CharlieMy office chair squeaks as I stretch my back against the curved seat back. I’m dreading having to tell Morgan of my departure. No doubt she’ll have questions I won’t be able to answer.I see her stand enthusiastically in the doorway. She almost skips to my desk. “Yes, Charlie.”“You’re awfully happy today. Is there something I’m not aware of?”There’s a blush that attacks her cheeks. “No, just stuff with James.” She crosses her legs only to uncross them. She repeats the gesture several times and after the third time I have to tell her stop. Her love-struck mood makes me want to gag. I place my hands on the desktop in front of me, intertwining my fingers.“Oh my gosh. What did you do to your hand?” She gasps.I see her extend her arm out as if to touch mine, but I slide my hands back onto my lap. “I broke a plate last night, nothing serious.”Morgan sucks in a breath and has a look of sheer horror on her face as she eyeballs me. “Your…your neck.”Shit. I forgot to cover my neck
MaxwellAs soon as the sun set, I left Grace’s house. I wanted to be as far away from there as Charlie did. But with a few days passed, I have to go back. A bad mood accompanies me as I make final preparations for my unwanted trip. As if I own the house, I enter through the front door without knocking. The quietness that lingers within the halls is upsetting.Where is she, I say to myself as I search the first floor with no luck. However, the open patio door in the kitchen gives away her location.I instantly spot Grace’s pale body that seems to glow slightly in the darkening sky in a swimsuit with sunglasses on, lying on a lawn chair. “Do you think I can get a tan from the moon?” she asks as I stand alongside her.“The moon’s not even out yet.” Is that why she’s in a bikini? She’s trying to get a tan?“I know the moon’s not out yet, you idiot, that wasn’t the question. What do you want that’s so important it can’t wait for another day?” Annoyance distorts her voice.“I need to ask yo
CharlieMorgan acts strangely at work the next day. She constantly smiles in my direction as if she knows something I don’t. Every time I try to talk to her she scampers off claiming to be busy or pretends to be on the phone. She still doesn’t admit to hiding anything even after the phone rings loudly in her ear, catching her in her lies.In order to ignore her peculiar behavior, I stay in my office. I was planning on staying late to get as much work done as possible to make up for my departure, but at six o’clock Morgan leaps through my doorway. Her booming voice that fills the room causes me to fumble my pen as my body convulses in a tremor from fear. She runs over to my desk, piling up all my papers, insisting that I head home. My brain barely has time to register what’s going on before she starts pushing me out of my own chair.“What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting weird all day. You’re not having your boyfriend over here again, are you?” Keeping some authority in my tone,
Maxwell“Something wrong?” I ask. The irritation in her voice as she yells Grace’s name is more than humoring to my ears.“Something wrong…something wrong! This is what’s wrong, Maxwell.” She pulls out a skimpy nightgown that’s mostly see-through. “You had something to do with this, didn’t you? She packed lingerie as my pajamas. First there’s only one bed and now this.”“I just instructed her to pack what was necessary, not what I would want.” The effort I have to put forth in not smiling or laughing takes a great deal, but I remain calm and unfazed by Grace’s joke. I walk up to her and place the thin fabric between my fingers. A smile spreads across my face, ruining my demeanor. I can’t help the words from slipping out of my mouth. “You had this in your drawers?” My eyebrow perks up in speculation, wondering if I’m missing some crucial piece of information. “And who did you plan on wearing it for? Or should I say who have you worn it for?” I tease even though I know very well that sh
Charlie“Charlie…Charlie, wake up.” I ignore Maxwell’s whispers by burying my head into my pillow. His voice sounds too close for comfort, but when my forehead is scratched by something that feels similar to facial stubble I freeze up.My mind analyzes the scene before my body starts moving. My head’s not nuzzling into a pillow, it’s snuggling into Maxwell’s shoulder. As the feeling to the rest of my body starts to perk up, I find myself curled up against his cold rock hard body all the way to my toes. My arm drapes across his bare chest, my leg intertwined with his. What seems like minutes, but most likely is mere seconds later, I leap backward, swearing under my breath.My body over jumps and is on the verge of falling out of bed altogether, but Maxwell’s strong grip pulls me fully back onto the mattress. “What did I do?” I point to myself in shame and immediately blame him instead. “What did you do?” But the blame settles on my shoulders as I contemplate if I actually could have do
Maxwell“I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to meet you when you were in town. I’m quite the busy girl back at home.” The fake tone in her voice is nerve-racking and I can only hope he doesn’t pick up on it.Eugene stands there for a few seconds without saying anything. I grow weary waiting for him to reply. “Are you sure we haven’t met before? You look familiar.”Charlie instantly becomes tense as we both come to the same conclusion; he remembers seeing her at Junction 22. “I don’t think so. I would’ve remembered meeting such a handsome man as yourself.”I pull her closer to me, almost crushing her. She pats my chest, reassuring me that she has this under control, but I’m not sure her flirting can get us out of this if Eugene connects the dots. “Not as handsome as this one here,” she says as she looks up at me, continuing to take the reins of the conversation. As if we had this all planned out, our eyes met. Without warning, she kisses me.“I don’t know what we were all worried about, s
CharlieFully submerged in the tub, limbs gently floating in the warm water, relaxation takes over every inch of my body or so I thought. My mind begins to wander. Maxwell’s supposed jealousy and Dave’s need to insert himself back into a romantic position. It’s too much and just a bunch of stupidity if you ask me.There’s not a doubt in my mind that Maxwell has this idea that coming here will bring us closer together, but part of me refuses to make him right. I’m not ready to admit that I think he’s attractive, caring, intelligent...Jesus I need to get a hold of myself. I’m not ready to lose whatever it is that I’d lose being with him, be it my beating heart or humanity. My head gently rests against the rim of the luxurious bathtub with heavy eyelids. Quietness mixed with the lightweight warmth the bath gives me is a bad combination. I shoot up from under the water, gasping for air. I didn’t realize I actually fell asleep until I tried to breathe underwater. Water runs in thick trail
MaxwellI hear the door open and the soft tip toe of feet. “Charlie, you’re here early. Just make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right out.” In a rush I get out of the tub. I’ve been soaking in hot water to warm my body temperature up so I’m not so cold to the touch.I exit the bathroom wrapped in nothing but a towel. Charlie lies in bed completely covered. A pile of clothes is at the foot of the bed. I don’t think twice about the 360 degree change in her behavior. My excitement clouds my judgment.I lined the room with candles and have romantic music playing in an effort to show her that we belong together, that loving me isn’t all that bad. There might be a monster lurking inside, but it will only protect her, not hurt her like she thinks. She’s right, secrets are just as bad as lies.I crawl into bed, stopping mere inches away from her naked body. “I must say I’m quite surprised at your turnaround.”She scoots toward me. Her buttock rests against my manhood.“Charlie,” I whisper in
MaxwellThe moment I arrive at Benjamin’s, along with everyone else, I want to rush to Charlie’s room, but I stop myself. I can keep myself in check just a bit longer.“Maxwell.” Stella’s voice purrs behind me. She loops her arm around mine. “Will you sit with me?”“No.” I shake her loose.“Oh, do you think it’ll make you look bad. Poor Charlie dead and you’ve already moved on.”I twist around to face her so fast that I catch a flinch flash across her face. “I’ve not moved on and if I ever were it wouldn’t be with you.” I look her up and down, eyes narrowed, “I don’t remember you being so miserably clingy or so stupid and naive, scrambling to pick up peieces of a life that no long exists.”I leave her standing there to search for my seat. Grace claimed she marked one for me right in front. It’s not exactly where I want to be, front and center to the council’s probing eyes, but once Charlie comes out, front and center will be exactly where I want to be.Benjamin does his theartics like
CharlieThree firm taps rap against the door. I’m starting to despise these knocks. “Charlie.” A familiar voice calls.I rush to that stupid wooden door as if it were a lifeline. “Grace.” Her name comes out on my exhale of breath.The excitement from her arrival is short lived. “It’s almost time.” She makes the briefest of eye contact with me before looking down the hall. Left then right and left again. “Slyvester will get you when the halls are clear.” Before she leaves she squeezes my arm. “We’ll see you soon.”It feels like eternity waiting for Slyvester to come get me. Are there that many people? Or do they not care for being on time? I remember those that showed up late to parties or clients that didn’t stick to the timeline. Would the council allow such a thing?The knocks that finally bang on the door are heavier than the others. I open it to reveal the doorman. He lingers in the hallway quietly waiting for me. “Follow me,” is all he says before retreating down the hall.I’m no
MaxwellToday’s the day. The day that all of this ends. The day that Charlie and I can put everything behind us and move forward. Revenge for revenge, victory to be won. I know better than anyone that Charlie won’t be able to grow as a vampire with Daisy still lurking about, with Duke still on his high horse.It ends today.Someone barges into the room once again. It only takes a second or two to figure out that it’s Grace. This time she doesn’t catch me in an awful situation. Instead of an awful situation, she catches me in an awful mood. All the hateful thoughts, all the ways I could kill Daisy float around inside my head. My decades of loathing that have piled up towards Duke. It brings out a viscous side of me. I don’t even lift my head to meet her stare.“We have a problem.” The panic in her voice sends a jolt through my body.“Charlie?” I leap from the couch, my killer mood intensifies. “What did he do?”“Benjamin did nothing more than he already did, but this is...about Duke.”
CharlieI would love to sit and wallow in the room all day until it was time to leave and a small part of me believes that I could. But as the rest of the day goes by and the sun sets, the longer I’m left alone the more my mind races. Why is he leaving me alone for so long? Benjamin didn’t seem like the type to give anyone space especially after making them extremely uncomfortable.Against my better judgment, I decide to leave the confines of the room. Sneaking around the halls of the house is an excitable danger that I shouldn’t dabble with. Danger wasn’t something to toy with, especially when that danger involved Benjamin.Every corner I turn I expect to run into him, his glare and slick words that will take this as some sort of enjoyability, an invitation to include me, socialize with me, which is the last thing I want. There’s a darkness in him and it resides in someone else, it’s the same darkness that Maxwell had in his past and little bits are still in him today. It makes me sh
MaxwellThe knock on the door is a lifeline that I didn’t know I needed. Just the thought of Charlie alone with Benjamin this long eats away at me. How many hours has it been? How many more are left?I immediately answer it thinking it’s Grace coming back to offer dinner or lunch or whatever meal it would be or to tell she’s going to see Charlie...maybe to tell she’s come back from seeing Charlie, but it’s not Grace. “Stella.”She leans against the doorframe, blocking the threshold, blocking the door from being slammed shut in her face. I knew this would happen, I was just naive enough to hope it wouldn’t.“Are you going to invite me in?” She asks as she pushes her way inside the room.“No. I’m not.”“That’s fine. I invited myself in. You’re obviously depressed and lethargic, so I’m here to take care of you. I knew full well that I wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. You should know full well that I wouldn’t be turned away.” She prances into the space as if she owns it. “The Maxwell
CharlieBeing alone here is like playing house with an enemy. If you’re not watching your every move, someone is. There is no safe place. Benjamin may appear to be on our side, my side, but he only does things to benefit himself. I wonder what benefit he’ll be getting from this.Hours go by with me pacing the floor after Maxwell leaves. Sitting down feels like defeat or compliance and I’m far from complying. What was Maxwell thinking? What were either of them thinking?I debate about sending meaningless texts to Maxwell, but what use would that be. He won’t be coming back. It gets darker and before I know it starts to gradually get lighter. The rising sun brings an ache to my bones, a restlessness that only Maxwell can get rid of.A knock lightly taps at the door snapping me out of my fog. “Charlie.” Benjamin calls from out in the hall.I stay silent for a second, but I reluctantly let him in in the end, because where else would I be besides trapped in the room he picked for me.“I wo
Charlie As the sun rises so do I. It takes a great deal of effort to get my restless limbs to calm down. Maxwell’s arm pins me down trapping me in bed with him keeping me close, but I need to walk, I need to stretch my limbs. Slipping out from underneath him is a hard task and I wake him in the process. “Where are you going?” He moans, his hand groping for me. “To do some work. Calm my mind, work my legs.” I reply before leaning over to place a kiss on his mouth. “There’s always work to do.” I tease as I leave him sprawled on the bed. Being on my feet helps rid me of my restlessness and by time I drop down onto my office chair I have a newfound energy. An energy that lasts hours. It isn’t hunger or stiff joints that get me out of my chair it’s the tiny little beep of a text message. Grace: see ya tomorrow what? I reply back. Maxwell didnt tell you? youre leaving tonight when she doesn’t receive a reply back as quickly as before she sends another one oops I don’t reply back, I g
Second half of Chapter One!Maxwell While Charlie’s at work, I find myself bored. A useless human emotion. I laugh at the thought. I can hear her now, ‘like a lost little puppy.’ The thought brings a smile to my face. And then an abrupt, way too loud ring that fills the room wipes it away. My phone lights up on the coffeetable. I can see Grace’s number on the screen. I answer it after the sixth ring. “What’s so important that it can't wait Grace?” “What are you doing that’s so important? I thought Charlie was going back to work today?” “Nothing, she is at work, but I’m starting to despise your call, because you never seem to have anything good to say.” “That hurts, really...and it’s true.” She says thoughtfully, “because” she draws out the word and takes an extremely lengthy pause, “there’s a change in plans.” “How big of a change?” Was this really necessary? What the hell is going over there? Silence. “Grace.” I shout at her. The words quickly tumble from her mouth and at firs
Chapter One, Part One:CharlieIt’s been three weeks since Maxwell has let me leave the house. It’s been three weeks of trying to act normal. That odd, bizarre feeling of not feeling hungry, quicker reflexes, the inability to feel warm or cold. It’s still unbearable. Even in a room packed with people I still feel...different.Weaving through strangers whose heartbeats I can hear, feel the heat from their bodies and smell every single scent in the large open room. It takes nearly all my energy to come to stand beside Morgan. “I’m here.” I pant. She squeals with joy before throwing herself at me. “Out into the world at last. How’s Maxwell holding up? Like a lost super cute puppy?” I struggle to keep a smirk off my face, but I lose and it only gets wider and wider. He is lost. “He’s fine. Bored, but fine.” I lie. The couple of honor dance in the middle of the makeshift dance floor, friends and family surrounding them. Their slightly wrinkled skin and salt and pepper hair show their age