Turned

Chapter Thirty Nine

I lay next to him with no thoughts of blood at all, I could feel Caleb's blood swimming inside my veins and it was my shame but I had little choice, I had to do something, I had to stop the pain before I hurt him or Matt. I cared about Matt as if he was a brother and Nick... I... I was sure I cared for him, at least, maybe even something more... something stronger than I expected to feel.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked.

"All about you" I admitted.

Nick put his hands on my chest, kissing me softly. "Thankfully, Matt isn't home"

"Agreed... he'd be furious if he heard us again" he joked.

"Did he do anything last time?"

"No, just gave me a stern look, nothing I can't handle" I lied.

I didn't want to get up, I didn't want to leave him. He held my hands softly, locking our fingers together. He didn't even seem to mind our hands resting over his scar, as if he was less shamed by it than before. I didn't question him about it, his life was seemingly traumatic enough without me poking around in it, asking cruel questions.

I threw the covers off me and got dressed. Nick lay there looking at me as I bent down to kiss him, only to be pulled in for one before I could react.

"Where are you going?" he asked playfully.

"I thought I'd make breakfast" I offered.

"Are you sure? I don't want Matt to freak out on you"

I shrugged my shoulders and threw an apron on as Nick threw on a pair of pants. I didn't mind cooking, I actually quite liked it, I was used to cooking for Matt and I before Matt became the only one in the house who actually needed to eat.

"Pancakes?" I offered.

"For breakfast?" he replied with uncertainty.

"Why not?" I questioned.

"Because it is strange" Nick replied with a kiss.

"Maybe, but I like strange" I replied.

I flipped a few pancakes before I served it on a plate, handing him the bowl of sugar and maple syrup, watching him smile as he sat at the table opposite me. It was nice to just sit there and eat with someone, sharing half a meal like we were in a café, on a romantic date. All we needed was the music and the coffee and it was perfect, beautiful.

"I never realised you can cook" he commented.

"Matt usually burns everything" I admittedly jokingly, cruelly because it was true.

He once forgot to put a pizza on a tray before sticking it in the oven, he was surprised when it melted and made a nightmare of a mess to clean up, it took me hours to clean it all yet somehow, I managed to scrub it out while he ordered a takeaway for us to share.  

"This is really good"

"Thank you" I replied as I ate my own pancakes slowly.

I wanted to look as human as possible, eat like one, look like one, I had to in front of Nick otherwise I'd worry about him noticing just how inhuman I was. I was scared of losing everyone I loved, I worried about losing Nick.

"Are you okay? You seem distracted" Nick asked.

"I... I wanted to apologise"

"For what? You putting your cold feet on mine? You should be" he joked.

"I'm sorry" I said seriously.

"Hey, I was kidding, they are not that bad. What is it? Tell me"

"About Caleb... last night... I... I was called up but I shouldn't have left you in the lurch, I'm sorry"

"Oh, don't say that, it's not your fault Caleb can be an arsehole, everyone knows what that guy's like but he has some decent skills" Nick admitted.

I wasn't aware they'd met but I guessed they worked alongside each other. Caleb never mentioned it but I just chalked it up to him not having a reason to mention it. I liked him but I admit, I never used to. He opened my eyes to what Sapphire was like and I knew one thing for sure, I'd have to get out of her grip before her talons sunk in and dragged me back, dragging Nick into it along with me.

I never thought I could be a vampire and have a relationship, it always seemed so hard, so complicated but I had to try, part of me at least just had to try and I was glad I did, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten with Nick, we'd be nothing more than friends, with me standing outside, looking in as he found someone better... someone... human with a beating heart, flushed cheeks and whose diet didn't consist of blood. 

"Did he say anything?" Nick asked.

"Not much, why?"

"Just wondering if I need to be careful, I heard he has a sharp temper"

"I wouldn't know, thankfully" I lied. 

We finished in silence, he did the washing up while I threw on some new clothes. I felt great, no hunger, no problems, I could feel Caleb's blood running through me, really forcing my hunger down to a bare minimum, from 'always there' to 'always there but in the background'. I was nearly free from it, free from the pain of hunger, from the needs of one vicious killer.

"Are you okay?" he asked, calling to me.

"I'm fine" I promised, not even bothering to shut the door as I changed into a pair of jeans and a simple black buttoned shirt.

"Nice" he commented.

"Thank you" I replied, blushing a little bit, barely visible given I was quite pale, still a human looking skin tone.

"Can I borrow a shirt?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know" I joked, wrapping my arms around his waist as he walked towards me. I kissed him lovingly before breaking it off. "Yes, of course you can, just don't nick one from Matt's room"

"Thanks" he replied with such a beautiful smile as he reached into one of my drawers and pulled out a simple plain grey t-shirt. "This'll do" I heard him say as he walked towards the bathroom.