by H G Lynch
Ember simply thought a good deal of the time, wondering about ways to escape going to the upcoming dance, dreading her mother’s visit, and sometimes daydreaming. Well, actually, a lot of it was flashbacks to old memories, more than daydreams really. Ever since she’d thought of him on Tuesday, Ember kept having thoughts of Owen. It was strange. It reminded her a little of when she’d been having dreams about Reid, before she found out what he was. Only, with Owen, it was always memories. No dreams, nothing made up, just things that had happened in the past. It frustrated her.
The weekend was a little better. Reid decided to stop the search for the crow-killer just for one day, and spent a few hours with her on Saturday. Ember warned him of her mother’s impending visit, explained in no-nonsense terms that he was not to let her mother know that there was anything going on between the two of them. He just gave an easy, devil-may-care smile and agreed… sort of.
Lying on the floor, with her hands folded behind her head, she looked up at where he was relaxing on her bed, and she asked about the impending dance. “So, what’s with this Autumn Dance? I’ve barely heard anything about it. Sherry’s making me go.” Ember grimaced at that last comment, but Reid simply chuckled. He rolled over to look down at her, placing his chin on the backs of his crossed hands.
“It’s just like any other dance really. Music, food and drink, decorations. Everyone dresses up to look good, they get dates and dance and all the other normal stuff.” He sighed, a world-weary expression on his lovely face. Ember groaned, leaning her head back on the carpet, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest.
“I can’t even remember the last time I went to a dance. I hate them. But Sherry’s planning on using brute force, I’m sure. She’ll probably get Ricky to drag me there if I fight.” She shook her head despairingly, then smiled charmingly up at Reid, “Any chance you could spring me from the hellish prison I’m bound to endure?” She gazed at him hopefully, all but batting her lashes. But Reid shook his head in negation, grinning as if her impending pain amused him. Cruel boy, she thought, though she felt a small smile on her mouth at his sadism. It seemed they had that in common.
“Sorry, nope. Ricky, I’ll fight, your best friend, though - not a chance. Would it help if I said I was going too?” he asked, tilting his head as he stared down at her, fine strands of his blonde hair falling carelessly into his eyes. He didn’t bother to push them back.
Ember put on a show of thinking about her answer to that, tapping her chin with her finger, and eventually said, “Nope. Doesn’t help. It’s still going to be a stupid dance. I’m still going to have to wear a goddamned dress,” she sneered the word ‘dress’ like it was some horrible disease. To her, it might as well have been. The day she willingly slid into a girly, lacy dress was the day hell froze over. If she had her own way, she’d wear jeans and band t-shirt to every event she went to. But Sherry would never allow it.
Reid, propping himself on his elbows, looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, letting his eyes run over her. Then he beamed crookedly, showing a bit of fang.
“What?” Ember asked, shifting uncomfortably, puzzled by his obvious delight. The pale afternoon light streaming in through the window lent a shimmer to his fair skin, and lit the powder-blue walls to a shade that almost seemed to move with the restless shadows of the clouds drifting across the face of the sun outside.
“Just imagining what you’d look like in a dress. I’m definitely going to this dance now,” Reid laughed and Ember shook her head, sighing. So there was to be no rescue from this dance; she was doomed to attend, and wear a pretty, pretty dress and pretty, pretty make-up and... Ugh. Yuck. The thought alone made her shudder with disgust.
Reid rolled off the bed and came to kiss her, his soft, teasing lips making her head spin. His hands slid down her body and clasped her hips, and her hands found their way into his silky hair. After a long, breathless moment, Ember pushed him away. Instantly, she regretted doing so. She wanted so badly to kiss him again, seeing his hair slight ruffled and his mouth darkened sensually. Somehow, she controlled herself.
“Can’t you go one day without feeling the need to tempt me?” she sighed, smiling. It was a stupid question, she knew, because he’d gone two days in a row without doing this to her, but still. It was like he just couldn’t get enough of her, and she never let him have much. It was more than self-consciousness, but also a degree of self-respect that stopped her giving in to him. He didn’t pressure her, but he made it clear he wanted her. Oh, he made it abundantly clear. He may not be human, but he was still a guy, so she figured she could cut him a little slack on that.
He hovered over her, gazing languorously at her beneath him, and smiled slowly. “I can. I just don’t like to. Why is it you so easily resist? Am I losing my effect on you?” he asked tauntingly, but with a seriously curious hint to his tone. She supposed that was to be expected, seeing as he’d likely never had to wait for a girl to give herself to him. They willingly threw themselves into his bed, usually. Lightly, Reid ran a finger down the side of her neck to her collarbone, leaving her skin warm and increasing her heart rate just a little. Nope. He was not losing his effect.
“It’s not easy. Trust me. It’s… it’s a little like having a chocolate cake in front of you that you aren’t allowed to eat. You want it because it’s yummy, and even more so for it being forbidden, but you resist it because you know you should,” she explained, gazing past him at the ceiling, letting her eyes follow the pattern of cracks in the paint. She folded her hands on her stomach in a false show of calmness. Her heart was still fluttering in her chest, and if he didn’t move off her soon, she was likely to sneak one more taste of the chocolate cake. Reid laughed, whether at her absurd comparison, or just at her, she wasn’t sure. She didn’t really mind. It was just good to hear him laugh, warm and sweet and melodious. She still heard a bit of the usual Reid arrogance in it but he wouldn’t be himself without his arrogance.
“Good to know.” He grinned, leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, and then got gracefully to his feet. “Now, if you’re sure you can live without me for a bit, I’ve got vampire business to attend to.” He reached down his hands and helped her to her feet, then hugged her tightly for a moment. She could feel the hardness of his compact muscles through his t-shirt, and bit her lip so she wouldn’t have the urge to kiss him again. Reluctantly, it seemed, he pulled away from her and moved toward the door.
“Oh, no! However will I go on without you?” Ember murmured sarcastically, rolling her eyes again. Reid shot her mock-dark look and then slipped out the door, closing it behind him. Ember sat down on the end of her bed, and sighed, staring at a blank spot on the wall. She was alone again, with nothing to do. Boredom seemed to be her constant companion recently. You’d have thought having a vampire for a boyfriend would’ve led to a more exciting life - apparently not.
Well, now I have time to worry about my mother’s visit in two days’ time. Fantastic. She groaned aloud, and flopped back, reaching up and dragging her pillow over her face.
Hell Is a Ballroom
Sunday. Who’d have thought there was still shops open at three in the afternoon on a Sunday? Not Ember. But, Sherry had dragged her out of bed two hours ago, tossing clothes and a hairbrush at her and saying they were going shopping. It wasn’t a question or a request. It was a demand. So Ember had shrugged on the clothes, tied up her hair, slapped on a little make-up and shoved her purse into her only handbag - a ragged, black shoulder-slung bag with a skull on it.
Now, it was just after three, and Ember’s feet ached and her head hurt and she would’ve done about anything if it meant she could go back to the dorms now. This was the eighth dress store Sherry had dragged her into. Ember was feeling distinctly mutinous as she watched Sherry trawl through dress after dress on the railings bordering the shop walls.
“How about this one?” Sherry held up a long, elegant dress that would’ve been nice if not for the colour. Pink. Ember shuddered. This was the sixt
h pink dress Sherz had tried to convince her of so far, and Ember was going to slap her silly if she tried another one.
“No pink! For the last time, it’s bad enough you’re making me go to this dance, let alone trying to make me wear pink!” Ember growled, glaring at the green-eyed girl, who ignored her obvious bad mood and whirled away to scan enthusiastically through yet more dresses. Sherry, of course, already had her dress picked out; a lovely knee-length, turquoise, strapless dress that made her eyes glow and her skin look radiant. She had matching accessories already, too. This shopping trip was especially for Ember, who couldn’t really give a damn what she wore to the stupid dance. She’d insisted that she could simply wear her jeans and a pair of heels, but Sherry wouldn’t allow it – and, apparently, neither would Reid.
“This one? Come on, it’d look great on you!” Sherry was now holding up a silver dress, ankle long with sequins.
“Sequins? You’re taking the piss now.” Ember tended to get short-tempered whenever she had to go shopping. She loathed shopping. Today was no exception, but Sherry brushed it off yet again. Ember inattentively trailed after her friend, to shop after shop, looking at dress after dress.
Eventually, they came to a slightly more promising store and Sherry went right for the brightly-coloured dresses on one rack. Ember, however, hung back and let her fingers run over the racks absently. Until she caught a glimpse of what looked like sapphire-blue material. Sure enough, when she held out the dress, it was the deep, rich colour of sapphire. It had spaghetti-straps and a tight bodice, flaring into an elegant, slanted skirt, sexy but not too revealing. It had a low back with corset-type lacing, and silver, curling lines were embroidered up the side. Ember stared at the dress in amazement; finally, a dress that she actually wanted. The miracles never cease, she thought with a sardonic smile.
“Oh, wow! That would look stunning on you!” Sherry breathed from beside her, making her jump in surprise.
“If I get this one, can we go home?” Ember recovered her composure fast, pretending like she was indifferent to the striking silky dress.
“Yes. Go buy it. Now.” Sherry pushed her toward the checkout, keeping an eye on her while she paid to make sure she didn’t ditch it and run off home. Which, Ember admitted, was exactly something she was likely to do.
“Try it on!” Sherry insisted as soon as they got into their room, pulling Ember’s new dress from its bag and throwing it at her.
Sighing, Ember slipped into the bathroom to put it on. It fit perfectly, hugging her tiny waist and accentuating what little curves she had. Stepping into the other room, she glanced in the full-length mirror inside the open door of the wardrobe, and she had to admit it looked really very good. She could imagine it would look better if her hair was done up nicely and she was wearing heels, but even so it was pretty.
“Oh my God, I bet Reid’s going to be drooling over you on Wednesday evening!” Sherry enthused, examining Ember from head to toe.
“Hardly,” Ember scoffed, but couldn’t help grinning at the idea. She imagined Reid seeing her and suddenly looking star-struck, gazing at her like she was the sexiest girl on the planet. She felt herself flushing, and Sherry gave her a knowing look. Ember just shook her head and muttered, “Can I take this damn thing off now?”
It was half past eleven at night and Ember was staring at the ceiling of her darkened room, listening to Sherry’s soft breathing and the wind whistling outside the window. She’d been well on her way to falling asleep when a horrifying thought struck her. Her mother was coming tomorrow! As much as she loved her mother, Ember dreaded the questioning and the cooing she’d endure. Questions about everything: Her friends, her classes, her well-being, whether or not she had a boyfriend…
Ember groaned inwardly as she imagined the kind of grilling she’d get if Mrs Jennings figured out there was something between her and Reid. She imagined her mother’s scrutinising gaze and the way she’d nit-pick about anything that was off, in her room or in her stories. Anything that suggested she had a boyfriend. Of course, she’d also have to hope to hell nobody let the rumours leak while her mother was here, and she’d have to find a way to explain why she hadn’t made any other friends.
Sighing, Ember rolled over and pulled her duvet over her tightly. Worry about it tomorrow, she thought tiredly, tomorrow is the day the hell starts.
Nine am. Standing in the freezing school parking lot, Ember was huddled into her thickest black jumper and shivering in her ratty Vans. The trees shook their branches, showering down a rain of bronzed leaves like glitter. The leaves scattered across the ground, swirling around Ember’s feet.
“Are you shaking because you’re cold or because you’re nervous?” Sherry put a soothing hand on her arm and grinned. Ember grinned back, trying to stop the chattering of her teeth.
“Both,” Ember replied shortly. It was true, she was nervous. She’d spent over half an hour tidying every inch of their room this morning, hiding every Kerrang! magazine and bottle of coke. Folding all her clothes, including her underwear, neatly in the drawers and hanging everything in her wardrobe perfectly on the hangers, and making sure no posters were squint. She knew none of it was necessary, as her mother was never overly worried about the neatness of her room but Ember had felt compelled to do it all anyway. Her mother was sure to throw a fit over the clothes she was wearing, though. All black. Again. Just like she had before she’d left. Ember’s indifference to real fashion was a thorn in her mother’s side.
Carol Jennings was a deceiving person, light-hearted in company, polite when she had to be, but when it came to her daughter she was protective, if more than a little harsh. Ember had loved the freedom of choice that being away from her mother had given her, since nobody tried to ‘girlify’ her anymore. Except Sherry, but that was only on rare occasions like for the upcoming dance.
“Hey, Demon. Still standing in the snow, I see?” Reid’s voice floated over to her and Ember cursed under her breath. Why did he have to be such a pest? He knew she was waiting for her mother, and he just had to come see for himself what Mrs Jennings would have to say to her daughter. She wasn’t sure if he was just too curious for his own good, or if he was deliberately there to annoy her. She guessed it was both.
“Well, it’s not actually snowing. It’s September, not December.” Ember rolled her eyes and shrugged off the arm he slung round her shoulders. Reid pretended to be hurt for a moment, but she ignored him.
“You look cold. Just thought you’d want the body heat.” Reid grinned at her in a typically devilish manner, and she sighed. He had such a one-track mind sometimes.
“I thought we agreed you’d keep a lid on it while my mum’s here,” she mumbled, turning away from the bright spark in his blue eyes.
“Well, your mother isn’t here yet and I need to get in as much physical contact as I can until then.” He slipped his arm round her waist, pulling her against his chest. Despite herself, Ember giggled quietly, enjoying the feel of his warm body against hers amidst the chilling autumn breeze. Reid put his mouth to hers before she could say anything - or protest - and kissed her hotly. All traces of the cold were wiped from her body and the feeling of his warm, soft mouth on hers eradicated rational thought for a moment. What had she been worrying about before? She was sure it was important but she couldn’t…quite…grasp what it was…
“Uh, not to interrupt your exchanging of body heat, or anything, but Ember that looks like your mum’s car,” Sherry snickered and Ember pulled abruptly away from Reid. She heard a muffled chuckle and then an uneasy cough, an attempt to cover the chuckle. Ember leaned around Reid and looked over to see Ricky standing on Sherry’s other side.
“Hey Ricky. Decided to come see what the fuss was about?” Ember gave him a smile and he nodded, smiling back. She turned her attention back to the blue Mazda pulling into the parking lot. Sure enough, it was her mother’s car. Ember took a deep breath and braced herself for the start of the show, elbowing Reid in the ribs as he tried to take
her hand. He got the message and sniggered.
“I’ll get you back for that later, my little Demon,” his voice was low and seductive, and it was the first time he’d used her nickname possessively, with the ‘my’. She almost gagged but simply rolled her eyes at him. Glancing quickly at Ricky and Sherry, she realised they weren’t holding hands either. But before she could comment, a familiar woman stepped out of the Mazda and started walking toward them all with a bright smile and light in her eyes. Ember swallowed and straightened up. Here we go.
Carol Jennings was almost as short as her daughter, but with dark hair and more curves. She could be friendly and spunky when she felt like it, but Ember had a gut feeling that her mother would be less than friendly if and when she worked out there was a thing going on between Reid and Ember. The woman’s green eyes gleamed as she approached the small group. Ember wanted to groan, knowing there would be questions about the boys. She’d so hoped to at least keep Reid away this morning. Even the best laid plans…
“Oh, Honey! It’s so good to see you! It’s been so quiet at home without you!” her mother chuckled, wrapping her in a tight hug. “And Sherry, good to see you too.” She moved to hug Sherry and the other girl stood awkwardly. Ember rolled her eyes. Mrs. Jennings moved on to examining the boys, and Ember’s amusement drained away quickly. Oh no. “And I see you girls have made some new friends. I’m so glad.” Mrs Jennings sounded extremely enthusiastic about it, introducing herself to the boys simply as ‘Carol’. The boys replied politely and Ember almost gaped at Reid, not having known he could show such class as he shook her mother’s hand and brought it to his lips like some knight in shining armour. But she caught the mischievous glint in his eyes and the teasing grin tugging at his lips as he shot her a glance. Her mother didn’t notice, of course, but she didn’t need to apparently.
