Chapter 25

"So..." Corey said.

I looked over at him. "So?"

We were in laying in bed on Saturday morning.

"It's the 14th." He stated.

I just stared at him.

"It's a holiday..."

He made a heart with his hand.

"Oh it's a game of charades." I said.

He breathed a laugh.

"Okay umm...a heart...love?"

He nodded.

"Oh it's Valentines Day." I said.

"And we have a winner." He said.

"What's my prize?"

He thought for a moment. "Me."

"...What are my other choices?"

He looked solemnly at me.

"Just kidding..." I said.

His expression didn't change.

"Well fine then." I let go of him and crossed my arms.

"Oh the silent treatment." I said.

He didn't respond.

"Fine I don't care. I can find other people to talk to."

I got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

Trey was sitting at the counter, drinking coffee.

"Hey Trey." I said, smiling at him.

Trey and I have become very good friends; actually I think he's the closest person to me besides Corey.

"Hey Arabelle, I made you coffee."

"Oh thanks, where's Nick?"

"Still asleep."

I nodded.

"Where's Corey?"

"Upstairs, he's giving me the silent treatment." I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Why's that?"

"I made a joke. He didn't think it was funny."

"Ahh."

Corey walked into the kitchen. "Talking about me?"

"Oh no more silent treatment?" I asked.

"There was never silence because you were talking...to yourself because I wasn't listening."

"Good."

He smirked and leaned over the counter and wrapped his hands around the vase of flowers, playing with the violet and soft white petals.

I looked at Trey. "So Trey, do you like valentines day?" I asked him.

"Uh actually I do, it's my favorite holiday but I don't have anyone to be my valentine." He said with a sad smile.

"...Well I'll be your valentine." I offered.

"Really?" he smiled.

"Sure."

"Thanks Bells."

I smiled at him.

I heard the sound of glass breaking.

I looked over at Corey; the vase of flowers that were on the counter was shattered, pieces of glass and the carnations were scattered all over the counter and a few shards of glass were on the floor.

"It...fell." Corey said.

"Then why isn't it on the floor?" I asked.

"I don't know." He said.

"Okay..."

I got the dustpan from the cupboard.

"I'll get it." Corey said, taking the dustpan from me.

"Well... I should go; I'll see you later Bells." Trey said.

I nodded.

He walked out of the room.

I looked at Corey. "Did you break the vase?"

"I said it fell." He replied.

"It just doesn't look like it did."

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Do what?"

"You said you'd be his valentine what about me?"

"You didn't ask me."

"What if I was going too?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's a stupid holiday, it doesn't mean anything."

"It does to him."

"What are you talking about?"

He sighed. "It's so fucking obvious that he likes you."

"Trey?"

"Yes."

"We're friends."

"Yes I know that but why do you think you're friends?"

"Because he likes me as a friend." I said.

"No, no he likes you way more than just a friend." He said.

"And how do know that?"

"I just do."

"I think you're just paranoid."

"I'm not paranoid, he likes you, I'm telling you ask him he'll probably tell you."

I shook my head.

"Why do you think he said that? Valentines Day is not his favorite holiday." He said.

I laughed. "Sure."

"You don't believe me, it's true."

"I'm getting in the shower." I said, walking away.

"It's true." Corey said. "I know it is."

"You're delusional."

I walked upstairs and got in the shower afterwards I dressed in a pair of black jeans and a Star Trek shirt.

"Do you think Valentines Day is stupid?" Corey asked when I walked out of the closet.

"Yes, do you?" I replied.

"I absolutely hate it, I think it's the stupidest holiday ever invented and I usually don't even acknowledge it." He said.

"Then why are you making a big deal out of me being Trey's valentine?"

"I'm simply saying that it means more to him than it does to you."

"And I'm simply saying that it doesn't."

"Whatever." He crossed his arms.

"You're in a bad mood today." I mused. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes Valentines Day puts me in a bad mood."

"Oh well we can pretend it's not Valentines Day."

"Good."

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.

"I love you." He said.

"I love you too."

Later on that night Corey, Drake and I were in the kitchen.

Drake and Corey were saying how horrible Valentines Day is.

"I'm so glad I don't have a girlfriend." Drake said. He looked at me. "You two aren't going to do anything?"

"Nope," I replied nonchalantly.

"Hmm Corey your lucky to have my sister."

Corey smiled. "Lucky doesn't even begin to cover it."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, it's true." He said. "Oh wait that's right you think you don't deserve me."

"She thinks she doesn't deserve you?" Drake asked.

Corey nodded.

Drake chuckled. "You two." He shook his head and sighed. "Ah young love."

Drake glanced at the clock. "Oh look at the time, I'm going to be late for my date."

"Date?" I asked.

"Yep,"

He slipped on his jacket. "See you guys later."

"Bye." I said.

He left the kitchen and I heard the front door close a moment later.

Trey walked into the kitchen.

"Hey," I smiled.

I saw Corey roll his eyes.

Trey walked up to me and handed me a bouquet of roses.

"I thought I should get you something." He said.

"Aw thank you Trey." I said, taking the roses from him.

Nick came in the kitchen. "Trey, I need your help." He stated.

Trey smiled at me and walked out of the room.

Nick looked at me and smirked. "I'll see you later." And With that he left the room.

What does he mean by that?

Corey took the flowers from my hands and looked at them. "Aren't those nice?" He said.

He threw them in the trash can beside the counter.

I stared at him. "What the hell?"

"What do you need flowers for?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Are you jealous?"

"I wouldn't say jealous..."

"What would you call it then?" I asked.

"I don't know but that's beside the point. The point is I was right; he does like you."

"Just because he gave me flowers doesn't mean he likes me. He was just being nice."

"He was just being nice because he likes you."

I sighed.

"Even if he does like me what does it matter? You're the only person I'll ever love."

"Promise?" He asked.

"Promise."

*The next day*

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked Trey.

He nodded. "I'm fine."

I sighed. "I should talk to Nick."

"No, Arabelle I'm fine. It's just a few bruises; they'll be healed in a few hours." He said.

"I know but I should still talk to him about it."

"No you shouldn't."

"I should."

"Arabelle please don't."

"Why don't you want me too?"

"Because that's what he wants."

"What do you mean?"

He shook his head. "I can't tell you."

"Can't tell me what?"

"Just please don't talk to him, you should stay away from him."

"If you won't tell me why then I'm going too."

He didn't respond.

"Okay then, if I'm not done by the time Corey gets out of the shower tell him what I'm doing."

Trey nodded sadly.

I walked out of the living room and went to Nick's room.

I knocked on the door and a second later he opened it.

"Arabelle, come in." He said.

I walked inside the room and he closed the door, locking it.

"Why did you lock the door?" I asked.

"I don't want any interruptions. So I'm assuming you're here to talk about what I did to Trey?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, well I have something else I want to talk about."

"And what's that?" I asked.

He smiled and reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small black box.

He got down on one knee and opened the box revealing a familiar ring.

He kept it.

"Arabelle, will you marry me?"

I stared at him in shock. "Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Why would you ever think that I would marry you?" I said.

"Well I know we haven't gotten along lately but I still love you and I always will." He replied.

"Nick...I don't love you."

"Arabelle love doesn't just go away, not the love that we had."

"I never loved you."

"Of course you did, you told me you did. I know you still love me."

I shook my head. "No...I-I have to go."

I walked past him to the door; I unlocked it and stepped out into the hall.

"Arabelle." Nick stopped me.

"Is it the slave? Is that why you won't marry me?"

"His name is Corey and yes that's one of the reasons." I replied.

"Your saying you'd rather be with him than me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"But why? He's just a slave, he's nothing."

"No he's everything, he's my everything. He's not just a slave, he's the most wonderful person I've ever met and I love him."

"He's a vampire you can't love him. He's a horrible bloodsucking monster and you're telling me you want to be with him?"

"Yes I do want be with him; more anything. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing he is and you don't have the right to judge him because you know nothing about him."

He breathed a laugh. "I know he probably just wants you for your blood."

"I'm done talking to you." I said.

I walked away from him down the hall.

I heard a door shut; I glanced back down the hall to find it empty.

I sighed and slowed down.

I can't believe he just purposed to me.

Did he actually think I was going to say yes?

He must have or else he wouldn't have done it.

Does he really-

"Arabelle?" I felt someone grab my hand as I was walking down the hall; breaking me out of my thoughts.

I stopped and turned around to see Corey standing by the doorway of my room.

"How long have you've been standing there?" I asked.

"Long enough to hear your conversation with Nick." He replied.

"Oh..."

"What you said about me...that was..." He looked down and smiled.

I bit my lip.

He cleared his throat. "So what happened with Nick?"

"Umm...he uh...asked me to marry him."

"Oh...what did you say?"

I rolled my eyes. "I said no of course."

"Are you ever going to tell me why you don't like Nick?"

I sighed.

"Come on it'll be therapeutic."

"There's nothing to tell."

"There has to be something."

"Well...we used to be engaged." I muttered.