FOUR
August 2013- University
Dana and I sat on one of the benches on the edges of the school as rain drizzled down lightly.
'So what are you going to do now?' She asked, looking up at me.
I shrugged and sighed. 'I don't know.'
'Are you really going to stay here?'
'I don't know.' I shook my head. 'Where else am I going to go?'
'Well...' She began slowly. 'You could always work with your sister and help her find your dad.'
I leant back against the back of the chair. 'No. I'm not going back to that.'
'You tried to run away, and be safe. Did that really work out for you?' She asked.
'No.' I clenched my jaw.
'What if Bella needed you- and it could be safer to be with her?'
'Safer?' I laughed incredulously. 'How could hunting those things be safer?'
'Well, because you're following them.' She explained. 'And you can learn how to protect yourself and fight back.'
'I know how to protect myself- I choose not to, because it was safe here. Now though...' I let it hang.
'I suggest you at least talk to Bella again.' Dana nodded and stood. 'I guess I should be heading back.'
'You're not walking, are you? I'd offer you a ride, but...I don't have a car. I always used to use Trixie's, and when I came here I didn't need one. Sorry.' I admitted.
'No, it's fine. I'm sure I'll find a way.'
Sitting on the bed of the room the school had given me for free, I went through my phone till Bellatrix's number came up.
'Haven't done this in ages.' I muttered, pressing the dial button and listening to it ring.
'Hello?' Her voice crackled through after a mountain of static. 'Who is this?'
'It's Dexter, look, about what I said before-'
'That's fine, I know you didn't mean it.' She laughed. 'You always say crap you never mean, I don't care. So why are you calling me?'
'I wanted to ask...if maybe I could come with you?' This was such a stupid conversation.
'I'm really far out now...but maybe I could meet you somewhere? Have you gotten a car yet?'
'Uh...no.'
She sighed, and there was another rush of static. 'OK, tell you what. I'm circling back anyway, and it'll take me at least two days. If you set off now, maybe you can meet me there. Go to the RoadHouse.'
'Alright.' I nodded. 'And Trixie,'
'Yeah?'
'I am sorry for what I said. It wasn't your fault.'
'I know that.' She scoffed. 'See you in three days.'
Empty Road
My mobile buzzed loudly and annoyingly, and I reached over into the backseat to try and get it out of my bag. The car swerved dangerously in the rain, so I quickly pulled over to the side on the off chance another car decided to turn up on this long, empty road.
'Hello?' I gasped, unable to see the caller ID from its own light and the reflection from the headlights. 'Who is this?'
There was a shock of static, then I heard Ever's voice- she was a reformed vampire- one of the ones that chose to live on the very edges of their dead lives by drinking animal blood.
