Chapter 17

"See you guys later," I say, waving goodbye to Lucas and Levi. Haley told me that she wanted to drive me home so she's out waiting for me in her car. I have a feeling that I know why she offered to give me a ride but the boys don't need to know.

Lucas waves at me but Levi is looking at the ground like he's thinking deeply about something. Is it from our conversation earlier regarding Zoey and why she hated me? I brush it off and walk towards Haley's car and quickly get inside the passenger seat. I blow out some air and rub my hands together for warmth while Haley starts talking. "We're picking your brother up first right?" she asks, backing out of her parking space.

I nod while looking out the window. It's been a couple days since my creep has given me anything but for some reason I feel...I don't know...empty? I know that I should be happy and overjoyed that he finally decided to leave me alone but for some reason I have a weird feeling at the bottom of my stomach. What if he's out hunting some other girl? I know I should be happy but...I don't know! How come I'm not happy?

"Something's wrong with me," I mutter, making Haley snap her head towards me for a second before turning her attention back towards the road.

"What do you mean?" she asks, making a left turn. What I love about Haley's driving is that she's the safest driver I know, even compared to my mom. Haley's the kind of person that slams on the breaks gently the second she sees the light turn orange, she doesn't try to beat it. She never speeds and her phone is tucked away the entire time and on silent. She's the last person who's likely to end up in a car accident.

I rub my forehead while leaning my head against the seat. What's a good way I can word how I'm feeling? Now that Haley knows everything it feels nice to have someone to talk to about all this with. It makes me feel less alone, and I don't like being alone. "My creep hasn't sent me anything these last couple days and I should be happy but I sorta don't feel that way." Even to myself it doesn't sound right.

I see Haley's lips curl up in an amused smirk. "Your creep huh?" I feel a blush work its way to my face but before I can reply she continues. "So, you don't feel okay now that the creep has stopped sending you chocolate flowers or love notes?"

"Chocolate flowers?" I repeat, slightly confused. He's sent me one or the other before but I don't remember ever receiving edible flowers. I don't think there's a bad chocolate out there so I'm assuming that all chocolate is edible.

Haley ignores my comment. "Maybe, okay look hear me out. Maybe you're feeling sad because you started to actually enjoy receiving those gifts," she says, and I give her an incredulous look.

"Haley! They're creepy-"

"No, they're sweet. Look Braska, forget for a moment that this is coming from someone you consider a creep or that this person somehow got knowledge of you without you knowing. Really think about the situation. He's giving you flowers, love notes every girl dreams to get from their crush, and he took the time to watch over you."

"Haley, that's just-"

"I know you think it's creepy. Hell, I think it's creepy. But maybe the reason you don't feel right about him leaving you alone is because you've started to expect them from him. Call it a less intense version of Stockholm Syndrome."

I roll my eyes at her comment. "Haley, please look up what Stockholm Syndrome is because I'm pretty sure you got two different things mixed up. But anyways, what do you mean by that?"

"Perhaps deep down inside, you actually like getting the offerings from him. If you look past the fact that you don't know him, then everything he's ever gotten you could be considered a sweet act. Honestly, this could be his way of getting your attention. Kind of like a secret admirer in a way. Scratch that, this man is definitely admiring you but wants to stay hidden. Mysterious. I kinda like it."

"A simple hello isn't good enough?" I scoff, crossing my arms. Seriously, if anyone actually wants me to notice them, they could just come up and say hi. I'm not threatening or intimidating. At least I don't think I am. I've never been in a fight and I don't like to swear. I'm not that tall either or hang around the students with the most influence. So what's the problem with me?

"Because every time a nice guy does so much as just look at you, you automatically assume it's for me. Braska, I know this is a hard concept for you to understand, but guys actually like you too," she says, pronouncing each syllable at her last sentence slowly as if I'm a child.

I clench my teeth as she parks outside of Jason's school. "Please, you heard what Zoey-"

"Who gives a shit about Zoey? Braska, she's just saying that because she's jealous of you. She's jealous because of that whole thing that happened years ago and she's never let go of it, not even after all these years."

"Yeah because I'm the one living in a mansion. I'm the one with enough money to buy clothes whenever I want to. I'm the one with parents who aren't sick and spend their time with me instead of earning whatever money they can just to stay alive!" At this point, tears are threatening to leak out of my eyes.

"You're also the one who doesn't have to put on makeup or brand clothing to get a guy's attention. You're the one who gets the good grades. You're the one who every single freaking teacher likes. You're the one with a family where everyone loves and supports each other, no matter the circumstance."

"You want to bring family into this? My dad is in a hospital and he might not even live to get out of the bed! My mom has to work twice as much to support the medication, which might be the only thing keeping him breathing now. Because of the money she has to pay for him, I have to support myself and Jason! I can't go to the movies, I can't worry about extracurricular activities for college, and I can't go shopping every weekend, not even for groceries."

"We all know you're going to get a scholarship with an easy ride to college while the rest of us have to depend on extracurricular in hopes that the professors look past our grades! You know what your problem is Braska?"

"Which problem? I have too many to count so feel free to point any of them out!" I can't believe that I'm shouting at my best friend. I don't even remember when we last fought this severely.

"That's what I'm talking about. You can't stand anything in your life changing. It always has to go in routine, just the way you plan. The minute something that you didn't plan for happens, you panic and go back into your shell and shut the world out! Why won't you just accept that life will shit on you so many times and it's your job to clean after it every time!" she screams in my face.

I shake my head at her and wipe away the tears. "You know what? Drive back home. I don't need a ride anymore," I say, getting out of the car and slamming her door.

"Wait, this wasn't planned for! Are you going to go back into your shell because you didn't expect to walk home? Or are you going to cry the entire way because you let everything Zoey says get into your head. Newsflash Braska, you're a person, not a robot who feeds from commands given to you. Maybe it's time you realize that!" With that one last jab at me, she starts the drive and drives away.

I don't know how long I stand there in the freezing wind before finally getting some feeling in my legs to walk inside to pick Jason up.

***

Levi's POV

"What?" Layton asks, gritting his teeth together. I notice his fists clenching over and over again, a sign he's about to punch a wall or kill the nearest person.

I'd rather he punch a wall.

"I'm not repeating the whole story again, it's too many words," I lazily reply, kicking my feet up on the counter and closing my eyes. I hear the sound of a vase crashing against the wall, followed by a booming sound.

He continues throwing objects and punching titanium walls making me roll my eyes. Better to let him blow off the steam now than deal with him killing someone in the streets and having cops investigate.

I duck my head when I hear the sound of glass zoom by me. Since he's still having his tantrum, I calmly grab a magazine from the counter and read it. Damn I really want to meet these women. I prefer women with a bit more meat in them since bones kinda freak me out. Seeing and feeling bones is just so...weird. I want to go back in time and drain the idiot who thought bones sticking out should be a beauty standard.

It's about thirty minutes later before he finally stops throwing objects around. I glance up and see his chest heaving up and down. I stand up thinking that he's done with his rage before he starts punching walls again. Sighing, I look around the room.

No wonder he stopped throwing objects; there's nothing else to throw! Dammit Layton, now I have to buy more stuff.

"If you're done acting like a child, you should give me another thousand dollars," I say, momentarily catching his attention.

"Why would I give you money?" he asks, and I shrug. At least he's not attacking anything in the room so might as well keep him talking.

"So I can buy more things to make this house more human since someone decided to throw things to let his anger out. Seriously, have you ever considered anger management?"

"I really want to kill her," he growls, making me roll my eyes. Anyone looking at him right now would run away in fear at the bloodlust behind all the rage that's displayed on his face. It's not everyday that I've seen the usually calm and collected prince lose his temper.

It's cute that he lost it over a little pixie of a girl. Braska is so short. Actually not that short, just shorter than me. She's the shortest in her group of friends but I don't think that changes anything. "I know a really good class-"

"Where does she live? The sooner I get rid of her the sooner Nebraska is safe," he says, calming down a little after saying Braska's name. Whipped and she doesn't even know it.

Honestly, I have no idea how it feels to have a soulmate. I'm a turned vampire since the idiot in front of me lost his cool centuries ago. Layton is a born vampire so he has one but I'm not sure if I have one. But I mean if Sabrina can have a soulmate I guess I have one too. I just hope I don't have to wait so many years to find her like Layton. Or do they reincarnate into different bodies?

Thinking back to it, the first few months with Layton were hell. All he was focused on was finding his soulmate. It was annoying how we stayed in one place for about a month before moving on after he made sure to she wasn't there. I don't know how he touched all those girls but I don't really want to know either. Layton's freaky.

But I am truly glad that he finally met Braska. Not because I care about his mission, but because we didn't have to move around anymore. I wish she lived in Vegas or Reno though, somewhere where there's something to do.

Layton calls my name making me snap out of my thoughts and I shrug in response to his question. "How should I know? Unlike you, I don't creep into houses."

He glares and me and I'm momentarily glad that there's nothing in the room that he can throw at me. "Just do it," he orders, practically barking the command while seething.

I sigh before standing up. Why do I even listen to him? I rub my head before a thought occurs to me. "Alright, I would find her address but there's a slight problem to that."

"I don't care if she lives in France just find her house!"

I ignore his outburst. "When I get her address, I know you'll just storm over to her house and kill her. Now if you do that, cops will launch a full blown investigation. Then, we have to lay low for a while without drinking blood and I'm not about to go vegan, and I know you aren't either. So let's say you're thirsty for blood and hang around Braska. You might do something she's not ready for and she'll hate you for the rest of her life."

He shrugs and I glare at him. Did he even listen to what I said?! "I don't care. Just tell me where she lives. I won't kill her, but I'm not going to let her hurt Nebraska again."

Well that's a start, for him at least. "What are you going to do?" I curiously ask. Maybe what he's planning to do could end up being fun for me.

"I'm going to calmly tell her to leave Nebraska alone and if she doesn't I'll break a few bones so she doesn't go to school for a while," he replies, nodding like it's the best idea he's ever come up with while I shake my head hopelessly at him.

"So does a weekday schedule of anger management work for you?" I ask, holding back my laughter at the look on his face.

"Levi?"

"Hm?"

"If you don't shut up about that, you'll be my practice target for what I'm about to do to Zoey."

"And yet you say you don't need the class," I say, shaking my head at him. Before he could say anything back, I stand up and walk out of the basement. Might as well do something and find out where the girl lives.

Besides, what's the worse Layton could do?

***

Nebraska's POV

"I thought Haley would pick us up," Jason says, as we sit on the table eating his after school snack.

I eat another slice of apple and shrug. "She was busy."

"With what?" Making me feel more of a loser than I already do.

"Stuff." I can tell he's about to continue interrogating me so I get up and walk to my room. I feel bad for taking my anger out on Jason but there's no one else for me to go to.

Lucas almost always sides with Haley, and I'm not close enough to Levi to talk about the fight between us. Plus I don't think he'll care since he told us before that he hates drama and I know this falls in that category. Since those three people are my only social life, there's no one for me to talk to. I'll get used to it.

I flop down on my bed and frown while looking at my bracelet. Why is the stone such a deep red? Red usually means anger and I'm not angry. I'm frustrated, but I don't think that means the same thing. It also feels like there's heat radiating from the stone so I start stroking the stone, hoping that it'll cool off.

Gradually, the vibrant red starts to fade into light pink before changing to the turquoise color again. I smile at the sudden change of color. It's so sad that just watching the changing colors of the mood bracelets entertains me.

After about ten minutes of just watching the stone, my door opens and I look up to see Jason. "Braska? Can you watch TV with me?" he asks, holding his action figure close to his chest.

I smile at him and nod. Forget friends. At least I can always count on my brother to be there for me.

**************

Sorry for all the view changes, I realized I couldn't write the chapter well unless I had those changes.

Tell me what you think!