Bark Or Bite

Chapter 11

I feel my knees hit the ground and my hands fly to my face. Ian puts his arms out to catch me.

"Hannah, its ok-"

"No, it's not Ian. You don't understand. Through anything, Cameron and Max were always my backbone. They're the best friends I don't deserve. And all I did was betray their trust." I look up at him, eyes red.

He stares back at me. Ian opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it when he can't say anything.

I stand up. "I need to leave. This was a mistake. I have a different life now, Ian. No matter how hard I try, I just can't fit you into that." I turn to walk away when I feel him grab my arm.

''Hannah, don't do this.'' I shrug him off.

I run away from him as thoughts flood my brain. I remember the first time I ran away from him like this. It was when Nik told me the truth about him. I remember sitting in my room, fantasizing about him, while Maximus was next to me. I remember  missing him when I really should've just been with Maximus. Now the feelings are gone. Unfortunately, it took losing my best friends for me to realize it.

I cry on my way back to Courtney's house.

*******

"Aww, babe! What happened?'' Courtney hugs me as soon as I walk through her door.

"Courtney, I messed up. Max and Cam were there and they saw me with Ian now everything screwed." I cry into her shoulder, slurring my words to where she could barely understand me.

"Hannah, slow down. Who are Max and Cam?" She stares at me confused.

"Max and Cam are friends of Maximus and I. They saw me earlier tonight with Ian."

"So what? Do you think they'll tell Maximus?" She doesn't get the point. I break away from her hug and stare her in the face.

"It's not about Maximus finding out, Courtney. You don't get it. Cameron and Max trusted me. I told them that they didn't have to worry about me associating with any...one from my past." I carefully veer my words away from vampires.

''I still don't understand what the big deal about you being friends with Ian is, but okay.'' She rolls her eyes at me.

"I don't expect you to get it.''

''Whatever. I'm going to bed. Are you coming?" I can tell she is annoyed. Courtney and I use to tell each other everything, but ever since my secret came up, we just drifted.

"Yeah. I'll be up in a minute.''

I sit alone on the couch. My thoughts race as I think of how I would unmask the events that took place tonight. I lied to Maximus. I put myself in danger by being in a house with vampires. I lied to Max and Cameron. I lost the trust of two of my best friends. How am I supposed to tell Maximus? I know Cameron and Max hadn't said anything to him, otherwise he would've been here already. Deep down, I know Maximus will forgive me in the long run. I'm only dreading the argument. Maximus of course will probably never trust me again.

I feel my heart sink a little more as I remember the look of pain and disappointment that flashed across Cameron's face when Ian walked up behind me.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I quietly speak to myself as I lay my head back on Courtney's couch. My head is beginning to pound from fear and anxiety. Somewhere along the night, I finally drift into a restless sleep.

*******

"I can't believe you!" Maximus screams in my face, spitting hateful words as I recall my night of sneaking off to see Ian.