Stupid emotions...

I was munching on my fourth slice of pizza when James told me something.

"Sorry?"

I asked, peering at him. We were sitting around the kitchen counter, where I found several boxes of pizza and thanked the heavens. I was really hungry.

"I said you eat like a pig."

He stated, smirking.

I didn't bother to answer him because he was right. I do eat like a pig when I am hungry. And who's going to stop me? No one.

"So, who are you going to be with? Ryan or Cole?"

Doesn't this idiot have any other job to do? I turned to look at Adrian for a support but he was dozing off right on the marble top.

He should be really tired.

"Adrian?" He did not hear me.

"Adrian." I called a bit louder this time, and he jolted up from the seat.

"What? Is there any problem?"

He was looking frantically here and there.

I sighed, a small smile gracing my lips.

"No. There's no problem. You look so tired, so go get some rest in your room."

He scratched at the back of his head and slowly nodded.

"Call me if you want anything."

I smiled at him, and he left the kitchen. I went back to finish my slice when I found James looking at me, amused.

"That was a neat way of avoiding my question."

I applauded and smiled smugly at him.

"At least you understood that."

He chuckled.

"So it means you are having confusion in choosing?"

He is 'Hopeless'!

"There is no need to choose when I already know who I want to be with."

I said, finishing the slice.

"Okay. So is it Cole or Ryan?"

"Why should I tell you? You are not my father."

James was getting on my nerves.

"Dude, Relax. I am just looking to see if I got a chance."

He is not just hopeless, but shameless, too. However, I was certain that his playboy nature was a disguise, because his eyes never took part in his flirting.

I looked at him, irritated, to which he responded with a toothy smile.

For the next ten minutes, everything was so quiet and boredom started to strike me very badly.

"So, why are you against Asmodeus?"

I hate saying his name but I could not find a more interesting common topic than this.

James' jaw suddenly clenched, and the grip on his glass tightened. Was his mask slipping?

"For a reason that I am not willing to discuss now."

His voice held so much pain and hatred. I guess it was something terrible that Asmodeus did to him.

Knowing that there was nothing more to speak, I slowly got up and left an 'all serious James' alone.

________________________________

I knocked once, twice... No response. I opened the door a little, only to be welcomed by darkness.

"Helena?"

Something shifted in the bed as a reply. When did she come back?

I entered further and moved the curtain blinds aside to let some light in.

Helena was lying on the bed, and the pillows were socking from her tears.

"I thought witches were tough."

I said as a monologue, but it caught her attention.

"They have feelings too."

Her voice was rough and filled with grief.

I sighed, feeling sorry for her. I laid myself near her and, without thinking twice, hugged her.

If someone told me that I would be hugging a witch in the future, probably you could find him in a mental asylum by now.

Surprisingly, she returned my hug, making me feel so warm.

"I have never loved a person like Sid. I thought we were forever. He made me believe that he had changed for me. Even after everything he has done to me, I still cannot hate that stupid."

She lifted her head and looked directly into my eyes.

"Am I that desperate?"

Though it was just a whisper, that single sentence held so much emotion.

"You are not at all desperate, but you are in love and you know that, too. It is neither your fault nor his. Of course, he has played with your feelings, but he still does have something towards you, too. I have seen it several times."

"Really?"

Her orbs widened, and a slither of hope passed through them.

"Yes, just give it some time. Everything's going to be all right."

She gave me a genuine smile and hugged me again.

"I'll give you some space to collect yourself."

I whispered, and she nodded. But before I left, she stopped me.

"Atarah?"

"Yeah?"

"You are a great friend."

I did not say anything in return, but just smiled.

With that, I left the room feeling relieved. I walked towards the boy's room. I sounded like a mother, and was about to turn the knob when the familiar scent blocked my nose.

"What is it, Ryan?"

I need not have to turn around and see if it was him. Just the tingling sensation in me whenever he's near is more than enough.

"Just checking on my mate."

My legs started to wobble beneath me. For heaven's sake, Atarah, that was a mere sentence. So stop acting like a jelly bean.

"You know your heart could come out if it continues beating like this. Right?"

The nerve of him. I took a quick turn and faced directly into his jet-black eyes. And suddenly I felt lost... lost in those mesmerizing eyes. I think I will soon be a poet if I continue like this.

"Like what you see?"

He smirked widely and almost grinned.

"I have seen better."

I am never the type to surrender. Am I?

"But your eyes say another story."

He lifted his finger and started to play with my disordered hair. Why does it make my heart flutter?

"That's because you think so highly of yourself."

His smirk turned to a fake pain.

"Ouch... that hurts."

"It should."

"But you know what hurts more?"

His eyes were invading mine.

"What?"

I don't know if he even heard that, because my breath hitched in my throat, making me unable to speak.

"That you are not mine yet...officially."

My heart skipped a beat or two. I stood there like a statue.

He did not just talk about marriage, right? Or did he?

Am I ready for that?

Can I seriously become the wife of a vampire?

I didn't know my mind could think so rapidly until then.

His minty breath woke me up from my trance.

"Relax. I was only testing you. But honestly, you should have seen your face. You looked like a corpse."

His chest vibrated as he chuckled.

I slapped on his biceps, trying my maximum to hide the smile.

"That was not funny. You almost gave me a heart attack there."

I glared at him, but in vain.

"You are right, it wasn't funny. It was hilarious."

I pouted, and he chuckled more.

"But prepare yourself. Because you really are going to be mine sooner or later."

This time, he was not playing with me. I could sense it from his voice.

He walked past me and opened the bedroom door only to hear a snoring Adrian.

Right.... Back to normal.....

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