The Stripper and Her Vampire

Chapter 4: Welcome back to Mars.

Wow. I started this story in 2012 and here I am updating it in 2017. I forgot that I had this account and when I logged on I noticed a lot of feedback that warmed my heart. I am not sure if any of you will return to read this story but I am committing to finishing it. I forgot how much I loved writing. I want to ignite that emotion again and finish what I've started. Even if the updates do receive any views, I am going to finish this for me. I hope you all enjoy. xx

Blue. All I could see was blue. Where am I?

I moved my head to the side and found two curious eyes staring back at me.

"Well hello there," I said to the little puppy. He's peering at me from the side of the bed. Wait, this isn't my Mase. I looked around and noticed that I am not even in my own bed. 

Alright, time for me to freak out. How did I get here?

I heard someone opening the door and I look to find the culprit.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Al asked, leaning on the door frame. I can't believe he's here right now. When did Al get a puppy and when did he paint his bedroom ceiling blue? I couldn't answer him. I took in my surroundings and this isn't Al's familiar room. It's too...I don't know, GQ? This is definitely not his bachelor pad.

I stare at my reflection in the flat screen TV mounted on the wall. I was a sight to see. My hair is all over the place and my eyes look dead. Fuck, I just look dead. I whip my head back to Al and felt a sharp pain in my neck.

"What the hell?" I touched my neck only to feel a bandage and started to feel a calmness wash over me. Okay. What is happening to me?

"Don't freak out, Mars. It's okay. You're fine. You just had a bit of an accident at the park yesterday." Al stayed next to the door, hesitant to move closer to me as if I were a bomb about to go off any second.

"You're at your friend Adrian's place. Apparently, you cut yourself pretty bad on one of the swings and he brought you here after you fell. You didn't show up for your shift at the club and I kept calling so he answered. I was fucking worried about you, Mars." Al finally decided to come over to me and stood next to the bed. I tried to get mad at Adrian, but I couldn't. I can't emotionally feel anything right now.

"Adrian is not my friend, Al. I don't even know him. I don't even know what happened to me on the swing." I tried to rack my brain over and over. I don't remember falling. All I can remember is Adrian and...a guy? Do I know him from somewhere? 

"You're awake." There he is. The man I've been waiting to kick out of my life for good. I felt all of the energy come back into my body. Every emotion at once.

"What did you do to me?!" I wasn't expecting my voice to sound so angry but I have every right to be. I am in a stranger's bed. I've BEEN in a stranger's bed for God knows how long? A stranger who stalks me! 

"Forgive me for just helping the damsel when she was in distress," Adrian said with a wink. Asshole. I wasn't a damsel in distress! I was completely fine from what I remember and then...and then, I don't know what happened. I looked over at Al, who obviously didn't like Adrian too much from the way he was glaring at him. Finally, someone on my side.

I jumped out of bed and started to put on my shoes. I don't want to be here any longer. There's something off about this situation. I did not fall off a swing. I was completely fine at the swing and there was a guy. There was a guy. There was a guy. I keep saying to myself. I am not going crazy. I remember someone else being there. But what happened after that? 

"Marley, I think you should wait a bit before you try to do anything. You really did a number on yourself." Al said rushing to my side. I didn't even realize he was helping me stand up. If all I did was fall why do I feel so off balance? I can barely stand up without feeling sick. 

"I need to go home. I need to check on Mase and I need to get away from here." I searched around for my car keys or anything that could help me get out of Adrian's bedroom. Of course, I'm probably overreacting again but I am sick of this feeling in my stomach. I don't know what it is but I don't like it. It's like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Before I could reach the door, Adrian stepped in front of me.

"You're not going anywhere." He looked down upon me and boy, did that piss me off. I don't like men who try to tell me what to do. Never have and never will.

"It's best for you to get out of my face, Adrian, before I make you and I don't think you or they would want to see that," I glanced down at his private area. He had an amused look on his face and that made me even more upset before I could get a series of curse words out of my mouth Al intervened.

"I think we're leaving, Adrian. Thank you, but I will take care of Marley now." Al stepped in front of Adrian and gave him a pointed look. I saw a hint of anger flash through Adrian's eyes, but he moved over to the side so we could leave. Al grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the bedroom. I took note of Adrian's apartment and it's luxurious. Who the hell is this guy? Mr. Grey? Where are his parents? He can't afford all of this by himself. Unless he's a drug dealer and even then, he would have to own the entire Mexican cartel!

The drive home was quiet and Al looked a bit tense driving out of the area. I don't even know what part of town we were in, but it made me uncomfortable. Adrian's neighborhood reminded me too much of my past life. Everything was manicured; from luxury apartments to houses. Once we arrived at my apartment,  Al got out and opened the door for me. Not saying a word. Did I even do something wrong? I was kidnapped against my will. How can the one being kidnap be on someone's shit list right now? 

When we got into the apartment, Mase came up to me and gave me a sloppy kiss. Oh, how I've missed my dog. The only stable man in my life right now. 

"Mommy has missed you so much, Masey and I will never leave you again." I hugged him while looking over at Al, he was moving fast throughout the apartment. Honestly, what is his problem?

"Can you tell me what the hell is your problem?" I got up and cornered Al in the kitchen. 

"I don't want you around that guy, Marley. Do you understand me? I don't want you around him at all."

"Excuse me, but I am not the one who allowed myself to be in his fucking bed for a day! Seems like you want me next to him." I barked in Al's face. How can he tell me who I can be around? Even if I did want to talk to Adrian, Al does not own me. Yes, he helped me get out of my shitty life but that's not in exchange for my freedom. A quick look of defeat crossed his face but it hardened just as fast.

"I'm going to the club. Don't put yourself in danger for a stupid boy anymore." Al brushed past me and slammed the front door. My mouth fell open. I can't believe he's acting like a jealous boy right now. What threat is Adrian to him? Adrian is just a pain in the ass from school. He is not at all involved in my life and never will be. 

I woke up the next morning with a headache. Whatever happened to me really messed with me. I listened for Al in the kitchen and  didn't hear anything. He's probably still mad at me for God knows what. Hopefully he will come around or I will just have to talk to him later. I can't have him upset with me even though I believe he's wrong. I need him. He's all I have and damn, I hate that. I looked at my phone and realized I have about 30 minutes to make it to school. The pain makes me want to stay in bed but I need to go to school. I need to get into Stanford so I can support myself. Who knows how long Al is going to stay in my life at this point if someone as insigifnicant as Adrian can rile him up like that.

Once I got to school, I hurried to the office so I can explain my absence to see if I'm in deep shit or not. If I continue to miss school they are going to want to talk to my guardian and I don't have one. Fuck. Marley, just do what you're supposed to do and stay out of trouble. We can't afford this right now. We're so close to graduation. 

I opened the door to the office and bumped into someone. 

"Hi, Marley." I looked up and immediately winced. 

I remember. 

Brian.