After seeing how close they were.
"I can talk to my family. We can come up with something that states that one of us can change your sister if something happens and there's time to change her. I don't want your sister to have this life if it's not what she wants. But I promise that we will talk about saving her." John stated.
"Then she's going to come to me with all these questions. Like 'why didn't you tell me'. But if you want to talk to your family about saving my sister then I'm not going to stop you. But I do want it to be her decision if she's allowed to make the choice." Karla spoke.
"Then I will talk to them tonight while you are asleep. We should have a general idea of what the answer is by morning." John stated.
It was hard knowing that Charlie might not want this life. But if Damien fell in love with Charlie then there is a chance that she wouldn't have to lose her sister after all. It was a long shot though. She didn't know Damien's relationship status or if he was looking for anyone. But that was something for another day. Right now, Karla was just looking for a summer of lovin. They passed by the boutique where Genevieve was locking up.
"Hey I'm on my way home. Do you want to walk with me?" Genevieve asked.
"Sure. Oh my sister wants to plan like this girls trip with you, me, her, Charlie and Johns sisters. If she gives me ideal dates and places I'll send them along to you so you can ask for those days off." Karla stated.
"That would be nice. It's been hectic this summer already. Moms having me work 12 hour days cause it's that busy. Don't worry she looked at the child labor laws. She upped my hours during the summer when I turned 16." Genevieve stated.
They walked to her house as Genevieve hugged Karla before walking up to the door. Karla and John started walking again before they could mention the trip Karla's phone went off and it was Martin wanting her to come home. They were on their way back anyways so when they pulled up Karla was worried about what was going on.
"Charlie passed out. She's at the hospital. We don't know all the details but your mother is with her now." Martin stated.
"Are you sure she ate enough today? Cause when she doesn't eat enough she tends to pass out." Karla asked.
"She was up in her room all day. I don't think she had anything to eat since this morning." Martin replied.
"Okay. We'll go to the hospital. I'm sure there is a simple answer to this." Karla stated.
For someone who should be worried, Karla was taking it pretty calmly. They got to the hospital where Charlie had woken up. She got some food into her and started talking. Amelia had stated just what Karla had said. That because she didn't eat, Charlie passed out. They were going to run some tests to see if anything was wrong. John took Karla home as he laid her in bed.
"Has this happened before?" John asked.
"A few times. But this is the first time since mom and dad have been home. Think she got worried about what she was going to take to college that she just forgot. Can you stay tonight? Don't think my parents would mind." Karla asked.
"Sure. I can have that conversation with my family once we know more about Charlie's situation." John stated.
For the first time since her moms encounter with a vampire, Karla had a hard time getting to sleep. But once she fell asleep in Johns arms there was no waking her up.