Chapter Nine #2
“Do you want to be friends, or more, or whatever, with me, Charlie?” I tease, loving the way his blush deepens.
“Y-yes.” He squeaks.
“I think I’d like to be ‘or more’ with you.”
“W-why?” He rasps, glancing up at me through thick, dark lashes.
What does he mean, why? What kind of question is that? “Why not?”
“Well, I mean…isn’t it obvious? You’re you, and I’m me. We don’t make sense. You’re this giant, muscular, hunky dude who is ridiculously attractive and you could definitely get anyone you want. And I’m just a scrawny emo dude who is kind of a dick and often grumpy.”
I snort a laugh. “I like that you’re little, though you aren’t scrawny.
You’re lean, but I have a feeling you’ve got muscles under all those black clothes.
And I like that you’re grumpy on the outside…
but I know that you aren’t like that with people you like, or at least you’re not like that with me…
most of the time.” I say the last bit with a wink.
“To me, you’re like a peanut butter M&M.
You’ve got a hard shell on the outside, but on the inside you’re soft and creamy. ”
“Oh my god, don’t ever call me creamy again. That’s fucking weird.” Charlie’s laugh is bright and melodic, tinkling through the air around us.
“Alright loves, we’ve got a full stack of chocolate chip pancakes for you.” The waitress sets the towering plate of pancakes (which, let’s be real, are clearly dessert disguised as breakfast) in front of Charlie. “And a cheeseburger with fries for you. Need anything else, darlin’s?”
“I think we’re good here, Brenda. Thank you.” I flash her a smile.
“Alright, holler if you need anything.” Brenda, the waitress, says before heading off to help a new table that was just seated.
“Moment of truth. Can vampires eat human food? Find out next on Kip the Vampire Hunk!” Charlie deepens his voice, narrating the scene like he’s announcing the cliffhanger of a TV show.
The bite of burger I had in my mouth gets lodged in my throat when I chortle at his antics, making me choke. “Fuck…” I wheeze, hacking up the stuck beef into a napkin.
“It’s not starting off well, folks.” Charlie impersonates an announcer.
“Gee, I wonder why?” I say sarcastically.
“Sorry, sorry. You gotta admit though, it was pretty funny.” Charlie shrugs, stealing a fry off my plate and popping it into his mouth.
“Hey! Get your own fries!” I pull my plate closer to my chest, wrapping my arms around it like it’s a horde of gold.
“Everyone knows that the best fries are those that are stolen off other people’s plates. It the rule.”
“You owe me a bite of pancake.” I pout.
“Try your burger and fries first, and then we’ll talk.”
“Hmmphhfff.” I inhale, breathing in the scent of my food. Now, usually, the smell of a burger and fries makes my stomach growl and my mouth water. This time though…
I take a bite. “Oh, no.” I whine. It tastes like ash in my mouth.
The texture feels wrong. “No, this can’t be happening.
” I force myself to swallow, and then try chasing the burger bite with a fry.
The fry is slightly better, and by that I mean it feels and tastes like a wet paper towel in my mouth. “Fucccckkkkk, man.”
Charlie’s joking demeanor slips away. “Are you okay, Kip?”
“No!” I cry out. “I’m not okay, Charlie. None of this is okay! Please, take a bite of this burger and tell me it tastes like ash and that the texture is all wrong. Tell me it’s not just me.”
Charlie grabs the burger from my plate, taking a bite. A small moan escapes his lips, and that’s when I know that this is really happening.
“I’m so sorry, Kip. But this burger…it’s fucking fantastic. The fries are too.” Charlie says apologetically.
“Tyson is so fucking dead.” I snarl. “And yes, I know that he’s already technically dead since he’s a vampire.
But I’m going to kill the motherfucker again.
Using me and taking advantage of my friendship, those are things that I could maybe get past. But this?
Taking away the joy of food? Nu-uh. No fucking way am I moving past that. ”
“Well, I mean…you probably shouldn’t move past the first two things either, but…”
“But the food…that’s the final straw.” I push the plate of food away from me, but I’m not used to my new strength because it goes flying off the table, shattering on the floor. “Fuck!”
Charlie joins me on the floor, helping me pick up the spilled food and shards of glass.
The waitress comes over with a broom and dustpan, shooing us away from the mess. “It’s alright, sugar. It happens. I’ll get it all cleaned up for you. Do you want another burger?”
“No.” I mope.
“Could I get a to-go box for my pancakes, Brenda?” Charlie pipes up. “You know, when you have a second. No rush.”
“Of course, sug.”
Fuck. It’s all starting to click. Tyson has always been weird about his diet and eating in front of other people.
And now I realize it’s because he can’t fucking eat human food.
And those protein drinks he’s always chugging?
I definitely thought it was weird that they were always thick and red… like…blood…