Sterling Silver (Sterling Hunter Series Book 1)

Chapter 34

The weekend passed by far too quickly for Sebastian's liking. He couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed himself so thoroughly. Not since he had been friends with both his sister and Alistair.

Tabitha's family was wonderful. They laughed together, ate dinner together. Sebastian trained Derrick and Tabitha every day. Tabitha beat him most times, her instincts improving along with her speed and agility whereas Derrick only won... well a few times. Which was an improvement from Friday evening when they first fought.

Sunday night they had a small bonfire party. Chelsea came over along with the Gonzalez's and the Carters. They ate hot dogs over the bonfire. Sebastian couldn't take his eyes off Tabitha as she stuffed her face with gooey s'mores. She would stick her marshmallows straight into the flames until they caught fire, completely burning them. He laughed every time she pulled them out, shrieked with delight and blowing the marshmallows out with little puffs of air.

Sandra, Brenda and Maria all sat around the fire talking and gossiping while Will Carter, Derrick and Jonas tossed a football around in the yard, despite the sunlight waning.

Sebastian watched as Tabitha squished a huge piece of a Hershey bar in between two graham crackers with her marshmallow. She laughed with Chelsea as chocolate dripped down her lower lip and Sebastian had the sudden itch to reach over and wipe it away with his thumb...

He licked his lips and quickly looked away before he dove over the fire and kissed all the chocolate from Tabitha's face. Tabitha wanted space... time with Chelsea and that was what he would give her. Besides he didn't think she would approve of him kissing her in front of her big brother and mom.

Tabitha was laughing about something Chelsea had said as Chelsea shoved a plain marshmallow in her mouth, both girls' eyes dancing. It was the best thing Sebastian had seen in a long time. Someone clapped him on the shoulder and Sebastian looked up, pulled from his Tabitha induced trance.

Derrick nodded toward the house. "Mind helping me get more supplies?"

He did but he got up anyways. Scoring points with Derrick was always a good thing. Derrick grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the house. Sebastian glanced over his shoulder as the door shut behind them and saw Tabitha leading Chelsea out onto the grass of their backyard as fireflies danced around them.

Derrick said something but he didn't listen, tuning into Chelsea and Tabitha's conversation instead. "I missed you Tabitha. I feel like we haven't talked, like really talked, since Sebastian showed up. Is something going on?"Chelsea asked.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows, hunched over the kitchen counter, folding his hands on the marble top and listened for Tabitha's response. "I know. I'm sorry Chels. It's just been really busy but I think... maybe..." she paused, "you have to promise not to tell anyone I said this, Ok Chels? Like really promise."

"I really promise. Just tell me."

Another pause and Sebastian grinned. Oh, this was going to be good. A hand touched his shoulder but he waved Derrick off, listening intently. "I think... there is something going on between Sebastian and me," Tabitha confessed.

She probably thought Sebastian couldn't hear her. She was sorely mistaken. Sebastian's lips twitched into a pleased smile and he tapped his fingers against the counter. Her thoughts were twisting and spinning like they always did. Tabitha's mind was almost impossible to read, her thoughts always bouncing from one thing to the next.

"But... I thought you swore off guys after your messy breakup with Devon?"

Tabitha paused and then said, "I know but I don't even think of Devon anymore. That happened like three years ago. I don't care about him, and I don't care that he broke my heart because Chelsea... I think... I might be in love with Sebastian."

Silence passed between them and Sebastian raised his eyebrows, glancing at Derrick who gave him a questioning look as he got out the plastic cups and jug of lemonade.

"I know this sounds weird. We just met, but we've spent a lot of time together and Chelsea, he knows me. Like he just gets me and we've been through a lot together in the past few weeks and I just think that... I love him. A real love."

"The kind of love from fairytales?" Chelsea whispered.

It was all Sebastian could do to stop himself from laughing. Though Tabitha did chuckle, a bright, happiness in her voice as she answered gave him hope. "Actually Chelsea, this is going to sound cheesy but yeah. It's weird and too fast and maybe I'm dead wrong but I think I do love him. Fairytale kind of love. Is that wrong? Am I completely messed up for falling in love with someone in two weeks? Please tell me I don't sound stupid."

"What does Sebastian think?" Chelsea answered Tabitha's question with a question. That must drive her crazy.

"Well... I might have already told him that I love him, and he might have... hinted that he feels the same way," Tabitha said, her voice trailing off.

Sebastian was eager to know what else she head to say on the topic but Derrick interrupted his eavesdropping. Derrick grabbed his shoulder and spun him around with some effort, jarring Sebastian from Tabitha's conversation. "Are you spying on my sister?"

Sebastian smirked and shrugged, leaning back against the counter. "Maybe. She's talking about her feelings with Chelsea. Her feelings about me."

Derrick scowled but turned back to his lemonade. He poured the yellow drink in the plastic cups, his back tense. "What... what did she say? Is she serious about you?"

Sebastian dipped his head, a triumphant smile on his face. "I believe so."

"And... and you? You're a vampire, so you must know your relationship won't ever be perfect. Tabitha deserves a normal human life."

Sebastian's smile melted, and he clutched the counter behind him. He knew that. He just... didn't like thinking about it. "I'm serious about your sister as well. I'm in love with her. I think I've been in love with her since the moment she tried to kill me at school."

Derrick snorted and turned around two cups of lemonade in either hand. "Because that's not messed up at all."

Sebastian grinned and shrugged. He was a vampire. Everything he did was messed up. He moved past Derrick and grabbed the other cups of lemonade. Derrick stopped in front of him, his face serious. "If you really are serious and you really do love her then I suggest you not hurt her. If you do anything to harm her emotionally or physically I will hunt you down and kill you myself, do you understand?"

Sebastian dipped his head and grinned mockingly at him, quirking an eyebrow. "Is that your twisted way of giving me your blessing?"

Derrick snorted and rolled his eyes, pushing open the door with his side. "Is that your twisted way of asking for my blessing?"

"Yes, it is."

He shrugged as they made their way to the small plastic table right outside the back door. "Then yeah, I guess it is. Just... don't hurt her."

"I would never. Mostly for fear that she would hunt me down and stake me in the heart." He grinned at the thought, and Derrick just shook his head setting the cups down.

"Good. Now stop eavesdropping. I think Mckayla's waiting for you." Derrick wrinkled his nose and pretended to puke when his sister wasn't looking. Sebastian laughed and shrugged, raising his eyebrows. "I don't mind a little attention. She's a beautiful girl."

Derrick pretended to puke again, walking off to where Carlos and Will were talking. Sebastian turned his back on him and before going over to Mckayla he tuned into Tabitha's conversation. To his chagrin they were off the topic of him and were talking about Chelsea's latest crush. He grimaced and grabbed a cup of lemonade for himself.

It didn't matter.Sebastian would make his intentions known for her one way or another. As if he hadn't already. He planned it all out as he tuned in on the rest of the conversations going on around the fire. Pick her up and take her out for the night of her life. More formal and proper than the last time they had gone out.Tomorrow would be perfect. They would kiss, and she would finally admit that she loved him to his face.