NEXT MORNING…

KRISTEN’S POV

    Ow! Immediately my hand goes to my head and my eyes shut itself against the sunlight which hit so hard. I was on my bed, in my red checked shirt and a pair of sexy denim shorts and it’s been seven in the morning and…

     Wait! I looked at my clothes again. How did I get into these? I got up, clutched the messy hair and ran down to the kitchen where all of them were sitting casually at the table, each with a glass filled with blood in their hands.
           God, that sight always disgusted me. “Good Morning!” Ash greets me cheerfully. He was the only one not at the table. He was getting my breakfast ready: - waffles with chocolate syrup.
         Yum! No Kristen, concentrate on the matter. Instead of greeting back, I ended up asking. “What is this?” “Ummm… Your breakfast?” Ash answered, confused. “I’m not talking about that. What am I wearing?” Walt took the opportunity of answering. “Leaves?”  I made a face at him. “Very funny, Walt - “A pause. To reframe my question. “Ok, what I meant is how did I get into these clothes?”

      One moment, everything was silent until Zac decides to answer. “I did it.” He admits softly. That took me by surprise. Me exploding was soon to follow. Before it could erupt, he continued.
          “Wait, before you say anything, let me finish. I swear by my honour that I didn’t see a thing. " He says quietly, his eyes examining the white polished floor.

FLASHBACK....

     I got her out of the bathroom and put her down on the wooden floor. She was still not sober. Water had no effect on her. Quickly got a towel and a shirt of hers out. She backed away as I came with the towel.
            "Why?" She whined. "Because you will catch a cold." I say and I wiped her hair as she sat on the floor, between my legs and kept making noises as if she's under the command of vibration.
        And then tried to make her put on her shirt but she kept running away from me. At last I pulled her to myself and gotten her to wear her shirt and then managed to unzip her dress. After that she was behind my life trying to get my clothes off but it was only a matter of time that she passed out, just outside Chris's room. I picked her up and gently put her on the bed and left her after placing a kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Angel." I whisper.  

ENDED...   

       "I made you wear your shirt and then unzipped you dress. If you still  feel uncomfortable about it, I am sorry if that helps."  Zac was known for his honesty so I believed him and thus my anger receded and only let out a sigh. “It’s ok.” I smile a little.
           A multiple sighs of relief followed mine. “Don’t tell me you guys were also a part of this.” I say, horrified even by the thought of it. Walt:- “Obviously we weren’t. We were just enjoying the show.”
        Then dramatically. “Thank God, the love birds didn’t go on a verbal strike. Otherwise that would be very disheartening.” Everyone was laughing and Zac was shooting daggers at Walt which he skilfully managed to dodge.

      I just slowly shake my head with a smile and went back to my room.  Suddenly my conscience spoke, appearing right behind me like a ghost. God, I had to get used to her ghostly enterance. She just loved to spook me up like that. My conscience has started talking to me alot since the time they admitted that I was living amongst vampires. It felt like the other half of me just got the opportunity to get up.
And I'm happy cause now I actually feel some one who can understand me. Some one who knows all my feelings, all my thoughts, infact all of me.
         “Congratulation, my friend.” My brow raised.” For what?” “You, my dear, are finally in love.” My apparition beamed. “No, I’m not.” “Well, love it’s the truth.” I just rolled my eyes as the door shut hard behind. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” “Don’t act smart. Technically you are me.” I say as I rummage my room for clothes and managed to find something appropriate to wear and after removing what I was wearing, I wrapped the towel over my half naked body. I am going to take a shower.
         “Yeah, I know. But you wouldn’t lie to yourself, would you? Plus tell me when you first close your eyes, who do you see?”

       I stepped into the shower and let the hot water sprinkle itself on me as I closed my eyes and waited for the image to form. I could see Zac and feel his hands roaming my waist pulling me closer. My eyes snapped open. No, this was not possible.
      I gave it another try. This time I could feel his lips perfectly in sync with mine.  No, no I need to give one more try. Now I could feel the softness of his hair and smell the scent which he always wore.
        “How many times are you gonna try?” My apparition was sitting by the basin, groaned. I took the white curtain and covered myself, “Privacy please.” Her brow raised. “Seriously?” I nodded. She shrugged “Whatever.” And disappeared.
       I quickly finished and began to pack. “Hey, what are you doing?” she startled me as I was not used to her popping anytime, anywhere. “Leaving!” One short and sweet word. “No, don’t!” she begged. I stopped to give her one look.
        “Gimme one good reason to stay.” “Because you love him?” “Ha, one perfect reason to leave. Thanks I needed it.” I say sarcastically. “And may I know the actual reason of you leaving?” She asked as she sat cross-legged on my bed, more like posing like a model. “What I mean is he is a vampire and I am definitely not falling for one.” I explained.
       “Let me point it out: - You already are in love with one.” “That is why, my dear friend, I must leave.” I was done packing. I had dumped everything which belonged to me in one large suitcase and was thus ready to leave. “Ok, your choice. I did my best to make you stay.” And the apparition began to fade away.

      That was weird. I didn’t usually give up so fast. Usually I am so stubborn that I make sure things go my way. Anyways I sighed as I knew I was going to regret the decision of leaving but I had no other choice.
          I mean I had good memories in this house with those five crazy vampires. And now I was going to leave everything behind, the moment I stepped out of this house. I sat on my bed, thinking hard about whatever I had cause after this everything would be long forgotten. I felt a hand on my back and my eyes opened.

       “Nicole?” Surprised. She was sitting cross-legged facing towards me. What was she doing here? “You are leaving.” She stated the obvious fact of the moment. “Yes, I am.” I say with a tiny smile hinted with regret. She held my hand in both of hers.
          “Please don’t.” What the hell? Why is she taking the side of the other me? Right now, I could feel her smirk. “I need to, Nicole.” As my eyes meet hers, “I need to.” “I know the reason of your sudden thought of leaving. It’s because you love him, right? You love Zac.”
         “How do you know?” I ask incredulously. “The night you got drunk, in your sleep you started to scream. When I came to your room to see what happened, you started shouting ‘Zac, please. Please don’t go. I love you.’” There was a hint of truth in her voice but it wasn’t complete for sure. There was definitely more to it but I did not press for more.
          “Yes, I love him. The reason why I have to leave. I cannot fall deeper into his alluring charms. It has to stop.” I say with a dominant flair as I stood up, refusing to face her while the lonesome tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly before it could be noticed. “I-“ I interrupted her speech. “Nicole, please. Don’t try to make me stay. It’s not gonna happen.”

      Saying this quite firmly, I made my way to the main door only to see the five most annoying vampire standing there, waiting for me. “Nicole?” “I didn’t do anything.” She protested in a squeaky voice. “Where are you going?” Chris asked, more out of curiosity than anger for trying to leave the premises.
         “I’m going home. My few days here are over.” I say confidently and tried to step out of the house but an invisible barrier pushed me back.

     “Nicole?” “Why do you always think of me first?” She whined. I turned to the others. “What did you guys do to the door?” I sighed before asking. “Nothing!” Walt says, trying to hide his shown smile. “Zac?” I had hopes of him telling me what is going on. But he simply shook his head, stating that he himself doesn’t know what’s happening. “Chris?” At least he would know and tell me.           
         “Ummm… Actually… Do you remember the time I compelled you not to run away?” “Yeah, so?” That had no relation to me not able to leave the house… Wait… Actually it did. “So you can’t leave the house without our consent.” He answers simply. “So can I leave now?” I ask hopefully even though I knew the obvious answer. “No!” All of them unison.
         “Why? I mean, see, my family must be very worried about me.” I said, the half-truth not revealing the other. I glared at Nicole, warning her to keep her mouth shut. “Please don’t go.” Zac pleaded. “Why?” And then it all came out in a gush.
       “Because I love you… and I don’t want you to go.” He added in a small voice.

     His answer stunned me as it echoed in my ears. That was something I didn’t expect. Did he just say... He loved me?  As I stayed there frozen, he kept his glance on the floor. Both of unable to speak. “Ummm…Zac? Can I talk to you? Yes, personally.” Ash had broken the awkward silence of shock. Zac just nodded and followed Ash out.
         I was going to fall on my knees but Chris caught me before that. I rest my head against his chest and murmured. “Please tell me it’s not true.” In reply, he just strokes my hair and whispers repeatedly “It’s ok, Love.” But I continued “Please tell me it’s a dream.’ I looked at him for some trace of hope. “Love, I wish I could say that but it’s time you face the reality.” He says with a smile so comforting. “Right now, go unpack. It’ll help you to take things off your mind.” He continues.

    See, even he gets a hint that now Zac has confessed his feelings for me, I will never be able to leave now. To escape something that I truly didn’t want but still I just nod and go back to my room.
       The exact one which I thought I would never see again. The same one which was now bare without the liveliness of the previous occupant who again became the present.

 ZAC’S POV

    “I’m sorry. It just came out from my mouth. I didn’t mean to –" “Zac, chill down. I didn’t call you for whatever you are about to confess. I actually called you to ask whether this is ok.” “What is ok?” I appeared to be confused. What was he talking about?
       “Is it ok for an original pureblood to be in love with an ordinary human?” Uh oh, didn’t really think about that. Seeing that I was quiet, he reframed his question. “You can control yourself, right?” I doubted that myself. Would I be able to love Kristen without hurting her? Giving her the pain she never deserved?
       “I can try.” I say, sounding completely unsure. “Zac, there is no try. You can’t hurt her. If you do, you know what will happen.”

      Yes, I knew the consequences I would have to pay but I was ready to take the risk, if it only meant Kristen would be mine. “I will control myself.” I found myself promising him confidently. Ash smiles as he pats my back. “That feels good to hear. Now go. She needs you.”
        Before I could take a step, Chris appears in front of me. “Chris, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean-“ I tried to apologise but he cut me off. “Sorry for what?” He asked, looking completely clueless. Chris was supposed to be angry with me for stealing ‘his girl’ but right now, he looked completely calm to me. I wanted him to admit his feelings to her because he needed her more than I do. He never felt so complete after Eleanor.

      “Sorry for admitting my feelings to Kristen.” I murmur in guilt. “No Zac, you don’t need to apologise. You did the right thing.” Why am I so confused? And what is he exactly talking about? He continued. “You remember the time I told you that she loves somebody else.” I nod in agreement.
         “That somebody is you.” My face betrayed no emotion as I knew the truth which released itself from her mouth. But he gave no pause of surprise. “Why do you think I didn’t take your idea of compulsion? Because of you.” “But why?” I found myself asking him back. I mean here I was giving him a chance to prove himself to her and he was giving it back to me even though he knows my situation for all these years. Why can’t he understand that she is safer with him than me? “Because I know you love this girl. Longer than I ever did. You had fallen in love with her the first time you met her. Plus this girl is the reason you have changed so much. You haven’t gotten angry on anyone since-" “Yeah, I know.” I roll my eyes at him who takes no heed.

       “And you don’t have any clue on what effect you have on her.”  He muttered. “What do you mean?” I ask, feeling slightly unsure on what he was hinting on. “The reason why she was leaving today is because of you. She thinks she is not good enough for you.”
     “Hey! That is completely wrong. She is the most perfect girl I’ve ever seen.” I protest angrily. “Well, that’s your job to make her believe that. She would rather listen to you than me.” He shrugged.
         “And what about you? Are you ok with this?” I ask, concerned about his feelings. He is my best friend and I would not let something valuable taken away from him especially when it comes to love. I didn’t want him to experience his heart ripped again, that to now the reason would be me.
        “Me? I’m perfectly fine about it. In fact I’m happy just being her best friend.” He smiled to himself, sadly. “Thanks, Chris.” I hug him. “Anytime.” I leave him to go to Kristy’s room.
        She was quietly unpacking, slowly. “Hey, how are you faring?” I ask her, feeling a little worried of what just happened. The shock hit with a great impact and the absorption took it's recovery time a little too slow and so I have no clue how she had taken it.

KRISTEN’S POV

   I was silently unpacking and felt quite relieved from the shock as Chris had said. Guess he knows me pretty well. Just then I felt someone’s presence in the room. I turned around to see Zac sitting on the corner of my bed with a worried look on his face, his eyes slowly gazing at me.
      “Hey, how are you faring?” He whispers with soft concern flashed on his face. He makes himself audible enough for me to hear. “Yeah, I am fine. I just needed some time off alone.” I say, quite normally with a smile to show that I really meant that I was fine. “Ok.” He says, as he gets up to walk out of my room. “Wait!” He turns around as his hazel brown eyes settle themselves on me.

     “Can I ask something?” He nods. “Why did Ash call you aside?” He comes to sit beside me on the floor. I was going to protest but he beat me to it. “He called me to see whether I would be okay with this.” He was looking down.  “Okay with what?” I ask curiously. “Being in love with you.”
       There could be problems loving me? I mean secretly I wanted this to happen but the problems weren't a part of it. I wasn't getting anything.
      “What do you mean?” “It means that it could be dangerous for us to be in love because I could hurt you.” He said this line very slowly as if those very line could hurt me physically. But I trust him. He would never hurt me. Without a reason.
        “I know you won’t” I assure him with a smile. He scoffs “Don’t be so sure, Angel.”

     Angel? My fore head formed creases. That word which was buried deep in my memories, hidden deep inside had now come out. But where was its origin which couldn’t be found.
        I only remember that someone used to call me that but who? I had no clue. “Whoa, that’s a first!” His brow raised quizzically. “Angel. Where did that come from? You used to call me Kristy.” He looked confused. “You don’t remember anything?” He looked at me, expecting to suddenly remember everything I had forgotten. Sadly there is nothing I could recollect.
      “Remember what?” What did he exactly want me to remember? “Oh, yeah how could I forget? Obviously you don’t remember.” Huh? He caressed my cheek with two of his fingers. What is going on? I wanted to shout it out and that’s when everything came back to me.