Bloodstream (#2 Blood Series)

Chapter 9

Ever since that incident with the Bloods on the courtyard Callum and I have stuck together. Mainly because we are the castaway, no one else wants to hang out with us. It has become obvious to everyone that Nathan hates me, his friends hate me and Drea is mad at me. No one wants to cross the Bloods so I'm on my own. In other words, life sucks and suddenly the only ally I have is Callum Winchester who isn't in anyone's graces either. It's me and him against the rest of the world. As weird as it sounds Callum and I are in this together, with no one else to count on than each other. That's a position I never thought I'd find myself.

But I shouldn't be complaining. This is what I wanted, right? I'd rather have him hate me than die due to my selfishness. One kiss nearly killed him so the more he hates me the safer he'll be. I should be happy that I succeeded. Now we can both go on with our lives. There is more to life than love. For example, school. I'm terribly behind on everything and there are bunch of tests lurking behind every corner. I don't know how do I even find time to miss, worry and wonder about Nathan when I'm drowning in schoolwork but I still do. I think about him when I wake up, when I drive to school, when I sit in class right next to him, when I talk with Callum, when I go home and when I lay in bed at night. He's everywhere and nowhere.

I feel like I'm going through rehab, trying to get myself clean of him but with very little success. There are times when I think I'll be okay again but then I catch a glimpse of him smiling to something Mike says and then I wonder if it'll ever stop hurting. If I'll ever be strong enough to let him go. No matter how anti-feminist of me it is to admit this sometimes I'm certain that without him I'll never feel whole again. That something will always be missing from my life, from my heart. That I'll spend my days reaching for something that can't happen.

April night falls, chilly yet luminous. As I've often done the past week I go out for a walk. I walk aimlessly around town, hoping to find the shreds of sanity I seem to be missing but always go back home feeling empty. Around me there is the most amazing sunset. There is gold, orange and red everywhere. There is only one eyesore. There is already someone on the rock I usually climb to think. That someone's dark wings set a crazy contrast to the sky bursting with colors.

I walk up to the dark figure. "Oliver", I snap. He is simply staring at the sun like it isn't burning his eyes. He's somewhere far away and I have to repeat his name several times before he has the courtesy to notice my presence and give me a lazy smile.

"Haley."

I am determined to get some answers for a change and just get right into it, not bothering with coy plays with words. "Why did you come here, Oliver? Why did you follow me back here?" I inquire. Oliver could have gone to any city in the world if he just wanted to leave the Abyss behind for a while; yet, he came here. Where I live. Where my family, friends and Nathan live. Something is going on.

Oliver shrugs and smirks at me. He loves getting on my nerves when I'm cranky. He thinks it's just hilarious when I blow up at him. "I do believe it's a free country, cupcake. I can do whatever I want. But in your case I might have a reason for sticking around", he admits tauntingly like a child with a secret.

I nod absentmindedly when he confirms my thoughts to be reality. "Meaning the queen ordered you to come. Why is that?" I continue my interrogation.