Pallido

Thirteen

Peter tossed a book at me from the doorway of the kitchen. If my reflexes hadn't been as good, it would have smacked me in the face.

I glanced at the cover and glared at him. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

"I've heard that you're a good cook."

"Who told you that?"

He held my gaze, telling me what I already knew.

I rolled my eyes and tossed the book aside. "No way. No way in Hell."

"You've already done that."

"Shut up." I mumbled.

He walked over and sat down beside me on the couch. "Nothing? Not even something small and easy?"

"Forget it."

He pulled my hand away from the book I was holding and squeezed it. "What if I offered to do something for you?"

"Sex is not a fair deal."

"I wasn't talking sex."

"Then what's your end of the deal?"

"Blood. More than you can imagine."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "There's no way."

"The council sort of offered it as a sympathy after they burnt my house to the ground."

"What the hell, Peter? They screwed us over majorly. Accepting it would be like allowing them to ruin our lives."

"Sydney-"

I got to my feet and tossed the book onto the couch. "You can accept it all you want. But you have to move out if you do so."

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"Sydney, I didn't mean to hurt you. I just thought... I thought that accepting it would be us finally getting what we deserve." Peter said through the door.

"If we accepted anything from the council, they'd take it as a way to control us. It would be us signing our rights away. It might not seem like it now but it could be in the future."

Peter was silent.

"They've taken too much from me, from us. I can't go through it anymore."

"I'm sorry, Sydney."

"I didn't mean to get so mad at you. I just... after what happened with Matthew, I'm afraid of going through that again."

"I don't want you to feel that way around me."

I opened the door and pulled Peter inside. "Promise me you won't leave me."

He grabbed my face with both of his hands and his eyes softened. "I will never, ever leave you, Sydney. Not unless you tell me to."

"I don't want you to go. No matter what I say."

He smiled. "You seem to have a hard time making up your mind."

"It must be my new vampire status."

"I believe you had this problem before you were turned."

I laughed. "Shut up."

He kissed my nose before he kissed my lips. "Now let's talk about that cooking plan."

"I said no, Peter."

"I can still get you some blood. Would that help?"

"As appealing as the blood sounds, I have something better in mind."

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I grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl and shoved it into my mouth, not caring how much of a pig I looked like.

Peter wrapped his arm around my shoulders and stared up at the sky. "This is really what you want?"

"Ever since we came back here, I've wanted to do this."

"This isn't your way of bringing back old memories, is it? Of... him?"

"It's different with you." I rested my head on his shoulder and grabbed another handful of popcorn.

"Good different?"

"Yes, Peter." I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, I'll take the hint."

I smiled. "I know it's not for everyone."

"No, it's..."

I took his hand and squeezed it, getting butter all over him. "It's okay. I promise."

"I'm sorry. It's not... I just..."

"You're allowed to feel differently than me."

"Vampires and feelings... don't go well together."

I sighed. "I've been a mess, haven't I?"

"A hot mess."

I got quiet and stared up at the sky. Things were different, things had changed. Looking at the stars was different with Peter had been with Matthew. Both were good memories.

But knowing how Peter felt about me versus how Matthew didn't feel about me made all the difference.

"Thank you for letting me stay." Peter said softly.

I looked over at him and he had his eyes on the sky. He looked so peaceful and content. I was sure it was the first time he'd felt that way since he was turned.

I rested my head on his shoulder and linked my fingers with his. "Thanks for coming after me."

For the longest time, anyone but Peter coming after me would have been fine. I wouldn't have wanted Peter to even glance my way. Things had changed so quickly.

Peter cared about me. He didn't want anything bad to happen to me. It took a while for me to notice it, but it was there. It had been there all along. I was just too stupid to see it.

"I love you, Sydney."

I smiled and closed my eyes, wanting to remember the moment exactly as it was. "I love you, too."