Off With His Head

31. Cue the awkward family reunion

After six long torturous days of sitting on the hospital bed, Angie finally clears me to leave. My heart soars when I realize that it's just in time for the Hunters Ball. Caleb arrives to help me back to my room, buzzing with excitement for the night ahead.

Both Zach and Caleb have visited me every day, in between trying to track down the vampire that got away. Apparently, finding him is now the top priority, before he can warn the rest of the people that Henry turned. I worry that it might already be too late for that. I'm almost completely convinced that they already know all about Zach and Caleb and that the next mission is going to be an ambush.

But I try not to dwell too much on it. Thankfully, during the last week, Caleb and Zach have remained at headquarters and not gone out on their own. I hope it stays like that until I can join them, though I know the chances are unlikely. Their next mission is looming closer by the day and it's only a matter of time before they find him and leave to take him out.

"There you go, Jennings." Caleb opens the door to my room and helps me hobble in, one of my arms slung over his shoulders. "I went and got some of your stuff so you would have something to wear tonight. I didn't find many dresses though, so your options are pretty slim."

"I don't wear them often," I admit, surveying the three choices he has laid out on my bed. It's only when I touch the first, dark brown and made of satin, that I realise something. "Wait, you went out? You weren't supposed to leave headquarters!"

"Relax, Jennings, I made it back in one piece." His smile eases my worries slightly, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief as I realise he's right. "Besides, I knew you'd be uncomfortable showing up in jeans."

"That's really sweet of you." I can't help the grin that stretches across my face. "Thank you, Calloway."

"Pleasure." He swiftly kisses my forehead before removing my arm from his shoulder. "Are you okay to change on your own, or do you need me to stay and help?" he asks with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"I'll be fine." I swat his arm, ignoring the sharp pain that shoots across my belly. "Now, get out so I can get ready."

"Okay, if you insist." He shrugs, chuckling to himself as he turns back to the door. "I'll come get you at eight."

An hour later, just as I've climbed out the bath, there's a knock at the door. Cursing Caleb for coming back when I still have two hours to get ready, I gingerly wrap a bathrobe around myself and hobble to the door.

I'm still not sure how I'm going to dance. Couldn't I have waited until after this ball to get injured?

I open it, surprised to find Zach standing there, looking slightly uncomfortable as he takes in my appearance. His eyes refuse to meet mine, staring over my shoulder as he clears his throat. "Peyton, may I come in?"

"Uh, sure." I pull the robe tighter around me and step back, confused by his presence.

"I brought you this." He passes me a clothes bag, the tissue inside it rustling with the movement. I don't know much about clothing brands, but judging by the curly calligraphy emblazoned on the front of the bag, it's an expensive one. "I thought you might need something to wear tonight. Although," he pauses, eyeing the three dresses on my bed. "It looks like you might already have something."

"You got me a dress?" I ask incredulously, attempting to scrape my jaw off the floor.

"Don't look so shocked, Peyton. I can be a nice person. Sometimes." He half smiles and shifts awkwardly on his feet.

"Wow, thank you, Zach." I'm not sure which surprises me more; Zach buying me a dress, or him making a joke about it. Okay, definitely the former. I can't even picture Zach in a dress store, never mind actually making a purchase. "That was really thoughtful of you."