Because I've Lost Everything

Chapter Nineteen

Sunday: November 15, 2015

Clawdeen Wolf

"What do you think of this one?" I asked. D wasn't looking at me, nor was she listening to me. "Hey, D." I snapped my fingers, but received no response. "Draculaura."

She turned toward me. "Yeah?"

"Are you all right?" I asked.

"I-I'm fine. Why?" she asked.

"Because that is the third time you have spaced out on me. I ask you something only to find out that you're not listening," I explained.

She blinked once, tilting her head to the side. "What... what did you ask?" she questioned.

"Do you like this one?" I asked again, tapping my finger against one of the plates on the table.

She shook her head and waved a hand toward a different plate. "Devil's food cake," she said.

"You don't like chocolate."

"I've changed," she said.

"As I can see," I said quietly. "Are you sure? Devil's food? Really?" I asked.

"What can I say? It matches Caleb's personality down to a T," she murmured. She stared down at the table, her finger tracing circles on the table cloth.

"Are you okay, D? I mean... for real? You can talk to me," I said.

"I'm fine, Deenie," she said. "I promise." She glanced up at me, offering a smile before looking back down at the table again.

I shook my head. "Okay, fine. Devil's food cake. Now what?" I asked.

"I don't know. You're the expert," she said.

"How about we go look at wedding invitations?" I asked.

"Sure."

"Got any colors in mind?" I asked as I stood up.

D's movements were slow as she pushed her chair out from under the table and stood up. "I think we're doing blue and black."

"What about pink? You always told me you were going to do pink," I said.

"I don't like pink."

"It's your favorite color," I said.

She looked up at me. God, she looked so tired. "It used to be. But I'm not the same me that you used to know, Deenie." She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket. "None of us are the same any more, when you really think about it."

***

"Do you want to look at dresses tomorrow?" I asked.

"Not tomorrow," D said.

"Okay. When?" I asked.

Her hand froze on the door knob. "I... don't know. What's today?"

"Sunday."

"Maybe Friday?" she suggested.

"Works for me. It'll have to be after my last college class. I can pick you up around, say, three in the afternoon?" I asked.

"Sure." She opened the door and stepped into the foyer.

"Hey, D, is Caleb home?" I asked.

She glanced around, her hand still on the door. "I don't know." She passed a hand through her hair. "Give me a second." She walked out of my sight, leaving the door open. Nearly two and a half minutes later, Caleb walked into the foyer.

His blonde hair was wet, like he had just gotten out of the shower. He smelled like body wash and laundry soap, but it didn't cover up the unmistakable smell of blood. "Hey, Clawdeen."

"What'd you do to my bestfriend?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," he said slowly, tilting his head to the side. "I'm a little lost, Clawdeen. Would you mind filling me in?" he asked.

"She's changed. She hates pink. She loves black and blue. Suddenly, she's in love with devil's food cake, a flavor she has hated for as long as I can remember. She doesn't talk much any more. She's quiet. She never listens or pays attention. She rarely made eye contact with me. What's up?" I asked.

"Clawdeen..."

"I have a right to know," she said.

Caleb frowned. "She killed someone last night," he said. He crossed his arms over his chest. "She slipped out of bed, went out of town, and killed an innocent person. She couldn't control it, but she's very upset about it. You're the only reason she left the house," he said. "She's been controlling the urge to bite all day long." He held out one arm and twisted it so that his palm faced the ceiling. "She bit me this morning before she left with you. I encouraged it, I guess, told her to do it so she wouldn't get you instead."

I stepped into the foyer to get a closer look at the bite. "I didn't think that your kind... bled," I said.

"It's not the first time she's bitten me, you know. Of course we bleed. We just don't die very easily," Caleb said. "She hates losing control. She hates being a vampire. I wouldn't expect her to be... normal for another week or two," he said.

I cleared my throat. "Tell her to call me when she's feeling better. We'll go dress shopping then."

A faint smile graced Caleb's face. "Thanks, Clawdeen." I only nodded as I turned around and left the house. He shut the door with a soft click behind me.

I heard the lock turn.

That man was hiding something from me, but what?