7

Maddy

I really don't want to let her leave the room with that boy. The way he was looking at her was the way that dog looks at a steak. The fact that they are going to her room pisses me off to no end but Cash is right. He leaned over to me and asked what was the worse that they could do with us in the house? He has super hearing and would be able to know if something was happening.

Besides, we really do need to get some work done but I was much too distracted by them to listen to Cash's explanations. I was noticing her hand on his chest and his hand on her lower back. I wasn't the only one who noticed it though. My friend was casting them disapproving glaces as well. Clearly they were distracting us all. But she is getting older and I can't treat her like a baby forever, no matter how much I might want to.

Aria

I pull Mason out of the room behind me and lead him up to my room. When I get up there I sit down and look at him. “First of all, let me apologize for all of this stupidity. I, um, made some very stupid remarks last night and now my brother is in active volcano mode and he is ready to erupt.”

“I understand. I have a little sister and I would tear a guy limb from limb if he even looks at her, so I get it.” He sits on the bed beside me. “But out of curiousity, what remarks did you make?”

“Uh, I- I-” I turn red from head to toe. “Um, it was nothing.”

“Woah, it must be pretty bad to have you this flustered. You are blushing as red as a tomato. I am assuming it involved me?” At my nod, he continues. “Hmm.. was it a sexual remark?” I nod. “Alright, you have really got to tell me before I die of curiousity.”

This is only awkward now because I am making a big deal of it. So, I decide to be non-chalant about it in the hopes that it will de-esculate the tension in the room. “I made a comment about blowing you on the front lawn and he lost his mind.”

Mason chokes on his on air and I laugh, nudging him. “Hey, you asked.”

“I wasn't expecting that!” Mason tells me, blushing. His cheeks tinge pink and I grin. He is so cute when he is flustered!

“But just so you know, that isn't an option. I just said it to get a rise out of them. I am not gonna- we're not-” Great, back to being flustered again.

“I don't expect you to.” Mason assures me. He gives me such a sweet smile that I feel a rush of tenderness for him.

The two of us start listening to music and talking, losing track of time. Next thing I know, my brother is calling me down to help finish dinner. Mason sits on the counter and talks to me as I cook the asparagus and microwave the potatoes. I had the salad fixings already mixed together in a bowl in the fridge. The rolls are in the oven baking, making the kitchen smell delicious.

Me, Mason, Cash and Maddy sit down to dinner and it is horrible. Cash just looks between Mason and I with a frown, Maddy just grunts when he is spoken to and Mason is clearly uncomfortable. Finally I can't stand it anymore and I stand up. “Maddy, I need your help in the kitchen.” I don't give him time to argue as I march out of the room.

The second he steps into the kitchen I whirl to face him. “Could you be any worse out there?” I pace away before turning back. “This is the first time I have ever brought anyone home and you are treating us like crap!” I throw up my hands in exasperation. “You can't dislike him, you haven't even taken the chance to get to know him!” I point at him. “You, my good sir, are just being an ass!”

Throughout my tirade my brother just stands there in the doorway, watching me warily. “You're right.”

“For another thing, I manage to be nice to your stupid friend-” I stop abruptly, “What?”

“I said that you are right. I am being an ass. I have been acting like a toddler while expecting you to act like an adult. I am man enough to admit it. I just don't like seeing you growing up. Halona and Moira have been wild since they were twelve so I expect the tantrums and the boys, that shit. But you, you have always been different. Smart, grounded and level-headed. So, when you say shit like you did last night and you bring boys home that you suddenly paw in front of me, it throws me off, you know? I am your big brother, I will always be protective of you. Especially when you try to get all cutesy with the quarterback on my couch."

I look at things from my brother's point of view and understand where he is coming from. In the last two days I have had a complete personality change. I have said and done so many things that I would never normally have done. It's so bad that I hardly even recognize myself at times. “You're right.”

Maddy just stares at me. “Okay, so how about we head back out there and you act like you have more than two working brain cells and you actually form a full sentence? Because as it stands, I think Mason believes you might actually be a caveman.”

Maddy laughs and the two of us return to the table. The meal passes pleasantly from then on, with conversation flowing, mostly between Mason and Maddy. They get to talking sports, movies and music only to find that they have similar tastes. After the meal Mason and I head to up to my room.

All too soon it is time for him to leave so I walk him to the front door. He gives me a tight hug before he leaves. I watch him walk to his car before I shut the door. When I turn around I nearly jump out of my skin when I find Cash behind me. “Oh my! You scared me to death!”

“Sorry.” He smiles at me. The first genuine smile I can recall him ever giving me in the whole two weeks that I have known him.

“Where is Maddy?”

“Gone.” He must notice my confusion because he elaborates. “Your sister called and they have a flat tire, so he went to help them. I offered to come along and help, but he asked me to wait here. I assumed he wasn't comfortable leaving you and your friend alone together.”

“Hmm, so you are suppose to be, what? My babysitter?” I scoff. “Poor you.” I turn to head up the stairs.

“Where are you going?” He asks.

“My room.” I call back, continuing up the stairs. I reach my room and fall back on my bed, exhausted. I am staring up at the ceiling when I hear his voice float towards me.

“So, you can't even bring yourself to keep me company?”

“Oh? Are you the one in need of babysitting?” I raise my head up to smirk at him.

“Ha. Not exactly. I would, however, settle for some conversation.” He gestures around the room. “May I come in?”

He wants to come in? To my room? “Um, yeah, sure.” I sit up as he comes and joins me, perching at the edge of the mattress down at the foot of the bed. “So, uh,- Are you going to be subbing at the school any more?”

“I don't know. Part of the job is not really knowing you are needed until the day of.” He tells me kindly.

“So, have you already graduated college? You're just helping Maddy?” I ask, curious about him and his life.

“No, I am actually only a second year where as he is a third year. He is a little bit older than me. I'm only twenty.” He tells me, blowing my mind.

“Then how were you a teacher?!”

He laughs. “I wasn't, really. I was a substitute teacher, simply filling in. But you have to think, in this town, things work a little differently. I was allowed to teach the class because I knew so much about the subject. We don't have to worry about the same rules and regulations that you face in the human world.”

“Oh.” He is only two or so years older than me. I will be eighteen in a few weeks. I was thinking he was around twenty-five or so, especially since he seems so mature. “So, not to get too personal or anything, but what are you?” I blush at how poorly I worded that, hoping he doesn't take offense, “I mean-”

“I know what you meant.” He smiles as he is turning to face me. “I am a vampire.”

“Really?” I did not expect that. “I assumed you were a witch or something, maybe.” I think for a moment. “I didn't know that vampires could read minds or telecommunicate, or whatever the heck it is you do.”

“To my understanding, they typically can not. I don't know any others who can. I can only do it with certain people. In fact, you are only the second person I have been able to link my mind with.”

“Oh.” What does that mean?

“I assume that it means that you and I share a special bond of some kind.” He answers, as if my question was asked aloud. Cash reaches for my hand. “Maybe somehow our fates are intwined?”