"Officer Danny," I greeted quickly before diverting my attention back to my brother.
"Do you want me to get rid of him?" Jasmine brushed past and whispered in my ear. With a firm nod, I smiled kindly just as Jasmine ushered him into the kitchen for a cup of coffee which he obviously didnât seem to want.
"What happened?" I quizzed, getting straight to the point.
"Is he hurt? Or did he kill someone? Or --," I began when he didnât start to talk immediately.
"If you would let me speak then I'll tell you what happened. He was beaten pretty badly by a group of bloodsuckers who apparently mistook him for someone else that was killing women close by," Robert explained catching me off guard slightly. Even though I knew that I shouldnât care since we werenât together, my heart couldnât help but skip a beat as I remembered how he had been when he hadnât drank from me, but in this case he was beaten up. Pretty Badly.
"What does pretty badly mean?" I asked.
"Fine he was beaten the hell up okay. He needs your blood and I wouldnât be risking your blood if I couldnât tell how much you love him, too much to let him die Mel. Plus he's looking after me and he's a pretty decent guy," Robert shrugged.
"Pretty decent?" I repeated.
"Fine, he's a great guy, the only one that I think is good enough for my little sister. I'm sorry for last week okay. I just didnât understand what happened and if you were in my position, you would have wondered what was going on too," he defended making me smile as his blue eyes brightened when a small smile bloomed on his lips. Hugging him tightly, missing our brother-sister hugs, I grabbed my coat ready to leave, only to remember Officer Danny.
"One second," I stated, running into the kitchen, to see him awkwardly talking to Jasmine who seemed to be rambling on about something. When I stepped into the small kitchen, his eyes landed on mine in relief and I smiled softly.
"I'm really sorry Officer Danny, it was a family emergency. Do you think that what you came by to say to me can wait?" I wondered, hoping that it could.
"Actually no. I need you to explain what exactly happened between you and Trevor Smythe- Hewitt," He informed me, dropping my mood even more than it had when I had heard about Stephen.
"If you give me your number I'll call you later on Off--, I mean Danny, but right now I have somewhere else to go. Please, this is very important," I pleaded not wishing to waste any more time.
"No, we need to do this now otherwise I'll get in really big trouble back at the office," Danny argued as he began to irritate me.
"Will you just give my sister some space please Officer," Robert growled, suddenly appearing beside me.
"I think we all just need to calm down and think about what we're saying," Jasmine attempted to interfere.
"I think you need to back down Sir," Danny retorted, rising from his chair.
"We're going. Deal with it." Robert scoffed viciously dragging me outside and towards Stephen's car which he must have borrowed.
"Robert wait!" Jasmine yelled after us.
"You better get back here otherwise I'll arrest you for preventing justice!" Danny shouted after us but it was too late as I was shoved into the car after Robert who then locked the door just as Danny tried to open it.
"You're gonna get arrested Robert," I breathed, not used to seeing him act so aggressively.
"Who fucking cares?" he cursed, flooring the car causing my head to whip back against the passenger seat as I stared at my brother in awe. The sound of the sirens rang around us as Robert refused to give into the officer.
"How long ago had Stephen been beaten up?" I questioned.
"Two days ago, but he hasnât really gotten any better. He said that he doesnât want your blood but I know that he needs it and you're more than willing to provide it for him if it means that he'll get better," Robert replied, seeming to ignore all of the red traffic lights.
"You can calm down now, the officers gone," I told him looking through the windows to find that the police car had disappeared.
"Good. He's one annoying mother --," Robert cursed again before I cut him off.
"Mother nothing. He needed the information and you decided to make it into a fight," I frowned.
"He wasnât listening and I needed you to help me, or rather Stephen," Robert hissed.
"You were being impatient," I scowled.
"Whatever, we're here now," he said, opening his car door and leaving me in it. Rolling my eyes, I eventually got out of the car and followed him up to the apartment, memories of my argument with Stephen flowing back into my mind. Pushing them into the back of my head, I sauntered ahead of Robert and barged Stephen's bedroom door open only to see him underneath the bed sheets⦠which were covered in blood. I stopped in my tracks as his eyes snapped towards mine.
"I told you that I didnât need her here Robert." Stephen roared his bruised face the only part of his body that I guessed has slowly healing.
"If he hadnât have told me we probably wouldnât speak for the next four years again," I stated.
"They did this to you?" I whispered, stepping closer him only to be suddenly thrown over someone's shoulder.
"Robert put me down!" I struggled.
"I thought you said that you would look after her Bobby," Stephen frowned, confusing me.
"I should kill you for even laying a hand on my little sister. Put her down right now!" Robert shouted. Who the hell were they talking about?
"Who is holding me?" I whimpered, feeling the blood rush towards my head.
"Officer Danny," Robert informed me.
"Then who the hell is Bobby?" I called.
"I thought I could look after her but her annoying brother got in the way. I'm sorry man," Danny's voice apologised. It was his voice but still, who the hell was Bobby?
"Put her down since it's a bit late now," Stephen sighed as I was set back onto the ground with my head feeling slightly light.
"Sorry," the guy apologised.
"I'm guessing your real name is Bobby then, Danny?" I asked.
"Yep and since I'm not really wanted, I think I'll leave the room," he shrugged, glaring at my brother who glowered back at him as he left.
"You made him watch over me?" I quizzed, remembering what he had said.
"Since you didnât want me with you, I thought that I had to made someone else watch over you in case that son of a bitch came back for more," Stephen shrugged, wincing slightly. I had almost forgotten about the blood.
"Drink," I commanded, bending towards him as I lowered myself to my knees.
"No." Stephen replied.
"Drink. We're not going to do this again Stephen. Robert can you leave us alone for a second please," I begged, wanting to do this with just the two of us. With a hesitant nod, he left the room and not too long later did I hear arguing outside.
"Drink from me Stephen," I insisted.
"I donât want to hurt you again Melanie," Stephen groaned.
"Who said that your hurting me?..If anything it feels nice," I whispered, looking away from him in embarrassment.
"I want you to get better okay, now drink up," I offered for the last time moving closer for his and my comfort. Without any warning, I felt his fang insert themselves into my neck causing me to gasp as his hand moved towards the back of my head, holding me in place. I kept my hands on the edge of the bed, squeezing it as the exotic feelings returned. It had felt like only a second after Stephen had began to drink from me and so when he withdrew I was slightly surprised. The last thing that I remembered was looking into his dark, thankful eyes which no longer had dark circles around them, before I fainted.
When I woke up, I gently held my head as the room began to spin around me. Glancing around the bed, I noticed and was thankful that the bed had been changed and that I lay on clean bed sheet and covers.
"Here's some water. Get up slowly," Stephen instructed as though this was the first time that I had passed out.
"I've been through this before Stephen, I know the drill," I attempted to joke, only for a look of grimace to cross his features.
"I didnât mean to make it sound likeâ¦it was a joke Stephen," I moaned as I slowly drank the cold water.
"I shouldnât be putting you through this in the first place. You can leave and get back to your life now. Thanks for helping meâ¦again Melanie." Stephen thanked me, leaving the room.
"What if I can't just leave and get back to my life again? What if I donât want to leave?" I challenged quietly, as I lay the cup back down onto the bedside table.
"You've put me through enough with my feelings Melanie," Stephen reminded me.
"And so have you. If you can't remember I think I can jog your memory," I scoffed. Staring blankly at me from the door, I tried to calm down.
"Can we start again and I mean from the beginning," I proposed, not able to stop myself anymore. There was no point to try to stop what we both wanted.
"What do you mean?" Stephen questioned.
"I mean us. I...I still have strong feelings for you Stephen, I'm just still hurting a bit. Can we start us over again please..." I explained sadly, getting ready for a rejection.
"Do you mean like a date or something?" Stephen smirked causing my eyes to snap up to his brightened ones.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to handle that, but I'll try," I agreed, ignoring his amused raised eye brow. I had a feeling that I would pass out, like I had almost done on many occasions in college.
"Donât ask," I chuckled, feeling as though I was finally brightening up to how I was before everything had happened.
"Well just know that youâre the one that going to be paying for this," Stephen smiled, making my heart race at his first genuine smile since I had seen him again.
"Cheap," I muttered making him chuckle as he left the room, the husky sound making my heart race even faster. I realised that I was falling even deeper in love with him than I had in college.
Oh Lord.