DUSK

eleven

I went to the ladies room to recover myself. We use everything we take in, so I had no need to use it in the human way. I simply touched up my gloss.

Clara followed me.

"Okay, Ibis, what the hell is going on?!"

The few girls in the restroom, looked at us like they were keen on seeing something go down. They shuffled out quickly, after Clara shot them a warning look.

"We're friends, but I will not stand by and watch you hurt my brother."

I sighed. "There's nothing going on." I said, but I couldn't meet her eyes.

"Whatever Ibis. I saw you. You and Stephen almost made-out right there on the dancefloor!"

"We didn't! I pushed him away. "

It took some effort, but I turned to look at her.

"Look. I'm not going to deny that I do feel physically attracted to him. He is gorgeous. Shit, you practically fall all over him yourself. I am still a female, after all... but it passes every time he opens his mouth."

"Really." Clara stood back on her heels and folded her arms across her chest.

I turned away.

"Look at me, Ibis."  she said and I managed to meet her eyes, again.

"Promise me, you won't hurt my brother," she said, quietly.

More giggling girls spilled in, chatting excitedly about their dates. I said nothing.

 Clara strode out of the bathroom, shaking her head dismissively.

"Clara!" I went out behind her and spotted Will watching me. Everything was clear in his eyes.

I walked over to him.

"Will I-"

"-Not now," he said and the tone of his voice killed me. Not the anger. That, I could've handled, but the resignation. As if he was certain of the inevitability of my getting together with Stephen.

He took my hand and lead me onto the floor. We silently swayed to the music.

The rest of the night passed surrounded by our group. They chatted about inconsequential things while we mostly pretended to be involved with it. I did eventually relax again, but the shadow still loomed over us.

Stephen.

It didn't help that he kept looking at me, with those piercing amber eyes of his.

He kept his distance...I knew, it was because of my love for Will.

It had been a magical night until I stupidly, screwed it all up.

 ~~~~

As the night dragged on, I stepped out into the unusually chilly night air and sat down on a bench in the quad, with Will.

He brushed a hand across my cheek. "I'm going to lose you."

I stared into his eyes, insistent. "No. I love you, Will."

"I know you do, but where can this go? If you have your way, I'll stay human. We'll never be able to truly be together."

"Will, you know why I won't. I can't let you-"

"-That's my decision. And when the time comes, I'll make that choice."

"You say that now, because you don't know. It is magical at first, the power, the virtual immortality. But then it becomes...something different. That creature. That thing we defeated was right about one thing. We're supposed to die."