Leaving 1.

Recommended song: Fallen – Gert Taberner

Aiden

"You must've been insane to sign that paper without reading it, dude. What were you even thinking?" Ashton asks as he scurries across my bedsheet, his eyes glancing over my packed luggage.

He isn't pleased with the fact that I'm leaving for a boarding school and is making a fuss about it.

I understand why he's acting this way. He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and we've lived our entire lives together.

He's like my ride-or-die. And for a moment during our hundred years together, I genuinely thought he was my link.

Back then, I was so desperate that I didn't even care if he was a man... But apparently, he wasn't my link because he was also searching for his own.

With a shrug, I settle onto the couch while drying my hair with the towel hanging around my neck. I'm preparing to leave as quickly as I can before Father returns from his trip.

As stated in the supposed contract I signed with my own father, I'm to settle into the boarding quarters prepared for me at the school before he returns home. It's as though he's in a hurry to send me away, like I'm some sort of plague brought upon his family.

Ever since Mother died, he's always been this way, treating me like an outsider and a burden he wants to get rid of.

He hates me for so many reasons. Part of it is because Mother died trying to give birth to me, since she was human. Her dying wish was never to be turned into a vampire, so he became frustrated, venting all the pain of being without his one true love on me.

Believe me when I say a huge part of me is relieved that I'm going to be living far away from him, while a tiny part of me is pained by the fact that the only family I've ever known wants me to be even more distant than we already are.

My eyes drift toward the doors when George pushes them open. He's been my family's butler since I was born and has always been very loyal to Father.

Beside him are two maids I'm quite familiar with. They both bow slightly before hurrying toward my luggage and wheeling it out of my room.

"Take them to the car," George orders.

"You ought to be ready by now, young one," he says, directing his deep baritone toward me after bowing in greeting. Then he turns to Ashton, who looks like a mourning widower, and smiles as he adds, "You're here too?"

Ashton responds with a small smile and a nod, sadness written all over his face. He knows just how strict Father is and how much stricter he gets whenever my name is mentioned. So, even if he wanted to plead on my behalf, it would be futile, and Father might make things even more difficult for me.

It's already enough that he's sending me away. At least he hasn't taken away my allowance or blocked my accounts.

I can see the look in my best friend's eyes. He's certain this is the last time we're going to see each other for who knows how long.

He knows this is goodbye.

"So this is it, huh?" he mutters with a smile, trying to lighten the mood as he stands up from my bed. This is him trying to act cool about me leaving.

I manage another shrug and a smile, watching him take a few steps toward me before pulling me into a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

In all our years of being best friends, this is the most emotional hug I've ever received from him, and it feels very out of place. I mean, I can literally feel his breath against my neck.

"Back off, asshole," I mutter for him to hear, but he tightens his arms around me, mouthing, "Stop struggling for a second, will you?"

It's only for a tiny second, but I can hear the hurt in his voice. I let out an exhale in surrender and allow him to have his way because this is the last time we're going to see each other.

We hug for I don't know how long before George's "ahem" interrupts us.

"We might be late, young one," he says.

Ashton quickly lets go, sneaking in a sniffle while rubbing both palms against his thighs repeatedly. His eyes remain on me. He studies every feature of my face before lowering his gaze to my outfit.

"Don't tell me you're wearing this on your first day," he asks, his eyes widening.

"Like I give a fuck," I tell him, walking past him and George, who bows slightly before following behind me.

"Dude, a sweatshirt and sweatpants on your first day? Do you want to get bullied by your seniors or what?" he asks from behind, following George and me.

I furrow my brows, confused by his words as I step down the spiral staircase.

"Why would I get bullied by kids?" I ask, then I'm shocked by his reaction.

He suddenly quickens his pace to match mine, stopping beside me with a shocked expression as he mouths the word, "Kids?" in disbelief.

"Did you just say kids?" he exclaims again, looking astonished and making me raise a brow in question.

Why is he so worked up?

I watch him close his eyes, placing one hand on his waist while rubbing his temple with the other in frustration. We both stand on the stairs, staring at each other, while George walks past us and continues down the staircase.

Ashton exhales in disappointment before asking, "Hey, do you even know where you're going?"

I shrug and continue down the stairs, no longer paying attention to his words. At this point, I really don't care where I'm going. I just want to be gone before Father gets home.

"Dude, don't you think you should beg your father?" he asks, hurrying behind me in an attempt to stop me.

But his words strike a nerve, making me furious.

I pause.

Beg him?