Bleeding Love

by Ashley Andrews

  She really had no idea when he was going to come back, if he even was going to come back to the states. It wasn't that she was being random, or crazy, or even funny. No, all she wanted to do was ensure that he understood she wanted him back. It didn’t matter if he did that in a day, a week, a month, or whatever. Just come home.

  Chapter 13: The Boon of Being Absent

  “Damn.”

  Adrienne heard and felt her stomach rumble in hunger. She was starving. So hungry she felt a little sick. She quickly left her bedroom and ran down the stairs. When she got to the kitchen she was anticipating a breakfast table laden with various delicacies. She frowned when she saw only saw an empty plate, a spoon, and a fork.

  “What's for breakfast?” she asked, turning to face a housekeeper who was busy wiping down the counters.

  “There are some leftovers in the fridge, Ms. Adrienne.”

  She nodded and tried to put on a small smile. Deep inside reality dawned and she couldn’t help but feel sad. This was the first sign that Xavier was gone. Since he’d moved in their house, he had taken over most of the cooking, making table loads of delicacies to tempt her palette. He almost always woke before she did. And she’d gotten used to having a loaded, buffet–like breakfast. Now that he was gone, she would be forced to cooking again.

  She sighed. “I guess I'll just have French toast today,” she said softly to her herself, opening the refrigerator door. She mixed the egg and milk, cooked the bread and spread butter an syrup on the pieces. Not bad, but she still missed Xavier.

  While she ate, the only sound in the room was her chewing. This was the second sign that Xavier was gone. There were no sarcastic comments or smartass remarks, and she couldn't help but sigh. She was going to have to get used to this agonizing silence.

  “Good morning, Adrienne,” her father greeted, entering the kitchen in his office clothes. “What are you eating? French toast?”

  She greeted her dad with a smile. “Yeah. I had to cook, so that is one of the easiest options.”

  He chuckled. “Well that is one area where I will definitely miss Xavier, how about you? Guess it’s just you and me again, kiddo.”

  She turned her head around and eyed her father warily. Her father was a lousy cook, she wasn’t much better. Her dad sounded really awfully cheery about the possibility that she might miss Xavier.

  “Dad, that's not funny.” She took the last bit of her toast. When she swallowed she said, “His presence isn't a life or death situation. I'm just going to go hungry a bit. I miss his cooking. That's all.”

  “And I think, no, wait, I'm sure,” he said, as if trying to make up his mind.

  Now Adrienne was sure that he was making fun of her, her own father!

  He grinned at her. “That if a person continues to starve himself, he could die.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You forget that I'm vampire.” She smirked.

  “And you forget that I can read your thoughts.” Adrienne blanched at her father's words. “I know you miss him.”

  She tried to preserve the last shred of dignity she had left. She wasn't going to back down on this argument. She didn’t want to admit that she actually wanted Xavier's presence. “I just miss his comments and his cooking.”

  Carter Stahl grinned before saying, “Speaking of cooking, how about if I take you away from all this from all this and take you out to the new Chinese restaurant for dinner.”

  “Count me in, Dad,” Adrienne answered, her smile wide. “I'm hanging out with Tristan and Brianna today, so just go ahead and text me the address? I'll meet you there. I won't be late. I promise.”

  Chuckling, he walked over to his daughter and ruffled her hair before he grabbed his car keys and the breakfast sandwich that he’d made. With a simple goodbye directed at Adrienne, he left the house. She sighed heavily, trying to come up with something to do to pass the time. Usually, at this time in the morning, she'd be hanging out with Xavier, in his room, the forest, or wherever. This time was their time, but now that he was gone, she needed to do something else.

  “Fuck.”

  She couldn't help but curse. All she could think about was Xavier, Xavier, and Xavier. How the house was so silent without him. How the food wasn't as good as it used to be. How bored she was without him being here. She couldn't believe she was thinking this, but she was actually really missing him. She hadn't realized the impact he’d had on her life until he was gone. Absence truly was key. To forget about him, she needed to do something, go to the mall or something. She could shop while she waited for Brianna and Tristan.

  Grabbing the keys to her car, she left the house, drove away, and hit the mall. She started at McDonald's, and after eating she went on to do some shopping and ended up buying some lingerie, a few bottoms and tops from Abercrombie and American Eagle, earrings from Claire's, and make–up from Nordstrom. By the time she arrived at Starbuck's, Tristan and Brianna were already there, eagerly awaiting for her arrival.

  “It's nice to know you put your free time to good use,” Tristan teased, greeting her with a small peck on the cheek, which she returned.

  “I can't believe you started the spree without me, Adie.” That was Brianna, who was clutching her stomach lightly. “And you're supposedly my best friend.”

  Tristan faked a cough, and Brianna was quick to correct her mistake.

  “Best girl friend I mean,” she then answered, eyeing the male darkly.

  “And as my best friend, you should understand that I had to do something while I was waiting for you guys,” was her excuse. “And besides, we can go to more stores now, even though I’ve already spent all my money.” She laughed.

  “Do you want to put your bags in the car first?” asked Tristan, being a gentleman, which was a rare occasion.

  Adrienne frowned. “I parked quite a way out.” She put on her puppy–dog face, and for exaggeration, her eyes began to water a little. “Can you please just carry them for me?”

  Smirking, Tristan nodded and got Adrienne's bags before saying, “I don’t know how you’d live without me?”

  “I'll live,” she returned. “There's always Max and the other guys.”

  “That was a burn, Adrienne.”

  “Yeah, burn, baby, burn.”

  “PMS-ing much?” Tristan asked, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

  “No, I'm not—!”

  “Yeah, she’s just missing Xavier!” Brianna shouted before running away from the two to evade Adrienne's reaction.

  Laughing and stumbling along the way, Adrienne continued to chase Brianna around the mall. They dodged impatient parents, rowdy youngsters, and apathetic adolescents, as the vampire tried to catch her best friend. Of course she couldn't run at the speed she was really capable of since that would cause all kinds of question and suspicions, so she always ran behind her friend, never catching up to her.

  “Bree, come back here!” Adrienne shouted. “I give up!”

  Brianna slowed down, she was starting to pant and her legs began to ache. Before she could stop, she bumped into someone and went careening onto the floor with a loud thud.

  “Brianna?” said her accident victim.

  Before she opened her eyes to respond, she heard Adrienne and Tristan coming up behind her. She was glad that Adrienne hadn’t been able to outrun her. Of course that was because she didn't use her full speed. Brianna would be a goner if Adrienne ran as fast as her vampire abilities would let her.

  “Aidan?” That was unmistakably Adrienne's voice, and hearing the name of her boyfriend, Bree immediately opened her eyes and straightened herself up. “What are you guys doing here during the afternoon?”

  “Oh wow, Adrienne.” Tristan's voice dripped with sarcasm. “I didn't know it was a crime for teenagers to go to the mall at this hour. I'm sorry but we aren't all party animals like you, who stay up until the wee hours of the morning.”

  Shoving him, Adrienne answered,” Look who's talking, my partner–in–crime.”

  “And between t
he two of us, I'm always the sober one,” Tristan answered proudly, and he swore he heard both Brianna and Adrienne scoff.

  “Yeah, if you call vomiting on your own wallet, sober,” Adrienne quipped before moving her attention to the vampires who just walked up. “Don't tell me you guys actually decided to hang out here in the mall?”

  Aidan shrugged his shoulders. “What?” He then feigned a defensive stance. “I like the mall,”

  “So that means you won't mind shopping with me?” Brianna asked, fluttering her eyes. “Say yes.”

  “Have I ever said no to any of your whims?”

  Bree shook her head sheepishly before she felt herself being pulled closer to Aidan, her head going to the crook of his neck. Sighing in contentment, she wound her arms around his neck and brought his head down to give him a kiss.

  “Ugh, get a room you guys.” Adrienne sneered which made Tristan laugh. “You're going to have a date later. Don't waste all your hormones right now.”

  “Oh relax, Adie,” Tristan answered, placing a hand on her thick mop of hair. “They have enough hormones for a lifetime.”

  Rolling her eyes, she continued her sarcasm.

  “Wow, Tryst, that really makes me feel better.”

  “She's just acting like an old hag because you-know-who's not here,” Brianna whispered to Aidan which all the vampires and Tristan heard.

  “You really want me to kill you, huh, Bree?” Adrienne threatened. “Acting so tough just because you have a boyfriend?”

  “At least she has one,” Tristan interjected, poking fun at his best friend. “Why did Xavier leave anyway?”

  Yvonne Straub spoke up, “It's none of your business.” She rolled her eyes.

  Adrienne hadn't even realized Yvonne was there until she opened her mouth.

  Tristan held his hands up in the guilty position, surrendering. He didn't really know who this girl was. All he knew about her was that her name was Yvonne, and she was a bitch. With those tiny bits of information, his interest in finding out more about her was aroused. “Why don’t I make you part of my business?”

  “Ugh,” Adrienne whispered, eyeing her friend in disgust. “Flirting much?”

  Tristan just smirked at her, his arrogance protruding from all angles. “Talkative much?”

  “We're going, Tryst.” He gave her a look of incredulity, but she didn't acknowledge his silent request. “Now.”

  “Why don't you guys join us?” That was Brianna, clasping her boyfriend's hand in between both of her own. “We were just walking around.”

  Looking back at his friends, Aidan asked if they wanted to go with him. It was obvious he wanted to spend time with Brianna. He couldn't get enough of her even if they hung out almost every night, every week.

  “Why not?” said Valerie, eyeing a few boutiques here and there. “What do you say, Ivy?”

  “She says yes,” Tristan butted in, resting his arm on her shoulders while the other one found its way around Adrienne's neck.

  “You do know that we hate each other, right?” Yvonne said.

  “For once, I'd have to agree with her,” added Adrienne, tugging on Tristan's hand and pulling him away. She pressed herself closer to him then whispered on his ear, “Of all the girls you could flirt with, why her?”

  “Am I sensing jealousy?” he teased, nudging her shoulder. “Adrienne Stahl,”

  She couldn't help but punch his arm and laugh. “Jealousy?” She feigned a look of shock. “In your dreams, Shackler.”

  “You wound me, Adie,” he then said. “Maybe it's really time to move on.”

  “You could've picked someone else, you know,” she said silently to him. “That girl hates me, Tryst.”

  “We're talking about me here, not you,” he answered, being the joker. “Now if you'd let me, I'd like to land a certain blonde before this night ends.”

  “I really don't know why I call you my best friend.”

  “I don't even know how and why he's willing to be your friend,” Yvonne said, making sure that everyone knew she could hear them.

  Already slightly irritated, Adrienne bit her bottom lip to stop herself from doing anything rash to Yvonne. She tugged at the hemline of her top as she looked at anywhere but the female vampire. Yvonne had always been mad at Adrienne because she was betrothed to Xavier. No matter how much she tried, she'd never be able to change Xavier's feelings. Adie had one of the most important things the other vampire wanted, something that was unattainable for her considering Xavier already loved his fiancé.

  “Stop, Yvonne,” Adrienne persuaded through gritted teeth. “I'm getting tired of your shit.”

  “Oh, my shit?”

  “Yeah, you're jealousy. Stop it, already,” Adrienne then said. “You have more than enough.”

  “More than enough, but not the most important.”

  “Is this a love triangle?” Tristan sneered.

  Adrienne rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe Tristan had the audacity to be so blunt.

  He kept at them, “So both of you like Xavier?”

  “Like Xavier?” Yvonne raised her voice. “She doesn’t even know him that well. How can she like him?”

  Frowning, Adrienne said, “I don't know if I like him in that way.” She was playing with her fingers, looking at her hands and not at her friends or Yvonne. “But I miss him, so don't make it sound like I don't care about him.”

  Yvonne stopped and stared at Adrienne for a moment. She pressed her lips together, thinking. No matter what she did or how she felt, nothing would ever happen between Xavier and her. No matter how much she didn’t want to like Adrienne, or how much she wanted the other woman to go away, it just didn’t matter. Yvonne was never going to get Xavier. No matter how much she glared at the psychic vampire, nothing was going to happen. And no matter how many times she planned on embarrassing her, she was always going to finish last, always and forever. She realized that it was better to give up now. To gracefully step back and go forward in a different way.

  “Just be grateful, Yvonne. You have almost everything.” Adrienne said quietly.

  Yvonne felt that the other woman was being genuinely honest.

  “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And if you're in the Night Class, you're probably much smarter than most of us, if not all.”

  “You're smart too, Adrienne,” said Tristan, backing up his friend.

  “But Yvonne doesn't have to try.” Adrienne now looked at the blonde. “You look gorgeous without make–up. You’re smarter than Constance's most nerdy nerds even when you don't study. You’re faster, and stronger than any girl I know. Be happy with what you do have, no one is perfect.”

  “And I guess that one imperfect thing is Xavier?” she asked, slowly nodding her head in understanding.

  Adrienne smiled cheekily. “I wouldn't call him imperfect.”

  “So hold on to him.”

  Adrienne was truly shocked when she heard Yvonne say this.

  “I just realized that fighting for him will get me nowhere.” Yvonne looked at her. “So hold on to him. Make sure that you appreciate who he is.”

  “Are we calling a truce?” Adie said.

  “Take it before I change my mind.” Yvonne smiled.

  “Truce,” Adrienne said finally, gifting Yvonne with a very minute nod.

  “So does that mean you two are friends?” Brianna's voice was laced with pure hope.

  Eyeing each other, Yvonne and Adrienne shook their heads, and both said at the same time, “I wouldn't go that far.”

  “I'll just stop my snide remarks,” Yvonne answered, flipping her light-colored locks. “That doesn't mean we're friends, alright?”

  “I wouldn't dream of that.”

  Before any more words could be exchanged between the two, Yvonne turned on her heel with Tatiana and Valerie following closely behind her.

  Adrienne couldn't help but stop for a moment and replay the last few moments. What happened had just gone by so fast. One minute she was irritated w
ith Yvonne, and then the other, they made a truce. She couldn't help but grin. That was so weird.

  “Do you mind if I go after her?” Tristan asked. He looked at Adrienne nervously. He still had feelings for his best friend, the kind that could challenge Xavier's, but just like Yvonne, he realized that nothing would ever happen if he continued his desperate attempt to hang on to her. She was Xavier's.

  “Tristan, I'm not your mother.” Adrienne couldn't help but laugh. “You can do whatever you want really. No hard feelings, I promise.”

  With one final hug, Tristan, hoping to catch the blonde vampire, slowly let go of his best friend before he jogged to one of the pink and violet decorated stores.

  Now, it was only Aidan, Brianna, and Adie. But even if Aidan and Brianna were still at her side, Adrienne realized how alone she really was without Xavier.

  It seemed like everyone was being paired up with one another, and everyone took advantage of that opportunity, everyone except for her. She had Xavier, an almost–perfect person for her. He actually loved her already, and she didn't need to do something drastic for that to happen. He was there, willing to be with her anytime she desired. She frowned at the realization. She had always been the one who was making their relationship more difficult than it really was.

  “You two have fun,” she said softly, slowly walking away from the couple. “I'm going to meet my dad in a few hours anyway. I'll talk to you guys later.”

  Smiling, she waved goodbye, and Brianna shouted, “If you're feeling lonely, come to my place when you are done with dinner! Aidan will make dessert for us!”

  “I seriously will!” he said, also raising his voice.

  “I'll keep that offer in mind. Thanks guys!”

  Her smile grew even bigger. She was so, so glad to have friends like them.

  * * * * *

  “So aren't you ashamed you're hanging out with your principal?” Carter Stahl asked, teasing his daughter.

  They were seated at the Chinese Restaurant in one of the corner booths. So far, the dinner was good and the service was more than commendable. Even if this was a father–daughter dinner, the food they ordered was enough to feed a family of five. They had ordered three different kinds of dumplings until they realized those wouldn't be enough and ordered Yang Chow fried rice, salt and pepper spare ribs, and steamed fish that were topped with garlic.