Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I walked around in the deadly silenced house. It looked as if someone had just left. There were still champagne glasses and beer bottles on the coffee table and side tables. The house still smelled of alcohol and my mom’s perfume. It was a strange emotion surging through me. I was sad but not sad at the same time. I didn’t feel like I was broken but maybe it was just the shock. I mean, my parents didn’t want me. They made that very evident at times…but then again, they were drunk at those times. What was I supposed to be feeling towards them? Most kids would have been crying their eyes out but I wasn’t. Did that make me an awful person?
“Jade?”
I turned to see Gabriel standing in the doorway of the house.
“What?” I snapped not exactly too pleased to see him.
“Jade, I’m sorry.” He said quietly.
My entire body began shaking. I couldn’t believe he was standing there. It was all his fault anyway. Everything was his fault.
“Why are you here?” I asked, trying to control my anger.
“Because…Jagger didn’t know those were your parents. I told you that his killings are totally random. He didn’t know.”
“So that makes it okay?!” I screeched.
“No! Not at all! I’m just telling you that he wasn’t trying to hurt you here.” Gabriel responded.
“Well that’s fantastic then, isn’t it?! It’s just wonderful! I should just forgive him then, right? I should just…oh you are pissing me off so badly, Gabriel.”
“Jade, I love you…”
“Really? You love me?” I asked quietly, sarcastically. “I. Don’t. Care. YOU LET ME WALK AWAY FROM YOU IN THE WOODS! YOU LET ME WALK AWAY! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ME! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF! I HATE YOU, GABRIEL CALPH!” I screamed and then pushed past him out the door again where Oliver was waiting in his car.
I started to get in but Gabriel came up behind me and spun me around. He crashed his lips into mine and immediately, I forgot everything. Literally. Everything. All I could think about was Gabriel and how his lips were forming against mine so perfectly and how much I loved him even though I wanted to hate him.
When he pulled away, I felt confused and dazed and…happy. It was strange. I shouldn’t have been feeling like that but I was. Gabriel looked into my eyes and put his hand up to the side of my face. The iciness made me shiver.
“Jade, I love you.” He whispered.
I couldn’t bring myself to respond. I reached behind me for the door handle and pulled on it. When the door was open, I collapsed inside and closed the door. Oliver drove us away, without another word until we arrived at his house. He removed the keys from the ignition but didn’t make any motion to be getting out of the car. I also didn’t move. Oliver’s face was blank. I wish I knew what he was feeling and thinking.
“Oliver?” I said quietly.
He inhaled deeply and then exhaled.
“Oliver, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s just that…earlier I actually thought I had a chance but then when I saw him kiss you and the way you held onto him while you were kissing him back. Jade, you don’t have any feelings for me and you know it.” He replied sadly.
“Oliver, I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
He shook his head slowly. “I know what you’re feeling. I can tell. Every time I mention Gabriel, I see the pain in your eyes…the only way that much pain can be present is if you truly loved him and you did…you do.”
“Are we still friends?” I asked mostly to myself.
“Jade, of course we are. Why would you even think that we aren’t?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes when one friend has feelings for the other friend, things just don’t work out between those friends.”
“Jade, I know how I feel about you but I also know how you feel about me. I accept that, okay? And I will always, always be your friend.”
I smiled and nodded. “Am I still welcome at your house?”
“My mom can’t not let you stay now, Jade.”
I looked down at my hands. Oliver reached over and touched my knee.
“Everything is going to be okay.” He told me quietly and I believed him for a moment but I knew that there were bigger problems than my parents being dead.
“Oliver, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“How come I never see your dad around?”
I knew it was a random question but it got the focus off of me and my issues.
“I…I don’t know. I never even…wow, he never is around, is he?”
I shook my head and Oliver’s eyes saddened.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned.
“Nothing. I’m just jumping to conclusions. My dad wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Like what?” I pushed.
“Never mind. It’s nothing. Let’s go inside now and figure out your living arrangements.”
I gave him a lingering look before going inside with him.
“My mom left already…you can just hang here until we figure out something to do.”
I nodded and went inside with him. I plopped down on the couch and all I wanted to do was sleep. I couldn’t think of what else to do. Gabriel had kissed me. My parents were dead because of Jagger. I couldn’t believe that Gabriel had defended him. Was I going crazy or had that really happened? I couldn’t bring myself to believe that Jagger’s attack on my parents was completely coincidental. On top of that, I had reason to believe that Doug was now a vampire. He went missing…wasn’t found dead but was gone. I closed my eyes for a moment and curled my knees into my chest trying to block out the insanity of being caught up in this vampire world.
“Jade?”
I opened my eyes and saw Oliver standing over me. I didn’t really want to talk to him at that moment in time. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
“Jade, please, hear me out, okay?” Oliver said, sitting down beside my feet on the couch.
I wanted to ask him why I should because I knew what he was going to say but I restrained myself.
“I’m just tired of seeing you being hurt by Gabriel and his little vampire buddies. If this doesn’t stop, you’re going to get killed, Jade. Is it worth it?”
I sighed and I knew he had a point but I couldn’t deny that I still had very strong feelings for Gabriel. There was no way I could just turn my back on the vampire world now. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t hide. I had to face them face on if I wanted to survive. No more surprise attacks. I had to save myself and I had to keep Oliver safe.
But for now, in case my death did come soon, I had to do what was best. I had to make Oliver happy in case I died. I didn’t matter to myself anymore. I didn’t care if I lived or died, but I did care about Oliver. I would keep him safe and happy.
I looked up at Oliver, changing my facial expression. This was it, the moment of change. The moment of giving in.
I stood up and looked deep into Oliver’s eyes. I could hear Oliver’s breath catch in his voice. I could almost hear his heart racing. I could see the sweat beading up on his forehead. Before I could think twice, I leaned in and kissed him. He didn’t pull away but sank into me, giving into his desires.
I couldn’t help but think as I was kissing him and I became pessimistic very quickly.
Well, I thought carelessly, this is the end of my forever.
As the thought floated through my head, Oliver and I took the next step and I knew that vampires were once again nonexistent in my head.