*EDITED VERSION AS OF 5TH JANUARY*

Chapter 6~ Feeling Blue

I stayed in bed for a few days until my ribs had fully healed and most of the bruising had subsided - another advantage of being a vampire, I was a quick healer.

I was still tender in places and a few faint bruises lined my jaw, but I was well enough to get up and move around.

At least, I was well enough to dance.

As I entered my favourite room, I filled it with the slow melody of Christina Perri's, 'Jar of Hearts' as I switched on the CD player and took in a deep breath to feel the music.

Being grounded for two months meant that I couldn't be with Stacey or even go horse riding which was one of the worst things ever, so to fill up the time I had thought to make up a new dance routine.

'Because all that's waiting is regret...'

The song played and as Christina's velvety voice filled my ears I couldn't help but feel another twinge. What Carlos had asked for really bothered me - not the fact that he'd asked for so little, but the fact that he'd asked me to keep his relationship with Eva a secret.

It could only mean that the notorious player, Carlos Orlando, had finally met someone he really cared for and I tried not to analyse too closely how I felt about that.

'I learnt to live half a life, and now you want me one more time...'

As the chorus boomed softly I began to sway and twirl, almost as if mesmerised. I could feel her pain as I leaped gently and twisted, before arching my back in a backwards sweep; my long hair brushing against the floor.

'Who do you think you are, running round leaving scars, collecting your jar of hearts; tearing love apart...'

As she spat the words graciously, I twisted, leaped and arched, bending my body in ways that I'm sure only a professional could accomplish.

Another perk of being a vampire.

Really feeling the music this time, I upped the pace of my rhythm and tried my best to reflect the hurt and anguish that could so easily be heard within the song's lyrics.

I crouched my body forward, wrapping my arms tightly around my chest before rolling to my left and getting up slowly, pointing my toes like a ballerina; my hair spreading loosely over my face.

When the song came to an end, I did one final leap twisting mid-air and jolted my arms roughly to the left before pulling them slowly towards my body.

'Who do you think you are? Who do you think, you are...'

The song finally ended and I watched the room in silence, including the way the bright morning sun hit the surface of the wooden floorboards, lighting them up and warming my skin. I was breathing heavily but not too heavily, and I slowly turned until I was stood facing the door.

I'd been so immersed in my dancing that I hadn't felt the presence of another. I froze like a deer in the headlights as I noticed who was standing in the doorway, before coming to my senses and letting out a small hiss.

Carlos was looking at me in both bemusement and admiration as I walked towards him. He was about to open his mouth when I snarled the words, 'Tell no onewhat you've just seen,' before slamming the door in his face.

Granted, it wasn't the best way to show gratitude towards my saviour, so I quickly re-opened the door to see him still standing there in shock before abruptly reciting, 'Thank you for saving me and Stacey,' before slamming the door in his face once again.

What? I didn't want to see him right then. Was that too much to ask?

*************

Several hours later, I was sat at the table eating my lunch; aware of the fact that my father was studiously ignoring my presence, which bothered me greatly.

When I got up as I finished, I gave him a small peck on the cheek before rushing upstairs. It had only been a few days since I'd been grounded and already it was starting to take its toll.

Feeling nothing but pure boredom, I sat on my bed and punched in Stacey's phone number before waiting for it to ring.

'Hey,' she said sheepishly from the other end when she picked up.

'Hey, how are you?' I crossed my legs and stared at myself in my dressing table mirror.

'Not too bad,' she paused. 'I heard that Carlos saved us. I'm sorry about the trouble I got you in.'

Frowning, I fluffed my hair up with my fingers through my reflection and told her sternly, 'Yeah he did, but Stace, it wasn't just your idea - it was mine too.'

Now it was my turn to feel guilty as I remembered what had happened that night in the alley way. 'I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you well enough. I should've been able to fight them off.'

There was a small pause as we both thought back grimly to what had happened. 'It's alright,' she told me. 'I shouldn't have agreed to it... our method of transport. And it's not your fault.' I smiled slightly as she said this. 'Thank you so much for trying to keep me safe.'

I gave a small nod and then remembered that she couldn't see me. 'It's ok.' I said back.

There was a short pause; then, 'How did your father take it?'

I shuddered, thinking back to his reaction. 'Well, I'm grounded for two months and now he's doing his best to ignore me which hurts, but I suppose I deserve it. I mean, I shamed my parents and made them and my brother worried sick, so it's the least I deserve.' I said.

Stacey sighed heavily. 'You know, sometimes being a vampire must be poo.'

I agreed and told her as much. We carried on talking for a few more minutes before she was called away by her parents and forced to hang up the phone. Before she went she told me to thank Carlos for her.

Stacey and I were close, but I hadn't mentioned anything about the debt that I'd owed Carlos as a result of him saving us. Some things were just easier for her not to know, and telling her would've meant breaking my promise.

There was a small knock on the door and I stiffened until I sensed it wasn't Carlos before reluctantly getting up to answer it.

A small blonde maid looked up at me before giving me a small bow and extending out a small gift box. 'For you, My Lady.' She said and I cautiously took it from her.

Attached to it was a simple note which read, 'These are for you, my wonderful dancer.' After making sure I'd read it correctly I sent the maid on her way before sitting back on my bed with the box in my lap.

On opening it, I saw that there was a beautiful pair of white; silk-like dancing shoes which resembled those of a ballerina's. I gasped softly as I took them out of the box and squealed with delight as I realised that they fit my feet perfectly. I couldn't believe it; it wasn't like Roland to...

Pausing, I looked down at note again. The handwriting was in italics and was beautifully sculpted. It was similar to, but not exactly the same as, my brother's which made me glad I knew his writing so well. My face darkened to something dangerous and I dropped the box as if it were poison ivy before very slowly taking off the shoes.

There was only one other person who knew that I danced. Carlos.

Oh I was pissed. In fact I was so pissed that I was sure that hell really 'hath' no fury in comparison. Shoving the shoes roughly back into the box, I slammed on the box lid with as much force as I could muster before opening my bedroom door and storming across the corridor.

No way was I going to let him get away with this. No fucking way.

When I reached his room I banged on the door violently, even more pissed that I'd bumped into Eva on the way who'd blushed and muttered another apology before scurrying off. She'd no doubt come from Carlos's room, I bet.

After the fifth time Carlos finally opened his door wearily and didn't even have time to open his mouth before I barged past him, making sure to bang into his shoulder with force.

Slamming the box onto his desk with a resounding 'thud' I waited patiently for him to look at me.

'Can I help you?' He asked me politely, not even looking at the box.

Being too angry for words, I simply pointed at it as I managed a, 'What the fuck is this?'

He looked startled and then slightly amused as he acknowledged the box and then eyed the shoes carefully. 'They're dancing shoes. A gift.' I glared at him. 'For you,' He clarified.

I bristled. 'Why did you give them to me?'

He seemed to have overcome his confusion with that one question and beamed at me, almost cockily. 'Like I said, they're a gift.' He answered smoothly.

There was a deathly silence as I struggled to contain myself. I had the temper of my father, or so I had been told, and let me tell you, if I failed to control it then I would've done some serious damage. Preferably to Carlos's face. My pupils narrowed to slits as I attempted to burn holes into his eyes. I could've sworn his smile wavered.

I had to calm down.

After what I'd seen with Carlos and Eva that night it had obviously hit a nerve, but the last thing I needed was for him to catch on as to why I was behaving this way.

He was my Uncle's son after all, and whether he was attempting to wind me up or not, he had every right to give me a gift without me reacting like this. We'd even been fairly close as children, so I knew that I was definitely responding strangely to his supposed act of kindness. I just hoped that was what it was.

'Are you alright?' He asked me closely.

Struggling to keep down my rage, and yes, my jealousy that he probably did the same thing for Eva by giving her gifts, I simply grit my teeth and said, 'I don't want your gifts Carlos.' And just because I was feeling extra bitchy I added, 'We won't want Eva getting the wrong idea now, would we?'

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was gone in the blink of an eye; no doubt leaving him as stunned and as confused as ever for the second time that day.

What had I said about not raising his suspicions?

I was pretty sure that had already been blown out of the window by the time I'd left.

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