In this life

Chapter 35

"What?!" Daniel put his thumb back against the puncture wound, hard "No way!"
"Daniel, I -" I reached to take his hand off of me again.
"No Rosie!" He held firmer.
"Why not?"
"I promised I'd never hurt you, never let anything bad happen to you... If I killed you I... I just couldn't..." his frown deepened.
"Look, I don't want to just have a few years with you and then have to say goodbye... How do you honestly think we can be together while I'm human and you're... not"
Daniel didn't answer, he just looked at the back of his thumb, contemplating my words.
"You can be guilt free" I continued "this wasn't intentional and could mean that we'd never have to say goodbye..." I put my hand on his cheek "I love you, I've always loved you. As have you with me. Daniel, nothing would make me happier than spending an eternity by your side... This is the only way that can happen" I placed my hand on the back of his and slowly he let me lift it away.
I kissed him, full of emotion for what he'd allowed to happen. When our lips parted Daniel's eyes opened and instantly fell upon my neck again.
"Rosie..." Daniel looked at me sadly, "...it's stopped..."
I lifted my hand to feel it and see for myself that it was no longer bleeding,
my fingers came away clean. My heart sank, I looked to Daniel with tears in my eyes trying to control my breathing as it quickened.
"I'm so sorry" he looked sincere.
A thought crossed my mind, "how long will your blood be in my system for...?"
"Don't get any stupid ideas Rosie. If you die without my blood in your system, you'll just be dead! So don't even risk it!" His voice was stern and reprimanding.
Out of nowhere I burst into tears. And he held me tightly in his arms gently rocking me. After a while he lifted me to the top of the bed, laying us together, covering us over with the duvet. I placed my head on his chest, my sobbing had subsided and silent tears fell.
"I just can't do it" I whispered.
"Do what?" He asked, gently stroking my hair.
"Say goodbye to you"
He sighed.
After a while he spoke again "If and when the time comes that we can no longer be together... I'll erase any and every memory of me from your mind. You won't need to say goodbye Rosie... I promise you I won't let you be sad..." he kissed my head and held me tighter.

***

"Good morning beautiful" Daniel kissed my forehead. I blinked my eyes open as he placed a cup of tea on the bedside table for me. I smiled in sleepy appreciation.
"What time is it?" I yawned, stretching.
"Ten thirty" he climbed over me and got under the duvet, pulling me towards him. We lay there for a while dozing while he gently stroked his fingers over my shoulder. After a while he flexed his hips into me, letting me know he wanted sex.
"Dear god" I giggled "you're an animal!"
"Yep" he nibbled my ear, "I blame you"
"Me?"
"No hot blooded man could resist you..."
"So what's your excuse...?" I teased. He laughed and pulled my hips towards him.
"Umm... Daniel..." I turned to face him.
"Yeah..." He kissed my shoulder.
"I'm a bit sore..."
He hesitated for a moment "oh... Sorry, I forget that you mere mortals feel pain..."
I smiled sadly thinking about the night before.
"How's your mouth?" He asked kissing beside my ear with a cheeky grin.
"Fine..." I smirked.
"Good" he said cheerfully and turned to put his arms behind his head "get it round my dick then!"
I laughed in shock and leaned over to kiss him quickly before heading underneath the covers to oblige.

***

"So what are we going to do about Liam?" I asked as Daniel and I were preparing lunch together.
"I don't know, any suggestions?"
"Nope. But if it was me it would take more than an apology..." I shrugged "maybe we could fake you saving my life, surely that would outweigh you killing his girlfriend's sister... He'd have to forgive you by default" I laughed.
My phone beeped in my pocket to announce a text message. I wiped my hands on a tea towel and opened the message up;

New message from: Ronnie
Are you free for a chat?

"Ronnie's about to confess her indiscretions from last night" I announced to Daniel as I replied. He made an awkward expression and I giggled.

New message to: Ronnie
Yeah sure x

I jumped up to sit on Daniel's kitchen counter as I waited for my phone to ring. "Do I act surprised or tell her I saw them snogging on the dance floor?"
"It's up to you" Daniel shrugged as he carried on chopping red onions at the other end of the kitchen.
My phone rang;

"Hiya, what's up?" I answered.
"Babe... Please don't be mad at me!"
"I'm not"
"I've done something- wait what do you mean you're not? Have you spoken to Harry?"
"No" I was honest.
"Oh ok, umm, well... Listen... You know I was a bit drunk last night..."
"A bit..." I laughed "yeah...?"
"Yeah, well I don't really know how it happened, but..."
"How what happened?" I pretended not to know.
"I slept with Harry..."
I looked at Daniel, shocked "You actually slept together?"
"Yes, I'm sorry! I know it's weird and I'm sure there's some rule about not shagging your best mate's brother... I'm sorry honey, are you angry with me?"
I was silent for a moment.
"Rosie? Say something please!"
"I don't know what to say. I'm not mad at you though"
"Really? Oh god Rosie you're amazing!"
Daniel nodded in agreement and winked. I forgot he could hear her. I blew him a silent kiss.
"So what's going to happen now?" I asked Ronnie "what about Claire?"
"Claire? They broke up the day before yesterday, did you not know?"
"No?"
"That's why she left early. Apparently they'd had a blazing row the night before and she ended things. But agreed to come to the ceremony so as not to raise suspicion. Harry didn't want to ruin anything for Johnny by telling people"
"Oh right, ok. So... Are you going to see him again or is this a Ronnie-one-nighter?"
"I, I don't know..."
"Ok... Well, listen. I don't want either of you to get hurt so if you don't wanna see him again then tell him now. And if you do... Well then I couldn't think of a nicer person to be with my brother"
"Rosie...I, I fuckin' love you babe!"
"Love you too, you prick!"
She laughed.
"Thanks hun, I feel so much better now I've spoken to you, I was actually bricking it"
"Thanks for being honest"
"I'll catch you later yeah?"
"Ok, laters babe" I hung up.

"So do you think they're going to get together?" Daniel asked as I came up behind him and hugged round his waist as he dished our lunch into bowls.
"Dunno, they've got nothing in common, so probably not"
"Ok, good"
"Good?"
He turned and looked at me with raised eyebrows, implying I should catch up with his train of thought.
"What?" I was confused.
He laughed and shook his head.
"What?" I laughed.
"If they get together, Harry might tell Ronnie..." he started to explain.
"...that you're a vampire..." I finished.
He gave me a nod with tight lips, "could get kind of messy if you don't think she'll be ok with it".
"Yeah... I hadn't thought of that..."
"Clearly" he kissed my forehead and carried our lunch to the breakfast bar.
I stood thinking for a while.
"You ok?" Daniel asked, sitting on a bar stool.
"Yeah..." I was distracted and took my phone out of my pocket to call Harry.
It rang for a while with no answer "I bet he's dodging my call. He probably thinks I'm mad at him". It went to voice mail. I left a message asking him to call me back urgently and that I wasn't angry. Then I went and sat with Daniel who was tucking into his food.
My phone rang as I put my fork into a pasta spiral. It was Harry;

"So you were dodging me then" I laughed.
"Can you blame me? I know what you're like when your angry"
"Listen, I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Ronnie, I'm not angry at either of you, I just don't want either of you to get hurt, so if you don't wanna see her again then tell her, ok? Don't muck her about Harry, she deserves a nice guy in her life, don't be one of the shit ones"
"Received loud and clear" he answered.
"That's not the reason I phoned though" I started "listen... If you do end up getting together, just do me a favour ok?"
"What's that?"
"Please don't tell her about Daniel!"
"What, she doesn't know?"
"No. I don't think she'd be ok with it and I don't want to fall out with her or to be asked to choose between them and -".
"Leave it with me Rosie. I'll sort it for you"
"No, Harry, just please don't tell her"
"Trust me, it will be fine"
"Harry!"
"Speak to you later"
I sighed, knowing I was getting nowhere.
"Oh by the way" he stopped me from hanging up "not to be the bearer of bad news but... Liam is on the war path, big time. Just thought you should know"
"For fuck sake..." I rubbed my forehead "Ok thanks"
"Listen I'll try and talk to him, but he's pretty adamant he's going to hurt Daniel in some way" he laughed, "what a tosser, right?"
"I could think of better things to call him".
He laughed, "see you Rosie"
"Bye".

I sighed and looked at Daniel.
"Don't worry" he shook his head "eat your food".
I picked up my fork and pushed my pasta around.