Forever Young

So let's set the world on fire

What just happened?

Those are the three words that have been floating around my brain for the past twenty minutes as I walk around the party that's still going on, but that could also be because Tanner keeps repeating it.

"Tanner, shut up."

"Okay, but what happened?"

"She passed out, so I left her in her room." I refuse to tell Tanner that I kissed Evie - well, she kissed me first.

"I thought you said you're going to kill her. Not that I'm against this new you, but you do know you're gonna start ageing, right?"

I sigh and sit down. "Not until she turns eighteen and one month. Apparently, it only starts when we're exactly the same age."

Tanner raises an eyebrow at me. "So, you're gonna kill her in a month, then? What difference does it make? Why don't you kill her now and get it over with?"

"Tanner, I feel nothing everytime I kill Evie because she's damn annoying when she remembers who I am. Evangeline Lancaster has no clue who I am. She's one hundred percent innocent. I can't kill her now. I'm not entirely heartless, you know. I also don't kill her in her sleep. I prefer to wait until she's awake - except that one version in the sixties that was ugly and annoying as hell."

Tanner shrugs. "I just don't see the issue. You've been killing her at eighteen exactly for the past two lives."

"That's because I didn't know, Tanner. I just assumed her birth date was wrong or something."

Tanner sighs and leans back. "Whatever, man. Your whole issue with ageing is freaky beyond belief. I'm surprised I haven't freaked out."

I snort. "You did, don't you remember?"

"No."

"That was probably because you drank yourself silly. It was lucky you had realised Bella was yours that day, so I told her I threw a bachelor party for you and you drank too much."

Tanner's jaw drops. "That's why she thinks there was a party. Axel, you're a dead man, you know."

I grin at him. "Aw, you know I'm like - four hundred years older than you, right? I know every trick up your sleeve."

Tanner rolls his eyes. "One day, I'm gonna tell Bells why you never age."

I shrug. "Sure. By then I'll have killed Evangeline and left for Australia."

"You're joking, right?" a new voice says. I get up to see Bella behind me. Uh oh.

"Tanner, you wanna explain?" I ask. "I'll be at home if either of you need me."

Following that, I leave as fast as I can. Like a child with no worry in the world, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

---------------

Morning brings with it a ringing phone.

My ringing phone.

I groan and roll over in the bed to reach the source of that awful song Bella liked. Since I don't really make friends because they always pass by in the blink of an eye, it's an easy guess that it's Tanner.

"What, asshole?"

"Gosh, whatever could I have done to you?" Sarcastic. Female. And a very familiar voice.

I sit up in less than a second. "Evie."

"The one an only . . . apparently. Anyway, I'm out hiding from people. Would you like to make another rescue for me?"