The Hybrid

9: Willow

I feel a little bad about storming off on Olivia and Ben, especially when they haven't done anything. Only a little, though. My overwhelming need to get away from Beck and his plaything trumped most of the remorse I had about it.

It's only when I realize I have no idea where I'm going that I slow down and allow them to catch up.

"I'm sorry about my brother...again," Bennett says as he and Olvia fall into step with me, "I swear he used to be way nicer than that."

"Really?" Olivia snorts, "Because I've known you and your brother going on 60 years and I'm pretty sure he's always been like that."

Well, that's encouraging.

Bennett shakes his head, "He used to be much better than that and you know it. He's just... lost his way."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, glancing his way.

"Well, we've lived a long time. We've been through it all, watched friends and family die, and been betrayed by people we never thought would betray us. We've even had friends just disappear, vanish into thin air. You can only lose so much before you change and usually it's for the worse. You just stop caring after a while. If you don't care, you can't get hurt."

I only hum in response.

It makes sense. Beck carries around a nonchalant aura. He gives off the impression to the world that he doesn't care about anyone or anything. Understanding that this attitude comes from a place of pain and actual feelings does make me look at him differently. If what Bennett says is true then there is a different side of Beck. I just have to keep hope alive. There's more to him than what meets the eye. I just have to be patient.

"What's your excuse then?" Olivia asks, suddenly, looking at Bennett.

"My excuse for what?" He says, dubiously.

"You've been through just as much shit as Beck. Why are you the complete opposite of him?"

Bennett purses his lips and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his slacks, looking ahead as he considers Olivia's question, "I don't know. I'm the younger one of the two of us. There was a lot of stuff my brother shielded me from growing up and in our early days as vampires. I guess I just haven't hit my breaking point yet. I believe everything happens for a reason and that the universe is still capable of making good things happen."

Olivia cuts her eyes at him before she asks, "Have you still been reading that hippie lady's blog?"

Bennett looks around, feigning innocence, "Maybe."

Oliviia shakes her and laughs, "I told you to quit that. She's just a crazy old wannabe witch stuck in the 1970s."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I actually quite enjoyed the 70s."

"I have to disagree. Personally, I think looks-wise it was a horrible time for you. This is saying a lot considering how difficult it is to make you or any of the men in your family look bad. Long hair just does not suit you."

I watch them go back and forth like this for a while, whipping my gaze back and forth as the insults and playful jabs fly from their mouths. I do my best not to laugh at their antics, but I know I let a chuckle or two slip.

By the time they call a truce, I almost can't even remember why I was so upset in the first place.

"Anyways, as I was saying, good things can still happen even if bad things are happening simultaneously. It's all about looking on the bright side." Bennett says, "For example, last night, we lost a month's worth of blood supply when Willow's friends drained those tanks. But if they hadn't we would've never discovered Willow which means we would've continued thinking hybrids were nothing more than a myth and my brother wouldn't have gotten to know he had a mate out there."