The Sire

Chapter 10

The week had gone fast. Since that past Monday that Chris haven't seen or heard of Iris, but he also avoided places where he knew he could see her. For example, the surroundings of her work though he loved the coffee shop near it. He didn't come back there afraid he'd see her with Stone. Seeing them together that afternoon, knowing perfectly well that they had settled a meeting, the way Iris's eyes shone when she saw him arriving, and the way they looked at one another when they were all at the table, confirmed what he had been suspicious of: they were linked by a strong bond. Maybe a bond as strong as the one that linked himself to Iris. They had an innate connection and that was almost unbeatable. Chris felt defeated as he was faced with this crushing reality and thus, he kept himself busy the entire week to keep his mind from thinking about it or about her. Keeping his heart from feeling was a whole different story.

It was Saturday and Chris and Andy were having a smoke at the little terrace of their small house, sitting side by side on two old lounge chairs, profiting of the timid sun on that fall's day. The neighborhood was quiet though. Little noise could be heard. There were no cars passing by on the streets or children playing around. Families must have been gone to the beaches and lakes for a walk on that sunny Saturday afternoon. Andy looked at Chris, who was so silent. By the corner of his eye, he saw him with his eyes set on Stone's house. He had caught him many times during the week, looking there and that stood out to him.

"Chris?" Andy decided to call him, and Chris turned his face to look at him, blowing the smoke away and slightly closing his eyes as the sun stung him.

"What?" Chris asked. Andy pulled his blond hair away from his face and looked in his blue eyes.

"What's the matter with you?" Andy asked him. "I know something is going on with you. You've been acting weird. Especially silent..."

"I'm fine." Chris smiled. Then, he pulled the rubber band he had around his wrist and grabbed his hair, tying it with it. "What makes you think that I am not fine?"

"You are not." Andy pointed out. "I know you... what worries me is that you don't talk to me about it." He said. Chris set his eyes on his feet, listening to him, and feeling the heavy weight he had been carrying crushing over his shoulders. "Why don't you tell me?" Andy insisted. "We have always talked about everything. I am sure you can tell me about this as well."

Chris remained silent. For Andy it sure seemed he was giving him the silent treatment, but in pure reality, Chris was pondering about telling him the truth. He needed to tell someone, other than his parents. He needed a human opinion and not the vampire opinion. A human understood another human. That was the weird thing about his nature, they did not fully understand them.

"I'm in love with Iris." He said quietly, spilling the truth. Andy frowned trying to figure out if he was understanding it correctly.

"Iris?" Andy asked and Chris nodded. "Stone's Iris?" He asked after a few seconds and Chris turned his head to look at him.

"She's not his." Chris protested.

"I disagree." Andy pointed his index finger at him and then turned around to sit facing him. "I just saw her once, but they are into one another. It is as clear as crystal water, Chris."

"Has he ever talked about her to you?" Chris asked him.

"No." Andy said, shaking his head at the same time. "But Stone is very private on those matters. He never kisses and tells, especially if he likes a girl which I think it is the case."

"I don't know what to do..." Chris breathed.

"Nothing!" Andy said. "Stone is your friend..." He reminded him. "You are not going to do anything. "