Chapter 14

Connor brought me to my mom's house.

He got out of the vehicle to open the door for me.

"Do you want me to follow you inside?" he asked, holding the door for me to come out.

No, I shook my head and stepped out.

Forced to remember everything bad that happened here. Every painful word, hateful stare, and being ignored. I wish I'd told Connor yes when I got inside.

Entering my room, all of those painful memories vanished when I went in to see Connor.

"I couldn't let you be here alone," he said, and I was glad he didn't listen to me.

I didn't have many clothes, so it was an easy pack for me.

Connor dashed through the window to meet me outside while I hurried back down the stairs.

I met my aunt along the way. She was surprised to see me with my suitcase.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Somewhere that I don't feel like crap," I responded, upset.

She ran behind me as I exited the house to see Connor standing next to his black Jeep.

As soon as Connor saw me, he came to take the suitcase.

"Who is this male you're going off with?" Aunt chased after me towards the vehicle.

"Someone who doesn't make me feel like my existence is a big mistake and unloved," I got into the front of the jeep and closed the door.

She halted at my words.

Connor came into the vehicle and started the engine.

"Like your father, he's going to break your heart too!" Aunt yelled.

Her words bothered me for a moment until Connor grasped my right hand.

I no longer felt afraid anymore that I'd end up like my mother.

****

By the time I was back at my new apartment, I'd received 30 missed calls from my aunt and 15 text messages. The last text message she sent, I ended up blocking her, seeing that she was just as cold as my mother.

You're fooling yourself thinking someone as good-looking as him will be with you. Break it off and come home before he breaks your heart, Aunt had texted.

Tears came into my eyes, I blinked them away, and I looked at Connor, still holding my hand from the time he'd held it back at my mom's house as he parked the car, believing my aunt that I was perhaps fooling myself.

I wondered if I should return home, but what I feel for Connor is too strong for me to end. I was drawn to him in a way that seemed unbreakable. Splitting away from him is like extracting the life from my body. I feel I will die.

Connor was the only reason I wanted to continue living now.

I went into the living room to stare at my ocean view while Connor carried me upstairs.

Within a minute, he was back downstairs and into the living room.

I spun around from the breathtaking view as I sensed him behind me.

"I'm sorry you had to grow up in such a horrible home." Connor came to hug me.

I hugged him back, but what I wanted to say was, Why me? Why, out of all the pretty girls, you choose me? What was so special about me that a handsome and perfect-looking person like him would want to be with me?

Ugly girls never get the pretty boys. We are invisible to them.

"I've got to go; my pack must be wondering where I am." Connor ran a hand across my face right after letting me go.

I closed my eyes to his comforting touch.

"Okay," I said, reopening my eyes, and I wished he could stay a bit longer.

"I promise to visit you tomorrow." He kissed me on the forehead.

I nodded.

I walked behind him to the door and watched sadly as he went into his jeep and drove off.

****

For dinner, I ordered a vegetarian pizza with a bottle of cucumber bubbly water. I sat around the two-seat table, barely touching my meal.

I started to consider if I'd made the right decision in not returning home, though my mother doesn't want me there. 

Though I felt alone at my previous home, with my mother ignoring me. I felt even more alone being the only person in the apartment.

I put away my food and went into my room to get a clean pair of clothes to take a bath. I return to my room dressed in a white silk nightgown and pink bed slippers.

"Connor," I was frightened to see him standing next to the window when I came out of the bathroom.

Never been seen by anyone other than my aunt and mom in my nightwear, I immediately picked up my robe and started to put it on.

As I do, I worried if what he saw turned him off from wanting to continue to be with me, for I also didn't have the most attractive body.

"I'm sorry; I let myself in without your permission." He turned his head away as he apologized while I was almost through putting on the robe.

"It's okay."

"You can turn your head back around," I nervously say as I sweep a strand of hair out of my face behind my right ear.

"I felt awful leaving you alone at your new apartment. I came back to put you to sleep before leaving again," he said, turning his head back to me and smiling, revealing his cute fangs.

My heart began to race as he stared intensely into my eyes while approaching me. It beat even faster when he swooped me off the ground bridal style.

His eyes never left mine as he carried me over to the bed, nor did they even when he gracefully placed me down and lay beside me.

I lay on his chest and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of his heart. Immediately, I felt sleepy to the rhythmic sound of his heart and the comforting warmth of his body, which felt like lying close to a fireplace.

"I have a surprise for you tomorrow," I heard Connor say as I drifted off to sleep.