Worlds Apart

Nineteen

I kept my footsteps quiet and steady; I didn't want any more unwelcome conversations tonight. Before I could turn the corner to the front door, a shadow poked out from the brick exterior of the apartment building. I stopped in my tracks, but the figure darted toward me. I had no time to think, no time to run.
"Anastasia!"
I refocused my vision and watched as the shadow washed away in the street light. Rylie ran toward me with her arms outstretched and her phone in her hand. She collided with me, causing us to have to catch our balance on the sidewalk to not fall into oncoming traffic. She ran her fingers through the back of my hair. "I went to your room to apologize; I couldn't sleep. When you weren't there, I didn't know what to do."
She discontinued the hug but kept her hands firm on my shoulders as if I would run at any moment. Her hair was a mess, and she looked a bit older.
"I thought about calling the police to find you," she said, holding up her phone.
That would have been awful.
"Tori said you'd come back, and we've been waiting for you. I'm so sorry, Anastasia."
She pulled me back into an embrace, and I had no words. I had nothing I wished to tell her. Before I could think of an excuse, she cupped my face and pulled me into her lips. They were wet, like her cheeks, as if she'd been crying. I never meant to make her feel this way, especially not because of me.
She stopped to stare at me, at my burgundy eyes. "How-"
Footsteps approached from the direction she came, and the light brightened Victoria's figure. She had her hands crossed and an irritated look on her face. I pulled away from Rylie, and she finally looked at me fully. Her eyes darted from every cut and bruise, and finally to the unfamiliar clothing I returned in.
"Where did you go? What happened to you? What are all these cuts from?"
I wanted to tell her. Oh, how bad I wish I could, but it was safer for her to remain in the dark.
"I went on a walk." I started forming the details in my mind. "A dog chased me, and I fell. A nice couple, let me wash up and change." Rylie hesitated, "A couple? Who?"
I couldn't answer that either, not when I knew what they were.
"I don't know them. They scared the dog away and helped me."
Victoria scoffed. We both turned to her.
"What?" Rylie said, the words weighing heavy with bitterness.
She shrugged. "You're so gullible, Ry."
We both waited for her to explain her reasoning. Rylie, less patient than I was.
"She obviously did this for attention for you to feel bad because you got mad at her. Can you not see that?"
"What is wrong with you?" Rylie spat.
Victoria looked surprised, uncrossing her arms and lifting her brows. "Me?"
Rylie stood in front of me, shielding my view of Victoria.
"Yes, you. Why have you been out for her since the day you two met? You don't even know her."
"Exactly!" Victoria threw her arms in the air, "I don't know her. You don't know her!"
I never wanted to ruin a friendship; I never wanted any of this. Victoria was right; I barely knew either of them, yet Rylie was so quick to defend me. I wanted to know her, and I'd do anything to keep her safe from the dangers I just so happened to come across tonight. They could be anyone. No one was safe; nowhere was safe for her. As long as I was around, I could secure her wellbeing.
"Spending time with people is how you get to know them, Victoria. I didn't know you until we met at Ben's bachelor party."
Victoria laughed sarcastically, "Yeah, and I'm normal. I'm not a freak!"
The shadows of the street lights cast half of Rylie's face in darkness. Only illuminating her narrow black eyes and toned arms. I knew this look all too well. I'd watch this scene unfold in front of me for decades. Never-ending fights and obscenities shouted through the corridors. Victoria saw it too, and I watched her scramble for reason, "Look at her! Do you honestly believe she has albinism? A random girl comes out of the woods in clothes my great-grandma would wear, and her eyes are purple, Rylie."
"Shut the fuck up!"
We all stood still, as did time and nature. The silence echoed through my ears, ringing and deafening my senses. I watched Victoria's muscles relax. I watched her face go cold and void of emotion.
"There are things you'll never understand, Rylie. Things you can't begin to comprehend. She's not like you."
We both watched her turn away, saying nothing as the sound of the front door shut. I expected her to say I wasn't like them, not just Rylie. I reached for her hand, hesitating. She grabbed mine without a second thought.
I looked up at Rylie, and she no longer looked like the scary faces I'd seen in the castle. Her face was soft, and she was her.
"I'm so sorry." She said, finally, "I never wanted you to go through any of this."
Likewise.
"I thought it would be okay. I thought you two could get along. I don't want to choose between you guys, but if I don't, I'll lose both of you." I interlocked our fingers, "I'm not going anywhere." She smiled a bit. "You have to, eventually. Your parents will come looking. I can't have you forever."
I'd destroy this town and everyone in it before letting that happen. In my mind, I wanted her to choose what would benefit her. But my heart was selfish.
"We should go inside," Rylie turned to me, "you must be cold." In truth, I wasn't, but if it made her feel better to think she was looking after me, I would let her believe such a small lie. We walked together to the door with our fingers interlocked. Victoria must have heard us argue a few hours before; she must have felt how I do now. Victorious. Lucky to be on the right side of Rylie's emotions. I dug inside myself to feel remorse, to feel guilt for this feeling of happiness in her despair. But there was nothing. We stepped inside and up the dark stairs, finally stopping in the guest bedroom. Rylie pulled the untouched blankets from their neatly tucked place and crawled inside. I eyed her.
"Well, come on." She said, scooting over the best she could.
There was no way we could both fit on the small bed, but she seemed certain enough to convince me. I pulled the lamp's string and squeezed in beside her. I heard her disembodied chuckle in the dark.
"Here," she said, moving my body on top of her own and letting herself have more room. My head rested on her chest; it was warm, and her heart beat slowly. I hoped she couldn't feel how fast mine was thudding against my ribcage. Her caramel smell was so potent and hypnotic that I resisted the urge to bury my face in her neck for more. She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I felt her sigh. I did the same. The wound on my chest hurt slightly from the weight of my body pushing against hers, but I didn't mind. I picked my heavy head up and brought my hand up to her face, feeling for her lips. When I located them, I gently kissed her. Maybe the timing felt wrong, or maybe it was the thoughts brewing in the back of my head that flooded my intimate emotions. But I waited for Rylie to pull back or refuse me. Except she didn't. She leaned into me and broke it off just as quickly, stealing my breath.
"We should sleep." She ran her fingers through my hair, "We have a long drive tomorrow."
I wanted more than a kiss, but she was right, and I couldn't keep her awake any longer than I already had. I rested my head on her chest and closed my eyes, assuming she did the same. I wish she was like me, and we could stay up longer without feeling the effects of sleep deprivation. Her neck was so close to my lips, and her scent was intoxicating. It could be so simple—one bite. One minute of pain, and she'd exceed her mortal life. She'd live for centuries, and I wouldn't have to protect her. But I knew this was forbidden. We had a few laws, but one was certain. No human could be turned. A born vampire and a turned vampire were different in their abilities and appearance. Humans had neutral colors for their hair and eyes. Our colors knew no bounds. I slowed my breathing to match the rise and fall of her chest, hoping our hearts would sync. I wanted to be closer than this; I wanted to be under her skin. I wanted to be one with her very being. Inseparable. Her warmth was sleep-inducing, and I could feel myself slipping away into it. I let myself, hoping I would dream of her. Dreaming of a life with a mortal was entirely impossible.