I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 13

"It'll get dark soon. Let me email Ginger One to let them know you're okay and then we should go outside. And I have to warn you, the first shift is the hardest and the most painful."

"Why do we need to go outside?" Laura asks, sipping her blood.

"Your natural instincts will make you freak out if you're inside or in an enclosed space."

She nods and we drink in silence. I watch the clock and email the science nerd. When it gets close to night time, I hold out my hand. Laura looks slightly confused but takes my hand anyways. I help her up and keep a hand on her waist as she stands on wobbly legs. I have to keep reminding my foolish heart that she doesn't love me and after everything, she probably doesn't want to be with me anymore. She's nice to me because she's nice to everyone. She doesn't love me.

I lead her to a large stone near the house for her to sit on. I go back and close the door. I walk back and freeze, staring at Laura. Her head's tilted back and her eyes are closed. The light from the sun set is hitting her in a way that takes my breath away. Her hair shines vibrantly and she has this little smile that warms my undead heart. She looks so happy, so content that I forget everything that isn't her.

Laura's eyes open slowly and she looks at me with an almost amused expression. I'm sure I'm looking at her like she put the stars in the sky just for me. I walk over to her in a daze and shake my head, focusing myself.

"Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand." I murmur and Laura laughs and that beautiful smile is because of me.

"You like Michael Jackson?" She giggles.

I almost break down in relief. She's become undead and she's still her usual dorky, amazing self.

"Yes, I met him once. He wanted me to be in the Thriller music video but Maman forbade me from doing it. She called him an uncultured human that would never amount to anything. Look at him now. The King of Pop and he's also dead."

"That's awesome! I didn't know you can dance."

"Do you not remember us waltzing? And Mattie and I dancing?" I tease her, knowing what she meant.

"I do remember. I meant I didn't know you could dance anything more modern." She maturely sticks out her tongue.

Laura pats the rock she's sitting on with a grin. I sit next to her, our sides pressed together. It's big, but barely big enough to have the two of us sitting on it together

"I'd show you, creampuff, but I'm afraid it's almost time."

Laura stiffens. I know from experience that she's feeling the pull of the night drawing near. "You'll be with me the whole time?"

"Always."

I shift first, watching sadly as she whimpers in pain. I turn away so I don't have to see. The first shift is the most difficult and the most painful, but it's also the hardest to watch. Her body won't shift as fast as I do, taking its time to rearrange bones and organs. After this first shift, however, her body will quickly get used to shifting until it feels natural and doesn't hurt a bit.

I turn once the pained cries stop and laugh as best I can as I giant panther. Of course that's her animal.