Part 13 (1/2)

I skipped breakfast and lunch; I didn't have the stomach to eat anything. The day was going way too fast. I was running out of time and I still needed to say my goodbyes.

The door opened and a vanilla scent wafted in. Mila had come to see me off.

”I have some spare time between cla.s.ses, and so I thought I'd come and see you just in case you aren't here later.” Glistening tears formed in her eyes, hovering a moment before they fell upon her cheek Mila had become my best friend here at SS. I pulled her into an embrace, her soft blonde hair felt like silk against my arms.

”I'll be back.” I sniffled, unaware that my nose had become runny and my eyes watery.

It was a lie, of course.

”I'll miss you!” she cried. ”You're my best friend.”

”And you're mine.”

We didn't let go of each other. How could we? Neither of us was sure when we'd see each other again. Her goodbye was different than mine. When she held me it was a 'so-sad you're leaving I can't wait to see you again I'm counting down the days' kind of hug. My hug was more of a 'thank you for everything have a good life' kind of hug. Both were emotional but on two completely different levels.

Mila went to cla.s.s and the dorm room became bare as I boxed the things Mila had given me when I first came to Sage and since we'd been sharing a room. Mila was generous, always giving and never taking. She claimed she had too much and that she was happy to give them away. In the beginning, I was so reluctant to take anything from her, but over time, I realized that it truly made her happy. She loved doing things for others.

I pulled the drawer out from my bedside table and dumped its contents into a box. A picture floated down and landed on the top of the junk. Two faces smiled up at me. They seemed so carefree, so innocent. One of the faces I didn't recognize as my own. I was smiling and was actually happy. People used to tell me my mother and I looked alike. I didn't believe them until now. This photo felt like it had been taken so long ago. I've been through so much since then. The image felt precious in my hand and I handled it carefully- afraid to bend or crease it. It was taken months before her death. I wish I could go back in time and warn them about Hank and what he would become. What about Eli and Mila? my subconscious asked. If Hank never became a vampire, my mum would still be alive, but Eli and I would have never been bonded. Would we have even spoken? And Mila, would we have become friends or would I have made friends with the likes of Raina? Maybe, just maybe, this was how things were supposed to go. Maybe my purpose was to protect the people who have helped me.

I placed the photo of my mother and me into a book, Dracula, by Bram Stoker. How ironic. I'm relying on a book about vampires to keep something safe. I placed the book neatly on top of my clothes and taped the lid shut.

I had floated so far away into my daydreaming that the sudden hollow echo of knuckles tapping on the door made me jump. I stacked my three boxes on top of each other so Mila could still make her way around the room.

”Hunter, hi,” I greeted. ”I haven't seen you since Tuesday. I thought you were mad at me.”

”I'm not mad at you ... I spent the last few days avoiding you, hoping that maybe I would care less about you and not care that you're leaving tonight, but it only made me miss you more.”

I smiled shyly. This was going to be hard. I had to let him down.

”Look, you're a nice guy but I -”

”Let me come with you.”

”What? Are you insane?”

”No. I'm in love.”

For the third time today my mouth was left open, but this time it was so wide I could have caught flies with it. Oh no.

”Hunter - I ... can't - I -” I struggled to get the words out. Why couldn't I just say I didn't have feelings for him? My stomach twisted and groaned. I couldn't say I didn't care for him, because I did. I liked him more than a friend.

”Come inside,” I uttered.

I had to tell him my feelings for Eli. I couldn't lie to him. I couldn't tell him I didn't have feelings for him, because I did, but not like I did for Eli. I love Eli. Hunter's blue eyes glanced nervously up and down the corridor.

”Don't worry about that. I'm leaving today, anyway.”

I stepped aside, letting Hunter into my room. His alluring scent filled s.p.a.ce. I paced across the room to crack the window slightly before I swooned. Hunter sat on my bare mattress and glanced sadly around the room.

”You haven't said anything about what I said,” Hunter prompted.

”I know, uh, look, there is something I need to tell you.”

”I don't care if you don't love me back, Ruby.”

”No, it's not that.” I grasped his hand and it shocked even me. My body was acting as if I wasn't in control. His eyes looked hopeful and I cringed in sympathy.

”I like you, I do. I like you more than a friend, but I'm in love with someone else, and -”

”Eli,” he said matter-of-factly.

I let his hand drop back to his knee and I collapsed onto Mila's bed.

”I'm sorry, I can't help it.”

”It's okay. I kinda knew anyway.”

The long silence was deafening and I bit my lip waiting for the speech about how it's wrong to love a guardian angel.

”Does he know you're leaving?”

”You don't -” I cut my words off with a large exhale. This conversation was getting more awkward by the minute. I've never been a 'tell everyone everything' kind of girl. In fact, I kept most things to myself and let everyone else figure out what they want, but I felt bad for Hunter. I dropped my gaze to the floor.

”He's coming with me.”

I didn't want to look at his face when I said it. He s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably on the bed. His lips formed a straight, impa.s.sive line and his mood s.h.i.+fted. His once colorful blue eyes turned bleak as he stood up and slumped into himself.

”I should go,” he whispered under his breath.

”Hunter, wait!”

Without a glance in my direction, he was gone.

Not-So-Empty Threats.

The late sun's rays had long since disappeared and been replaced by a myriad of stars dotting the inky canopy. Now that the dull weather of today had blown over, a low moon hovered effortlessly in the twilight sky, bestowing a very dim light upon the land. A light breeze rustled the leaves as the enveloping darkness blotted out all but the faintest light. I couldn't appreciate the night's beauty. I was too tense, too aware of my surroundings. In my world, darkness didn't bring safety, it brought fear and uncertainty. It brought death.

”Are you ready?” A voice as smooth as velvet cut through the harsh air.

In the dim light I found a friendly face ... Eli's.

I nodded, my finger tracing the smooth texture of my whistle.

”Did you say goodbye to everyone?”

”Yes.”

”Then let's go.”