Sorry You Had To Bleed

Chapter 7 - My Replacement

          The thing that troubled me most was sitting right in front of me, with her red lipstick and her blushed cheeks that make her face pop out like pop rocks. She was looking at me, waiting for a response. I couldn't help myself but stay silent. After all these lonely months, she was finally ready to speak to me? Why? Why now? Why couldn't she have just made it easier for both of us and never forgave me for what I did to her? I can add these to the list of life's greatest unsolvable mysteries.

          She looks to the side and stared at the neon glow that was emitting from the lights and hitting the tops of the cars. "So, how have you been lately?" She asked me. I felt my throat tighten as I tried to speak. 

          "I've been okay, I guess." "Yeah, I can say the same." She puts her hands around her glass and drinks as she takes her eyes off me. Having been preoccupied with Callie, I completely forgot that Fang had been listening to our conversation the whole time. Seeing what I'm seeing. I only remember this because I feel the buzzing that I know and love come back as soon as she pulls away. "Matias, who is this woman?" He asks me. 

          She looks up from her glass and looks back at me, with a slightly concerned look on her face. "Are you okay?" She asks. I bet she can see right through me. It's probably because I'm sweating like a horse. "Excuse me for one moment," I say, getting out of my seat and rushing past waitresses carrying trays of food. 

          As soon as I can shut the bathroom stall door behind me, I start to feel shaky. "That's my ex-girlfriend, Fang.". When I say that he laughed, oh boy did he laugh. I couldn't hear the rest of the world over his laughter. "What's so funny?" I asked him. "I didn't expect you to-" someone had walked inside and cut him off short. He knows that whoever is in here can't hear him, but he remains silent. Someone came in, opened the stall beside me and didn't make a sound. "Matias, be cautious," Fang said. "Why? What's wrong?". I feel my fingers slowly start to lose feeling, and then my hands do as well. I struggle to regain control back, but he won't budge. "I need to have my foot in the door in case something happens." 

          He's starting to scare me, but then again, he always scares me.

          I walk out of the bathroom without using my hands, obviously. I see Callie sitting a few spaces closer to the wall than she was originally. When I sat back down, I could see that there was a smile on her face. Usually, she's just happy in general. There was no sign of any real smile before now, and it was really weird seeing her old self again. 

          That's when I saw it. The space that she made was occupied by a coat. It wasn't mine, and it wasn't hers. It was gray, and it looked like a suit jacket. It had patches on the elbows and a pocket square in the front part of it. She turned to me with that smile still on her face. It makes me regret so much, but it also makes me want to leave. "What are you so happy about?" I ask her. She sits up and rubs the wrinkles out of her pants. "Look, Matt. The real reason I wanted to meet here wasn't just to talk about things. I met someone new recently, and he lives in this area. I thought it would be cool to have him meet people I know. He's in the bathroom; he should be out soon."

          When Fang said to be cautious, was he talking about this new guy that's seeing Callie? I can only imagine who it could be. What if it's Stephen? Will I have to explain to Callie that she is dating one of my enemies? Would she even care? I mean, Daniel is the only one who knows I'm a vampire. Not even Callie, my ex-girlfriend of a few years. She never once caught me or saw my fangs. Which is weird. Why would Daniel be the one to find out?

          I hear footsteps behind me, and my senses go into overdrive. I can hear everything. Every heartbeat in the restaurant. The grease as it pops from the deep-fryer, the writing of the pencils on paper as people list off their order, and the sound of the fabric that rubs up against this guy's skin. I can't look around, it feels like my neck is stiff. I know it isn't Fang taking control, but I just can't find the strength to move.