Affinity

Chapter 10: Exposed

Eleven-year-old Anastasia climbed into the passenger side of her brother's mustang. He sped off out of the parking lot not giving her a chance to return Pam's wave as Bob and Tammy loaded up their car with her birthday presents.

"Did you have fun?" Niccoli asked, stealing a glance at the friendship bracelet around his little sister's wrist. They sat at a red light on the dark, vacant street.

"Yes," Nastia answered honestly.

He raised an eyebrow then shook his head. When they got home, he didn't turn off the car. As she made ready to get out, he grabbed her arm.

"Let's talk."

She narrowed her eyes. "Talk about what exactly?"

"Human friends. If you're going to have them, you need to understand some things." When she didn't say anything, he went on, "For one, they die."

"Thanks for the enlightenment." She opened her door to get out not in the mood to be patronized.

He leaned across her in a movement too quick for the human eye to see. The door was closed, and Anastasia's back hit the leather of her seat. "Listen. They die hundreds of years before we do. We can't live in their world."

"I know all this, Niccoli."

"If you want to have a human companion to play tag with until your fangs descend, that's fine! But you must be prepared to let them go. Without condition. Before you put yourself in this position, ask yourself if that is something you can do."

Nastia rolled her eyes. "That won't be an issue."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I belong with you, Mother and Father. The humans are annoying... and so is their world. I will be glad to leave it."

Anastasia dove into the nearest restroom without much thought. The same words echoed in her mind as she closed herself in a stall.

This isn't happening.

She needed to calm down to conceal the fangs. But she didn't know how. The more she tried to calm down, the more impossible the task seemed. Her breath came out as shallow, rapid panting. In that moment, she heard a knocking on the stall as Pam tried to talk to her.

"Nash.... please talk to me. A-are you... um, okay? I just... I'm so confused. Come out. Please!"

Years of memories flashed in front of her eyes. Seven years worth of memories seemed too short all of a sudden, but they were enough to forge this bond that tugged at her heart now. Those moments were perfect and clear but now they burned into ash as she recalled the horror in her friend's eyes. The smoke of those ashes stung her own eyes and gave way to an involuntary quiver of her lips.

The teenage vampire didn't see a way out. She could just shoved the human out of the way and ran home, but she tossed that idea away. Pam deserved more than that. She would have questions and Nastia knew her well enough to know she won't let this go. Time to face the music. She slowly unlocked the door and swung it open to reveal herself. From the widening of her best friend's eyes and that fear still in them, her fangs and eyes were still vampiric.

"Your eyes...," Pam started then seemed to falter with words.

Nastia stayed silent to allow her human friend time to gather her thoughts. Five minutes may have passed as Pam stood there looking at her, really looking at her and perhaps seeing her for the first time. Anastasia could almost see the cogs of her brain turning, shuffling, and processing this new information. As soon as she was about to speak, Nastia held up a hand stopping the words. "Do you mind if we go out to your car to talk? I don't want to be overheard?"