Thirty-One

I frowned. “So what’s the matter?”

“I don’t have anything to wear.”

I wasn’t exactly a fashion icon either – I frowned. “I’m sure you have something in mind.”

“I don’t own any decent dresses.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say. But judging by how difficult the dress she had on made it hard to walk, I would've definitely advised her never to wear it again, in fact she should hurl it in flames.

“And I can’t go shopping.”

“Why?”

Her cheeks coloured when she said. “I used all my monthly allowance last Friday.”

I rummaged through my purse and took out a few hundred notes. “I’m sure you’ll find a suitable dress.”

She shook her head. “No I can’t take this much money.”

“I insist.”

"I'm going to pay it back, I promise.” She said. “Thank you so, so much.”

“No need.” I told her.

“You’ll accompany me to the mall this afternoon won’t you?”

I hated shopping. I tried not to cringe as I thought of an excuse. “Actually I have plans with my mom.” I said. “Ask Selma, I’m sure she’ll do a far better job in helping you with an outfit than me.”

She looked at me from the toes up. “You are so right.” She gasped.

We spent the rest of the hour discussing what colour she should wear and which restaurant they should go to. I agreed to whatever she said – she changed her mind often – I didn’t really care.

And then, thankfully the bell rang. For first period – I’ve never been happier to hear the sound; it was music to my ears.

As she jumped up out of her seat, she mumbled. “I better go talk to Selma.”

"Yes yes" I agreed enthusiastically.

The first two hours after eight moved at an excruciating slow pace – I was bored. But excitement bubbled through me when the thought of spending my lunch with Bradley crossed my mind. Ten o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.

When the bell signalling lunch sounded, I couldn’t stop myself from yelling – along with my contemporaries, a resounding yes.

Some stopped to stare at me. I was embarrassed as I waited for them to leave. I couldn’t be sure if he’d come but I still hoped. I buried my face in my hands to stop myself from glancing at the clock every two seconds – I was becoming anxious. I sighed.

But when I looked up, there standing against the door —looking more like an angel than was humanly possible — Bradley was waiting with a smile that turned my bones into jelly. My heart thudded hyperactively.

“Should I come back later princess?” his voice was aggravated and amused at the same time.

“You’re late.” I accused.

“Oh.” He was startled. “I didn’t know I was supposed to be here ten on the dot.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I went to get you some fish and sparkling water.” He said. “I’m sorry, I should’ve hurried.”

I didn’t know what to say when he looked at me like that. His scorching gaze left me tongue-tied – it was as though he was trying to figure something out – it was a long silent moment.

I fidgeted nervously with my fingers.

"What I’d give to know what you’re thinking.” He mumbled.

I raised one eyebrow.

“Beth.” He said.

I shook my head, lowering my head to hide my blush.

“Please tell me.”

He locked the door behind him.

I don’t know why my heart stuttered when I heard the lock click into place.

“I’ll wait.” He mused.

“It’s embarrassing.”

He sat across me taking off his gloves.

“I was wondering.”

“I’m still waiting.” He said. “Let’s be fair – I won’t answer any of your questions if you don’t answer mine.”

I groaned. “But you always ask me things that are private.”

He rolled his eyes. “And I guess asking me about my demon life is common news.”

I sighed. “I was thinking…” I paused and closed my eyes lowering my head in shame. “I was thinking how you get to be so beautiful.”

“The beauty,” He said with air quotes. “…it comes with being a monster, just an essential element to lure prey.” he said contemptuously.

“Oh.” With him it definitely wasn’t the case. His beauty was natural, humanly.

“It’s a hunting tool more than anything else.”

“So no mind tricks like witches?”

He smiled. “No we’re not hypnotic.”

It was silent for a minute.

“You’ll eat won’t you?”

I nodded and took a deliberate bite off the banana he’d peeled for me.

He laughed. “What, no more probing questions?”

“I think I need to do that on a full stomach.” I was thinking of a better way to ask my next question.

He grinned wider.

“You like me, huh.” He said casually but his eyes narrowed.

“Like is an understatement.”

He frowned in confusion but then his eyes brightened with understanding. His eyes were visibly golden, his eyebrows were in a knot and his face was hard. When he spoke it was through clenched teeth. He was definitely mad. “How can I be so careless?”

“Is that wrong?”

He was staring straight ahead when he answered. “No.”

“Why are you angry then?”

“Because you never think about yourself,” He said. “That’s not fair. You have to put yourself first sometimes.”

I was looking straight ahead when I answered him. “I have no control over my heart.”

“Mm.”

"Can you take off your gloves?" I asked casually.

“Beth…”

“I’m taking my chances.” I mumbled. “What causes the blisters when I touch you?”

“It’s the first time a demon has a human as a life-mate.” He said. “…and I suppose this will only go one of both ways; either you burn to ashes or I drain you off your life essence.”

I laughed humourlessly. “Fate has a cruel way of doing things.”

He smiled. "Maybe it's the fact that you're like a magnet to me. You call to me. You see demons naturally have hot temperatures and since you have this sort of electric essence, when I touch you it’s like I'm recharging my energy from you. Though it happens accidently if I put my mind into it nothing happens." He searched my face. "I'll get better, I promise."

“But I don’t care.”

“You don’t?” I heard the anger in his voice.

“I don’t care if I burn.” I said. “I’d like to touch you.”

My stomach filled with butterflies. I gulped. My hands trembled as I touched the back of his hand.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

I sighed.

“Then why put yourself through that?”

“You’re worth it – I can endure anything.”

“What will I do with you?” His voice was husky and he glanced up at me from under his long lashes, his gaze scorching.

My heart skipped a beat.

“But not today,” He said. “I’d hurt you just recently.”

I scowled. “Does it happen with all the humans you touch – the burning?”

He narrowed his gaze. “No.”

“I’m just unfortunate.”

He laughed dryly. “No, I’m unfortunate.” He grimaced. “I’m the one who can’t touch you without the temptation of feeding.”

“But you can control it.” I assured him. “You won’t hurt me.”

He frowned. His confused expression froze in place. “I’m the one who can’t control not hurting you. What if I’m not strong enough to stop?”

I shook my head. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me deliberately.”

“Is that so?” He smiled at me, leaning closer to me as he spoke, his black eyes piercing.

Breathing was impossible with him so close to me. I leaned back, away from him.

He laughed. “Elizabeth White, you fascinate me.”

I tried to find my voice as my heart beat swiftly thudded against my ribcage.

He caught a lose strand and trapped it behind my ear. A tingling sensation shocked my toes.

I jumped up. “Okay, you need to stop that.”

“What?” he asked momentarily dazed.

"Captivating me," I accused, trying to get my heart to calm down and my breathing to get back to normal – as normal as it would get with an angel next to me.

"Oh." He mumbled.

When I sat back down he pushed the hake towards me. “Eat.” He commanded.

I shook my head. “My stomach is full.” Full of butterflies.

“Nobody has ever adored someone like I do you.”

I scoffed.

“You don’t believe me?” he asked, his eyes irritated.

Finally I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. “How could I? It makes no sense for you to like me back."

“I thought I’m the one who does soul reading.” He said angrily.

"I’d rather you call it mind reading – it makes it more - human," I disagreed; my voice was still a whisper.

His eyes were gentle when he spoke again, “Hmm.”

I blinked, trying to find the right words. His gorgeous face rearranged itself to a scowl. I sighed. He was just so impossibly beautiful. He had no right to look that way.

"Don’t you see how everyone keeps staring at you everywhere you go?” I asked. “You fascinate people not me.”

His expression was angry for a moment as he stared harshly at me. “I don’t know why you refuse to see yourself very clearly.”

“I do.” I agreed.

“You don’t.” he diverged. “If you did you’d have noticed how I had to stare down all those men at the mall yesterday.”

I laughed humourlessly, raising my eyebrow in doubt. “They were looking at you.” I argued.

He smiled. “Then their thoughts were very inappropriate.”

“Oh?”

“My radar…” he said pointing at his head. “Has never been wrong,”

“Mm.”

He was still smiling as he said, “trust me, I would know.”

“You think I’m pretty?” I failed to conceal the doubt in my voice as I stared at him as if he was insane.

He was quiet.

“That’s absurd.” I mumbled to myself.

He chuckled lowly. “No, I don’t think you’re pretty.” He said.

“Ow.” I wasn’t that much disappointed. I knew he was right. I was just an ordinary human.

“You’re beautiful.”