Bite Shift

14

To say the drive was full of silence would be wrong. We did not speak but there were so many sounds to hear. The crunch of the tires on the gravel turned into a hum as we hit paved road. The wind outside the windows was more like the crashing of waves on a beach after a thunderstorm. The buzzing of traffic lights hit my ears half a mile before you could see them. I heard the mix of the different music being played in all the cars around me. Someone nearby was listening to a podcast about the Golden State Killer. One of the hosts questioned out loud what someone must see in the last moments before they die. I know. They see the worst things that have happened to them and then a dark, glassy lake. Maybe I should start a podcast. I could call it "Don't Eat Lunch By The Graveyard".

Thirty minutes into the drive, I started to recognize buildings and streets. We were driving towards work. "Are we going to the hospital?"

"No," Rhys answered and I knew he wasn't going to elaborate.

I asked him to take care of me and I have to trust him. What's the worst that could happen? I'm already dead.

We pulled into the Walmart parking. It made sense if you think about it and I guess I better get used to it. I don't know many stores where you can grocery shop at 2am and a lot of my errands would have to be in the dark, now. No more dry cleaning. Between that and cancelling my gym membership, this whole vampire thing was going to save me some money. Bright side!

"Let's get you a couple outfits for my place. You'll need to pick out sheets and things for your room. Your bed and dresser will be delivered while we sleep tomorrow."

"Rhys, this is too much."

He turned to me. "Again, I will tell you to accept that I am going to care for you. You will need a safe place to come and may just want to be around others like you. Have a room and clothes at my home. It is yours now, too. So, let's go."

"Okay." I was defeated. No point in arguing. He was 200 years older than me. It felt futile to even try.

Rhys informed me I would be receiving a king size bed and I felt like a kid learning she will go to Disney World tomorrow. A king size bed all for me?! Soft, clean sheets that kids had never spilled juice on or vomited in?! I couldn't wait and didn't feel guilty anymore. I just wanted that big, soft bed. Once he saw my excitement, he lit up. He looked just as happy to be helping me shop as I was to shop. It was the first time I had ever picked things out and not counted up the amount in my head to make sure I didn't go over my budget. An hour later, we left with a black comforter covered in purple flowers, black sheets and two fluffy pillows. A long, purple body pillow was my favorite purchase of the evening.

The clothes were simple. Several yoga pants, a couple pairs of jeans, a black skirt, a stack of shirts, two silk blouses, a pair of white Keds, new sneakers and black pumps. Walmart had really upped their clothing game. These would suit me just find for vampire sleepovers at my new BFF's house. A few extra purchases were a hair brush, some black hair ties, the shampoo and conditioner I liked and some dental hygiene supplies. That's right, humans... vampires have to brush their teeth! I mean we won't get cavities or anything but we can still have bad breath when we don't floss and rinse. The last item in the shopping cart was a new robe for Rhys. I had decided the one in his bathroom was now mine. He was happy to give it to me and buy himself a blue flannel bath robe. Everything fit in the trunk of the Civic and we were back on the road.

I expected us to head back towards his home but we made a left and kept driving away from the little blue cottage. The question was on the tip of my tongue but I swallowed it back. I had to trust him. Besides, five minutes later, we were back in a parking lot so I didn't have to wait long. A florescent sign informed me that we were at "The Hole". It was a tiny bar that I knew but had never been to. A bunch of the nurses liked it because it was only a few minutes from the hospital and they liked to get a post-shift drink there. I had been invited 100 times but never gone. Now, with the whole 'life is so short' thing being glaring obvious after my little incident, I felt like an asshole for never going. It was like 10:30pm so the day nurses were long gone, probably sound asleep, and the night nurses were about to pass 11pm medications. No one would see me and ask where I had been.