Forbidden (BoyxBoy)

Chapter XV: Lonely

Alaric.

The week went painfully, and I saw Jason only a few times amongst the long days. We would chat briefly in between classes and sometimes, if he was alone, passing each other in the hallway. For the most part, though, his friends were with him. I couldn't tell if he was avoiding looking at me around them, or if I was just paranoid. I didn't push him, keeping my distance whenever they were around. The last thing I needed were more humans in my life.

By the time Friday came around, the invisible thread tying us together was tense and powerful, and I could feel its pull as I sat in my apartment, anxiously waiting for the doorbell to ring.

Kathleen had left a note on the kitchen table saying that she was going to see Danté tonight about our issues with blood supply, and that she would be back late. It was perfect timing, because I didn't really know what would happen if Jason and Kathleen ended up in the same room, and I didn't really want to kick her out, lest she get suspicious. 

I found myself puttering around the apartment, straightening pillows, checking to make sure we had food in the fridge, deciding whether or not I should put some music on. In the end, I picked on old album filled with instrumental jazz, and turned the sound down low to occupy any awkward silences. The apartment looked nice at night, filled with candles and the warm glow of a few antique lamps. Was this too much? 

Gatsby was weaving figure-eights at my feet as I sat in my armchair, meowing in protestation that I wasn't paying enough attention to him. Instead, I was twiddling my thumbs idly, trying to decide whether I wanted to put snacks out now or later on in the movie, which I thought I'd let him decide. 

When the doorbell rang, I rushed there with vampire speed, unable to control my nerves.

I opened the door, and Jason was standing there, his hands in the pockets of his favourite shearling-collared jacket. He was wearing another one of his sweaters again, this one a cream cable knit which made his skin look more tanned than usual. A pair of dark jeans clung to the contours of his legs, and he wore a clean pair of black converse. He held a tupperware box in his hands. I involuntarily held my breath, because he looked so handsome.

"Hey, come on in." I greeted him, standing back from the doorway to let him into the apartment. He stepped into the house, letting me close the door behind him.

"Hey," He greeted me, the two of us standing face to face. He seemed to momentarily observe me, making me instantly insecure about my vampire eyes. "I brought some, um, madeleines. My friend's mom made them, they're kind of her speciality."

His french pronunciation was good, and I wondered where had learnt the language. He extended the tupperware container, and I took it with both hands. 

"Thank you. Now, make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink?" I said, heading over to the kitchen. Jason nodded, and paused for a moment before shrugging off his jacket and draping it on the sofa as he'd done before.

He then moved to sit on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter whilst I took out two glasses. I went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of ginger beer, raising my eyebrows at him in question. He nodded in agreement, smiling timidly.

"So, is it just the two of us? Or is Kathleen home?" He asked, surprising me a little. He'd only spoken to Kathleen briefly, and I was surprised he remembered her. Then again, she had mentioned Jason the greek hero, so I guess that made an impression.

"No, she's out with a friend." I explained. 'Friend' was a loose term. Kathleen and Danté's relationship was long and twisted, and included decades of being lovers, enemies and friends. Which is what you can expect between two ancient, powerful vampires. Right now they were in one of their friendship periods, thank god.